Peter Coppola says he was never paid for 283 hours of overtime he worked decades before
BELLEVILLE -- A retired Belleville firefighter settled his breach of contract and retaliation lawsuit against the township for $25,000.
A retired Belleville firefighter settled his retaliation lawsuit for $25,000. Peter Coppola sued the township arguing he had a contractual agreement to compensate him for 283 unpaid hours of overtime he worked decades ago.
News of the settlement was first reported by NJ Civil Settlements, which provided a list of settlements paid by New Jersey government agencies and their insurers to those who have sued them.
Coppola says that when asked about the back pay owed to him prior to his 2010 retirement, the township manager told him the municipality didn't have the money.
Three years later Coppola was hired as a part-time mechanic for Belleville. But four days after he began, he alleges he was told him "the powers that be" demanded he vacate his claim for the unpaid work if he wanted to keep the new gig, according to the lawsuit.
Coppola, who spent 25 years as a firefighter in town, says he was fired a few days later, the lawsuit said.
When he filed the suit, Coppola said he suffered "economic damages and emotional distress" of greater than $100,000.
The suit was settled on April 24.
Coppola got $18,500 and his attorney received the rest.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.