An Onondaga County Supreme Court jury awarded Lysander’s former dog warden more than $27,000 in his lawsuit against the town. The trial took place Dec. 15 through 17.
“We’re disappointed,” said Lysander Town Attorney Anthony Rivizzigno. “We think that we presented enough evidence for the jury [to rule in favor of the town].”
In June 2012, Don Power sued the town of Lysander for breach of contract after the town terminated its contract with Power’s Jack’s Reef Kennel Dog Protective Agency in March 2012.
He also sued Councilor Andy Reeves for defamation. A state Supreme Court judge dismissed the suit against Reeves in September 2012.
Power sought $34,245 for the remainder of his contract and his office space at Lysander Town Hall. The jury awarded him $27,684.75.
“Obviously, Don was happy and feels that what should have happened a long time ago happened today,” Power’s attorney, Terry Kirwan, said Dec. 17.
“I’m glad it’s over. It’s been a long time. It’s been a drain on my family,” Power said of the lawsuit. “It’s a tough ordeal, especially when I worked for the town as long as I did and never had any complaints.”
Power was Lysander’s dog control officer from 1970 until his retirement in 2003.
After that, Power and Jack’s Reef had signed agreements with the town’s previous administration under former Supervisor Barry Bullis to continue providing dog control services.
The most recent agreement was a two-year contract signed in January 2011.
The contract was set to last through Dec. 31, 2012, but the current town board sent a termination letter to Power on Feb. 21, 2012, informing him that the contract would be terminated March 31 of that year.
The town said Power did not maintain proper records, did not send proper invoices and mishandled impounded animals.
Rivizzigno said the town has not yet decided if they will pursue an appeal of the case.
