Former Maplewood Department of Public Works Superintendent Cesare Riccardi, who was fired in 2023 after he was charged with alleged bid-rigging, is suing Township officials following the dismissal of those charges by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
In a civil suit filed this March (see attached below) in Superior Court, Riccardi asserts that “Defendant Maplewood through its aforementioned Defendants made false allegations of criminal activity about Mr. Riccardi. Those false allegations which consisted of allegations that Mr. Riccardi initiated and carried out a scheme in which fictious [sic] bids were submitted for Township projects so that one contractor could be the lowest bidder and thus win the contract. The Township falsely alleged through its employees that Mr. Riccardi accepted falsified bids within the Township and awarded work within the Township based on falsified bids and unjustifiably benefited favored contractors to the detriment of the Township.”
The suit alleges that the Township’s actions caused Riccardi to be “charged with four criminal counts of official misconduct and one count of tampering with public records” — causing him to lose his job, lose his benefits, incur costs in his legal defense, prohibit him for gaining other employment, and also “suffer humiliation, embarrassment, mental and emotional district and discomfort and damage to his reputation.”
In the suit, Riccardi alleges that “he was subjected to discriminatory conduct by the Township” and “a hostile work environment” where he was periodically asked if he was in the Italian Mafia.
Riccardi’s suit names the township as defendant along with current Township Administrator Patrick Wherry, former Administrator Jerry Giaimis, former interim Administrator Gregg Schuster, current Engineering and DPW Director Paul Kittner and “John Does (1-10), Jane Does (1-10), ABC Corporation (1-10).” The remedies Riccardi is seeking include “compensatory damages including lost wages and benefits, and emotional distress damages, punitive damages, pain and suffering, and attorney fees and costs, plus interest.”
Per a letter dated November 19, 2024 from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the charges against Riccardi were “administratively dismissed on October 18, 2024” and a report was filed with the assignment judge of Essex County.
A letter from Riccardi’s criminal defense attorney Timothy Smith to Riccardi dated January 17, 2025, states. “For your reference and record-keeping purposes, enclosed herein please find a copy of the electronic Court notice confirming that the above referenced charge of official misconduct has been dismissed in its entirety.”
The letter continues, “The magnitude of this most favorable disposition cannot be overstates especially given the potential consequence of this charge — up to 10 (ten) years in prison with a hefty parole disqualifier had a conviction ensued. In this regard all of us here at the firm who have been involved in your cause are extremely pleased for you and congratulations are clearly in order.”
Update on July 1, 2025: Per Carmen Martin of the ECPO, “The charges against Riccardi were subject to administrative dismissal after it was determined that the evidence was insufficient to secure a conviction and the matter had already been addressed in an administrative hearing.”
In a phone interview with Village Green, Riccardi noted that he was never indicted and said the charges were dismissed “with prejudice,” meaning they are permanently dismissed.
The Township of Maplewood has not responded to a request for comment.
Village Green reached out to Gregg Schuster and representatives of Jerry Giaimis and has not yet received a response regarding this suit. Wherry and Kittner are still employees of the Township.
Village Green reached out to representatives of Giaimis to ask about the status of a suit that he filed against the Township in 2023 and has not yet received a response.
