Court Rules Former Mayor Fariello Only 65% Wrong - Only in America!
Full Description:
Former Hanover Mayor Len Fariello sued a hunter he claimed drove over his ankle in 2005, but a Morris County civil jury has decided against Fariello, finding that he bears greater fault for the confrontation in East Hanover.
The jury heard Fariello's lawsuit before state Superior Court W. Hunt Dumont in Morristown. It found by a 6-0 vote on Tuesday that Fariello was 65 percent negligent for his own injury and hunter William C. Hovey of Rockaway Township was 35 percent negligent.
The percentage against Fariello meant he was not entitled to any damages for a left ankle injury he alleged he sustained when Hovey drove a Jeep over it after a verbal dispute at a private conservation area off Route 280 in East Hanover that is owned by Wildlife Preserves Inc.
Fariello could not be reached through messages left at his home Wednesday. Hovey, who said he didn't do anything wrong, said he feels vindicated though he spent tens of thousands of dollars defending himself.
"Five years of paying a lawyer when you know you didn't do anything wrong is very stressful," he said.
On Nov. 19, 2005, Fariello was helping a friend, Michael Nonio, patrol the Wildlife Preserves property and they encountered Hovey and a fellow hunter with bows and arrows in their hands. Hovey said he had been hunting on property he owns but crossed into the Wildlife Preserves land to get to his vehicle. Fariello and Nonio demanded identification from the two hunters, who refused, and wanted them to remain at the scene until police arrived, according to a police report.
Fariello told police he stepped in front of the Jeep and told the hunters he believed were trespassing that they could not leave until proper authorities arrived. Hovey told police, according to the police report, that he started to back up and tried to drive at an angle to avoid Fariello but Fariello suddenly "threw himself" on the ground yelling that he was run over.
Court records state that Fariello had a contusion on his ankle but no fractures. Hovey contended that Fariello injured himself by stepping in front of the Jeep and then slipping to the ground.
