Edison firefighter sues mayor, fire chief in federal court
Fireman claims his First Amendment rights were violated
BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer

EDISON — An Edison firefighter has filed a federal lawsuit against Mayor Jun Choi and township Fire Chief Norman Jensen for allegedly violating his constitutional rights.

Peter Yackel is suing Choi and Jensen because he was suspended for five days because of the placement of a poster in the back of his pickup truck, which read "Choi lies! Save Public Safety in Edison."

According to the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Newark on June 16, Yackel showed up for work at Fire Station No. 3 on June 1, the day before the Democratic primary election, with the poster. Battalion Chief Robert La- Cour asked Yackel to remove the sign, and he complied. Two days later, and one day after Choi lost to Antonia Ricigliano in the primary election, Yackel had a letter handdelivered to his home, which outlined the suspension.

Firefighters union Vice President Scott Law contends that the suspension was "personal retribution against the union president [Robert Yackel] by punishing his son."

"Peter was exercising his First Amendment rights. He didn't do anything that affected his ability to perform his duties as a firefighter. The outgoing mayor is trying to get back at his political opponents at taxpayer expense."

Peter Yackel's attorney, Michael Mc-

Nally, said that his client is suffering financially because of what has been done to him.

"Mr. Yackel is going to lose pay for five 24-hour shifts," McNally said. "For him, that's nearly three weeks' pay. I don't know many people that can do without that money in these hard economic times."

Yackel, a five-year veteran of the department who earned nearly $91,000 last year, is suing for compensation for lost wages, punitive damages, attorneys' fees and costs, injunctive relief, and restoration of seniority points for promotion, among other things.

"My client was suspended for exercising his First Amendment rights, is what it comes down to," McNally said.

Attempts to reach Jensen for comment were unsuccessful.