Victory Announced in New Jersey

Victory Announced in New Jersey
By: Timothy R. Smith, Esq.

The law firm of Caruso Smith Picini has announced that the New Jersey Supreme Court has decided in favor of Officer Greg DiGuglielmo in his Special Disciplinary Arbitration case against the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The law firm of Caruso Smith Picini is a criminal and administrative defense firm that represents police officers all throughout the State of New Jersey.

Caruso Smith Picini acquired the case for the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 93 pro bono. The firm felt that it was clear that Officer DiGuglielmo had his rights violated and that the employer, New Jersey Institute of Technology, improperly impeded on the officer's rights.

The case was before the courts to determine whether Officer DiGuglielmo, an NJIT Police Officer, was permitted to pursue a claim challenging his termination through the Special Disciplinary Arbitration Process. Officer DiGuglielmo, who was the Fraternal Order of Police Union President for the New Jersey Institute of Technology Police Department, was terminated from his position of police officer without a hearing and without requested discovery to present a case for his defense.

New Jersey Institute of Technology not only terminated Officer DiGuglielmo without a hearing and due process, but New Jersey Institute of Technology also continued its efforts by appealing to the New Jersey courts that Officer DiGuglielmo and all New Jersey police officers who patrol college campuses are not entitled to their rights under New Jersey Statutes 40A:14-209 and 40A:14-210.

Caruso Smith Picini stood with the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police and Officer DiGuglielmo and fought this injustice to the bitter end. The victory for Officer DiGuglielmo is also a victory for all campus police officers throughout the state..

Caruso Smith Picini is proud of the work it does on behalf of the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police and police officers throughout the state of New Jersey. We will continue to fight for the rights of Officer DiGuglielmo and look forward to a complete exoneration of Officer DiGuglielmo and expose the improprieties of the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Timothy R. Smith, a certified criminal trial attorney (less than 1% of New Jersey lawyers have satisfied the rigorous requirements necessary to achieve such a designation), devotes much of his practice to criminal and disciplinary defense. Smith was formerly employed as a police officer, detective, police union president and member of a prosecutor’s office legal staff prior to transitioning into private legal practice. Smith has served as an adjunct professor of graduate studies at Seton Hall University. He has also served as a private consultant to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey instructing police recruits in the area of search and seizure.