Payson Roundup

Nearly a month after Star Valley’s former town manager filled a lawsuit against the town for three months of lost severance, the lawsuit has been dismissed and the town won’t have to pay a cent.

On March 16, Vito Tedeschi filed a lawsuit against the town, claiming it had failed to make severance payments totaling $29,000. But in a turn of events, a motion was made to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice on April 2, meaning Tedeschi is barred from filing another case on the same claim.

Besides $1,300 in their own attorney fees, Star Valley will not have to pay Tedeschi, and has decided not to pursue civil action against him, Town Manger and Attorney Tim Grier said.

Before the lawsuit was dismissed, Tedeschi said he was entitled to three months of severance pay in accordance with his employment contract, according to a 35-page legal document obtained from the Gila County Superior Court.

The town had already paid Tedeschi three months out of the six months severance agreed upon in his employment contract, the lawsuit states.

Tedeschi claimed he was terminated within the six months following the seating of a new council member and he was able and willing to perform his duties and therefore was entitled to severance and benefits. Tedeschi said he could not comment on the claim.

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