Former Jersey City mayoral candidate Lou Manzo paying $10,000 to settle former fund-raiser's lawsuit

Thursday, February 25, 2010
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Former Jersey City Assemblyman Lou Manzo, who has been indicted on corruption charges, yesterday agreed to pay $10,000 to a former fund-raiser to settle a lawsuit she filed against him.

"Due to the fact Mr. Manzo is under criminal indictment, I thought it was a good business decision to settle now," Dannielle Leigh, the former fund-raiser, said after the court hearing at the Brennan Courthouse in Jersey City.

Leigh signed on as a fundraiser for Manzo in April 2006 when Manzo was running for state Senate.

The suit says the contract she signed with Manzo, which ended June 30, 2007, stated she was "entitled to 12 percent of all funds raised by defendant Manzo for Senate between the dates of April 4, 2006 and June 30, 2007."

The campaign raised nearly $400,000 and Leigh argued in her lawsuit she was contractually entitled to 12 percent of that entire amount.

But Manzo maintained the understanding always was that Leigh would receive 12 percent of what she raised. He estimated she raised about $48,000.

"We agreed we owed her money and originally we thought it was $7,500 and to avoid a three-day trial, I think it was smart to settle," added Manzo, who was represented by Union City attorney Libero Marotta.

Marotta said that the first settlement offer made by Leigh's attorney was for $27,000.

Robert Ricco, of Nazor, Cengarle & DeCarlo, declined to comment on previous settlement talks. Leigh settled for $10,000.

"I realize none of the parties are thrilled with (the agreement), but in the eyes of the court that probably means it's a pretty good settlement," said Hudson County Superior Court Judge Peter Bariso Jr.

A failed Jersey City mayoral candidate, Manzo was indicted in October with his brother Ronald on charges they accepted $27,500 in bribes from an FBI informant while promising to fast-track approvals for a development once Manzo was elected mayor.

The Manzos were arrested as part of a massive corruption sweep that led to the arrests of 46 people. Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini was recently convicted of accepting bribes in the form of campaign contributions.

Well obviously has was taking the bribes to cover the cost for the consultant and the associated legal fees.

Arbitrator: Manzo owes ex-aide $23G

Friday, August 21, 2009
By PAUL TAKAHASHI
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Arrested on corruption charges last month, former assemblyman and five-time Jersey City mayoral candidate Louis Manzo may have more bills to pay than just his defense attorney's.

An arbitrator determined yesterday that political consultant Dannielle Leigh is entitled to $23,262. She claims Manzo stiffed her for that amount when he was running for the state Legislature in 2007.

But the arbitrator's decision is non-binding, and Manzo is rejecting it.

"We will only pay her what she is entitled to," Manzo's attorney, Libero D. Marotta, said yesterday. "We have never had a problem paying her . The case now goes back to the Law Division (of Hudson County Superior Court)."

According to court documents, Leigh, 35, of Park Ridge, signed a contract with Manzo on May 8, 2007, that called for her to be paid $2,000 a month, plus "12 percent of all funds raised between April 4, 2007 and June 2007."

The arbitrator, James Dowden, interpreted "all funds" to mean all the money raised by the campaign, while Manzo - who attended yesterday's hearing in Jersey City - maintains Leigh was only entitled to 12 percent of the money she personally raised.

"She raised between $30,000 and $40,000, we are not sure of the exact figure," said Marotta. "She might be owed $5,000."

Represented by attorney Peter Tucci Jr., Leigh called the arbitrator's determination "fair."

"He (Manzo) wanted to nit-pick who gets credit for what," Leigh said. "It takes teamwork to get campaign funds . I don't think it makes sense (for Manzo to appeal). Manzo has bigger issues to deal with."

Manzo was arrested July 23 as part of a massive FBI corruption probe that netted 44 individuals on money laundering and political corruption charges.

Manzo, along with his brother Ronald Manzo, is charged with accepting $27,500 in bribes from an FBI informant.