Melrose Park family's suit against Mayor Ron Serpico, over alleged harassment, can proceed, judge says.
In the federal court equivalent of a public smackdown, a judge on Monday greenlighted a lawsuit alleging longtime Melrose Park Mayor Ron Serpico directed a campaign of “state-sanctioned bullying” against a family that culminated with a racist and profanity-laced tirade at a village meeting.
The suit alleged the harassment campaign started in 2020 with a barrage of municipal tickets ostensibly over lawn furniture and political signs in the Cozzis’ yard. It quickly escalated into frivolous parking citations and verbal threats — including one incident where Serpico himself drove past the home and allegedly told Michael Cozzi, “You’re lucky I don’t get out of this car and beat your ,” according to the suit.
“To put it mildly, Mayor Serpico responded poorly,” Seeger wrote. “He lost his cool. He lost his temper. And if he has any ability to express himself without using expletives, he lost that too.” In addition to Serpico himself, the Cozzis’ lawsuit also names the village, and Seeger’s ruling leaves the door open to possible constitutional violations, known in federal litigation as a “Monell” claim.
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