Former Lynn cop sues city

SALEM – A former Lynn police officer injured in the line of duty nearly 28 years ago has filed a lawsuit against the city for failing to pay certain pharmaceutical and dental bills arising out of his injury.James R. Riley, of 36 Dinardi Road, Bridgewater, N.H., filed the court action in Salem Superior Court asking a judge to intercede and order the city of Lynn to pay his outstanding bills and also additional dental bills.The court action states that on May 29, 1980, Riley was injured in the line of duty, suffering injury to his right knee and lower back while walking down the stairs on a service-related house call.Three months later he filed a complaint in Superior Court. The judge found him to be permanently disabled and entitled him to all compensation and benefits as a disabled police officer.The city was obligated to pay medical expenses in the sum of $45,790.12, according to the court documents.Four years later, Riley filed a contempt action against the city for failure to comply.Two months ago, in December, Judge Mary Lou Rup issued a judgment ordering the city to pay Riley a sum of $25,589.49 for prescription drugs which were unpaid by the city, and also awarded him $10,432.19 in interest.The complaint states that the city to date has failed to comply with the order.Riley also states that he receives a monthly payment from the retirement board, which the pay rate is set by a contract and that his original computation was incorrectly calculated.He complains that he owes payments for dental work relative to the injury and needs a full mouth reconstruction estimated at $85,000 and wants the city to pay.Attorney Thomas J. Barrett filed the complaint on his behalf and is asking a judge to order the city to pay the outstanding pharmaceutical and dental bills, including the additional dental expenses, order the city to abide by the previous judgment and award attorney fees and costs.Riley was hired as a Lynn police officer in January 1980 and granted an injury leave five months later while still in the probationary period for new police officers. While on injury leave, he was suspended for conduct unbecoming an officer following an incident on Cape Cod in July 1980. Mayor Antonio Marino fired Riley later that month after Riley was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon as a result of the Cape Cod incident. Riley was found guilty at the district court level, but the case was appealed to a 6-man jury and was continued without a finding and was ultimately dismissed.