Ex-Hills Football Player Sues School, Town for $15M

One of the nine Wayne Hills football players accused of aggravated assault filed a federal lawsuit last week against several town and Wayne education officials seeking at least $15 million in damages for false arrest and violation of his constitutional rights, NorthJersey.com reported Wednesday.

Troy Zaffino was one the Wayne Hills High football players Nov. 8, 2011. The players allegedly attacked two Wayne Valley High School students at a Halloween party at a house on Urban Club Road Oct. 29, 2011. They allegedly left the victims in the street, one of them unconscious.

Zaffino names in the suit several township and education officials and employees, including Board of Education Trustees, Mayor Chris Vergano, Police Chief John Reardon, and Capt. James Clarke, among others. At least some of those individauls were named in a Notice of Claim . Zaffino was a minor when the notice was sent and not mentioned by name in it.

Mayor Chris Vergano said Wednesday night that the township has been served with the suit. Town counsel Matthew Giacobbe said the matter will be referred to the New Jersey Joint Insurance Fund who will assign counsel to represent the town. Giacobbe declined further commnet.

Zaffino argued in the notice that he “was not present at the alleged location” and was “not involved in the alleged incident whatsoever.” The notice states there are “multiple alibi witnesses willing to swear” that he was not at the incident, claims his continues to maintain in the suit, according to the report.

Zaffino, a former team captain, graduated Hills in June. He said in March that  in the matter "has been hell."

The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office  against Zaffino earlier this year. Seven of the players, all juveniles, in February.

All nine players were prohibited from participating in the team's state group championship game against Old Tappan in December. Hills won 15-12.

Andrew Monaghan, the lone adult at the time the assault charges were filed, at a party on Salisbury Road in July. Police said Monaghan interfered with a police officer that was investigation a noise complaint at the party, Reardon previously said.

Monaghan , a type of probationary program, earlier this year.

— Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.