Fired Inspector Quattrucci Prevails!

In a story first brought to light on March 26th by The Reporter, it was disclosed that fired East Providence building inspector, Albert Quattrucci was about to win his wrongful firing case against the city. Quattrucci was fired by former city manager Richard Brown in 2009, for “egregious insubordinate behavior.” As The Reporter wrote in March, Quattrucci not only clashed with city hall management but he also angered former school superintendent Mario Cirillo and his right hand man, chief operating officer, Lonnie Barham. Quattrucci was frustrated with school officials during the summer of 2009 over health concerns with East Providence High School. Before school was to open, Quattrucci was considering an order to close the school. Quattrucci told area news reporters that the high school was “unsafe” and a “deathtrap”. During an inspection of the high school by the besieged building inspector, school officials called the East Providence Police who responded and removed Quattrucci from the school. "They told me to leave, the superintendent doesn't want you on the city's property and I left," said Quattrucci at that time. Then Superintendent, Mario Cirillo, said that “while there are some issues with the school that are being addressed, Quattrucci’s claims are an exaggeration.” But Albert Quattrucci says he was fired because he ordered the closure of East Providence High School against the wishes of city and school department officials. Quattrucci had several disagreements with school and city officials as he received parental and some staff complaints about health related issues in several schools in the city. In the end, Richard Brown fired Quattrucci.

Quattrucci first upset school officials when he clashed with former school superintendents Taras Herbowy, Jackie Forbes and Patricia Daniel. Forbes, Daniel and Herbowy did not agree with several Quattrucci claims of perceived unsafe air quality and structural defects in many East Providence schools. School officials were upset that parents, teachers or other school staff would directly report complaints to Quattrucci without going through administrative channels. Sources tell how at one point, Quattrucci, after receiving an anonymous complaint of foul odors at an elementary school, called the fire department from his car to dispatch fire trucks to the school, without telling school officials.

Quattrucci’s style did not sit well with city and school management. Quattrucci was issued a “gag” order by former city manager Richard Brown and told not to speak with area media. In the end, however, Quattrucci would appear at public meetings and speak out, often calling the press on his own.

Quattrucci ordered EPHS closed July 17 for alleged unsafe structures and conditions. It is believed that the city had this decision reversed. The Reporter reached Quattrucci at that time who would not publicly comment on the case. When told that some people watching this case closely believe that he had a strong chance of prevailing against the city, Quattrucci would only chuckle, “we’ll see.”

Quattrucci appealed his firing to a city personnel hearing board that September of 2009. City officials continued to uphold former Manager Brown’s firing. “This wasn’t done with this city council and we are not directly involved with this case,” current Mayor Bruce Rogers told the Reporter. “I don’t have any official information yet but I hear that this arbitration may be going well for Mr. Quattrucci,” said Rogers at that time. Quattrucci said that he was terminated for “doing his job” and refusing to cover up School Department negligence, especially unsafe conditions at East Providence High School. Rogers was right, as Quattrucci has now prevailed.

Noted labor attorney attorney Thomas J. McAndrew represented Quattrucci as well as several other aggrieved East Providence employees in past cases. “I’ve been successful in every East Providence wrongful dismissal case I’ve had,” said McAndrew. “They (city officials) don’t seem to get it.”. McAndrew has extensive experience in labor and employment matters, representing various public entities and private sector employers in proceedings before Federal and State Courts, the National Labor Relations Board, State Labor Relations Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Human Rights Commission, and arbitrators. He has successfully tried many cases in State and Federal Courts and has negotiated in excess of 400 Collective Bargaining Agreements in the private and public sector.

The city may be faced with reinstating Quattrucci to his old job as building inspector with back salary and benefits and other damages. In another very celebrated case - Ali Khorasani v. East Providence - McAndrew argued successfully before Superior Court Judge Judith Savage on behalf of Ali Khorasani, a city traffic engineer. The discrimination case was settled in Khorasani’s behalf for some $580,000. The Quattrucci case may cost the city several hundred thousand dollars. Sources indicate that the 73 year old Quattrucci may be not interested in getting his old job back but is most willing to accept the back salary, benefits and other financial judgments in his favor.