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VINEYARD GAZETTE
Complex $375,000 Settlement Favors Tisbury Patrolman T.M. Silvia in Bitter Case Involving Charges of Discrimination (Excerpt from Vineyard Gazette: Julia Wells, Gazette Senior Writer, 04/21/2000) A superior court judge approved a complicated, $375,000 settlement agreement this week that ends a bitter, four-year dispute between the town of Tisbury and one of its own police officers. The legal dispute centered on painful charges of racism and discrimination against the town police department. Among other things under the agreement, the town will pay Theophilus M. (T.M.) Silvia 3rd some $300,000 in cash, plus about 10 weeks of sick pay and vacation pay. Mr. Silvia will be eligible to apply for disability payments through the county retirement system, and the town will pay for most of his health insurance for the next two years. The town will pay $75,000 in fees to Mr. Silvia's attorney. Mr. Silvia will also resign from the Tisbury police department and has agreed to bring no further claims against the town. "Mr. Silvia has endured a lot of emotional distress during this case. He has been fighting the good fight, but he is simply not able to endure the stress. The settlement is set up in a way to take care of him and his family, and it avoids what could be years of court appeals, " said James Budreau,....
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