Defamation Complaint Against Mayor Fressola Fails

A defamation suit filed against Mayor Michael Fressola was not successful.

The Ocean County court system decided Wednesday that Henry Dudley, a frequent critic of the mayor, did not have a sufficient case for defamation.

Fressola was accused of defaming Henry Dudley, who has served as the Planning Committee Chairman of the Manchester Republican Club.

Fressola have long been at odds, with the mayor recently feeling compelled to fight back against claims that his office has ethics problems.

Fressola noted posts on the Manchester Patch that showed how he paid $100, but did not admit guilt for improperly using the address and telephone number of Manchester City Hall in a political mailing piece.

The fine was levied after the mayor won re-election in 2010.