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Community Corner

UPDATE: Jury Knocks Down Defamation Complaint Against Mayor Fressola

Henry Dudley, who has served as the Planning Committee chairman of the Manchester Republican Club, acknowledges that his defamation suit failed

A Manchester man has acknowledged that he did not succeed in his attempt to sue Mayor Michael Fressola for defamation.

Henry Dudley, a frequent critic of the mayor, said a jury ruled that he failed to prove Mr. Fressola's statements, published in the Manchester-area media, qualified as libel or defamation.

"Mr. Fressola was found not guilty," Dudley said in a statement. "I accept the decision of the Jury.The case was presented in Ocean County Court."

Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Ocean County court system decided Wednesday that Dudley 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.

Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I was very pleased with the court process," Dudley said. "The process was very fair. I just didn't prove my case."

Fressola and Dudley 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.

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