A former Union County police officer who sued Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro for retaliation now plans to take legal action against the mayor for calling his case “opportunistic.” Matthew O’Holla, who resigned from the police department in August, filed a lawsuit alleging Battiloro and other employees retaliated against him, creating a hostile work environment. Battiloro’s nephew, Vincent P. Battiloro, 17, of Garwood, was charged with murder for the hit-and-run deaths of two girls riding an e-bike in Cranford. Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, both 17, were struck and killed on Sept. 29 in a hit-and-run crash in Cranford. O’Holla filed his lawsuit against Chief Battiloro in New Jersey Superior Court a few days after the crash. After the Oct. 3 filing, Westfield Mayor Shelly Brindle allegedly told a news website she believed the lawsuit was timed to coincide with publicity about the homicides. “The town will vigorously defend this lawsuit, which is clearly opportunistic in its timing and intended to undermine the credibility of Chief Battiloro,” Brindle told TapInto Westfield, according to the notice filed on Wednesday. O’Holla has now filed a tort claim notice saying he intends to sue Battiloro and Brindle for defamation and conspiracy over Brindle’s comments to the media, accusing him of trying to capitalize on the deaths of two teenage girls. Brindle did not immediately respond to a request for comment on O’Holla’s notice of claim. O’Holla’s claim alleges Brindle’s statements to a reporter were “knowingly false, defamatory and malicious.” “This statement permanently damaged the plaintiff’s reputation, good name and standing in his profession and the community,” the notice states. “The statement is knowingly false, not offered as opinion, but as fact and was made on behalf of, and the endorsement of Westfield Township and defendant Battiloro,” the notice states. The claim says O’Holla has suffered “humiliation, embarrassment, (and) severe emotional distress,” and was made in retaliation for the lawsuit he filed. Chief Battiloro did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the defamation claim.
https://www.nj.com/union/2025/11/a-mayor-called-his-lawsuit-opportunistic-after-cranford-tragedy-this-ex-cop-is-fighting-back.html