Westport, MA- Officer Francis Napert III agreed to pay $50,350 to Carl Conforti to settle a civil rights lawsuit.

WESTPORT, MA — A Westport police officer has settled a civil rights lawsuit filed against him by a man who alleged the officer falsely arrested him and used excessive force last year.

Officer Francis Napert III agreed to pay $50,350 to Carl Conforti of Berkley, who filed the federal lawsuit June 28 in U.S. District Court in Boston, said David Milton, Conforti's attorney.

"The fact that they settled so quickly is a rarity for a civil right lawsuit to settle. We take that as an acknowledgement that this was unacceptable, even if officially they say (Napert) did nothing wrong," Milton said.

“There was no justification for Officer Napert’s actions. He abused his authority,” Milton said.

Conforti “remains angry and upset at not only the unprofessional and out-of-control behavior of Officer Napert but also the fact that the town of Westport investigated the matter and found Officer Napert did nothing wrong,” Milton said.

Westport Police Chief Keith A. Pelletier said in a prepared statement that the town's insurance carrier decided to settle the case.

"These decisions are made by weighing the cost involved between preparing for trial versus settling the case prior to that date," Pelletier said.

"We're confident Officer Napert did the right thing, but the insurance company decided it was more cost-effective to resolve the matter," said Leonard H. Kesten, Napert's attorney.

Links:
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110809/NEWS/108090327/-1/NEWS10

http://www.crookedsapd.com/2011/08/westport-officer-francis-napert-iii-settles-civil-rights-lawsuit-alleging-excessive-force/