The attorney for Chuck Coughlin and Stavroula Bouris has put the town of Arlington on notice that he may file a lawsuit if issues involving former Superintendent Nate Levenson are not resolved by early September.

In a six-page letter dated March 3, Frank Mondano provides an outline of his case -- that the town through the School Committee was negligent in failing to supervise the superintendent as well as network technician Tracy Buck and that Levenson sought retribution against Bouris, when she as principal of the Ottoson Middle School, and Coughlin, when he was a tech-education teacher.

Mondano represents both in arbitration cases. Their dismissals, announced in August 2007, cited their roles in exchanging inappropriate e-mails, including alleged forgeries, sent on public school servers.

The letter was sent anonymously by postal mail to YourArlington's publisher with the addressee blacked out. Town Counsel Juliana Rice confirmed March 11 that the letter is authentic and is likely a copy of one sent to her. The contents of the letter were discussed in a closed meeting of the selectmen March 9.

Levenson resigned last August for reasons that have not been fully reported. The School Committee issued a statement at the time, and so did Levenson. The letter from Mondano makes reference to the situation, alleging that Levenson "suppressed a contemporaneous log of purported events surrounding the illegal access of email accounts."

The full paragraph says:

"Levenson acting alone or in concert with others whose identities are unknown, fabricated evidence, suppressed a contemporaneous log of purported events surrounding the illegal access of email accounts, perjured himself in related administrative and arbitration proceedings, manufactured false documents, modified documents, destroyed evidence/documents, suppressed documents and manipulated witnesses with half truths and lies. All of the foregoing was done to create the appearance of legitimacy in Levenson's conduct/misconduct toward and decisions to fire both Coughlin and Bouris."

On Aug. 9, 2007, the day Coughlin's dismissal was announced, the representatives of the town, schools and police also said that a town technician had been cleared. Mondano's letter refers to that person, unnamed at the time, as Buck.

Rice said March 11 that the demand letter from Mondano providing six months' notice is required by law under the state Tort Claims Act of a party intending to bring a lawsuit. Asked what the town planned to do next, she declined to comment.

She has been preparing a response. A copy for publication was requested. She responded to the request in an e-mail March 13:

"I don't have any further comment at this time beyond what I've already given you."

Levenson and his attorney, Barry Klickstein, have been asked to comment. Klickstein responded in an e-mail March 12:

"It appears that Mr. Mondano is attempting to preserve his clients' rights to file a lawsuit against Arlington under the cited statue, which requires a notice of claim prior to suit.

"Since both of his clients' cases are still in arbitration, I believe it is inappropriate for Nate to comment on the factual allegations detailed, other than to state unequivocally that he has never violated any criminal statute, never threatened anyone, and has testified fully and truthfully in all of the pending proceedings."

Mondano has been asked to comment numerous time since July 2007 has yet to respond to a request for comment.

The full text of Mondano’s letter is contained in a PDF file here >>