Judge dismisses former Braidwood city administrator's harassment lawsuit

A judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by a former Braidwood city administrator against a one-time mayoral candidate after finding he did not prove he suffered severe emotional distress from “threats of extreme physical violence,” according to court records.

On Dec. 16, 2016, Andrew Galatte, the former city administrator, filed a lawsuit against Robert Snedeker alleging phone harassment and infliction of emotional distress. The lawsuit claimed Snedeker, who ran for mayor in 2014, had made “various general and derogatory comments and allegations” about Galatte’s honesty and competence.

The lawsuit also claimed that Snedeker called Galatte on Dec. 15, 2015, threatened to beat him up and called two weeks later to “put a bullet in (his) head.”

The lawsuit went to trial before Judge John Anderson last week. On Tuesday, Anderson issued his ruling, which said that despite Galatte and former Braidwood Police Chief Nick Ficarello testifying that “threats of extreme physical violence” were made by Snedeker, Galatte did not prove it caused him severe emotional distress.

Galatte’s "testimony on this element was unconvincing and was rebutted by social media communications between the parties which undermined the notion that (he) truly suffered emotional distress on a level of severity that is required for an (intentional infliction of emotional distress) claim,” Anderson said.

Snedeker said he planned on seeking damages from Galatte for costing him time and money to defend himself against the lawsuit. He said he wished Galatte "nothing but the best" and hoped he gets the "help he so much needs."

Galatte’s attorney, Frank Andreano, declined to comment.