North Providence Mayor Charlie Lombardi lawsuit moves forward after judge rejects dismissal

NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A lawsuit involving longtime North Providence Mayor Charles “Charlie” Lombardi will continue after a Superior Court judge rejected his request to have the case dismissed.

The lawsuit was filed by former town employee Michael Charbatji, who alleges he was directed to perform work at properties connected to Lombardi while employed by the town. According to the complaint, those locations included the mayor’s Narragansett properties, a rental property and dry-cleaning business locations.

Charbatji alleges that some of the work was performed while he was on town time and involved town vehicles or materials. He also claims he was fired in 2022 after raising concerns about doing work at Lombardi’s private properties.

Lombardi has denied the allegations. He maintains that any personal work Charbatji performed for him was done outside of town hours and that he paid Charbatji himself.

Superior Court Judge Luis Matos denied Lombardi’s request to dismiss the lawsuit Wednesday, meaning the claims against the mayor can continue through the court process. The judge dismissed the claims against North Providence Public Works Director James Fuoroli and dismissed some, but not all, claims involving the town.

The ruling is not a finding that the allegations against Lombardi are true. Those claims remain disputed and have not been proven in court.

For now, the lawsuit — and the legal battle surrounding it — moves forward.

What do you think about the allegations and the judge’s decision to allow the case against Lombardi to continue?