THOMAS v. BLOOMFIELD et al
| New Jersey District Court | |
| Judge: | Esther Salas |
| Referred: | Stacey D Adams |
| Case #: | 2:25-cv-17606 |
| Nature of Suit | 442 Civil Rights - Employment |
| Cause | 42:1983 Civil Rights (Employment Discrimination) |
| Case Filed: | Nov 16, 2025 |
| Last checked: Wednesday Dec 31, 2025 2:31 AM EST |
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Defendant
TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD
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Represented By
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Defendant
BLOOMFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT
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Represented By
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Defendant
WALTER COFFEY
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Represented By
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Defendant
JOHN DOES 1-10
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Defendant
LOU VENEZIA
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Represented By
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Plaintiff
PATRICK THOMAS
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Represented By
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| Docket last updated: 03/22/2026 11:59 PM EDT |
| Thursday, March 19, 2026 | ||
| 26 | 26
4
pgs
order
Order on Motion for Magistrate Judge
Thu 03/19 4:35 PM
INITIAL PRETRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER filed. Signed by Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams on 3/18/2026. (mlh) |
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| Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | ||
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minutes
Scheduling Conference
Wed 03/18 3:13 PM
Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams:Rule 16 Initial Scheduling Conference held on 3/18/2026. Order to be filed. (JB) |
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| Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | ||
| 25 | 25
discov
Joint Discovery Plan
Wed 03/11 4:29 PM
Joint Discovery Plan by TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD, BLOOMFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT, LOU VENEZIA.(SCHWARTZ, STEFANI) |
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| Tuesday, March 10, 2026 | ||
| 24 | 24
misc
Letter
Tue 03/10 5:48 PM
Letter from Michael T. Ashley, Esq. (ASHLEY, MICHAEL) |
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| Wednesday, February 04, 2026 | ||
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notice
Notice of Judicial Preferences
Wed 02/04 1:14 PM
Notice of Judicial Preferences.[LINK:Click here] for the Judge's Individual Procedure Requirements. (ek) |
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| Friday, January 30, 2026 | ||
| 24 | 24
3
pgs
order
Order ~Util - Set Hearings ~Util - Set/Clear Flags
Mon 02/02 2:38 PM
LETTER ORDER,An initial scheduling conference shall be held via video conference on March 12, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams. Microsoft Teams login credentials will be provided. The parties shall file a proposed joint discovery plan no later than five (5) business days before the scheduled initial conference. The Court's form joint discovery plan can be found[LINK:here] . Signed by Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams on 1/30/2026. (JB) |
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| Wednesday, January 28, 2026 | ||
| 23 | 23
order
Text Order ~Util - Set Hearings
Wed 01/28 11:45 AM
TEXT ORDER-- Due to a scheduling conflict, the Initial Scheduling Conference scheduled before Magistrate Judge Adams on March 12, 2026 is hereby RESCHEDULED to March 18, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. via video conference. Microsoft teams login credentials will be provided. The parties proposed joint discovery plan shall be submitted no later than 5 business days before the conference. So Ordered by Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams on 1/28/2026. (JB) |
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| Friday, January 23, 2026 | ||
| 22 | 22
answer
Answer to Amended Complaint
Fri 01/23 1:29 PM
ANSWER to Amended Complaint by TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD, BLOOMFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT, LOU VENEZIA.(SCHWARTZ, STEFANI) |
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| Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | ||
| 21 | 21
answer
Answer to Amended Complaint
Wed 01/14 6:14 AM
ANSWER to Amended Complaint by WALTER COFFEY.(MADDEN, PATRICK) |
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| Thursday, January 08, 2026 | ||
| 20 | 20
order
Order on Motion for Magistrate Judge
Thu 01/08 9:46 AM
TEXT ORDER: The Court has reviewed: the Clerk's entry of default against Defendant Walter Coffey on January 7, 2026; Coffey's letter objecting to the entry of default filed about one hour thereafter (ECF No.16 ), which includes a waiver of service executed by Coffey's counsel on December 23, 2025; Plaintiff's subsequent reply to Coffey's objection and separate letter request for entry of default judgment as to Coffey (ECF Nos.17 ,18 ); and Coffey's objection to default judgment (ECF No.19 ). In the interests of justice and good administration, and since "[e]ntry of defaults and default judgments are disfavored in [the Third Circuit]," Gera v. Borough of Frackville , No. 25-1722 2025 WL 3158699, at *2 (3d Cir. Nov. 12, 2025), the Clerk of the Court is directed to vacate the entry of default as to Coffey, and Plaintiff's request for entry of default judgment is denied without prejudice. Coffey shall answer, move, or otherwise reply to the complaint by January 14, 2026 . So Ordered by Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams on 1/8/2026.(bms) |
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| Wednesday, January 07, 2026 | ||
| 19 | 19
respoth
Response (NOT Motion)
Wed 01/07 12:17 PM
RESPONSE re17 Request for Default Judgment by Clerk. (MADDEN, PATRICK) |
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| 18 | 18
misc
Letter
Wed 01/07 11:38 AM
Letter from Michael T. Ashley, Esq. (ASHLEY, MICHAEL) |
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| 17 | 17
misc
Request for Default Judgment by Clerk
Wed 01/07 11:07 AM
Request for Clerk's Entry of Default Judgment by PATRICK THOMAS against Walter Coffey.(ASHLEY, MICHAEL) |
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Att: 1
Text of Proposed Order
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| 16 | 16
misc
Letter
Wed 01/07 10:29 AM
Letter from Patrick J. Madden, Esq. re15 Request for Clerk's Entry of Default. (MADDEN, PATRICK) |
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order
Clerks Entry of Default
Wed 01/07 9:04 AM
Clerk's ENTRY OF DEFAULT as to WALTER COFFEY for failure to plead or otherwise defend. (adc, ) |
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| Tuesday, January 06, 2026 | ||
| 15 | 15
misc
Request for Clerk's Entry of Default
Tue 01/06 4:43 PM
Request for Clerk's Entry of Default by PATRICK THOMAS against Walter Coffey. (ASHLEY, MICHAEL) |
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| Tuesday, December 23, 2025 | ||
| 14 | 14
misc
Substitution of Attorney
Tue 12/23 8:47 AM
Substitution of Attorney - Attorney STEFANI C. SCHWARTZ terminated. Attorney PATRICK JOSEPH MADDEN for WALTER COFFEY added.. (MADDEN, PATRICK) |
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| Monday, December 22, 2025 | ||
| 13 | 13
1
pgs
order
Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief
Mon 12/22 4:31 PM
LETTER ORDER granting12 request for a thirty (30) day extension to file answer until 1/25/2026. Signed by Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams on 12/22/2025. (adc, ) |
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| Friday, December 19, 2025 | ||
| 12 | 12
misc
Letter
Fri 12/19 10:35 AM
Letter from Hatfield Schwartz Law Group, LLC. (SCHWARTZ, STEFANI) |
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| Tuesday, December 16, 2025 | ||
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utility
Update Answer Due Deadline
Tue 12/16 9:31 AM
Clerk`s Text Order - The document10 Application for Clerk's Order to Ext Answer/Proposed Order, submitted by TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD, WALTER COFFEY, LOU VENEZIA, BLOOMFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT has been GRANTED. The answer due date has been set for 12/26/2025. (arm) |
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| Friday, December 12, 2025 | ||
| 11 | 11
cmp
Amended Complaint
Fri 12/12 11:35 PM
AMENDED COMPLAINT against TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD, BLOOMFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT, WALTER COFFEY, JOHN DOES 1-10, LOU VENEZIA, filed by PATRICK THOMAS.(ASHLEY, MICHAEL) |
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| 10 | 10
misc
Application for Clerk Order to Ext Answer/Proposed Order
Fri 12/12 3:22 PM
Application and Proposed Order for Clerk's Order to extend time to answer as to Answer. Attorney STEFANI C. SCHWARTZ for TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD,STEFANI C. SCHWARTZ for BLOOMFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT,STEFANI C. SCHWARTZ for WALTER COFFEY,STEFANI C. SCHWARTZ for LOU VENEZIA added. (SCHWARTZ, STEFANI) |
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qc
QC - Entry of Appearance
Fri 12/12 1:54 PM
CLERK'S QUALITY CONTROL MESSAGE - Please be advised, when entering a first appearance in a case, counsel should add their name when prompted. The Clerks office has added STEFANI C. SCHWARTZ as representing TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD, LOU VENEZIA, WALTER COFFEY, AND BLOOMFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT in this case. This submission will remain on the docket unless otherwise ordered by the court. This message is for informational purposes only. (arm) |
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qc
QC - Incorrect Event Selected
Fri 12/12 1:58 PM
CLERK'S QUALITY CONTROL MESSAGE - The8 &9 6.1(b) EXTENSION REQUEST filed by STEFANI C. SCHWARTZ on 12/10/2025 was submitted incorrectly as a LETTER. PLEASE RESUBMIT THE 6.1(b) EXTENSION REQUEST USING "APPLICATION FOR CLERK ORDER TO EXT ANSWER/PROPOSED ORDER" which can be found under Civil Events - Other Filings - Other Documents. This submission will remain on the docket unless otherwise ordered by the court. (arm) |
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| Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | ||
| 9 | 9
misc
Letter
Wed 12/10 6:14 PM
Letter from Hatfield Schwartz Law Group. (SCHWARTZ, STEFANI) |
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| 8 | 8
misc
Letter
Wed 12/10 4:01 PM
Letter from Hatfield Schwartz Law Group, LLC. (SCHWARTZ, STEFANI) |
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| Tuesday, December 09, 2025 | ||
| 7 | 7
service
Summons Returned Executed
Tue 12/09 4:55 PM
SUMMONS Returned Executed by PATRICK THOMAS. BLOOMFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT served on 11/21/2025, answer due 12/12/2025. (ASHLEY, MICHAEL) |
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| 6 | 6
service
Summons Returned Executed
Tue 12/09 4:53 PM
SUMMONS Returned Executed by PATRICK THOMAS. LOU VENEZIA served on 11/21/2025, answer due 12/12/2025. (ASHLEY, MICHAEL) |
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| 5 | 5
service
Summons Returned Executed
Tue 12/09 4:44 PM
SUMMONS Returned Executed by PATRICK THOMAS. WALTER COFFEY served on 11/21/2025, answer due 12/12/2025. (ASHLEY, MICHAEL) |
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| 4 | 4
service
Affidavit of Service
Tue 12/09 4:35 PM
AFFIDAVIT of Service for Affidavit of Service served on Bloomfield Fire Dept on 11/21/2025, filed by PATRICK THOMAS. (ASHLEY, MICHAEL) |
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| Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | ||
| 3 | 3
service
Summons Issued
Tue 11/18 3:20 PM
SUMMONS ISSUED as to TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD, BLOOMFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT, WALTER COFFEY, LOU VENEZIA. Attached is the official court Summons, please fill out Defendant and Plaintiffs attorney information and serve. (sm) |
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| 2 | 2
misc
Exhibit (to Document)
Tue 11/18 3:09 PM
Exhibit to1 Complaint by PATRICK THOMAS. (ASHLEY, MICHAEL) |
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| Monday, November 17, 2025 | ||
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qc
QC - Civil Cover Sheet JS44
Mon 11/17 8:47 AM
CLERK'S QUALITY CONTROL MESSAGE - The case you electronically filed did not include a Civil Cover Sheet (JS-44), which is required to be submitted along with the initial pleading, as indicated in the Attorney Case Opening Guide. Please complete and file a[LINK:Civil Cover Sheet] using the event Exhibit (to Document) found under Civil/Other Filings/Other Documents. Please refer to the Attorney Case Opening Guide for processing electronically filed cases. (jr) |
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qc
QC - Attorney Case Opening
Mon 11/17 8:49 AM
CLERK'S QUALITY CONTROL MESSAGE - The case you electronically filed has been processed, however, the following deficiencies were found: In the future when choosing parties please choose each party individually. Do NOT select the ALL PLAINTIFFS or ALL DEFENDANTS button . The Clerk's Office has made the appropriate changes. Please refer to the Attorney Case Opening Guide for processing electronically filed cases. (jr) |
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utility
Case Assigned/Reassigned
Mon 11/17 4:50 PM
Case assigned to Judge Esther Salas and Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams. (jr) |
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| Sunday, November 16, 2025 | ||
| 1 | 1
cmp
Complaint
Sun 11/16 11:59 PM
COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing and Admin fee $ 405 receipt number ANJDC-16826770) with JURY DEMAND, filed by PATRICK THOMAS.(ASHLEY, MICHAEL) |
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