Former Mace CEO wins $4.1M over firing

A three-member arbitration panel has awarded Louis D. Paolino Jr., former chief executive officer of Mace Security International Inc., $4.1 million, ruling that he had been wrongfully fired in May, 2008.

The bulk of the award, $3,851,000, represents severance pay that was denied Paolino when he was dismissed without cause.

According to the arbitration panel's ruling, Paolino was fired after a series of secret meetings held by three members of the Board of Directors who had taken issue with Paolino's leadership.

In particular, they were angered by his reluctance to follow a directive that he cut company costs below a level he felt acceptable. The chief executive who replaced Paolino was unable make the demanded cuts either.

The panel ruled Paolino was due severance under such a dismissal. Paolino was represented by the law firm of Pozzuolo Rodden P.C.

Mace, of Horsham, manufactures and markets the popular Mace -brand personal-defense spray and retails surveillance equipment such as hidden cameras.    - Christopher K. Hepp