As first reported here on FAA News, in response to a lawsuit filed against Lakewood's Bnos Brocha for operating a banquet hall without ever having received Township Zoning Board approval, following an extremely tense court hearing shortly before Rosh Hashanah, Ocean County Superior Court, Judge Marlene Ford formally ordered that Bnos Brocha is to "immediately cease all activity in its catering hall until such time as it receives all requisite and unappealable approvals for same". Judge Ford also ordered Bnos Brocha to pay a $5,000 monetary sanction and to pay "reasonable attorney fees" to Clayton Associates who sued for their closure.
According to an Affidavit just submitted by Clayton's attorney Rob Shea, those attorney fees tally up to $18,218.75.
This covers 16.25 hours of work by Attorney Rob Shea at $475 per hour, 10.75 hours of work by Attorney Rob Shea II at $300 per hour, 23.75 hours of work by Attorney Vincent DelRiccio at $275 per hour, as well as 5.95 hours of work by Legal Assistant Karin Magala at $125 per hour, for a combined total of 56.70 hours.
Mr. Shea wrote to the judge that these fees do not even include the costs for the private detective, as well as the video and photography reports he generated.
Bnos Brocha was previously represented by Attorney Howard Lipstein. They are now being represented by Attorney Lawrence Shapiro.
Mr. Shapiro wrote a letter to Judge Ford opposing the high cost of the Mr. Shea's services, as well as as the "block billing" on his affidavit, which lumps together numerous tasks completed over several hours.
Read more from FAA News on this story:
8/29
Motion filed to shut down Bnos Brocha - read here
9/08
Court hearing is postponed two weeks - read here
9/17
Bnos Brocha files Opposition, telling the judge that their simcha hall is "not a business for the public", it is only "an accomodation for the school community to hold religious events" - read here
9/20
Clayton responds, telling the judge that "Bar Mitzvah's are for boys, while Bnos Brocha is a girl's school" - read here
9/23
Judge shuts down Bnos Brocha's simcha hall and orders them to pay sanctions and legal fees - read here
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