BANQUET HALL LITIGATION HAS ALREADY COST LAKEWOOD TAXPAYERS $240K




Lake Terrace has been embattled in ongoing litigation since November 2020 when their neighbors, represented by Attorney Rob Shea Esq., filed a lawsuit against them for not having ever received Township Zoning Board approval for a banquet hall.


Bnos Brocha was also embattled with litigation. Their banquet hall has since been shut down by a judge.


The Township of Lakewood is also defendant to all of this litigation, including a lawsuit which seeks to overturn the ordinance the Township Committee enacted to legalize Bnos Brocha's simcha hall.


Therefore, in addition to Lake Terrace and Bnos Brocha paying for their own legal fees, Lakewood's taxpayers have been forking over the Township's legal bills.


A review of those legal invoices indicates that the taxpayers have already paid nearly $240,000 for this noble fight (which has no end in sight).


The breakdown of the lawyers fees is as follows:


Steven Secare and Harold Hensel

12/03/20 $175

2/03/21 $175

7/30/21 $175

8/31/21 $35

8/31/21 $35

8/31/21 $35



Jean Cipriani

12417 $8,640

12418 $2,970

12419 $15,645

12420 $3,645

12484 $4,710

12485 $645

12486 $945

12487 $8,220

12628 $88

12629 $2,835

12630 $75

12754 $285

12755 $1,260

12756 $6,045

12757 $240

12832 $120

12833 $2,655

12834 $8,820

12835 $30

13018 $1,785

13020 $3,675

13021 $5,385

13022 $30

13120 $3,030

13276 $465

13277 $2,580

13278 $5,790

13279 $3,060

13390 $1,140

13391 $60

13392 $2,535

13393 $6,735

13394 $1,260

13531 $2,040

13533 $5,745

13534 $5,805

13535 $390

13633 $1,725

13635 $5,055

13636 $4,185

13637 $960

13706 $2,205

13707 $1,440

13709 $1,845

13710 $1,515

13849 $1,170

13850 $4,965

14001 $555

14002 $3,570

14003 $960

14004 $2,775

14005 $120

14113 $330

14114 $1,020

14116 $30

14117 $705

14118 $720

14265 $270

14266 $480

14267 $825

14268 $3,705

14423 $60

14424 $270

14425 $1,425

14426 $285

14638 $60

14640 $345

14825 $180

14826 $60

14827 $225

14828 $3,105

14829 $3,180

14995 $1,245

14996 $2,895

14997 $435

15230 $450

15231 $960

15232 $1,680

15233 $240

15234 $420

15329 $1,680

15331 $585

15572 $300

15573 $810

15574 $855

15576 $2,895

15327 $75

15575 $270

15652 $300

15653 $1,020

15655 $165

15808 $30

15809 $240

15810 $1,095

15812 $390

15813 $2,265

16326 $330

16327 $3,600

16328 $5,025

16329 $1,995

16431 $30

16432 $810

16634 $240

16635 $795

16636 $60

16637 $135



John Jackson - Planning Board

2/07/23 $217.50

3/14/23 $36.25

3/14/23 $978.75

4/25/23 $362.50

4/25/23 $725

5/23/23 $72.50

5/23/23 $107.50

6/20/23 $14.50

6/20/23 $326.25

6/20/23 $725

7/11/23 $29

7/11/23 $145

8/22/23 $688.75

8/22/23 $72.50

9/19/23 $217.50

10/10/23 $406

11/14/23 $543.75

12/05/2023 $439

1/09/2024 $108.75

2/06/2024 $762

5/07/2024 $1,342




John Jackson - Zoning Board

8/16/2023 $688.75

10/03/2023 $688.75

12/05/2023 $833.75

1/30/2024 $543.75

3/18/2024 $725.00

4/01/2024 $616.25

4/30/2024 $543.75



Jerry Dasti 

11/29/2022 $102

1/06/2023 $442

1/30/2023 $360

1/30/2023 $324

6/28/2023 $144

7/07/2023 $1,237

7/07/2023 $468

7/25/2023 $216

8/02/2023 $2,148

9/07/2023 $3,329.50

9/07/2023 $72

9/17/2023 $108

10/09/2023 $1,229.25

10/31/2023 $144

11/03/2023 $1,548

11/30/2023 $144

11/30/2023 $684

12/04/2023 $792

12/31/2023 $918

1/31/2024 $684

2/29/2024 $2,304

3/31/2024 $1,548

4/01/24 771.50

4/30/2024 $648

4/30/2024 $144



Totals


Secare and Hensel $630


Jean Cipriani $204,028


John Jackson - PB $8,356


John Jackson - ZB $4,640


Jerry Dasti $20,509.25


Grand total: $238,163.25


Ironically, all this litigation - which the taxpayers continue to pay for - is based simply because the Township refused to enforce its own ordinances.


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