For months, Jackson Township Mayor Jennifer Kuhn and Council President Mordechai Burnstein have projected confidence regarding two of the Township's most consequential lawsuits.
In official statements and press releases, Township leaders assured residents that they stood firmly behind their actions and would vigorously defend them in court.
Now, court filings tell a way more complicated story, a FAA News investigative report reveals.
In both the Adventure Crossing litigation brought by developer Vito Cardinale and the recently filed lawsuit challenging Jackson Township's mobile home rent control ordinance, Township attorneys have gone to court seeking substantial delays - not to prepare for trial, but to pursue settlement negotiations.
The developments raise an obvious question:
If Township officials are as confident as they publicly claim, why are they simultaneously seeking additional time to negotiate resolutions in both cases?
Following a first report exposure by FAA News of the lawsuit against Ordinance 2026-06, the Township's newly enacted rent control ordinance affecting manufactured housing communities, Township officials issued a strongly worded public statement defending their actions.
According to the Township, the ordinance was designed to protect seniors and other residents from excessive rent increases. Mayor Jennifer Kuhn declared:
«"The Township Council enacted this ordinance because protecting residents from unreasonable housing costs is a core responsibility of local government."»
Kuhn further promised:
«"We remain committed to defending these protections and standing with the residents of Jackson Township."»
Township officials stated they would "vigorously defend" the ordinance against the lawsuit filed by several mobile home park owners.
But only weeks later, the litigation took a dramatic turn.
After the plaintiffs filed a Motion for Order to Show Cause seeking immediate restraints and an injunction against enforcement of the ordinance pending the outcome of the lawsuit, Ocean County Assignment Judge Francis Hodgson scheduled an expedited hearing for the following week.
Instead of moving immediately toward a merits determination, Township attorneys requested a 45-day adjournment, advising the court they wished to pursue settlement discussions with the plaintiffs.
The request stands in sharp contrast to the administration's public message that it was fully prepared to aggressively defend the ordinance.
A similar pattern has emerged in the Adventure Crossing litigation.
As previously reported by FAA News, developer Vito Cardinale filed suit after the Township adopted zoning restrictions affecting the Jackson Crossings/Adventure Crossing property. Cardinale claims the Township's actions caused approximately $120 million in damages.
Most recently, Cardinale filed a motion seeking to strike the Township's Answer based upon alleged discovery failures.
Rather than filing a merits opposition to the motion, Township attorneys requested a 90-day adjournment so they could attempt to negotiate a settlement with Cardinale.
Again, the court filing stands in noticeable contrast to the Township's public posture regarding the litigation.
These developments come after FAA News previously reported on Township officials' public characterization of the Adventure Crossing litigation.
After the Township repealed and replaced the original zoning ordinance, the court dismissed the first lawsuit as moot because the challenged ordinance no longer existed and a new lawsuit had already been filed.
Despite the procedural nature of that ruling, Township officials publicly portrayed the outcome as a sweeping legal victory. FAA News subsequently reported that the court had never ruled on the merits of the ordinance and had simply found the original case moot.
Now, in both major lawsuits, Township attorneys are asking the courts for additional time to pursue settlements.
There is nothing improper about settlement discussions. In fact, many cases resolve through negotiation. What makes the situation noteworthy is the contrast between the Township's public messaging and its litigation strategy.
Publicly, Township leaders have projected confidence and certainty.
Privately, their attorneys are asking judges for time to see if deals can be reached.
Whether those negotiations ultimately succeed remains to be seen.
But one thing is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore:
For officials who keep assuring residents that they "got this," Jackson Township's lawyers seem to be spending an awful lot of time trying to settle.
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