Defense Verdict Obtained in Highly-Contested Property Rights Case

We received a complete defense verdict in favor of our client in an equity action involving property rights in the client’s public safety building. The plaintiff, a volunteer fire company, moved its operation into a public safety building space constructed for it by the Borough, our client. Instead of accepting a lease that provided it with occupancy for 100 years, the fire company was made a tenant at will. The fire company was a tenant for 10 years, during which it brought a for-profit ambulance service into its space without the Borough’s consent. When the Council voted to convert some of the fire company’s space for use by the police department, the fire company filed suit under the theory that it had been promised control of the space during negotiations over ten years earlier. The judge agreed with our arguments and handed down a complete defense verdict in favor of our client.