Judge Lawson: Freeholder Lillian Burry had no conflict of interest regarding Lucas farm vote
Judge Lawrence M. Lawson
Monmouth County Assignment Judge Lawrence M. Lawson has ruled that “no rational fact-finder could find a conflict of interest” in Freeholder Lillian Burry’s March 2013 vote to fund the purchase of the development rights to former Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas’s Burke Farm.
In an opinion dated January 8, Lawson said that Burry did not have a conflict of interest, “real or apparent,” “potential” or “actual” in the controversial farmland preservation purchase that has been a political football in Monmouth County and Manalapan since 2010.
In a Summary Judgment, Lawson dismissed the suit with prejudice, brought by Holmdel attorney Lawrence Luttrell, a Democratic freeholder candidate at the time that he, his wife and mother-in-law formed R.A.G.E (Residents Against Government Exploitation), a non-profit corporation, for the sole purpose of bringing suit against Monmouth County over Burry’s vote on the Lucas farm deal.
Lawson noted that the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders voted to purchase the development rights to Lucas’s farm in May of 2011, five months prior to the fundraiser that was the basis for Luttrell’s suit political stunt, and that Burry’s March 2013 vote to fund the purchase was “wholly consistent” with her vote to approve the transaction.
Luttrell and the Monmouth County Democrats made this suit the centerpiece of their 2013 campaign against Freeholders Tom Arnone and Serena DiMaso. Burry is up for reelection this November and Luttrell announced he is running again. Hopefully he will come up with a campaign theme this year that does not cost the taxpayers of Monmouth County legal fees, court cost and clog up the already overburdened Court calendar.
Luttrell and the Monmouth County Democrats should reimburse that tax payers for the cost of their farce of a suit.
Lawson’s opinion can be found here. See page 11.
More from my site
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Democratic Freeholder Candidates Slam Lucas Farm Deal
Lucas Found Guilty- Andrew Lucas Resigns From Manalapan Township Committee
Walsh To Challenge Freeholder Incumbents
Lucas Farm Purchase Approved By Manalapan, Freeholders
The Lucas Farm Deal Explained
Lucas admits more mistakes- Lucas proceedings start this week
Can Monmouth County Voters Be Duped?
The likes of Jim Sage would say that Lawson has a conflict of interested, appointed by those that he is protecting.
Signed,
Silence Dogood, Redux
Jim would not say that Larry has a conflict or that Lillian did anything wrong if the last two Sheriffs had given him the job he demanded.
I wonder if this information that Lawson used to grant summary judgment and dismiss was in the original dismissal motion filed in July.
Freeholder Burry has been at the forefront of open space preservation for many years. No matter who owned the property, her vote was consistent the belief that open space enhances the quality of life in Monmouth.
On the other side of the equation, Monmouth machine democrats and office holders have found ways to overdevelop the towns they control.
Does Lawrence Luttrell now have to pay all of the financial obligations to all of the lawyers, court personnel, judges, lost wages to anyone who was bothered in the process, etc for his non-sense accusations? Or do we the taxpayers cover the costs of Larry spouting non-sense and filing lawsuits?
Does that child who runs the Monmouth County Dems have any lies to tell about this in a press release?
[…] also noted that Judge Lawrence M. Lawson ruled in the County’s favor in a lawsuit brought by 2013 Democratic freeholder candidate […]
[…] month Judge Lawrence M. Lawson ruled in dismissing with prejudice a suit brought by Larry Luttrell, one of Gopal’s freeholder […]
[…] Dems have been running against the Lucas farm for the last four election cycles with no success. Luttrell’s lawsuit to overturn the Lucas deal was thrown out of court by Judge Lawrence M. Lawson. Yet the Dems have […]