Lawsuit Filed for Breach of Civil Rights in Property Case

A property owner has filed a lawsuit against a planning board amid claims that it has continually blocked developments and has broken racketeering laws.

Rezem Family Associates, which owns 67 acres of property in New Jersey, claims that the Millstone borough council and planning board has conspired to block development of the land.

It states it has been attempting to reach an agreement regarding the development with the council for over a decade, but that no solution has been reached.

This is despite several offers being put in by national corporations, two of which were over $17 million, the company said.

"We are alleging that various individuals have violated the federal civil rights and racketeering laws Â… to frustrate my client's legitimate right to secure development approval for the property," said attorney Stuart Liebermann, according to MyCentralJersey.com.

The lawsuit claims that officials performed actions which negatively affected the value of Rezem Family Associates' property.

Council officials declined to comment on the case.

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act is a U.S. federal law that provides extended penalties for criminal acts performed as part of racketeering. It also provides a civil cause of action for those injured by violations of the act.