HOBOKEN — A Superior Court Judge ruled Thursday morning that the city of Hoboken has prevailed in part of a class action lawsuit regarding rent control, according to a press release from Hoboken City Hall.
The suit was filed against the city by a property owner, on behalf of property owners in town. The suit says the city enforced rent control laws inconsistently for almost 25 years, but then, in 2006, the city changed the laws and began enforcing them in a way that property owners could not comply with. The landlords hoped to recoup damages that they say were caused by the inconsistent enforcement, and also asked for the court to rule that the city has broken state law.
While the suit is not totally resolved, as a result of Thursday’s ruling the city will not have to pay all of the legal fees in the suit, which could have totaled more than $1 million.
The release did not specify what the next step is for the suit in general.
The city was represented by Victor A. Afanador and Marissa L. Quigley of Lite DePalma Greenberg, LLC.
Mayor Dawn Zimmer said, “It is unfortunate that so many lawsuits are filed against the City regardless of their lack of merit, but the positive results in these litigations are an important demonstration of the necessity of ensuring that the city receives the best possible legal representation.”