GCOR $10.5 Million Lawsuit Filed Against Gloucester City in Deposition Stage
Monday, June 05, 2023
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (June 5, 2023)(CNBNews)—The $10.5 million lawsuit filed in March 2021 against the City of Gloucester City is moving closer to a trial, according to Rocco D’Antonio, head of Gloucester City Organic Recycling LLC (GCOR). D’Antonio said he sued the City because the mayor and council did not live up to their side of the contract. Presently the matter is in the deposition stage. BARON & BRENNAN, P.A. of Voorhees represent D'Antonio. The City has hired ARCHER & GREINER of Haddonfield to represent the taxpayers. D'Antonio said depositions are being taken, and the trial is expected to begin sometime in the fall.
ARCHER & GREINER SERVICES ARE EXPENSIVE
CNBNews reviewed the invoices filed by the law firm from November 24, 2021, until May 12, 2023. The total cost to taxpayers for that period is $479,239. Looking at the numbers, there is a good chance that this $10.5 million lawsuit could cost taxpayers over a million dollars just in legal fees.
The $30 million enterprise proposed in 2010 called for 110,000 square foot facility to be built by D’Antonio on nine-plus acres in Southport. The organics recycling facility would accept 60,000 tons annually of organic material [source-separated food waste, yard waste, and brush] for processing into renewable energy and compost.
CNBNews interviewed D’Antonio in November 2021 and asked him to explain why he filed a $10.5 million lawsuit. He said, "The proposal called for the City to prepare the nine-plus acre property for the plant's construction. The City was to pay the cost for all requirements associated with the Remedial Action Work Plan or another environmental plan for the Premises, according to the 2016 agreement. Specifically, Section 5B of the agreement states the Lessor (the City) shall deliver the Premises to the Lessee with the following: all water, sewer, and utility hookups and infrastructure necessary for the Lessee to operate its facility. The City was also responsible for the complete environmental remediation of the Premises to the NJDEP's satisfaction and the federal government's satisfaction. The City agreed to provide GCOR with proof that the Premises' ecological remediation has been completed."