FORMER UNION CO REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN TO HAVE HIS DAY IN COURT

  NEWAR, NJ - 03/30/2017 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

Philip J. Morin III, is being sued for dishonesty, fraud, deceit, and misrepresentation, and has been suspended by the New York Courts for 90 days, although the same charges in New Jersey brought a slap on the wrist, this, all while Morin never replied to the NY Committee's motion, or otherwise raised any defenses.

Morin, previously of the firm “Saul, Ewing”, now employed by “Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader” represented a developer that were seeking to subdivide land in Union County, and was hired as counsel, somewhat due to political connections, and his claim as being an “expert” in land use law. During the initial review process in 2005 with the developers, he professionally stated that the land subdivision was “as of right”... meaning the developers should have no resistance to their plans to subdivide and build 3 homes. Needless to say, when the application was heard in 2007, the developers were met great resistance from neighbors and the Mayor, David Cohen. Morin who was supposedly “friendly” with the Mayor reassured the developer that the Mayor would be supportive of the plan. Well, what can go wrong, did go wrong!!

The planning board application was marred with objections, not only the neighbors, but the Mayor himself doused the plan from the gate. It's a fact, (unknown to the developer at the time) that as the application was being heard, Berkeley Heights Mayor David Cohen was looking for a new job. A Judgeship. However Morin's political bosses would have nothing of it. A top ranking Senator, Tom Kean Jr., had disavowed Cohen because of his ties to Union County Democrats, who Cohen had befriended big time... During Cohen's tenure, the former Zoning officer, a Police Captain, the Public Works Head, and others all took high ranking jobs at the Democratic controlled County, all with Cohen's blessing of course.

This led to Planning Board proceedings which were heavily weighed against the merits of the case and against the developer without reason. The application was for relief of ONE variance, the fact that the property did not face a”public street or roadway”... these are variances which are called “C” variances, much like applying for a larger sign on a building that an ordinance wouldn't typically allow... really a no brainier. And given generously in such proceedings. The application stalled and court action ensued, freezing the developer and causing massive financial damages.

The developer, Prestige Mountain Homes LLC was left holding a nasty bag of bad press, hostile neighbors, and land they couldn't subdivide or sell, and over 2 million dollars in losses. Morin has been censored and suspended from law from the respective ethics jurisdictions in which he is licensed, yet he and his firms had not suffered the financial pain and suffering and emotional toll this has had on the Plaintiff's. He has admitted guilt in the case to a certain degree, yet his defense team continues to attempt to dismiss the case, furthering the disgust, pain and anguish upon the victims of his deceit.

The developers, after almost 12 years, have still to little to show for their efforts in recouping losses that have soured into devastating financial and emotional losses, spending even more tens of thousands to have justice side with them, however, wonder if the courts, will side with their lawyer buddies and be denied justice and reparation for the losses and damages they incurred through this nightmare.