Court Opinion

ID: 4170137
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-05-19 16:13:58.94609+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:24:54.935944
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                      APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
     This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court."
      Although it is posted on the internet, this opinion is binding only on the
         parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R.1:36-3.

                                       SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                       APPELLATE DIVISION
                                       DOCKET NO. A-1564-15T2

SAM RUSSO,

        Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.

PLUMSTED TOWNSHIP, PLUMSTED
TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT,
GLEN RICCARDI, and RONALD
S. DANCER,

        Defendants,

and

MICHAEL LYNCH,

        Defendant-Respondent.

              Argued April 5, 2017 – Decided May 16, 2017

              Before Judges Alvarez, Manahan, and Lisa.

              On appeal from the Superior Court of New
              Jersey, Law Division, Ocean County, Docket No.
              L-794-11.

              John C. Eastlack, Jr., argued the cause for
              appellant (Weir & Partners LLP, attorneys; Mr.
              Eastlack and Lilia Londar, on the briefs).

              Jared J. Monaco argued the cause for
              respondent   (Gilmore   &   Monahan,   P.A.,
              attorneys; Mr. Monaco, of counsel and on the
              brief).
PER CURIAM

       Plaintiff Sam Russo appeals the Law Division's November 17,

2015   grant   of   summary   judgment   to   defendant    Michael     Lynch

dismissing the amended complaint.        Russo also appeals the denial

of his request for extension of the discovery end date.               Having

reviewed the record and relevant law, we affirm for the reasons

stated by Judge Den Uyl, with some brief additional comments.

       Russo   alleged   several   causes   of   action   against     Lynch,

claiming that Lynch acted beyond his statutory authority while

serving as the Plumsted Township Public Safety Director in 2009.

Russo owns and operates a 100-acre farm adjoining a residential

development where Lynch resided during the relevant timeframe.

       Russo's appendix includes a February 15, 2009 police report,

signed by a Patrolman Uricks.       We reproduce it in full:

            T/O AND 263 WERE REQUESTED BY DIRECTOR LYNCH
            TO RESPOND TO CANDACE COURT AND BOBBI'S
            TERRACE BECAUSE OF QUAD COMPLAINTS HE HAD BEEN
            RECEIVING. UNITS WENT OUT ON LOCATION AND
            FOLLOWED THE TOWNSHIP BUILDING INSPECTOR/CODE
            ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AND DIRECTOR LYNCH TO THE
            RUSSO FARM. UPON ARRIVAL, T/O SAW 5 DIRT BIKES
            AND 1 QUAD ON TOP OF A LARGE MOUND OF DIRT,
            AND ONE DIRT BIKE THAT WAS JUMPING ANOTHER
            LARGE MOUND. OFFICERS SPOKE TO THE PROPERTY
            OWNER, WHO STATED THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT
            HE WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE TOWNSHIP NOISE
            ORDINANCE. T/O, 263, INSPECTOR RICCARDI, AND
            DIRECTOR LYNCH EXPLAINED THE ORDINANCE TO []
            RUSSO, WHO STATED THAT HE WOULD SPEAK WITH []
            RICCARDI IN THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT WEEK []

                                     2                               A-1564-15T2
           IN REFERENCE TO THIS INCIDENT.     UNITS WENT
           DOOR TO DOOR IN THE AREA OF CANDACE COURT AND
           BOBBI'S TERRACE TO SPEAK WITH RESIDENTS, AND
           SEE IF THE[Y] HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS
           ABOUT THE NOISE.   THE FOLLOWING STATED THEY
           WANTED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE VIOLATIONS THAT
           HAVE BEEN OCCURRING.

The report listed the names of five residents who wanted to lodge

noise complaints, with corresponding addresses and phone numbers.

    On February 21, 2009, officers were again "dispatched to the

Russo farm for a noise complaint."   That report, also authored by

Uricks, states:

           THE SUSPECTS AND SAM RUSSO WERE WARNED THAT
           THEY WOULD BE ISSUED SUMMONSES IF OFFICERS
           RETURNED. T/O ARRIVED ON LOCATION AND SAW (3)
           DIRT BIKES JUMPING IN THE REAR OF THE
           PROPERTY. T/O AND 263 BEGAN TO WALK TO THE
           REAR OF THE PROPERTY, AND AT THAT TIME, THE
           BIKES RODE OFF TO AN UNKNOWN AREA. PATROLS
           SPOKE TO SAM RUSSO, WHO STATED THAT HE KNOWS
           THAT HE CAN RIDE HIS DIRT BIKES ON HIS
           PROPERTY, BECAUSE HE SPOKE TO HIS LAW[Y]ER.
           [] RUSSO WAS INFORMED LAST SUNDAY, OF OUR
           ORDERS TO TAKE ACTION IF WE WERE CALLED TO HIS
           PROPERTY AGAIN. [] RUSSO TOLD T/O AND 263 THE
           NAMES OF THE THREE INDIVIDUALS ON THE BIKES.
           THEY WILL BE ISSUED SUMMONSES LATER IN THE
           WEEK BY ORDER OF THE DIRECTOR.

    A second report of the incident was filed by a Patrolman

England:

           Patrol was contacted by OCR for a noise
           complaint in the area of the above location.
           When the individuals on the dirt bikes saw
           patrol, they took off into the woods and could
           not be found. This officer and also 264 spoke
           with the owner of the property Sam Russo who

                                 3                          A-1564-15T2
          was advised the previous week not to have
          anyone ride even on his property until the
          matter was cleared.    He related it was his
          property and that the dirt bikes that were
          being rid[d]en had new suppressed muffler
          systems which quieted the bikes.      He also
          related to patrol that he had spoken with his
          lawyer who told him [] he was not in violation
          of any borough ordinances that he could ride
          on his property. [] Russo gave us the names
          of the riders and was told they would be
          receiving borough ordinance summonses as per
          the Director of this department.

     An aerial surveillance of Russo's farm was conducted by the

Ocean County Sheriff's Department on March 17, 2009, because he

was suspected of illegal dumping on his property.          The detective

who conducted the surveillance produced a report which did not

mention Lynch.

     In answers to interrogatories and the certification he filed

in support of the motion for summary judgment, Lynch said he

accompanied two police officers and the town's zoning officer to

Russo's farm on February 15, 2009, to discuss noise complaints.

The zoning officer explained the noise ordinance to Russo, who

identified one of the bikers as a professional rider from Maryland.

After that meeting, Lynch thought that Russo agreed to stop the

operation of the dirt bikes on his property, as a result of which

no summonses were issued to him that day.

     While   meeting   with   residents   in   the   community   adjoining

Russo's farm, Lynch had difficulty hearing what was said over the

                                   4                               A-1564-15T2
noise from the dirt bikes even when indoors.                      Since the noise

complaints continued, and the Township noise ordinance "needed to

be enforced if it was being violated," Lynch told Township police

officers to respond.       Lynch named five homeowners, in addition to

the five mentioned in the police reports, who had called police

with complaints regarding noise from the dirt bikes on Russo's

property.

     Lynch had no other involvement with the matter and had no

involvement    or    knowledge       regarding      either       Russo's   property

assessment or dredge spoils allegedly dumped on Russo's property,

issues Russo raised in the complaint.                    Lynch claimed that the

aerial surveillance of Russo's property was initiated by a police

sergeant, and not at his suggestion.                Lynch reiterated that he

never   ordered     the   issuance    of    summonses      for    noise    from    the

operation of farm equipment, but that he did advise supervisors

in the police department that they were expected to respond to

complaints from residents and to take appropriate action to enforce

"any laws or ordinances being violated."

     In his affidavit submitted in opposition to the motion for

summary     judgment,     Russo   alleges         that    Lynch    coordinated       a

conspiracy    designed     to   prevent     him    from    conducting      his    farm

business and to deprive him of his constitutional rights.                           He

accused Lynch of causing summonses for noise violations to be

                                        5                                    A-1564-15T2
issued against him, and asserted that he was exempt from the noise

ordinance because of his farming license.       Russo also accused

Lynch of having instigated the warrantless aerial search of his

property.    He sought compensation for his claimed loss of forty

percent of his farm income and damage to his personal health as a

result of Lynch's allegedly ultra vires actions.

     In opposition to the motion for summary judgment, Russo

provided the police reports, the aerial surveillance report, and

two letters from his former attorney.     Judge Den Uyl found that

the letters had no "evidentiary value[,]" and noted that the aerial

surveillance report does not mention Lynch.    The judge referenced

other police reports not included in the record on the appeal, in

which neighbors complained that "[t]he dirt bikes would carry on

for several hours."      The residents described the noise as so

overwhelming that they could not be heard while conversing inside

their own homes, had difficulty conducting phone conversations,

and wanted to pursue the matter so that the noise would stop.     The

February 21 visit was instigated by a homeowner.      The documents

provided by Russo in opposition to the motion indicated summonses

were only issued to the dirt bike riders and not to Russo himself.

     Judge Den Uyl further stated:

            [Russo's affidavit] contains nothing more than
            unsupported   allegations   that    []   Lynch
            orchestrated a conspiracy to harm him and/or

                                  6                          A-1564-15T2
           his business.   [Russo] has not come forward
           with competent evidence to corroborate his
           theory from which a jury could reasonably
           infer wrongful and actionable conduct . . . .
           The affidavit is conjecture not competent
           evidence.     There   was   ample  time   and
           opportunity for plaintiff to develop and
           substantiate his claim. This case was filed
           in 2011 and discovery was extended to July 1,
           2015 so that plaintiff could engage in the
           discovery he had not previously sought.
           Interrogatories were not served until 2015.
           No depositions were ever taken.

     Judge Den Uyl reviewed each and every allegation made in

Russo's amended complaint, beginning with his claims grounded on

42 U.S.C. § 1983, 1985, 1986, and 1988.         While he agreed with

Russo that a director of public safety may not engage in police-

only activities, he dismissed those counts based on the complete

lack of evidence regarding any such conduct or any abuse of power.

He concluded that neither the police reports nor the aerial

surveillance report established that Lynch had, while acting under

color of state law, acted against Russo.

     The judge similarly disposed of Russo's malicious prosecution

claim.   After reviewing the necessary elements, he reiterated that

Russo failed to "come forward with competent evidence from which

a jury could reasonably infer that [] Lynch initiated a criminal

or civil proceeding against [Russo]."

     The judge next reviewed the causes of action for negligence,

tortious   interference   with   economic   advantage,   and   negligent

                                   7                             A-1564-15T2
infliction of emotional distress.            He opined that Russo did not

produce any evidence of conduct that would raise a material issue

of fact that should be presented to a jury.

     Finally, the judge found Russo failed to demonstrate any

connection   between    Lynch    and   the   aerial   surveillance      or   the

issuance of ordinance violations against third parties for their

use of recreational dirt bikes.            Accordingly, he dismissed the

complaint.

     Russo's counsel was substituted after the discovery end date

of July 1, 2015.    Russo's application for additional discovery was

denied   August   7,   2015,    also   beyond   the   discovery   end     date.

Although Lynch's attorney consented to the taking of depositions

after July 1, he did not consent to a broader extension of

discovery.   We describe the judge's analysis on this issue in the

relevant section of the opinion.

     Now on appeal, Russo raises the following points for our

consideration:

           I.     Standard of Review.

           II. The Trial Court Improperly Granted
           Summary Judgment Because Evidence of Record
           Established Genuine Issues of Material Facts.

                  A.   The Court Erred in Dismissing Counts
                  One and Two Of Petitioner's Amended
                  Complaint.

                                       8                                A-1564-15T2
                  B.   The Court Erred in Dismissing Counts
                  Five and Six Of Petitioner's Amended
                  Complaint.

                  C.   The Court Erred in Dismissing Counts
                  Eight and Nine Of Petitioner's Amended
                  Complaint.

                  D.    The Court Erred in Dismissing
                  Counts Eleven, Twelve, And Thirteen of
                  Petitioner's Amended Complaint.

           III. The   Trial  Court   Erred  by   Denying
           Petitioner's Motion to Extend Discovery.

     A   grant    of    summary   judgment      is   reviewed   on    appeal    "in

accordance with the same standard as the motion judge."                        Globe

Motor Co. v. Igdalev, 225 N.J. 469, 479 (2016) (quoting Bhagat v.

Bhagat, 217 N.J. 22, 38 (2014)).             That standard compels summary

judgment    "if        the    pleadings,        depositions,         answers     to

interrogatories        and   admissions    on    file,    together      with    the

affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any

material fact challenged and the moving party is entitled to

judgment or order as a matter of law."               R. 4:46-2(c).     Where "the

party opposing summary judgment points only to disputed issues of

fact that are 'of an insubstantial nature,' the proper disposition

is summary judgment."        Brill v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 142
N.J. 520, 529 (1995) (quoting Judson v. People's Bank & Trust Co.

of Westfield, 17 N.J. 67, 75 (1954)).

                                      9                                   A-1564-15T2
      We agree with Judge Den Uyl's conclusions regarding the state

of   Russo's   proofs.       The   police    reports,    aerial    surveillance

reports,       certifications,        affidavits,        and       answers       to

interrogatories, do not demonstrate any material issue of fact.

Viewing the proofs in the light most favorable to Russo, it does

not appear he has any evidence that Lynch acted unlawfully.                      It

is undisputed that Lynch participated in that first February 15,

2009 meeting with Russo, the zoning officer, and police——but Lynch

did not act after that, and the meeting resulted in no adverse

consequences to Russo.        Lynch's advice to the officers to enforce

the law is not actionable.

      Russo's reliance on Jordan v. Harvey, 381 N.J. Super. 112

(App. Div. 2005), is misplaced.                  In Jordan, a police safety

director    "began   participating      in    law    enforcement    activities,

including   carrying     a   firearm,    wearing     a   police    uniform,    and

personally apprehending suspects."               Id. at 114.     We held that a

public safety director's conduct is unlawful when it includes

action limited by statute to the role played by a police officer.

Id. at 115.      Lynch's behavior did not cross that boundary.

      N.J.S.A.    40A:14-118       permits   a    municipality     to   retain    a

director of public safety to "act in all manners relating to police

function in the municipality."               The police chief is directly

responsible to the director of public safety for the "efficiency

                                       10                                 A-1564-15T2
and routine day-to-day operations" of the police force.                Ibid.

Lynch's actions were consistent with that role.               He personally

issued no complaints, nor did he direct that any be issued.               The

investigatory report calling for aerial surveillance does not

mention him.    Thus, Lynch appears to have acted well within the

boundaries of his statutorily defined role.          When the evidence is

viewed   in   the   light   most    favorable   to   Russo,   it   does   not

demonstrate a genuine issue of material fact, and Lynch is entitled

to judgment as a matter of law.

     Turning to Russo's second claim of error, on August 7, 2015,

the judge denied Russo's application to extend the discovery end

date.    We review discovery orders deferentially, subject to an

abuse of discretion standard.        State in Interest of A.B., 219 N.J.
542, 554 (2014). In denying the application, the court principally

relied upon the issuance of a February 9, 2014 case management

order, which established a July 1, 2015 discovery end date and set

a September 14 trial date.         The court observed that the case was

four years old, "absolutely no discovery" had been undertaken

before the case management order, and that the motion itself was

filed by substituted counsel past the discovery end date.           Russo's

substituted counsel entered the case after the discovery end date.

The court denied the motion in the absence of a "showing of

                                     11                              A-1564-15T2
exceptional    circumstances       and    nothing   even    bordering      on     good

cause."

       Lynch's attorney had consented to a deposition being taken

beyond the deposition end date but before the discovery end date.

No agreement existed as to a global extension of the discovery end

date, however.         In light of the age of the case, and the fact

interrogatories were not served on Lynch until after the issuance

of the case management order, shortly before the discovery end

date in a case that had been pending for four years, no abuse of

discretion occurred.

       Discovery is extended, once a trial date has been scheduled,

only upon a showing of "exceptional circumstances[.]"                      R. 4:24-

1(c).     The substitution of new counsel does not constitute the

type of extraordinary circumstances envisioned by the rule.                        See

Rivers v. LSC P'Ship, 378 N.J. Super. 68, 79 (App. Div. 2005)

(quoting Huszar v. Greate Bay Hotel & Casino, 375 N.J. Super. 463,

473-74    (App.       Div.    2005))     (holding   that     no    extraordinary

circumstances     are        present   where     "delay    rests       squarely     on

plaintiff's counsel[]"); Zadigan v. Cole, 369 N.J. Super. 123,

132,    n.8   (App.    Div.    2004)     ("For   purposes   of     a    showing     of

'exceptional circumstances,' there generally must be some showing

that the circumstances presented were clearly beyond the control

of the attorney and the litigant seeking an extension of time.").

                                         12                                 A-1564-15T2
During   the   four   years    this      matter   was    pending,   the   only

interrogatories that were served prior to May 2015 appear to be,

although the date of signature is not clear, interrogatories served

by Lynch upon Russo.          In light of the unexplained delay, no

extension   was   warranted    as   no     exceptional   circumstances    were

shown.

     Affirmed.

                                      13                              A-1564-15T2