CAMDEN, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A bi-state commission between New York and New Jersey is seeking to stop New Jersey from withdrawing from it.
Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor filed a complaint on Jan. 16 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against Philip Murphy, in his official capacity as governor of New Jersey, seeking declaratory judgment and preliminary and permanent injunction.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff is seeking to prevent Murphy from taking any action or implementing New Jersey Senate Bill No. 3502, "which Gov. Chris Christie signed into law on Jan. 15, 2018, and which would unilaterally and illegally withdraw New Jersey from a bi-lateral compact with New York state and dissolve the (plaintiff) commission created by that compact."
The plaintiff alleges it was established in 1953 and its mandate is "to investigate, deter, combat and remedy criminal activity and influence in the Port of New York and New Jersey, and to ensure fair hiring and employment practices," the suit states.
The plaintiff alleges New Jersey lacks the power to withdraw from the commission.
The plaintiff seeks declaration that the New Jersey Law is invalid, void and without force and effect, enjoin the defendant from implementing or enforcing the New Jersey law, and any further relief the court grants. It is represented by Lawrence R. Sandak, Michael A. Cardozo, Jordan B. Leader and John E. Roberts of Proskauer Rose LLP in Newark, New Jersey.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey case number 2:18-cv-00650-SDW-LDW