Overview
As a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, John concentrates his practice in the areas of municipal law, governmental defense litigation, land use and redevelopment. He has represented public entities, as well as land use applicants, for 30 years. He regularly represents national clients in processing development applications before land use boards. He also represents dozens of public entities in defending class action lawsuits, police liability claims, constitutional law challenges, and various other actions against municipalities and counties.
John has specialized in local government law for 30 years, with experience in tort claims, municipal litigation and appeals, affordable housing, employment law, municipal tax appeals, redevelopment law, eminent domain, transfer of development rights, real estate, the Open Public Records Act, the Open Public Meetings Act, land use, and entitlements, Green Acres and County Open Space programs, NJDEP regulatory law, and virtually all sections of Titles 40 and 40A of the New Jersey Statutes.
John has lectured to Joint Insurance Fund organizations, police associations, and on behalf of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Association of Counties, and the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education on such topics as federal constitutional law issues, suits brought under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983, the New Jersey Tort Claims Act, Transfer of Development Rights legislation, “Pay to Play” issues, class action lawsuits and the daily operations of local government.
Honors & Awards
- 2015 recipient of the Martin L. Haines Award, the Burlington County Bar Association’s highest honor
- 2011 recipient of the Michael A. Pane Award, given by the New Jersey State League of Municipalities and the New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys (NJILGA)
- 2010 recipient of the Fred G. Stickel Award issued by the NJILGA for excellence in local government law and the highest commitment to ethics
- One of the first-ever recipients of the International Municipal Lawyers Association Amicus Service Award. The award recognizes lawyers who have done exemplary work to protect and advance local government interests.
- Recipient of the Robert W. Criscuolo Award, presented annually by the Burlington County Bar Association to a young attorney committed to the legal profession and the community.
Professional Activities
- New Jersey State League of Municipalities (Associate Counsel)
- New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys (First Vice President)
- International Municipal Lawyers Association (Third Circuit Regional Vice President)
- Burlington County Bar Association (served two terms as a trustee)
- New Jersey Planning Officials
Community Activities
- Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice: President of the Board of Trustees (2016-2017); Trustee (2009 to 2015)
- Burlington County Chamber of Commerce: Board of Directors: (2014-Present)
- Church of St. Isaac Jogues, Evesham, NJ: Founding Trustee (1996-present)
Experience
Experience
- Serves as Municipal Attorney in three municipalities in Burlington County, and has previously served as Township Attorney to other municipalities in Burlington County.
- Successfully argued for the dismissal of a wrongful death/excessive force claim against a local municipality and five (5) police officers in Federal Court, which was upheld by the Third Circuit United States Court of Appeals.
- Represented a potential class of ninety-nine (99) municipalities in the State of New Jersey in successfully convincing the Federal District Court to dismiss a Civil Rights lawsuit arising from municipal ordinances regulating public intoxication, which decision was affirmed in a published decision by the Third Circuit United States Courts of Appeals, McMullen v. Maple Shade Twp., 643 F.3d 96, 98 (3d Cir. 2011).
- Secured land use approvals, tax advantages, and other entitlements for national clients building millions of square feet of warehouse and commercial space in New Jersey.
- Handled over one thousand (1,000) tax appeals at both the county tax board and tax court levels, in a wide range of areas, including but not limited to residential properties, shopping centers, industrial furnace facilities, golf courses, banks, warehouses and numerous other commercial, office and industrial properties.
Case Studies
August 11, 2017Decision Creates New Law Permitting Government Agencies to Interpret Open Public Records Act
Instrumental in creating and implementing New Jersey’s first and highly successful TDR program under the Burlington County Transfer of Development Rights Demonstration Act of 1989, which resulted in the permanent preservation of thousands of acres of the State’s most valuable and productive farmland.
Represented various municipalities and water providers against major oil companies in connection with the presence of MTBE contamination in New Jersey groundwater.
Represented nine municipalities, and served as liaison counsel for a group of 25 municipal/government potentially responsible parties (“PRPs”), defended a complaint filed by the NJDEP against over 200 defendants for landfill cleanup.
News
News & Speaking Engagements
Articles
Articles
- Parker McCay Blog, January 25, 2017
Opinions and Decisions
Opinions and Decisions
Federal Court Decisions
Patterson v. Strippoli/Borough of Lindenwold, 2014 U.S. Dist. LECIS 153120 Civil Action No.12-cv-04688-RBK-KMW; Aff’d in part, Reversed in part and Remanded, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS _____ (3d Circuit)
Gunter v. Lumberton Township, et al, 2013 U.S. APP. LEXIS 15735 (3d Cir.); Civil Action No. 07-cv-4839-NLH-KM
McMullen v. Maple Shade Twp., 643 F.3d 96, 98 (3d Cir. 2011); Civil Action No. 09-4476
In Re: World Trade Center Disaster Site Litigation, 2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 6222 (U.S. Court of Appeals-Second Circuit: Amicus CuriaeBrief on behalf of the International Municipal Lawyers Association in support of the positions of the City of New York)
832 Corp., Inc., et al v. Gloucester Twp., 404 F. Supp. 2d 614 (U.S. D.N.J., 2006) View
Sinclair v. Maple Shade Twp., 905 F. Supp. 208 (D.N.J. 1995) View
State Court Decisions
Paff v. New Jersey State Firemen's Ass'n, 431 N.J. Super. 278 (App. Div. 2012) (Association subject to OPRA) View
Fay v. Township of Medford, et al, 423 N.J. Super. 81 (Law Div. 2011) (approved for publication October 31, 2011) View
City of Atlantic City v. Zacharias Trupos, et al, 201 N.J. 447 (Amicus Brief on behalf of New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys) View
Cinnaminson Township v. Bertino & Fantasy Gifts, et al, 405 N.J. Super. 521 (App. Div. 2008) View
Centex Homes, LLC v. Township Committee of the Township of Mansfield, 372 N.J. Super. 186 (Law Div. 2004) View
Newberry v. Township of Pemberton, 319 N.J. Super. 671 (App. Div. 1999) View
K.D. v. Bozarth, 313 N.J. Super. 561, 568 (App. Div. 1998), cert. denied 156 N.J. 425 (1998) View
Estate of Richard I. Wood, III v. Township of Florence, et al., 302 N.J. Super. 371 (App. Div. 1997) View
Brinkley v. Western World, et al., 292 N.J. Super. 134 (App. Div. 1996) (brief submitted on behalf of New Jersey State League of Municipalities as amicus curiae) View
Keuerleber v. Township of Pemberton, 260 N.J. Super. 544 (App. Div. 1992) View
Madden v. Delran Township, 126 N.J. 591 (1992) View
State v. Owczarski, 236 N.J. Super. 52 (Law Div. 1989) View
Cinnaminson Motel Owner’s Association v. Township of Cinnaminson, 231 N.J. Super. 163 (Law Div. 1987) View
Practice Areas
Education
- Villanova University School of Law (J.D., 1980)
- Trinity College, Connecticut (B.A., 1977)
Admissions
- New Jersey
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York