KMC Partner Matthew Moench was recently quoted by NJ Advance Media regarding his ongoing representation of landlords challenging an Elizabeth rent control ordinance initiated by citizen petition that caps rent increases at $20:
A coalition of landlords then filed a lawsuit, prompting Deitch to issue a stay temporarily blocking the council’s action, pending his final decision in the case, which is expected in January or February.
The landlords’ lawyer, Matthew Moench, argued the tenants’ petition was invalid. “It did not contain enough valid, compliant signatures to move the proposed ordinance forward,” Moench said.
The landlords’ suit also asserts that the council violated the state’s public meetings law. “When the City Council acted in July to restore the $20 cap, we challenged that specific ordinance because it did not comply with the Open Public Meetings Act and state statutes governing how ordinances must be adopted,” Moench said.