Northern New Jersey residents have filed a class action lawsuit against Gov. Christie and others involved in the September George Washington Bridge lane closures that were reportedly done to punish the mayor of Fort Lee. Six Bergen County residents filed suit in New Jersey federal court alleging they were “deprived of life, liberty and property […]
Northern New Jersey residents have filed a class action lawsuit against Gov. Christie and others involved in the September George Washington Bridge lane closures that were reportedly done to punish the mayor of Fort Lee.
Six Bergen County residents filed suit in New Jersey federal court alleging they were “deprived of life, liberty and property for several hours” due to the roadblocks placed near the bridge from September 9 to September 13, the New York Daily News reports.
The traffic nightmare made them late for work and caused undue stress, they allege. Joy and Eli Galicki, two of those suing, commute daily to their jewelry supply business in Midtown. The Galickis said the lane closures added more than an hour to their commute and their lateness left as many as 75 employees of their business and others waiting outside their building in the morning. Galicki said she was “actually panicking.” “There were no cops. No signs. No one to direct us. It came out of nowhere. I had such anxiety my husband had to pull over so I could vomit,” the Daily News reports.
The complaint names Gov. Christie, his deputy chief of staff Bridget Anne Kelly, the state of New Jersey, the Port Authority, and former authority officials and Christie friends David Wildstein and Bill Baroni. Christie fired Kelly on Thursday and Wildstein and Baroni have resigned their Port Authority posts, according to the Daily News.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages on the grounds that the roadblocks violated their constitutional rights to due process and freedom of movement, and they claim the defendants failed to property train or supervise their employees, according to the Daily News.
The lane closures began on the first day of school, delaying school buses all over the area, and slowing emergency services response times, NJ.com reported.
The complaint names Gov. Christie, his deputy chief of staff Bridget Anne Kelly, the state of New Jersey, the Port Authority, and former authority officials and Christie friends David Wildstein and Bill Baroni. Christie fired Kelly on Thursday and Wildstein and Baroni have resigned their Port Authority posts, according to the Daily News.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages on the grounds that the roadblocks violated their constitutional rights to due process and freedom of movement, and they claim the defendants failed to property train or supervise their employees, according to the Daily News.
