Judge Denies Grant's Lawsuit to Remove Leibman as Attorney

A Bergen County Superior Court judge has ruled against Councilwoman Hedy Grant's lawsuit to remove Marc Leibman as borough attorney in a March 19 ruling.

The decision came days after attorneys for Grant, Leibman, Mayor Ann Subrizi and the borough argued before Judge Joseph Conte the merits of Grant's lawsuit.

Conte's one-page decision stated that Grant's Order to Show Cause "seeking temporary restrains and the invalidation of the appointment of municipal attorney is hereby denied."

Grant's lawsuit, which was filed in February, called for the court to invalidate the appointment of Borough Attorney Marc Leibman on the basis that his prior representation of Councilman Austin Ashley regarding the potential development of the United Water property by the S. Hekemian Group created a conflict of interest.

The crux of Grant's suit is that during the January 7 reorganization meeting, Ashley nominated Leibman to serve as borough attorney although Lisa Aljian's name had appeared on the agenda. Leibman had been representing Ashley during the ongoing Hekemian hearings before the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Since his appointment to borough attorney, he has withdrawn from serving as Ashley's attorney in the matter of the United Water property.

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