American Dream target of suit
Paramus asking for blue laws enforcement
By: Daniel Munoz
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... Paramus home to three shopping malls and a slew of outdoor strip malls, is suing American Dream over its decision to stay open Sundays in spite of Bergen County's blue laws.
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In the four-count suit filed in Bergen County court, Paramus is suing the mall's developers, Ameram, as well as Bergen County and East Rutherford, where the mall is based, and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which owns the land the mall sits on, asking that the judge order them to enforce compliance with the blue laws.
..... In the suit, Paramus officials are also seeking escalating disorderly persons fines that could cost American Dream thousands of dollars per violation, though the total amount is not immediately clear.
..... Paramus is also seeking a declaration that the mall's Sunday retail operations are "a public nuisance and can be shut down."
..... The blue laws prohibits the sale of nonessential items such as furniture, appliances and clothing within Bergen County on Sundays.
..... The restrictions, in place since the 17th century, do exempts some services, including groceries and drug stores. They've been upheld at the polls by county voters. Supporters see the bans as offering a welcome respite from North Jersey's shopping and traffic overload.
..... NorthJersey.com that American Dream was not following the blue laws for almost a year.
..... According to the suit, the mall has 120 stores pone on Sundays, and has publicly advertised that the stores are in operation on that day, such as on a large billboard on the side of the mall.
..... The mall has argued that because it is on state-owned land, it's not bound by the blue laws, for the same reason that one could buy Jets and Giants T-shirts at MetLIfe Stadium during a Sunday football game.
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Paramus officials vowed for months that they would file a suit against American Dream to force it to acquiesce and close nonessential retail on Sundays.
..... American Dream executives promised for years that the mall would follow the blue laws. The NJSEA deficient to take a stance on whether the mall actually should be fully open on Sundays, and instead opted for the matter to be taken up by the courts.
..... In a statement, American Dream called the lawsuit "a merit-less political stunt driven by private competitors' interest."
..... "We look forward to our day in court," the American Dream statement said.
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Officials of Bergen County and East Rutherford did not return request for comment, but both have publicly condemned American Dream's violation of the blue laws.
..... Court records do not list any counter-filings by American Dream, the NJSEA, Bergen County or East Rutherford.