National Amusements, Inc. v. New Jersey Turnpike Authority

645 A.2d 1194, 275 N.J. Super. 134, 1994 N.J. Super. LEXIS 338
CourtNew Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division
DecidedJuly 1, 1994
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 645 A.2d 1194 (National Amusements, Inc. v. New Jersey Turnpike Authority) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
National Amusements, Inc. v. New Jersey Turnpike Authority, 645 A.2d 1194, 275 N.J. Super. 134, 1994 N.J. Super. LEXIS 338 (N.J. Ct. App. 1994).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

With the following caveat, we affirm the summary judgment dismissing counts two, three and four of the amended complaint substantially for the reasons expressed by Judge Alvin Weiss in his opinion published at 261 N.J.Super. 468, 619 A.2d 262 (Law Div.1992). Judge Weiss considered the impact of the Tort Claims Act “[ajssuming arguendo” that summary judgment was not otherwise appropriate. 261 N.J.Super. at 480, 619 A.2d 262. He found the claims barred thereunder by virtue of the “discretionary acts” immunity, N.J.S.A 59:3-2, the “execution or enforcement of laws” immunity, N.J.S.A 59:3-3, and the “misrepresentation” immunity, N.J.S.A 59:3-10. Id. at 480-81, 619 A.2d 262. We [136]*136agree with his conclusion that the acts were “discretionary,” see Kolitch v. Lindedahl, 100 N.J. 485, 495-96, 497 A.2d 183 (1985); Costa v. Josey, 83 N.J. 49, 55, 415 A.2d 337 (1980). We therefore need not decide if the defendants’ conduct relative to the acquisition, of real property, under N.J.S.A, 27:23-5(j), involves “execution or enforcement of laws” within the meaning of N.J.S.A. 59:3-3. Nor need we consider whether defendants’ communications necessarily embodied a “misrepresentation,” as opposed to a “representation” of then-present fact or intent, for purposes of N.J.S.A. 59:3-10.

Plaintiff also appeals from the dismissal of the first count of its amended complaint seeking damages for inverse condemnation, which is not a subject of the published opinion. Plaintiff contends that the Turnpike Authority “accomplished a temporary inverse taking of 8.74 acres” of plaintiffs property, and that the “inverse taking ... was a substantial factor in bringing about National’s loss.” It therefore challenges the June 23, 1993 summary judgment for defendants entered on count one.

Before the Turnpike Authority announced its intention to take plaintiffs property, plaintiff had obtained site plan approval and a building permit to build a twelve screen theatre. The parties stipulated that “[o]n or before May 5, 1985, Plaintiff commenced construction of a 12 screen indoor theatre complex on the 18.74 acre tract of the former site of the Newark Drive-In Theatre.”

According to plaintiff, on May 15,1985 it was informally advised by defendants that its entire 18.74 acre tract would probably be condemned, but as a result of discussions commencing on May 30, 1985 plaintiff was told that only 8.74 acres would be taken.1 The [137]*137subsequent written communications between the parties are detailed in Judge Weiss’s opinion, 261 N.J.Super. at 471-72, 619 A.2d 262. Defendants advised plaintiff not to develop the property in any way, or to do so without expectation of compensation for the enhanced value. According to the parties’ stipulation, “[o]n or before September 16,1985” plaintiff suspended construction of the twelve theatre complex and commenced “seeking to obtain approval for construction of a 10 screen indoor theatre complex on approximately 10 acres of the site.” In essence, plaintiff declined to follow the defendants’ advice and proceeded with its scaled down construction plans.

Plaintiff claims it did not construct on the portion of the property which the Turnpike actually threatened to condemn. It asserts that its decision to seek and obtain, as it did in December 1985, revised site plan approval for a scaled down ten screen theatre on ten acres of its property was premised on communications from defendant Authority relative to the property actually to be taken. Its efforts to build, however, were delayed while a necessary sanitary landfill disruption permit authorizing the construction was obtained from the Department of Environmental Protection and Energy.2 The permit was not obtained until September 7, 1990, after which actual construction of the ten theatre complex was commenced. In the interim, in February 1990 the Turnpike Authority abandoned its plans for the widening project which included the need to condemn plaintiffs property, and on March 14, 1990 the Authority notified plaintiff to that effect. Plaintiff ultimately obtained permits to complete construction of a twelve theatre complex on the balance of the 18.74 acre tract.

[138]*138Before us, plaintiff does not contend that the defendants’ action or inaction constituted a “taking” of the entire tract until the Authority’s final decision was rendered. Plaintiff seeks no compensation for the ten acres on which the ten screen complex was ultimately constructed or for any delay incident to its construction. Rather, plaintiff asserts that there was an inverse condemnation of 8.74 acres, that portion of the parcel plaintiff essentially abandoned as a result of the Turnpike’s communications. Plaintiff so argues notwithstanding that defendants’ written communications advising plaintiff not to develop its property pending finalization of the Authority’s plans were not so limited.

Plaintiff contends there are facts which reflect actual threats affecting its beneficial use of this portion of the property and points out that our Supreme Court has recognized that there can be a “non-invasive” taking which may occur when there is an “ ‘actual or threatened interference with the use of the property of such a permanent, serious or continuing nature to justify the conclusion that a ‘taking1 had occurred.’ ” Littman v. Gimello, 115 N.J. 154, 166, 557 A.2d 314 (emphasis added), cert. denied 493 U.S. 934, 110 S.Ct. 324, 107 L.Ed.2d 314 (1989), quoting Kingston East Realty Co. v. State of N.J., 133 N.J.Super. 234, 240, 336 A.2d 40 (App.Div.1975). See also Washington Market Enterprises, Inc. v. City of Trenton, 68 N.J. 107, 122, 343 A.2d 408 (1975) (“the threat of condemnation” can constitute a taking where it “has had such a substantial effect as to destroy the beneficial use that a landowner has made of his property”). But Littman also recognized that “[government plans ordinarily do not constitute invasion or taking of property.” Littman v. Gimello, supra, 115 N.J. at 161, 557 A.2d 314, citing Danforth v. United States, 308 U.S. 271, 60 S.Ct. 231, 84 L.Ed. 240 (1939).

Littman dealt with declarations that plaintiffs’ properties were potential sites for a hazardous-waste facility. Plaintiffs claimed that a “taking” occurred because of the delays incident to the testing and evaluation process before ultimate site selection was made. The Court declined under the circumstances to deal with

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NAT. AMUSE. v. NJ Turnpike Auth.
645 A.2d 1194 (New Jersey Superior Court App Division, 1994)

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Bluebook (online)
645 A.2d 1194, 275 N.J. Super. 134, 1994 N.J. Super. LEXIS 338, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/national-amusements-inc-v-new-jersey-turnpike-authority-njsuperctappdiv-1994.