Toms River approves politically connected eminent domain contract
“A no-bid contract to a politically connected law firm was approved Tuesday night by the Township Council to handle eminent domain proceedings against landowners who refuse to allow sand dunes to be built on their properties post-superstorm Sandy.
The contract is retroactive to Aug. 15 and ends Dec. 31. The rate to hire the firm of DiFrancesco, Bateman, Coley, Yospin, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum of Warren is $195 per hour for attorney fees and $75 per hour for paralegal services, with the total amount appropriated not to exceed $75,000 come New Year’s Eve.
Former Gov. Donald T. DiFrancesco, a principal in the firm, was the last Republican governor of New Jersey before Gov. Chris Christie and he also served as state Senate president. Christopher S. “Kip” Bateman, a sitting Republican state senator from Somerville, also is a partner in the firm.”
Larsen, Erik. Asbury Park Press 28 August 2013.