In a March 24, 2015 written opinion, on-line here, Ocean County Superior Court Assignment Judge Vincent J. Grasso ordered the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office to pay an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requestor’s attorney $21,799.56 in fees and costs.

Attorney Walter M. Luers of Clinton, the recipient of the fee award, represented requestor Shabsi Ganzweig in his lawsuit against Lakewood Township and the Prosecutor’s office.  Judge Grasso ruled that Luers was entitled to $18,018 in attorney fees (57.2 hours at $315 per hour), plus costs of $398.46 and a “contingency enhancement” of $3,383.10.

Ganzweig had sought police reports and dash-camera recordings regarding two August 31, 2013 traffic stops.  A copy of Judge Grasso’s October 2, 2014 decision in that case is on-line here.

Chairman of the New Jersey Libertarian Party's Open Government Advocacy Project. Please send all comments to paff@pobox.com