Second Meeting Set As Flooded Brick Residents Weigh Lawsuit

BRICK, NJ — Homeowners who suffered flooding in the Aug. 13 storm that resulted in a deluge of water in Brick and neighboring areas are invited to a meeting Wednesday night to explore possible legal options.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 8 Vaughn Court in the Greenbriar 1 neighborhood, organizers said.

The meeting was the result of miscommunication that followed a pair of meetings held last Saturday at the Greenbriar 1 clubhouse with attorneys presenting information on how those whose properties were damaged in the August flooding might proceed.

Nearly 8 inches of rain fell in a localized burst and sent as much as 4 feet of water into homes, particularly those near the Garden State Parkway interchange at Exit 91, where work to expand the Parkway and reconfigure the exit was completed earlier this year.

More than 100 homes in Greenbriar 1 had to be evacuated, and many of those residents have yet to return to their homes.

Meetings with two law firms last Saturday led to vastly different suggestions on how to proceed.

Some residents, however, received conflicting information about the meetings. One, at 10 a.m., was with attorneys from Stark and Stark, which has battled New Jersey government entities in court in the past. The second, at 1 p.m..,was with attorneys from the Becker law firm, which works with community associations. Some residents allegedly received information that deterred them from attending the 10 a.m. meeting.

Wednesday night's meeting "will focus on the specifics regarding individual's rights, the detailed litigation process, review of past similar cases and their various outcomes, etc. As an open forum, this meeting will focus on ensuring everyone in attendance has a better understanding so that they may form their own opinions and decide what is best for them and their families," organizers said.

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Photo via Brick Township police shows the Greenbriar 1 flooding