Bergen Residents' Bridgegate Lawsuit Delay Denied, Judge Rules: Report

A lawsuit filed by Fort Lee businesses and residents who were inconvenienced by the George Washington Bridge lane closures in 2013 may proceed concurrently with the government’s criminal case against two former Governor Christie staffers, a federal judge has ruled.

The judge denied the government’s request to delay the lawsuit, the Associated Press reported. The lawsuit claims the lane closings were politically motivated as a way of getting back at Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, who did not endorse Christie for re-election. The U.S. attorney’s office had sought to delay the lawsuit until the criminal case was resolved, the report states.

Residents and business owners filed the lawsuit nearly two years ago.

Bill Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie’s former deputy chief of staff, were indicted earlier this year on nine counts of conspiracy, fraud and related charges, related to the lane closures.