'Ridiculous, Ludicrous': Bernards Township Says Of Ridge Baseball Lawsuit

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Bernards Township and the Ridge Baseball Club (RBC) expressed their happiness that a lawsuit filed against them by several homeowners has been dropped on Monday.

"This is my 27th year serving as Bernards Township's Attorney and this by far - if I had to give out a Grammy or an Oscar - was the most ridiculous lawsuit ever filed against Bernards Township," said Township Attorney John Belardo.

A group of eight homeowners filed a lawsuit against the Township and RBC on Friday claiming lighting, traffic, and noise coming from the Ridge Baseball Club Complex creates a "public nuisance." Read More: Lawsuit Filed Against Ridge Baseball Club Claiming 'Public Nuisance'

Homeowners said in a statement released to Patch that they received disrespect and harassment from some community members as a result of filing the lawsuit. As a result, they dismissed the lawsuit on Monday. Read More: Basking Ridge Residents Drop Lawsuit Against Ridge Baseball Club

"Ridge Baseball Club is thrilled that the plaintiffs have decided to dismiss the lawsuit. We cannot express enough thanks to all the community members who reached out and voiced their overwhelming support for RBC over the past week. We also want to thank our local elected officials. It was truly humbling. We are all blessed to live in a community as supportive as Basking Ridge," stated Kevin Larner, RBC’s president. "It is now time to put this entire unfortunate incident behind us and focus on what is important, the kids. The RBC Board and all the volunteers who support RBC are happy that we can now turn 100 percent of our attention to our true mission: providing the best baseball program possible to the boys and girls of Basking Ridge."

The Little League team was formed in 1959 and played on other fields in the Township before the Township gave the land to the club in 1972.

Since then four ball fields have been built and their lease was previously renewed in 1992 with a resolution commemorating the Little League.

Belardo noted that the two homeowners on Valley Road purchased their homes in the 2000s "long after the ballfields were there." And the homeowners on Fenwick Place are a new community that is still being constructed.

"Two of the homes, 7 and 10 Fenwick, are not even occupied yet as under construction," said Belardo to Patch.

"It's a tempest in a teapot," said Belardo. "People move to town knowing the little league fields were there and then complain when they hear a ball hitting a bat. It's ludicrous."

Overall, Belardo said the Township was happy the homeowners dropped the lawsuit as "it would've been a huge waste of time and money" for both the Township and RBC.

"Suing the little league is like suing mommy and apple pie. It's not American," said Belardo.

• Related: Concerns Raised Over Traffic, Lights From Ridge Baseball Club Complex
• Related: Lawsuit Filed Against Ridge Baseball Club Claiming 'Public Nuisance'
• Related: Basking Ridge Residents Drop Lawsuit Against Ridge Baseball Club

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