Post by unwelcome guest on Aug 13, 2007 13:32:01 GMT -5
(On the surface, just another icky Manalapan story, but actually Freehold relevant b/c the businesses/properties involved are in the Borough. Drew Shapiro is also on the Board of Directors of the Freehold Center Partnership.)
Father says son evicting business
2 ex-mayors in Manalapan are involved
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 08/13/07
BY ALESHA
WILLIAMS BOYD
FREEHOLD BUREAU
Story Chat Post Comment
MANALAPAN — The father of a Democratic candidate for the Township Committee is accusing his son of hurting the family business, then evicting the patriarch — a claim the candidate says is aimed at smearing his political campaign.
The attorney representing the wholesale business, Heirloom 73 Jewelry, on Wednesday said former mayor Drew Shapiro fell short of his financial responsibility to the company as its vice president when he started competing jewelry businesses and began taking Heirloom's clients and suppliers.
The 30-year-old business is owned by Drew Shapiro's father, Murry Shapiro of Jackson, said the attorney, Stuart Moskovitz, also a former Manalapan mayor.
Moskovitz said Drew Shapiro, as head of Three Girls Realty, which rents Heirloom its office space, began eviction proceedings against Heirloom once the company became unable to pay the bills — a financial crisis Moskovitz said Drew Shapiro created.
"You have somebody who's vying to represent the taxpayers of Manalapan, including (the senior development) Covered Bridge, who has no qualms about evicting his 78-year-old father," Moskovitz said. "Part of what we will be doing on this case is taking action in connection with the fact that as vice president of this company, he (Drew Shapiro) had a fiduciary duty to the company and acted in violation of that duty."
The eviction hearing is expected to be held Aug. 24 in Superior Court in Freehold. Three Girls is suing Heirloom for $7,794 for June and July back rent at 6 Throckmorton St. in Freehold, according to court documents.
"I own the building," Drew Shapiro said. "The business entity has not paid rent in three months. It's a business issue."
Drew Shapiro said he had not been a vice president at Heirloom "for a while," although he would not comment on when exactly he left the position.
Moskovitz said he plans to file a motion next week that would disqualify attorney Eric Abraham as Drew Shapiro's lawyer in the suit, because, he said, Abraham has done legal work for Drew Shapiro and Heirloom in the past. Moskovitz said the defendant believes Abraham's past work gave him access to "confidential information" about Heirloom that should prevent Abraham from working on the case.
Drew Shapiro said Abraham has never worked as an attorney for Heirloom and that the claims are "outrageous" and "being made for political reasons." Both Drew Shapiro and Moskovitz are former mayors in the township. Drew Shapiro is running for a seat on the Township Committee in November.
While Drew Shapiro confirmed that he owns other jewelry businesses, he said they "absolutely and unequivocally" do not compete with his father's business.
"Somebody's doing some personal vendetta work here," Drew Shapiro said.
Drew Shapiro had requested in June that the township investigate issues involving Moskovitz, including whether the lawyer had appropriately billed the township when he served as its attorney in 2005. The Township Committee on Wednesday voted by majority to ask Moskovitz for a refund on some bills.
Another investigation into whether Moskovitz was negligent in a 2005 township land purchase has led to a lawsuit against Moskovitz that will be heard Aug. 20 in Superior Court. Moskovitz said Drew Shapiro spurred the investigation.
Moskovitz also noted that Abraham serves simultaneously as chairman of the Western Monmouth Utilities Authority Board of Commissioners and as an attorney with Hill Wallack LLP, a law firm that has a large clientele of developers. The authority, which Abraham joined before joining Hill Wallack, is responsible for considering developers' applications for sewer connection through the authority.
"People are put on the WMUA as a resident, not in a professional capacity," said Drew Shapiro, who nominated Abraham to the board when he was in office. "I don't even believe during any type of interview process their employment is brought up, other than what their occupation is."
Jeff Meyer, spokesman for the Western Monmouth Utilities Authority, said Abraham holds himself and the authority to the "highest ethical standards."
"More importantly, since serving on the authority board, Chairman Abraham has never voted on a matter involving any of his firm's clients," Meyer said. "You can take that to the bank."
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070813/NEWS/708130342
Father says son evicting business
2 ex-mayors in Manalapan are involved
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 08/13/07
BY ALESHA
WILLIAMS BOYD
FREEHOLD BUREAU
Story Chat Post Comment
MANALAPAN — The father of a Democratic candidate for the Township Committee is accusing his son of hurting the family business, then evicting the patriarch — a claim the candidate says is aimed at smearing his political campaign.
The attorney representing the wholesale business, Heirloom 73 Jewelry, on Wednesday said former mayor Drew Shapiro fell short of his financial responsibility to the company as its vice president when he started competing jewelry businesses and began taking Heirloom's clients and suppliers.
The 30-year-old business is owned by Drew Shapiro's father, Murry Shapiro of Jackson, said the attorney, Stuart Moskovitz, also a former Manalapan mayor.
Moskovitz said Drew Shapiro, as head of Three Girls Realty, which rents Heirloom its office space, began eviction proceedings against Heirloom once the company became unable to pay the bills — a financial crisis Moskovitz said Drew Shapiro created.
"You have somebody who's vying to represent the taxpayers of Manalapan, including (the senior development) Covered Bridge, who has no qualms about evicting his 78-year-old father," Moskovitz said. "Part of what we will be doing on this case is taking action in connection with the fact that as vice president of this company, he (Drew Shapiro) had a fiduciary duty to the company and acted in violation of that duty."
The eviction hearing is expected to be held Aug. 24 in Superior Court in Freehold. Three Girls is suing Heirloom for $7,794 for June and July back rent at 6 Throckmorton St. in Freehold, according to court documents.
"I own the building," Drew Shapiro said. "The business entity has not paid rent in three months. It's a business issue."
Drew Shapiro said he had not been a vice president at Heirloom "for a while," although he would not comment on when exactly he left the position.
Moskovitz said he plans to file a motion next week that would disqualify attorney Eric Abraham as Drew Shapiro's lawyer in the suit, because, he said, Abraham has done legal work for Drew Shapiro and Heirloom in the past. Moskovitz said the defendant believes Abraham's past work gave him access to "confidential information" about Heirloom that should prevent Abraham from working on the case.
Drew Shapiro said Abraham has never worked as an attorney for Heirloom and that the claims are "outrageous" and "being made for political reasons." Both Drew Shapiro and Moskovitz are former mayors in the township. Drew Shapiro is running for a seat on the Township Committee in November.
While Drew Shapiro confirmed that he owns other jewelry businesses, he said they "absolutely and unequivocally" do not compete with his father's business.
"Somebody's doing some personal vendetta work here," Drew Shapiro said.
Drew Shapiro had requested in June that the township investigate issues involving Moskovitz, including whether the lawyer had appropriately billed the township when he served as its attorney in 2005. The Township Committee on Wednesday voted by majority to ask Moskovitz for a refund on some bills.
Another investigation into whether Moskovitz was negligent in a 2005 township land purchase has led to a lawsuit against Moskovitz that will be heard Aug. 20 in Superior Court. Moskovitz said Drew Shapiro spurred the investigation.
Moskovitz also noted that Abraham serves simultaneously as chairman of the Western Monmouth Utilities Authority Board of Commissioners and as an attorney with Hill Wallack LLP, a law firm that has a large clientele of developers. The authority, which Abraham joined before joining Hill Wallack, is responsible for considering developers' applications for sewer connection through the authority.
"People are put on the WMUA as a resident, not in a professional capacity," said Drew Shapiro, who nominated Abraham to the board when he was in office. "I don't even believe during any type of interview process their employment is brought up, other than what their occupation is."
Jeff Meyer, spokesman for the Western Monmouth Utilities Authority, said Abraham holds himself and the authority to the "highest ethical standards."
"More importantly, since serving on the authority board, Chairman Abraham has never voted on a matter involving any of his firm's clients," Meyer said. "You can take that to the bank."
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070813/NEWS/708130342