The Appellate Division of New Jersey Superior Court approved a $4.8 million judgment against LeFrak Organization heir Jamie LeFrak on Monday in a condominium development fraud lawsuit.
LeFrak was accused of defrauding 16 owners of condominium units at Shore South at 20 Newport Parkway in Jersey City. The developer was constructing a high-rise in front of the complex, blocking the “unparalleled waterfront views” that the new tenants claimed salespeople had promised.
LeFrak filed an appeal of a jury award in 2011, arguing that the lawyer for the condo owners unfairly depicted him as a wealthy “blowhard.” A three-judge panel said the lawyer’s remarks were fair given the evidence, the New York Post reported.
“While the term ‘blowhard’ may have been ill-advised, it clearly referenced LeFrak’s bragging and boasting about the ‘surprising views’ … at the same time plans were moving ahead to build the 31-story Aquablu,” the judges said.
In 2011, the judge also ordered LeFrak and his firm to pay $1 million in legal fees, as previously reported. [NYP] — Mark Maurer