STATE OF NEW JERSEY, BY THE DEP VS. ARTHUR WILLIAMS III (L-2951-16, OCEAN COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) ( 2020 )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the
internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
DOCKET NO. A-1484-17T4
STATE OF NEW JERSEY, BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
ARTHUR WILLIAMS III, 1
Defendant-Appellant.
___________________________________
Argued February 3, 2020 – Decided April 16, 2020
Before Judges Fasciale, Rothstadt and Moynihan.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
Division, Ocean County, Docket No. L-2951-16.
Arthur Williams III, appellant, argued the cause pro se.
George G. Frino argued the cause for respondent
(DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin, LLP, attorneys;
Michael J. Ash, of counsel and on the brief; Gregory J.
Hazley, on the brief).
1
The pro se appellant mislabeled his caption to read Williams v. DEP.
PER CURIAM
Defendant appeals from an October 13, 2017 order authorizing the
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to exercise its power of eminent
domain.2 Defendant is a property owner who responded to DEP's complaint by
offering access to his property, but refusing to grant an easement. The judge
rendered a final judgment granting DEP the authority to take the easement for
shore protection.
On appeal, defendant argues:
POINT I
ARBITRARY [AND] CAPRICIOUS –
[DEFENDANT] HAS OFFERED THE NJ DEP, VIA A
LETTER TO GOVERNOR CHRISTIE, . . . AND VIA
THE ANSWER AND ORAL ARGUMENT AT THE
TRIAL, ACCESS AT NO CHARGE TO AND UPON
HIS PROPERTY FOR PURPOSES OF CARRYING
OUT THE COASTAL STORM DAMAGE
REDUCTION "PROJECT." THEREFORE THE
TAKING OF HIS PROPERTY IS UNNECESSARY,
ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS AND THE
TAKING MUST BE DENIED.
2
We listed this appeal back-to-back with State v. 3.814 Acres of Land in the
Borough of Point Pleasant Beach, State v. 10.041 Acres of Land in the Borough
of Point Pleasant Beach, and State v. .808 Acres of Land in the Borough of Point
Pleasant Beach (collectively Risden's); sixty-three consolidated cases known as
State v. 1 Howe Street Bay Head, LLC (Howe); and New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection v. Midway Beach Condominium Ass'n (Midway).
On this date, we issued opinions in Howe, Risden's, and Midway.
A-1484-17T4
2
POINT II
SUMMARY JUDGMENT – [DEFENDANT] MADE A
BROAD OFFER OF COOPERATION TO THE DEP
WHICH GAVE THE DEP THE ACCESS IT NEEDED
TO CARRY OUT THE PROJECT. [THE] DEP DID
NOT ACCEPT THE OFFER OR ATTEMPT TO
MODIFY IT AND DUE TO ITS FAILURE TO
RESPOND, ITS CASE SHOULD BE DISMISSED ON
A SUMMARY BASIS AS REQUESTED IN THE
[DEFENDANT'S] ANSWER.
POINT III
NON-EXISTENT EASEMENT – THE DEP MAY
WELL HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE EXISTING
RIGHTS OF WAY OR EASEMENTS BUT IT
CANNOT TAKE SUCH RIGHTS IF THEY DO NOT
EXIST.
POINT VI
FURTHER TO [POINT III] REGARDING NON-
EXISTENT EASEMENTS, GIVEN THE DEP'S
RELIANCE ON A NON-EXISTENT EASEMENT,
THE TAKING IS ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS.
POINT V
GRANTOR-LESS GRANT OF EASEMENT. THE
FINAL EASEMENT THE DEP CREATED AND
TOOK WAS IN THE FORM OF A GRANTED
EASEMENT BUT IT HAD NO GRANTOR, NOR DID
THIS EASEMENT CONTAIN ANY CLUES AS TO
HOW IT CAME TO LIFE OR HOW IT COULD HAVE
ANY VALIDITY. THUS THE TAKING SHOULD BE
DENIED.
A-1484-17T4
3
POINT VI
CASP – THE SUPERIOR COURT APPELLATE
DIVISION SUPPORTS THE CIVIL APPEALS
SETTLEMENT PROGRAM. THE SUPERIOR
COURT SHOULD HAVE ACCEPTED
[DEFENDANT'S] OPENNESS TO THIS OR
SIMILAR PROGRAMS, WHICH MIGHT HAVE
RESULTED IN A SETTLEMENT AND THUS
AVOIDED THIS APPEAL.
POINT VII
NON-RESPONSE – THE FUNDAMENTAL REASON
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF COURTS IS TO REVIEW
ISSUES BROUGHT BEFORE THEM. I BELIEVE
THE SUPERIOR COURT ERRED IN NOT
ADDRESSING AND RESPONDING TO THE
ISSUES OF:
[A.] NON-EXISTENT EASEMENT
[B.] CONTRACT, GRANT OR OTHER METHOD OF
CREATING AN EASEMENT
[C.] REQUEST FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
[D.] APPELLANT'S INTEREST IN ADL, CASP OR
OTHER NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT.
I SEE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT FOR THIS COURT
TO REMAND THESE MATTERS TO THE
SUPERIOR COURT.
POINT VIII
INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY – THE
JUDICIARY MUST PROTECT THE PEOPLE FROM
A-1484-17T4
4
EACH OTHER BUT IT MUST ALSO PROTECT
THEM FROM THE STATE. WHEN THE STATE IS
OVERREACHING OR THE JUDICIARY IS
FAILING TO MAINTAIN ITS INDEPENDENCE,
THE JUDICIARY MUST CORRECT THE STATE OR
ITSELF.
POINT IX
DEATH OF EMINENT DOMAIN IN NJ – WHILE
OUR FOCUS TODAY IS ON [THIS SPECIFIC
CASE], THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CASE FAR
EXCEEDS THE METES AND BOUNDS OF 359
EAS[T] AVENUE IN BAY HEAD. EMINENT
DOMAIN IS ON THE VERGE OF EXTINCTION IN
NEW JERSEY AND IT MUST BE SAVED.
We conclude defendant's arguments lack sufficient merit to warrant attention in
a written opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E). We add the following brief remarks.
In November 2016, DEP filed a verified complaint against Arthur
Williams III and Sandra C. Williams,3 owners of beachfront property in Bay
Head, New Jersey. The Williamses offered access to their property but denied
an easement. The Williamses filed for summary judgment, which the judge
denied. In June 2017, DEP filed an amended verified complaint. On October
13, 2017, the judge entered final judgment and appointed commissioners.
DEP has broad condemnation powers and may create an easement or other
3
Sandra Williams is not participating in the appeal.
A-1484-17T4
5
interest in property. State v. North Beach 1003, LLC, 451 N.J. Super. 214, 240
(App. Div. 2017). DEP's "discretion will not be interfered with by the courts in the
absence of fraud, bad faith or circumstances revealing arbitrary or capricious action."
Tex. E. Transmission Corp. v. Wildlife Preserves, Inc., 48 N.J. 261, 269 (1966).
Here, defendant has made no showing of fraud, bad faith, or arbitrary or capricious
action. There is no basis for interfering with DEP's properly exercised discretion.
Defendant argues that the judge conferred in chambers with DEP's counsel
while counsel for other defendants and this pro se defendant watched in silence. At
the hearing's conclusion on October 13, 2017, the judge invited DEP's counsel into
chambers to discuss issues pertaining to the condemnation commissioners. Defense
counsel for other defendants in the back-to-back matters, and this defendant did not
object or voice concern about the judge conferring with DEP's counsel.
Defendant contends the commissioners hired by the State owe allegiance to
the State, and therefore they should not be permitted to determine just compensation.
We disagree. To ensure fairness and lack of bias, the commissioners must take an
oath to "faithfully and impartially" perform their duties, and to "make a true
award to the best of their skills and understanding." N.J.S.A. 20:3-12.
Additionally, defendant has not presented evidence of bias.
Affirmed.
A-1484-17T4
6