Do I need a lawyer with certain experience?

[TOSK]

I'm contemplating hiring a lawyer to assist in a dispute I have with my town over the resident parking ordinance. Would you look for a "local guy" who may have dealt with these guys before or one a couple of towns over, relatively unknown? What area of law would this be?

 

[seniorjudge]

Q: Would you look for a "local guy" who may have dealt with these guys before or one a couple of towns over, relatively unknown?

A: Local.


Q: What area of law would this be?

A: Municipal law.



Also, be prepared to pay a huge sum up front to the lawyer since this sounds like a "it's the principle of the thing" case. Legal malpractice insurers caution their insureds (i.e., lawyers) to avoid such cases.

 

[TOSK]

Also, be prepared to pay a huge sum up front to the lawyer since this sounds like a "it's the principle of the thing" case.

I was worried about that myself. I would think its clear-cut but I'm not a lawyer. A few details,

In 1995, our town amended the Resident Only Parking ordinance to include our block and several others. We were designated 24 hrs a day, seven days a week. About 10 years ago, the signs on our block came down, ONLY on our block. I wasn't living at home at the time but my parents said something about business complaining. We live 1 block from a NJ Transit Train Station. One of NJ Transit's specially designated "Transit Villages". Lots and lots of train/bus commuters.

Two months ago, while researching the resident parking ordinance I discovered that our block is still part of the Resident Only Parking ordinance, 24 hrs and day, 7 days a week. Seems DPW improperly removed those signs 10 years ago. DPW refuses to discuss it with me. I wrote a letter to the councilman that oversees DPW but have not received a response.

DPW seems to ignore town ordinances and make up the rules as they go along. Late last week they put up "8 to 5 Monday thru Friday" Resident Only Parking signs. I'd have no problem with that except I would think that in order to enforce a parking ticket the signs would have to match the ordinance. I would think the ordinance has to change or the signs have to change.

I can't help but think the same DPW that improperly took down those signs (for whatever reason) is now resisting replacing those signs (for the same reason).

 

[seniorjudge]

And what are YOUR damages?

 

[TOSK]

And what are YOUR damages?

Damages? I don't want anything more than all the other resident parking streets in town have, I simply want the "resident only parking" that was denied us for 10 years.

 

[seniorjudge]

Damages? I don't want anything more than all the other resident parking streets in town have, I simply want the "resident only parking" that was denied us for 10 years.

No damages, no case.