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Eric D. Herschmann, David J. Abrams


New York, NY, September 1, 2009 - The law firm of Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP announced that it filed a lawsuit yesterday in New Jersey Superior Court, Bergen County, on behalf of nationally syndicated journalist and author Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and his wife Deborah Boteach, seeking an injunction to stop the Libyan government's ongoing illegal construction at its Englewood, New Jersey property, which is interfering with the Boteach family's use and enjoyment of their neighboring home. 

The lawsuit also seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as a result of, among other things, the Libyans' unauthorized removal of at least 10 trees and a fence from the Boteach property.  The Boteach complaint names as defendants: the Libyan Government, Col. Moammar Qaddafi, the Libyan U.N. Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi, as well as the construction contractor retained for the work on the Libyan property, Quattro Construction Management, and its owner, Sal Dunia.

The Boteach lawsuit alleges, among other things, that the Libyan government is carrying out extensive unauthorized renovations and other construction at its Englewood property, including the planned building of a huge tent, in anticipation of a visit by Col. Qaddafi for the September opening of the United Nations General Assembly.  The complaint alleges that this construction poses a safety and security risk to Rabbi Boteach's family and neighbors and that the Libyan Government's actions constitute public and private nuisance, trespass, negligence and conversion of Rabbi Boteach's property.  

While there have been reports that the Libyan Government has bowed to tremendous local opposition and agreed not to build the planned tent on the Libyan property in Englewood, the construction work at the property continues.