Representative Matters

2017 AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA V. JACKSON TOWNSHIP, N.J. AL MADANY ISLAMIC CENTER OF NORWALK, INC. V. CITY OF NORWALK, CONN. ALBANIAN ASSOCIATED FUND V. TOWNSHIP OF WAYNE, N.J. AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE V. PRISON FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES BAIS BRUCHA V. TOWNSHIP OF TOMS RIVER BENSALEM MASJID V. BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA BERKOWITZ V. EAST RAMAPO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, N.Y. BETHEL WORLD OUTREACH MINISTRIES V. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD. BIKUR CHOLIM, INC. V. VILLAGE OF SUFFERN, N.Y. BUDDHIST EDUCATION CENTER OF AMERICA, INC., V. CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF TOMS RIVER V. TOWNSHIP OF TOMS RIVER, N.J. CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHAPEL WESLEYAN CHURCH V. TOWNSHIP OF HILLSBOROUGH CONAWAY V. DEANE CONGREGATION ARIEL RUSSIAN COMMUNITY SYNAGOGUE V. BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD. CONGREGATION HEICHEL DOVID CONGREGATION KOLLEL, INC. V. TOWNSHIP OF HOWELL, N.J. CONGREGATION MISCHKNOIS LAVIER YAKOV V. BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE VILLAGE OF AIRMONT, N.Y. CONGREGATION RABBINICAL COLLEGE OF TARTIKOV V. VILLAGE OF POMONA, N.Y. COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH ARCHDIOCESE OF NORTH AMERICA V. ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT OF TOWNSHIP OF CEDAR GROVE, N.J. DAYALBAGH RADHASOAMI SATSANG ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA V. TOWNSHIP OF OLD BRIDGE, N.J. EAGLE COVE CAMP & CONFERENCE CENTER V. TOWN OF WOODBORO, WISC. FAITH TEMPLE CHURCH V. TOWN OF BRIGHTON, N.Y. FIRST PENTECOSTAL UNITED HOLY CHURCH V. CITY OF CHESAPEAKE, VIRGINIA FISHERMEN OF MEN CHURCH, APPLICATION OF, D.C. GREAT LAKES SOCIETY V. GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP, MICH. GREENWICH REFORM SYNAGOGUE V. TOWN OF GREENWICH, CONN. GURU GOBIND SINGH SIKH CENTER V. TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, N.Y. HARBOR MISSIONARY CHURCH V. CITY OF SAN BUENAVENTURA, CAL. HINDU TEMPLE AND CULTURAL SOCIETY OF USA V. BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, N.J. HUNT VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH V. BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD. HUNT VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH V. BALTIMORE COUNTY JESUS CHRIST IS THE ANSWER MINISTRIES V. BALTIMORE COUNTY KELLEY, THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, AND THE GOVERNING BODY COMMISSION V. GARUDA MOXLEY V. TOWN OF WALKERSVILLE, MD. NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AMISH RELIGIOUS FREEDOM NAVAJO NATION V. UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP V. TOWNSHIP OF BRICK PARAMESWARAN V. MYSOREKAR RIVERDALE BAPTIST CHURCH V. ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD. ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN CHURCH V. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BOULDER COUNTY SAHANSRA V. WESTCHESTER COUNTY HEALTH CARE CORPORATION SPIRIT OF ALOHA TEMPLE V. COUNTY OF MAUI ST. JOHN UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST V. INDIANAPOLIS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION, IND. ST. JOHN´S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST V. CITY OF CHICAGO THAI MEDITATION ASSOCIATION OF ALABAMA V. CITY OF MOBILE PLANNING COMMISSION THIRD CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST V. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEW BOARD TROTMAN V. BEN GILMAN SPRING VALLEY MEDICAL AND DENTAL CLINIC VALLEY CHABAD V. BOROUGH OF WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. YESHIVA GEDOLA NA'OS YAAKOV V. OCEAN TWP., N.J.

Hindu Temple and Cultural Society of USA v. Bridgewater Township, N.J.

05/09/2009: Bridgewater Township, N.J.

Notice of Decision published, Courier News.

05/03/2009: “After long legal battle, Hindu temple in Bridgewater wins expansion approval”

After a five-year battle with the Bridgewater zoning board, the Sri Venkateswara Hindu Temple has won approval for a major expansion of its facility, despite resistance from the township and neighboring residents.

The Sri Venkateswara Temple retained Storzer & Greene -- a high-profile, Washington law firm that specializes in religious land-use cases throughout the United States -- and filed a lawsuit in 2007.

David Giambusso, The Star-Ledger (May 3, 2009)

04/29/2009: Hindu Temple and Cultural Center to build cultural center, priest housing, temple expansion

“This is an important day for religious freedom,” said Temple attorney Roman P. Storzer. “The efforts of both the Temple and the Township have led to a result that works for everyone. Our clients have long awaited this moment to serve their community.”

The Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of USA has the Board of Adjustment go-ahead to expand, ending a five-year standoff on the project. The Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a resolution outlining the conditions of the project at Route 202-206 and Old Farm Road during a meeting Tuesday night.

Read S&G’s media release here. Read more information here.

03/26/2008: Bridgewater, N.J. zoning board of adjustment approves memorandum of understanding with S&G client Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of USA

"Although it is unfortunate that the Temple was forced to seek redress in the courts, a just result will hopefully be reached soon,” said Temple attorney Roman P. Storzer. “The Temple looks forward to being able to provide religious programs to its members, to co-exist harmoniously with its neighbors, and to put this four-year saga behind it."

For further information, see our press release.

Hindu temple expansion in Bridgewater may be allowed, Ralph Ortega, The Star-Ledger (March 26, 2008).

01/29/2008: The Star-Ledger reports on the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center litigation

A plan to significantly expand the temple's complex, located off Route 206 at Old Farm Road, has been stalled before the township board of adjustment for nearly four years. The most controversial element of the plan, a bid to more than double the size of the temple's 9,800-square-foot cultural center, has been rejected by the board three times.

The temple has argued the cultural center is integral to the practice of Hinduism. In July 2007, the temple [represented by S&G] filed a federal case claiming violations of the First and 14th Amendments, as well as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.

Under the terms of the proposed agreement, the temple would be allowed to build a 20,500-square-foot cultural center, but would have to agree to a 10-year moratorium on expansion.

"Hindu temple close to settling suit", Page 2 The Star-Ledger (Jan. 29, 2008).

08/25/2007: Temple expansion fight lands in U.S. court

BRIDGEWATER -- Members of the Hindu Temple & Cultural Center are going to a higher authority -- federal court -- with a lawsuit seeking expansion of their temple.

Attorneys for the center filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court, Newark.

The federal court is a more appropriate venue to settle civil-rights claims," said Roman P. Storzer, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney representing the temple. Storzer plans to fight the Board of Adjustment, which denied expansion plans, on two fronts: the First Amendment (freedom of religion) and the Religious Land Use Protection Act, a federal statute that allows the right to practice religion to override some land-use laws.

"Temple expansion fight lands in U.S. court," Kara Richardson, The Courier News (July 25, 2007).

Read more about the Temple's efforts in Hindu temple trying new legal remedy, Nyier Abdou, The Star-Ledger (May 17, 2007).

07/23/2007: S&G filed suit today on behalf of the Hindu Temple and Cultural Society of USA against the Township of Bridgewater, New Jersey

The lawsuit challenges the Township's repeated refusal to allow the Temple to build a cultural center on the Temple's 23 acre property in order to house its religious programs. Even though a majority of the Township's zoningboard voted to permit the cultural center, a supermajority vote was required. The action was filed in federal district court in order to preserve its rights under the First Amendment and the Religious Land Use andInstitutionalized Persons Act of 2000 ("RLUIPA"). More information soon.