Edison Files Suit To Collect Over $300K In Construction Code Fines From Resident

EDISON, NJ — The township filed a lawsuit against a resident over building code violations and fines on a township property dating back to 2015.

Edison has asked the Municipal court to enforce the judgment in the total amount of $303,428.57, plus interest and costs.

The suit, filed last week, names Yun Ding Zheng, resident of 1582 Route 27, Edison, as the defendant.

According to the lawsuit, Zheng was issued a Notice and Order of Penalty for construction code violations on April 29, 2015. Zheng was cited by the township for an unsafe structure and imminent hazard.

A reinspection on the worksite found that the violation was not remedied and a stop construction order was issued.

The penalty for the violations was assessed at $244,357.14 and each week after May 27, 2015 that the violation was unpaid, an additional $500 penalty would be issued, according to the lawsuit.

Zheng was given the opportunity to contest the order with the Middlesex County Construction Board of Appeals within 15 days of receipt of the notice, but he did not pursue it, the lawsuit alleges.

On May 5, 2022, an Notice and Order of Penalty for construction code violations for the work site was issued once again, and this time the penalty was t $59,071.43, with an additional $500 per week penalty if the amount went unpaid each week after June 2, 2022.

This time too, Zheng did not pursue an appeal, the lawsuit said.

On Oct. 30, 2023, an Alias Writ of Execution was issued out of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, affirming the April 2023 judgement. The Sheriff’s Office was notified to make the property available for a sheriff’s sale.

The property was sold to Brunswick Star LLC for $550,000 on April 24, 2024, according to the lawsuit.

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