Montclair, NJ – During public comment at a February 21 Montclair Township Council meeting, three residents made statements alleging that Councilor at Large Peter Yacobellis has a conflict of interest and should recuse himself from all votes, discussions and related communications connected to the Lackawanna Plaza redevelopment. On Monday, two of those residents, Martin Schwartz and David Herron, learned they were being sued by Yacobellis, who alleges the two defendants engaged in a “self-interested, defamatory smear campaign designed specifically, as threatened, to damage Yacobellis’ reputation.”
In an 18-page complaint filed in Superior Court of New Jersey, Yacobellis alleges defendants Schwartz and Herron engaged in defamation and false statements in a concerted scheme to pressure Yacobellis into recusal on the Lackawanna Plaza redevelopment plan. As a result of “outlandish and false statements” made by defendants Schwartz and Herron, Yacobellis stated he has suffered and will continue to suffer “material and reputational damage.”
The complaint also alleges that residents Anson Pope and Cathy Renna acted as co-conspirators, joining defendants Schwartz and Herron in defaming Yacobellis and demanding that Yacobellis meet with them or else they would “reveal” information that would be damaging to his reputation.
On January 13, 2023, Schwartz sent Yacobellis an email, with Herron, Pope, and Renna, among others, signed and copied, seeking to force a private meeting by...
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