Mayor Joshi recently sat for a deposition in the ongoing legal battle between JVS Industrial & Commercial Contractors, Inc. and the Township, along with 41 Glendale LLC and Stalwart Equities, Inc. The central issue? A disputed land purchase involving a property formerly owned by Glendale LLC and Stalwart Equities on Silverlake Ave. now held by the Township. JVS alleges improprieties in the deal, claiming prior contractual rights to the land.
Mayor Joshi, whose arrogance far outstripped his competence, blithely dismissed the deposition concerning the $12.8 million land purchase—a deal poised to cost taxpayers millions more in legal fees and inflated costs—with the bored indifference of someone swatting a fly, all while utterly unprepared to address the glaring holes in his administration’s justifications.
Here is one example of over a dozen instances where Mayor Joshi answered it was a waste of his time, failing to realize that it was also a waste of tax payer money:
Attorney: “So I think you can tell me what communications your attorneys had with JV Scheer in response to No. 8 on the deposition notice.”
Joshi: “My attorneys would have communicated directly. I would not be — I would not know the contents of their communications.”
Attorney: “And you made no effort for today’s depositions to learn the content of those communications?”
Joshi: “No.”
Attorney: “Thanks a lot.”
Joshi: “Because that would be a waste of my time.”
Attorney: “Okay.”
Joshi: “Because I’m the mayor, much like this deposition is a complete waste of time.”
Key Points from the Deposition:
- Limited Knowledge: Mayor Joshi admitted to “skimming” only two pages of the documents produced by the Township in discovery. He acknowledged being informed of the large volume of documents but claimed he did not review them in preparation for his testimony.
- Delegation of Responsibility: He consistently stated that his attorneys handled communications with J. Scheer Industries, JVS, Glendale, and Stalwart regarding the property, and that he lacked personal knowledge of the specifics of those interactions. He explicitly stated, “That’s what I have attorneys for.”
- “Waste of Time” Comment: Perhaps the most striking moment came when Mayor Joshi declared the deposition a “complete waste of time,” suggesting a dismissive attitude towards the proceedings.
- Educational Background: The deposition also touched upon Mayor Joshi’s educational background, revealing his graduation from J.P. Stevens High School, Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and the completion of a mini-MBA in digital marketing.
Questions Arising from the Deposition:
- Adequate Preparation? Did Mayor Joshi fulfill his obligation as the Township’s corporate designee by appearing for the deposition with such limited knowledge of the relevant documents and communications?
- Transparency Concerns: Does the Mayor’s apparent disengagement with the details of the land deal raise concerns about transparency in the Township’s dealings?
- Fraud: Concerns of fraud and potential criminal conduct loom large over the Silverlake land deal, necessitating a full and transparent investigation.
- Impact on the Case: How will Mayor Joshi’s testimony, or lack thereof, impact the overall trajectory of the legal proceedings?
The Bigger Picture:
This deposition provides a glimpse into the legal dispute and raises questions about the Township’s approach to the litigation. Whether Mayor Joshi’s testimony is ultimately deemed a “waste of time” or a crucial piece of the puzzle remains to be seen. The court will ultimately decide if sanctions are warranted against the Township for the Mayor’s lack of preparation. The case continues, with a trial scheduled for April 8, 2025. The public and interested parties will be watching closely to see how this land dispute unfolds.
