MORRISTOWN, N.J. (CN) - A minority-owned real estate brokerage claims the New York Jets violated state law by refusing to reply to its requests for a "contract to provide real estate services" for players and employees. Destiny Realty claims the Jets got a tax break on its Florham Park practice facility, and must "set aside 7 percent of contracts for real estate services" for minority businesses, under the New Jersey Set-Aside Act.
Destiny Realty, whose primary shareholder is an African-American man, sued the Jets in Morris County Court.
Destiny claims that the Jets, who moved their practice facility to Florham Park 2 years ago, play on "partially tax exempt" property, as part of a deal with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority struck, which includes tax payments that are "negotiated."
Destiny Realty claims the Jets are "obtaining benefits of being a corporate body and political instrumentality of the state" without following New Jersey's minority set-aside rules. It claims that the team "should be required to publicly advertise real estate services" pursuant to state guidelines.
Destiny claims it is "being deprived of the opportunity of providing real estate services to buyers who have the financial wherewithal to close title in an economy when most people are not buyers."
It seeks an injunction "compelling the Jets to immediately advertise their real estate services for public bidding," plus attorney's fees and damages for "lost opportunities in the 2 years the Jets have been in Florham Park" and "costs for the failure of the Jets to comply with the law."
Destiny is represented by Lawrence Litwin of Morristown.
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