Jury Rejects Claims Against Developer of Rockefeller Properties in Greenwich, CT

Danbury, CT., November 2, 2007 - A jury, after 11 hours of deliberation, denied a tortious interference claim against William C. Gardiner, Jr., one of southern Connecticut's leading home builders. The month-long trial before Judge Dan Shaban in Danbury Superior Court revolved around land owned by the Indian Spring Land Company, which was founded by the Rockefeller family nearly a century ago.

The defendant's verdict issued by the jury is expected to clear the way for the Indian Spring Land Company and Mr. Gardiner to proceed with a major residential development in Greenwich along Glenville Road.

Indian Spring Land Company is one of the largest land owners of vacant land in the Town of Greenwich. The owners of the company are the heirs of William Rockefeller, the brother of John D. Rockefeller.

The jury rejected all claims against Mr. Gardiner and affiliated companies by John Freeman, a former partner of Mr. Gardiner's. Mr. Freeman had sought $2 million in damages for interference with the land sale contract and $260,000 in severance on his employment agreement, plus attorneys' fees, under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUPTA).

Mr. Gardiner, a builder of high quality homes in Greenwich and New Canaan, had entered into a 50/50 partnership arrangement with Mr. Freeman in 2001 to develop properties owned by Indian Spring Land. In 2004, as a result of disagreements between the parties, the partnership was terminated.

Mr. Freeman was subsequently terminated from employment by the Board of Indian Spring Land. Mr. Freeman then filed suit against Mr. Gardiner for tortious interference with his employment agreement and land purchase agreement with Andrew C. Rockefeller, the former president of Indian Spring Land, to buy six lots, and violation of CUTPA.

Principal Richard L. Albrecht and associate Jason A. Buchsbaum of Cohen and Wolf. P.C. successfully defended Mr. Gardiner against the charges. A number of prominent witnesses testified, including Andrew Rockefeller, the former president of Indian Spring Land, and Theodore Proxmire, current president of Indian Spring Land. Mr. Proxmire is the son of William Proxmire, the late U.S. Senator from Wisconsin.

Cohen and Wolf, P.C. provides a wide range of sophisticated legal services to leading businesses, organizations and individuals, both regionally and nationally. For more than half-a-century, Cohen and Wolf has successfully represented business and individual clients in matters involving litigation, corporate and securities law, real estate, land use, tax, employment and labor, municipal law, personal injury, family law, estate planning, elder law and asset protection planning. The firm's team of more than 50 experienced lawyers is based in its three Connecticut offices: Bridgeport, Danbury and Westport. For more information please visit: www.cohenandwolf.com.

Click here to read Thomas B. Scheffey's article in the Connecticut Law Tribune.