The trial between East Haven and plaintiff John Patton, who owned Farm River Rock quarry, began last week, with tens of millions of dollars in damages hanging in the balance. Patton previously filed a $30 million lawsuit against former East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. and other town officials, alleging they illegally closed his 1 Barberry Road quarry business for political reasons. But former town Zoning Enforcement Officer Chris Soto, who also is being sued by Patton, said during Tuesday’s proceedings that the decision to close the quarry stemmed from it violating East Haven’s zoning regulations, which prohibited quarrying. Soto issued Farm River Rock a cease and desist order in 2017, a decision he testified Tuesday was solely his own. Soto said he consulted with Town Attorneys Alfred and Joseph Zullo prior to issuing the order, but not with Maturo. The quarry since has reopened under the name East Haven Trap Rock Quarry, with new partners from New York in control and Patton now having a minority stake. Patton had offered to settle with the town for $3 million, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.
https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/farm-river-rock-quarry-trial-east-haven-17769269.php?src=nhrhpdesecp