John and Susan Zarba have sold their Oak Bluffs property for $1.7 million. The couple fought zoning battles for years in land and superior courts over a guesthouse at that property, adjacent to the Oak Grove Cemetery. The Zarbas prevailed against the town in Land Court in a complicated boundary battle and against their neighbors Keith and Lori Murphy in Superior Court in a bitter fight over parking and other issues. The Zarbas later sought legal fees from the town, and were denied by Land Court Judge Robert Foster. The Zarbas also sought legal fees from the Murphys, but were denied by Superior Court Judge Brian Davis at a virtual proceeding on April 14.
The couple and their neighbors the Essexes were also embroiled in a right of way fight against neighbors John O’Neil and John Feitleberg, the town, and the Murphys. That case settled. A federal complaint filed against the town, several of its officials, and the Edgartown law firm Reynolds, Rappaport, Kaplan and Hackney remains active in U.S. District Court in Boston. Judge Leo Sorokin presently has a motion to dismiss from the town and the law firm, and a motion of opposition from the Zarbas, under consideration.
In a statement, the Zarbas wrote the sale came as a result of needing to cover debts incurred from litigation.
“When we decided to build the guest home we intended it to be our forever home so we could rent the main house and afford to keep our family on the Island,” they wrote. “We never imagined being forced to defend our fully permitted and town-approved guest home, which did not require a special permit or a variance, against four ZBA appeals by the Murphys, three Superior Court cases brought by the Murphys, and two Town of Oak Bluffs Land Court appeals. After 4½ years we prevailed in every single action brought against us because we followed every rule and guideline that applied to our project. We’ve been devastated financially and emotionally. We have incurred a tremendous amount of debt hiring attorneys, expert witnesses, and other legal expenses. We sold our Oak Bluffs home to cover our debts and move on.”
Let this be a lesson to a Town that ignored common sense and decency and cost the tax payers hundreds of thousands in wasted tax dollars. But it ain’t over. It appears there is a Federal suit that could cost the town millions, if won, including the reputation of the islands premier law firm.
Heartbreaking for the Zarbas and their many friends. Enraging for citizens of Oak Bluffs who watched their elected officials, the town’s attorneys and various appointed officials abuse their powers for corrupt purposes. This is not over. The taxpayers of Oak Bluffs are potentially on the hook for millions of dollars should the Zarbas prevail in a lawsuit pending in federal court https://www.mvtimes.com/mvt/uploads/2019/06/zarbacomplaint.pdf. Read this litany of bad acts and weep for the malfeasance that has come to define Oak Bluffs. Read it and vote for change. Two selectmen are up for reelection next month. One enabled this corruption. One did not. Vote according. https://www.mvtimes.com/2020/06/01/zarbas-sell-o-b-property-1-7-million/
Has anyone reported on how much OB has spent on legal fees related to the Zarbas?
This is unconscionable! My heart breaks for this family. We must VOTE out the corruption of the one selectman who Anne mentioned. This “good-ole’-boy” network manipulates the system to “pad” the pockets of a handful at the expense of hardworking taxpayers. We must exercise our power to vote OUT the corruption and abuse of power that currently exists !!!!
Did you print this or did you find problems with it. If you what was the problem?
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