Attorneys for Louis Kovach and Van Buren Township met with Circuit Court Judge John Gillis, Jr. on Friday, Aug. 17, and agreed to postpone oral arguments in the law suit until 9 a.m., Sept. 12, before Judge Gillis.
John R. Day, representing Kovach, said attorney David Greco, representing VBT, et. al, had filed a thick brief at 1 p.m. the previous day and Day didn’t have time to study it and respond.
Day said this was the first time he and Kovach have received a detailed report on the township’s position. The previous brief from the township answered a simple yes or no to each charge.
Friday’s court session had been set as a hearing for the township to show cause why Kovach’s writ of mandamus for relief should not be granted. Besides the lot splits he seeks damages, costs, and attorney fees.
On July 12, Kovach filed his law suit against the Charter Township of Van Buren, Terry Carroll, Linda Stevenson, and Tom MacDonald.
The suit concerns lot splits requested by Kovach for a portion of the former Coy Kendall Greenhouse property at the corner of Bemis and Martinsville roads.
Kovach’s request was denied by the VBT Parcel Division Board, made up of Director of Planning and Economic Development Carroll, Assessor Stevenson, and DPW Director MacDonald.
Four VBT residents, Kovach and his wife were present at the court session on Friday to hear the proceedings.