Judge Orders West Orange To Resolve Christopher Columbus Statue Lawsuit By Mediation

October 24, 2025

WEST ORANGE, NJ – During its last meeting, the town council approved resolution 219-25. The resolution instructs West Orange to resolve the lawsuit challenging the 2020 removal of a Christopher Columbus monument from the intersection of Valley Road, Quimbey Place and Kinglsley Street through meditation.

The lawsuit is called American One Voice Coalition v. Township of West Orange and Mayor Robert Parisi. According to the resolution, “The complaints filed in the litigation have been dismissed twice by the Court. The plaintiff filed a Third Amended Complaint again in 2023 and filed a Motion to Dismiss the Third Amended Complaint (the Motion).”

On September 24, United States District Court Judge Claire C. Cecchi, entered a mediation order. The litigation is assigned to Sheryl M. Goski, Esq., who will mediate the case. Her fee is $400 per hour, and West Orange will pay half of the legal fees.

Council member Rudin asked why it was going to mediation after being dismissed twice. She also said that some mediators offer several free hours of services before they begin charging.

Attorney John Burke stated, “I couldn’t tell you specifically about this case, but generally, if you were going to go to the American Arbitration Association, you’d probably have to agree that that was binding. So would that may be a reason not to do that.” He added, “If it’s court order mediation, there’s usually some period of six hours, three hours, whatever it is, that is free, and then after that you have to agree to continue it. So there may be a situation where they don’t have to continue the mediation.”

President Joe Krakoviak said, “We can bifurcate this, Councilman, you’re asking very good questions. There’s no one who can answer them tonight, but I do know that, according to the resolution, the judges ordered us to do this, so I would hesitate not to move forward on that, but let’s get your answers as soon as possible.”

He asked Township Clerk Karen Carnevale to follow up with Attorney Mark Moon about mediation details.

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