Verizon, N.J. Borough Inch Toward Settlement Conference to Resolve Their Small-Cells Fight

Verizon and Lavallette, New Jersey, agree that an in-person settlement conference “may facilitate resolution” of their small-cells dispute, said their joint status report Wednesday (docket 3:23-cv-23072) in U.S. District Court for New Jersey in Trenton. Verizon sued Lavallette and its council in December to challenge their “unreasonable and unsupported denial” of Verizon’s application for permit approval for the installation of five small cells within the borough’s public rights of way (see 2312140038). Verizon and Lavallette further agree that the in-person settlement conference should require the attendance of the parties, specifically the borough’s mayor and a Verizon representative “with full settlement authority," said the status report. The parties further agree that if a tentative agreement is reached at the settlement conference it will be subject to review and approval by the borough’s governing body, it said. The parties agree that an in-person settlement conference in the beginning or middle of August is feasible, it said.