Becker Meisel's John O’Connell, Esq., Helps Set Precedent for Nation’s Coastal Regions Plagued by Similar Beach Erosion Issues Due to Man-Made Jetties

NEW YORK, N.Y., April 9, 2008 – The West Hampton Dunes Beach Restoration Project in Long Island, N.Y., has been named one of America's Top Restored Beaches by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA). The non-profit organization, dedicated to preserving and protecting our nation's coastal resources, awarded the designation on the 10-year anniversary of the project, which resulted from a hard-fought legal battle by concerned residents to reverse the effects of beach erosion due to man-made jetties. An award ceremony was held recently in Washington, D.C. during the ASBPA's 2008 Coastal Summit, which was attended by a number of Senators and members of Congress as well as Administration officials.

“The restoration of West Hampton Dunes is a clear example of what can and should be done to restore our nation's priceless coastal regions,” said John O'Connell, Esq., a partner with the law firm of Becker Meisel LLC. O'Connell served as lead counsel for the residents, bringing this case to its successful resolution.

In 1992, a storm destroyed the beach located to the west of the West Hampton groin field, which is also known as a jetty. Constructed in the 1950s by a program backed by local, state and federal governments, the rock structure disrupted the natural flow of the sand, causing massive beach erosion.

To confront the problem, residents formed the Village of West Hampton Dunes, and with the help of O'Connell, sued the local, state and federal governments for constructing the groin field. They reached a settlement. As a result, the United States Army Corps of Engineers deposited more than four million yards of sand on the beach. The project also restored the endangered wildlife habitat of the area.

“Much of the nation's coast is eroding due to the construction of these man-made structures more than 50 years ago,” O'Connell explained. He is now involved in a similar legal battle in nearby Southampton, N.Y.