Record: Notice of Intent to Sue Filed in Fort Lee Police Van Incident

The attorney for one of the five teenagers locked in a police van overnight late last month told the Bergen Record her client has taken the first step in a potential lawsuit against the Fort Lee Borough and Fort Lee Police Department.

The attorney representing 17-year-old Adam Kim told the Record the teen filed a notice to make claim Tuesday and a notice of intent to sue with the borough Wednesday.

The Record also reports that an attorney representing Kevin Jun, 17, another one of the five, may also file a notice of claim or a notice of intent this week.

The five minors were left forgotten in the van outside police headquarters in freezing temperatures for more than 14 hours after police broke up a house party on Arcadian Way in response to complaints of noise from neighbors at 1:30 a.m. on March 26. About 20 minors were taken into custody after the party bust.

Police only became aware of what Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich called a “mistake beyond words” when a passing officer heard screams and banging coming from the van.

Three Fort Lee police officers remain suspended with pay as a result of the incident pending the results of an ongoing internal investigation.

Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich also told the Record he will not take additional action or call for resignations until the investigation is complete, which he said could be by April 15.