Groton Open Space Association

MERRITT TRIAL UPDATE: Plaintiffs Call Four Witnesses–May 17, 2005

NEW LONDON–Ravenswood Construction LLC called four witnesses May 17, 2005, the first day of a jury trial of the Cheshire construction company’s suit against F.L. Merritt Inc., owner of a 75-acre tract on Fort Hill that GOSA seeks to preserve as open space.

New London Attorney Paul Geraghty called: Dean Fiske, Ravenswood’s president; Nelson Merritt, president of F.L. Merritt; William Bentley, partner in DiCesare-Bentley Engineers of Groton; and James Miele, a Cheshire attorney who worked with F.L. Merritt on a proposed 2003 contract between Ravenswood and Merritt.

Mr. Geraghty planned to call one more witness May 18, Robert Lane, Greenwich-based attorney for Merritt, after which Attorney William Kroll of Noank was expected to begin the case for the defense.

Judge Seymour Hendel decided to allow testimony on a rider to the proposed Ravenswood-Merritt contract, a rider that required delivery for the contract to take effect.

GOSA contends its April 14, 2003, contract to buy the land for $1 million is the only valid contract.