Jersey Shore mayor faces $600K lawsuit over debt on shuttered theme park
Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian is being sued for over $600,000 in unpaid debt related to the former Wonderland Pier amusement park.Summary
Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian, along with his wife, company, and Eustace Mita (owner of ICONA Resorts), are facing a lawsuit regarding a $595,619 judgment stemming from a loan taken out in 2009. The loan, originally $1.5 million, was repeatedly modified, and Gillian defaulted on payments despite a court order to pay. Patricia Gillian, Jay’s stepmother, now holds 80% of the judgment through her trust. The lawsuit seeks to redirect consulting payments owed to Gillian from Mita, who purchased Wonderland Pier in 2021 and is planning a $170 million hotel redevelopment, towards satisfying the debt. Gillian closed Wonderland Pier in October 2024 and recently filed for personal bankruptcy, but intends to seek reelection. He declined to comment on the litigation, while Mita claims no liability and seeks dismissal of the suit.
(Source：Nj)