UPDATED: New Jersey Supreme Court to Issue Decision in Dunes Case

New Jersey’s Supreme Court will likely announce a decision today in a controversial shore dunes case that could make building the anti-flooding structures prohibitively expensive. Harvey Cedars residents Harvey and Phyllis Karan called for compensation after 22-foot-high sand piles were erected, obstructing their oceanfront views. Chris Christie termed the complaint “bullshit,” but the Karans took the borough to court and were awarded $375,000. Should the court side with the Karans in the borough’s appeal, their award amount could set a high monetary standard for future evaluations in dune construction projects. Because, after all, the ocean might look pretty from your living room, but it’ll look even better in your living room. [Newsworks]

UPDATE: The New Jersey Supreme Court has overturned the Karans’ $375,000 award, ruling that the protective benefits of the dune on the couple’s property should have also been considered along with the loss of ocean view in the suit. Gov. Christie’s bullshit detector, meanwhile, appears to be spot on. [Courier Post]