Camden developer files civil rights lawsuit against NJ officials over indictment
Trenton, NJ – A prominent South Jersey developer has filed a civil lawsuit against New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin and several state officials, alleging he was wrongfully prosecuted in a high-profile racketeering case that was later dismissed. The complaint, filed in Mercer County Superior Court, claims the charges were pursued without probable cause and caused lasting financial and reputational harm.
The lawsuit, brought by John J. O’Donnell, names Platkin, Assistant Attorney General Michael T. Breslin, and multiple investigators as defendants. It stems from a now-dismissed indictment that accused O’Donnell and his business partners of racketeering and related offenses tied to redevelopment projects in Camden.
According to the filing, O’Donnell alleges he was targeted despite a lack of evidence. The complaint states the defendants “initiate[d] a criminal proceeding against the plaintiff without any reasonable probable cause or basis in law” and claims the prosecution caused “damage and injury of every kind.”
Allegations of wrongful prosecution and political motives
Court documents outline that O’Donnell, a former executive with the Michaels Organization, was indicted on 12 counts following a lengthy grand jury process. The charges carried the potential for a decades-long prison sentence before being dismissed by a Superior Court judge and later upheld on appeal.
The complaint alleges that state officials relied on insufficient or misleading evidence and ignored prior decisions by federal prosecutors not to pursue charges. It further claims the case was driven in part by efforts to create a “media spectacle” and advance professional interests.
Key Points
- Civil lawsuit filed in Mercer County targets NJ Attorney General and investigators
- Plaintiff alleges wrongful prosecution tied to dismissed racketeering indictment
- Case seeks damages for alleged civil rights violations and malicious prosecution
Case dismissal central to civil claims
The filing points to a February 2025 ruling in which a judge found the prosecution “palpably defective,” concluding that the evidence failed to establish the elements of any crime. An appellate court later affirmed that decision in early 2026.
The lawsuit argues that despite those findings, officials proceeded with charges that disrupted O’Donnell’s business career and forced his departure from leadership roles. It states he was required to step down as CEO and divest interests in ongoing development projects, resulting in significant financial losses.
O’Donnell is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, along with attorney’s fees and other relief, under both the New Jersey Civil Rights Act and common law claims of malicious prosecution.
The case, docketed as MER-L-000660-26, was filed March 25 and includes a jury demand.
