Judge Orders Charlestown Shipyard To Halt Planned Eviction

BOSTON (CBS) - A victory for boat owners at a Charlestown marina who were given a 48 hour eviction notice.

On Thursday, Judge Elizabeth Fahey ordered the owner of the Shipyard Quarters Marina, Martin Oliner, to halt the eviction of the of the boat owners and to take immediate action to keep people safe.

This ruling was a result of the Attorney General's motion late Thursday afternoon to protect boat owners who were ordered out on Tuesday. The judge ruled Oliner cannot evict boat owners until they have a full hearing on Monday at 2 p.m.

This follows a battle between Oliner and the City of Boston and the State of Massachusetts over the condition of the marina, which was deemed unsafe by the city three years ago. Oliner is the Mayor of Lawrence on Long Island in New York.

Attorney General Martha Coakley released this statement: "Shipyard Quarters Marina continues to suffer from serious structural problems placing the public at risk. This latest action is another example of this owner dodging his responsibility to correct this dangerous situation for boat owners and the general public. Our primary concern is for the safety of the boat owners and we continue to explore all legal options. We're also working with Mayor Menino's Office and the MassDEP to provide services for them."

Mayor Menino released a statement: "The owner of Shipyard Quarters Marina has continued to demonstrate complete disregard for the safety of the residents of Charlestown. For more than a year, we have urged him to take responsibility for this property and make the necessary repairs. I look forward to working with the Attorney General's Office to restore the marina and bring some justice for the residents who have suffered from the irresponsible actions of Mr. Oliner."

Last week, Judge Elizabeth Fahey issued an order requiring Shipyard Quarters Marina to hire an engineer to assess the structural integrity of the marina. The order also froze the financial assets of Oliner and his two companies.

The City of Boston is fining Oliner $25,000 a day until he fixes the piers. So far the fines total $6 million.