By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Princeton University is scheduled to go on trial this week in New Jersey tax court to defend its property tax exemption, in a closely watched lawsuit that a coalition of residents filed to make Nassau Hall pay more real estate taxes.
The case is due to start Thursday morning, before a judge who so far has rebuffed past attempts by the university to get the litigation thrown out. The initial phase of the case will be heard in Trenton, with university president Christopher L. Eisgruber the first witness the school intends to have testify.
Attorney Bruce I. Afran, the attorney for the four residents who brought the case, said Friday that both sides are preparing to go to trial. For its part, the university had no comment.
The two sides continue to try to settle the suit to avoid a trial and resolve a matter without enduring the uncertainty of a protracted legal battle that could end up at the state Supreme Court.