(NewsNation) — The American Dream Mall has been hit with a lawsuit by a borough in New Jersey.

City officials in Paramus accuse the mall of ignoring blue laws by allowing stores to sell "nonessential" goods during Sundays, Nexstar affiliate WPIX reported.

“The lawsuit is a meritless political stunt driven by private competitors’ interests," said an American Dream Mall spokesperson.

"It is well established that Bergen County’s Blue Laws do not apply to property owned by the State — American Dream is on State property where retail sales have occurred on Sundays for decades. We look forward to our day in court.”

Specific "blue laws" go back centuries in New Jersey for religious purposes. However, modern proponents acknowledged that the laws offer a respite for locals from traffic and nois

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