“We intend to vigorously fight these charges in East Hampton Court. Homeowners who claim to have won a victory by court determination that they ‘own the beach,’ have held out a threat that ... East Hampton residents could be liable... for hundreds of millions of dollars. If the homeowners wish the fishermen to go away, they can compensate us in an equal amount, hundreds of millions of dollars.”  

Daniel G. Rodgers, October 20, 2021 (Southampton Press)

"We believe the homeowners have first stolen the beach and now they're stealing their rights. The homeowners caused harm, not only to these commercial and recreational fisherman but also to every single resident of the town."

Daniel G. Rodgers, December 5, 2021 (Newsday)

"It seems to me that the attorneys for homeowners are frightened and afraid they’re going to receive a ruling in the local justice court that they don’t want to hear. That’s why they’re seeking to move this [criminal case] to the civil court, which is unheard of and seems to me to be a power grab."

Daniel G. Rodgers, November 8, 2021 (Newsday)

 “My clients … have every intention of driving on the beach with motorized vehicles for the purpose of engaging in fishing related activities,” Mr. Rodgers said. “I believe this decision, to privatize the beach, is simply unenforceable against my clients."

Daniel G. Rodgers, September 22, 2021 (Southampton Press)

 "You can’t tell people they can’t go to the beach to fish. The police are going to tell us we can’t go down there, it’s private property. We are going to acknowledge that, and then we are going to go anyway. We are not asking permission.”  

Daniel G. Rodgers, June 29, 2021 (Southampton Press)

"I can tell you this, the baymen and women that I represent are going to fight like hell to maintain the right to something that they've done for 300 years. "

Daniel G. Rodgers, October 19, 2021 (Newsday)

“It seems like it’s inevitable — someone will get charged with criminal trespass and it will go to justice court and the question will be, ‘Do you have the right to be on that property?” And the answer is yes, they do. The homeowners asked the court to find that the easement right was extinguished and the court did not do that.”  

Daniel G. Rodgers, October 13, 2021 (Southampton Press)