Judge clears way for Lautenberg suit versus Madoff

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg's Cliffside Park-based family foundation can proceed with a securities fraud suit against Peter Madoff, brother of convicted Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff, a federal judge ruled.

U.S. District Judge Stanley Chesler in Newark declined to dismiss a claim that Peter Madoff violated the Securities Exchange Act by failing to disclose to investors that his brother's company was engaged in a fraud.
The suit, filed by two of Lautenberg's children and by the Lautenberg Foundation, claims they had $8.922 million invested with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities.

Bernard Madoff, who is serving a 150-year prison term after pleading guilty to