NJ Appellate Law Blog

The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority Cannot Condemn Land for Potential Use in the Indefinite Future

Casino Reinvestment Development Authority v. Birnbaum, 458 N.J. Super. 173 (App. Div. 2019). On January 7, 2019, the Appellate Division decided Borough of Glassboro v. Grossman, 457 N.J. Super. 416...

Fee for Filing Documents Electronically in a County Register's Office Was Not Authorized by Statute or Otherwise

New Jersey Land Title Association v. Rone, 458 N.J. Super. 120 (App. Div. 2019). May a County Register or Clerk charge a surcharge or convenience fee when a document is...

A New Test for Defining "Merchandise" Under the Consumer Fraud Act

All the Way Towing, LLC v. Bucks County International, Inc., 236 N.J. 431 (2019). Plaintiffs (an individual and his company, treated as one plaintiff here) purchased a customized tow truck...

Legislative Silence About Statute of Limitations When Amending Statute Did Not Effect Reduction of Prior Limitations Period

The Plastic Surgery Center, PA v. Malouf Chevrolet-Cadillac, Inc., 457 N.J. Super. 565 (App. Div. 2019). This opinion today by Judge Fisher was so legal issue-intensive that he found that...

"Extraordinary Circumstances" Called for Permission to File Late Notice of Tort Claim

O'Donnell v. New Jersey Turnpike Authority, 236 N.J. 335 (2019). Under the New Jersey Tort Claims Act, N.J.S.A. 59:1-1 et seq. ("TCA"), a person who wishes to file a tort...

The Supreme Court Answers Certified Questions About the Ticket Resale Law

Finkleman v. National Football League, 236 N.J. 280 (2019). This opinion by Justice Patterson today answers certified questions posed by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals arising out of a...

Drug Court and Expungements

In re Expungement of Arrest-Charge Records of T.B., 236 N.J. 262 (2019). Today, the Supreme Court issued its first opinion of 2019, a unanimous ruling by Chief Justice Rabner. The...

When Can a Municipality or Local Redevelopment Agency Condemn Property as "Necessary for [a] Redevelopment Project"?

Borough of Glassboro v. Grossman, 457 N.J. Super. 416 (App. Div. 2019). The Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-1 to -49 ("LRHL") allows municipalities or redevelopment agencies to acquire...

The 1,500th Post- Making up a December Deficit

A major Appellate Division argument, appellate briefing, and other work has interfered with keeping up with the courts during December. So it's time for one of this blog's periodic "catch-up"...

Construction Lien Law's "Signatory-Requirement Amendments" Do Not Apply Retroactively

Diamond Beach, LLC v. March Associates, Inc., 457 N.J. Super. 265 (App. Div. 2018). Judge Fasciale's opinion in this construction case today dealt with a narrow issue projected by a...

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Three Supreme Court Decisions to Catch Up On

This is the second post that catches up with appellate developments last week and this week. The Supreme Court issued rulings in three cases during that period. Two of those appeals involved unanimous opinions. The third engendered a relatively rare 5-2 split among the Justices. Here are summaries:...

Three More Criminal Appeals for the Supreme Court

Much of last week was consumed by a sojourn in Hershey, PA for the Third Circuit Judicial Conference, a very enjoyable and educational experience. As a result, it's time for some catching up. Today's is the first such post....

Statutory Ban on Retroactive Reduction of Court-Ordered Child Support is Inapplicable to Reductions Based on a Child's Emancipation

Bournes v. Harris, ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2026). This post-dissolution appeal from the Family Part involved several questions arising out of a Marital Settlement Agreement ("MSA") entered in a Texas court. In an opinion by Judge Firko, the Appellate Division affirmed a ruling by Judge Lougy, whom the panel identified by name, that New Jersey courts had jurisdiction to enforce and to modify the Texas MSA, and that Judge Lougy properly enforced arrears....

Common Law Bad Faith Claims and Claims Under the Insurance Fair Conduct Act Should, In Many Cases, be Deferred Until After Resolution of Underinsured Motorist Claims

Tenenbaum v. Allstate Ins. Co., ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2026). Judge Natali's opinion for the Appellate Division in this matter today involved two matters that were before the court on leave to appeal. The issue in both cases was whether and when "common law bad faith claims under Pickett v. Lloyd's, 131 N.J. 457, 467 (1993), and those brought under the recently adopted Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA), N.J.S.A. 17:29BB-1 to -3," should be stayed until resolution of all disputes relating to underinsured motorist ("UIM") claims brought in the same action....