NJ Appellate Law Blog

Equitable Distribution Statute Does Not Apply to Property Acquired During Cohabitation, But Equitable Principles Come to the Rescue

Thieme v. Aucoin-Thieme, 227 N.J. 269 (2016). Plaintiff and defendant cohabited for eight years, were married for a short time, and then divorced. Before and during the marriage, plaintiff had...

Comparative Negligence of John Doe Defendant is Generally to be Considered in Apportioning Damages

Krzykalski v. Tindall, 448 N.J. Super. 1 (App. Div. 2016). This was an auto accident case. At trial, the jury was allowed to consider in the comparative negligence mix not...

The Legislative Review Clause of the New Jersey Constitution

Communication Workers of America, AFL-CIO v. New Jersey Civil Service Comm'n, 447 N.J. Super. 584 (App. Div. 2016). Article V, section 4, paragraph 6 of the New Jersey Constitution, approved...

Supreme Court Will Review a Long Term Tax Exemption Law Case

The Supreme Court has announced that it has granted review in EQR-LPC Urban Renewal North Pier, LLC v. City of Jersey City. The question presented in that appeal, as phrased...

No Valid Settlement With DEP Absent Signature and Public Notice of Proposed Settlement

Cumberland Farms, Inc. v. New Jersey Dep't of Environmental Protection, 447 N.J. Super. 444 (App. Div. 2016). Plaintiff ("CFI") operates convenience stores and gas stations in many locations in New...

Can an Agency Respond to an OPRA Request by Neither Confirming Nor Denying That Requested Documents Exist?

North Jersey Media Group, Inc. v. Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2016). The answer to the question posed in the caption of this post is,...

Claims of Non-Debtors Alleging Harm From Filing of Involuntary Bankruptcy of Debtor are Not Preempted by the Bankruptcy Code

Rosenberg v. DVI Receivables XVII, LLC, 835 F.3d 414 (3d Cir. 2016). As Judge Ambro noted in his opinion in this case today, an involuntary bankruptcy is one that is...

The Supreme Court's Busy August

In the last ten days, the Supreme Court, nearing the end of its term, has issued a number of opinions. It has been hard to keep up with them all....

When Can an LLC Expel a Member?

IE Test, LLC v. Carroll, 226 N.J. 166 (2016). Until it was superseded by the Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, N.J.S.A. 42:2C-1 to -94 ("RULLCA"), on March 18, 2013,...

Trial Courts May Not Take Away a Jury Trial as a Sanction for a Rule Violation

Williams v. American Auto Logistics, 226 N.J. 117 (2016). Parties who fail to follow procedural rules are a source of frustration to busy trial judges. As Justice Fernandez-Vina noted in...

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Are Insurance Brokers Exempt From Liability Under the "Learned Professionals" Exception to the Consumer Fraud Act? The Supreme Court Will Decide

The Supreme Court announced that it has granted leave to appeal in Lowe v. Audet. The question presented, as phrased by the Supreme Court Clerk's office, is "Are insurance brokers exempt from liability under the ‘learned professionals' exception to the Consumer Fraud Act?" The Law Division granted a defense motion to dismiss. A two-judge Appellate Division panel affirmed in an unpublished per curiam opinion....

"A Child in Common"- Jurisdiction for Protective Orders Under the Victim's Assistance and Survivor Protection Act or the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act

C.J.S. v. A.S., 2025 N.J. Super LEXIS _______ (App. Div. Nov. 18, 2025). [Disclosure: I represented the successful plaintiff in this appeal.] The Victim's Assistance and Survivor Protection Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-13 to -21 ("VASPA"), was enacted to protect against, among other things, cyber-harassment. Only someone "who is not eligible for a restraining order as a ‘victim of domestic violence' as defined by . . . [the Protection of Domestic Violence Act , N.J.S.A. 2C:25:17-35 ("PDVA"]" may invoke VASPA protection....

Appellate Division Oral Argument of the (Upcoming) Week: A $55 Million Tort Verdict

On Tuesday, November 18, judges on Part D will hear oral argument in Rider v. Jersey City Transfer, Inc. The case arose out of an auto accident in Maryland, in which plaintiff, after striking one vehicle with her own car and getting out of the car, was hit by a tractor-trailer owned by defendant. Plaintiff suffered grisly injuries, sued, and obtained a judgment of over $59 million once the $55 million jury verdict was molded. Defendants appealed....

Liability of a General Contractor for Injuries to a Subcontractor's Employee: The Supreme Court Will Decide the Applicable Standard

The Supreme Court announced that it has granted certification in Campoverde v. NY-NJ Link Developer, LLC. The question presented, as phrased by the Supreme Court Clerk's office, is "What is the applicable standard under New Jersey law for determining whether a general contractor owes a duty to a subcontractor's employees for the purpose of determining liability for the injuries sustained by a subcontractor's employee?"...