NJ Appellate Law Blog – NJ Appellate Lawyer Bruce D. Greenberg blogs about Appeals and Appellate Law Practice

This Week's Supreme Court Decisions

In the last three days, the Supreme Court issued opinions in two criminal cases and one civil appeal. All three decisions were unanimous. Here are summaries of those rulings: State...

Resolution of the "Borrowed Employee" Issue under Galvao v. G.R. Robert Construction Co. is For the Jury, Not a Judge

Pantano v. New York Shipping Ass'n, 254 N.J. 101 (2023). Judge Sabatino wrote this 6-0 opinion, which involved "the application of the multi-factor test [the Court] announced in Galvao v....

A Court, Not the Motor Vehicle Commission, Must Address an Application for Sentencing Credit Related to Installation of an Ignition Interlock Device

State v. Coviello, 252 N.J. 539 (2023). Judge Sabatino's unanimous opinion in this case began by posing the "narrow jurisdictional question" before the Court as "When a portion of a...

The "Sham Affidavit Doctrine" in an Unusual Context

Metro Marketing, LLC v. Nationwide Vehicle Assurance, Inc., ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2022). As discussed here, the "sham affidavit doctrine" holds that a party opposing summary judgment cannot...

When, if at All, Can a Rule 4:19 Examination be Recorded, and When, if Ever, Can a Third Party be Present During an Examination?

DiFiore v. Pezic, 472 N.J. Super. 100 (App. Div. 2022). This opinion by Judge Sabatino exhaustively explored, in three consolidated cases, the issue of "when, if ever, a plaintiff with...

The Appellate Division in the Second Half of April- A Partial Recap

Until yesterday, when the Supreme Court issued this opinion, the Court did issue any decisions in the time following the last post on this blog on April 13. The Appellate...

Which Should Come First in a Criminal Case Involving a Juvenile Sought to be Tried as an Adult: A Suppression Motion in the Family Part or Waiver to the Criminal Part?

State in the Interest of E.S., ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2021). Judge Sabatino concisely posed the purely legal issue presented on this appeal: "This interlocutory appeal presents an...

Ullmann Rule Limiting Discovery of Tax Returns Applies to Corporate Returns As Well As Individual Returns

Parkinson v. Diamond Chemical Co., Inc., ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2021). In Ullmann v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 87 N.J. Super. 409 (App. Div. 1965), the Appellate Division...

How Should a Mortgage Company Use Insurance Proceeds Arising Out of Storm Damage? To Pay Delinquent Interest/Principal, or to Repair the Property?

Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB v. Daw, ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2021). Judge Sabatino issued this opinion for the Appellate Division today, in a case that arises out...

The 2021-22 General Assignment Order

Chief Justice Rabner has issued the General Assignment Order for the coming Term. It is available here. At the Appellate Division level, the headline is that the number of Parts...

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The Term's Penultimate Week: Two Published Appellate Division Decisions

The 2024-25 Term ends on August 29. In this penultimate week of the Term, there were no Supreme Court opinions. There were, however, two published decisions from the Appellate Division, one a civil case involving "the latest development in the ongoing controversy surrounding black bear hunting in New Jersey" and the other a criminal appeal centering on constitutional rights associated with a cellphone passcode. Here are summaries of those opinions:...

The Week Just Ending: Three Criminal Law Decisions

This week saw one case decided by the Supreme Court and two published opinions of the Appellate Division. The Supreme Court case, decided by a 6-1 vote, presented an ex post facto issue arising out of amendments to the statute governing parole. The two Appellate Division decisions entailed more "core" criminal law issues. Here are summaries of those cases:...

The 2025 Omnibus Court Rule Amendments and Other Changes

The Supreme Court announced amendments to Court Rules and appendices, as well as certain other procedural changes. That announcement is embodied in an Omnibus Rule Amendment Order that is available here....

"Abuse of Discretion" vs. "Patent and Gross Abuse of Discretion"

State v. Taylor, ___ N.J. ___ (2025). N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6(c), a part of the Graves Act, makes the use or possession of a firearm during the commission, attempted commission, or flight from the commission of certain designated offenses a sentencing factor that triggers the imposition of a mandatory term of imprisonment. A later-added section of the Graves Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6.2, creates an "escape valve," under which a prosecutor may seek from the court a waiver of the imposition of a mandatory minimum sentence where the prosecutor believes that such a sentence would not serve the interest of justice....