NJ Appellate Law Blog

Appellate Courts Can Decline to Review Arguments Made Below as to Other Issues, But Not as to the Issue Actually on Appeal

Chirino v. Proud 2 Haul, Inc., 458 N.J. Super. 308 (App. Div. 2017), aff'd o.b., 237 N.J. 440 (2019). There is a long-settled general rule that an appellate court will...

Two Cases About Access to Swimming

Susko v. Borough of Belmar, 458 N.J. Super. 583 (App. Div. 2019); Curto v. A Country Place Condominium Association, 921 F.3d 405 (3d Cir. 2019). Yesterday, while I was in...

Involuntary Commitments Orders Don't Become Moot Merely Because Confinement Has Ended

In re Civil Commitment of C.M., 458 N.J. Super. 563 (App. Div. 2019). The doctrine of mootness enables courts to avoid disputes that are not "live." Today's opinion by Judge...

Where Sample Primary Election Ballots Are Required to be Printed in English and Spanish, Official Primary Ballots Must Also Be

Correa v. Grossi, 458 N.J. Super. 571 (App. Div. 2019). Multiple pieces of related legislation can be inconsistent, and courts are called on to harmonize them using classic principles of...

Judge Nugent Reminds Us That Rule 4:23-5's Requirements Must be "Scrupulously Followed and Technically Complied With"

Salazar v. MKGC + Design, 458 N.J. Super. 551 (App. Div. 2019). In Thabo v. Z Transp., 452 N.J. Super. 359 (App. Div. 2017), discussed here, the Appellate Division made...

The Appellate Division Must Adhere to Supreme Court Precedents, Despite Contrary Appellate Division Authority

Liberty Mutual Insurance v. Rodriguez, 458 N.J. Super. 515 (App. Div. 2019). This short opinion by Judge Firko today involved how to calculate reimbursement to an insurer for its workers'...

Waiver, Forfeiture, the Plain Error Doctrine, and the "Third Circuit Model Jury Instructions"

Robinson v. First State Community Action Agency, 920 F.3d 182 (3d Cir. 2019). This opinion by Judge Fuentes today affirms a plaintiff's verdict in a jury trial under the Americans...

If You Appeal But Don't Follow Through, Don't Come Back Later With Your Issues From the Abandoned Appeal

Park Crest Cleaners, LLC v. A Plus Cleaners & Alterations Corp., 458 N.J. Super. 465 (App. Div. 2019). This opinion by Judge Fisher today dismissed an appeal under convoluted facts....

Law Against Discrimination is Not Limited by the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act

Wild v. Carriage Funeral Holdings, Inc., 458 N.J. Super. 416 (App. Div. 2019). Plaintiff in this case under the Law Against Discrimination, N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 to -49 ("LAD"), used medical marijuana,...

Zoning Board of Adjustment Conflicts of Interest

Piscitelli v. City of Garfield Bd. of Adj., 237 N.J. 333 (2019). Conflict of interest issues are often sticky. That was doubly so in this case, which the Supreme Court...

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Appellate Division Oral Argument of the Week: What Effect Does the Federal Ending Forced Arbitration Act Have in a Hostile Work Environment Case?

Tomorrow, September 16, judges on Part B of the Appellate Division will hear oral argument in Cintron v. Brink's, Incorporated. That is a hostile work environment case brought under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq....

Two Criminal Appeals and Two Eminent Domain Cases for the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court announced that it has granted review in four new cases. Two of them are criminal matters. The other two involve eminent domain issues. One of the criminal appeals is before the Court on leave to appeal, the second grant of leave to appeal in the current Term. The Court granted certification in the other three matters....

Appellate Division Oral Argument of the Week: Can the Borough of Caldwell Recoup Payment for Professional Services That it Previously Made?

Tomorrow, September 11, a panel of judges on the Appellate Division's Part B will hear oral argument in Borough of Caldwell v. Cozzarelli-Cirminiello Architects, LLC. The case is before the Appellate Division following the grant of defendant's motion for leave to appeal the denial of its motion to dismiss the Complaint....

The First Published Appellate Division Opinion of the 2025-26 Term

Alcantara v. Moro, ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2025). Judge Smith authored this opinion for the Appellate Division, that court's first published opinion of the new Term. The appeal was from a final decision of the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education that the School Funding Reform Act, N.J.S.A. 8A:7F-43 et seq. ("SFRA"), was constitutional as applied to the Township of Lakewood....