Appellate Division

Governor Christie Will Not Re-Nominate Justice Hoens to the Supreme Court

Governor Christie announced today that he will not re-nominate Justice Hoens to the Supreme Court once her initial seven-year term expires later this year. Instead, he is nominating Judge Faustino J....

The Supreme Court Rejects "Jury Homework"

State v. Morgan, 217 N.J. 1 (2013). In State v. Morgan, 423 N.J. Super. 453 (App. Div. 2011), discussed here, the Appellate Division found no bar to a trial judge...

"Intertwinement of Issues" Cannot Compel Non-Party to Arbitration Agreement to Arbitrate Claims

Hirsch v. Amper Financial Services, LLC, 215 N.J. 174 (2013). Arbitration is a matter of contract. The issue in this case was whether non-parties to an arbitration agreement could be compelled to...

Railroad Can Take Private Property if "Not Incompatible With the Public Interest" and as "The Exigencies of Business May Demand"

Norfolk Southern Railway Co. v. Intermodal Properties, LLC, 210 N.J. 261 (2013). New Jersey law allows railroads and public utilities to take private property by eminent domain. N.J.S.A. 48:3-17.7 requires that any such taking...

Potential Drainage Issues Do Not Defeat Right to a Variance for Frontage

Ten Stary Dom Partnership v. Mauro, 216 N.J. 16 (2013). Less than two weeks after issuing an opinion about conditional use variances, the Supreme Court today turned to bulk variances...

A Noticeable Drop in Oral Argument Requests in the Appellate Division

In an article available here, Law360 reports today that there has been a precipitious drop in requests for oral argument in the Appellate Division. Citing statistics from the judiciary, the...

Statute of Repose Does Not Save Claims Barred by Statute of Limitations

Cumberland Cty. Bd. of Freeholders v. Vitetta Group, P.C., 431 N.J. Super. 596 (App. Div. 2013). Most cases involving the construction statute of repose, N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1.1, involve how to determine when the...

"Upper Management" Jury Instruction is Required for Punitive Damages Claims Under CEPA

Longo v. Pleasure Productions, Inc., 215 N.J. 48 (2013). A plaintiff under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act, N.J.S.A. 34:19-1 to -8 ("CEPA"), can recover punitive damages against an employer, under the doctrine...

Relaxed Standard of Coventry Square, Not Stricter Standard of Medici, Applies to Proof of Negative Criteria for Conditonal Use Variances

TSI East Brunswick, LLC v. East Brunswick Bd. of Adj., 215 N.J. 26 (2013). The Municipal Land Use Law ("MLUL"), N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(d)(3), authorizes applications for conditional use variances. A conditional use is...

Two Mayors Lose on Abstention Vote Issue

Booker v. Rice, 431 N.J. Super. 548 (App. Div. 2013), and Zimmer v. Castellano, 432 N.J. Super. 412 (App. Div. 2013). In each of these cases (Booker involving the City of Newark...

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