New Jersey

NJ lawyer admits involvement in $30 million mortgage scam

A New Jersey lawyer faces up to 30 years in prison for his admitted role in an elaborate $30 million mortgage fraud. Toms River attorney Michael Rumore, 55, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to one count of conspiring to commit bank fraud, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. Rumore and another…

Dec 17, 2013 9:45 PM CST

Mall shooting victim was a lawyer

The man who was shot and killed in a carjacking outside an upscale New Jersey mall has been identified as a 30-year-old lawyer from Hoboken. Dustin Friedland was shot and killed on Sunday as he and his wife, who is also a lawyer, were returning to their 2012 Range Rover…

Dec 17, 2013 1:01 PM CST

State appeals court upholds parole board ban on use of social media by sex offenders

Saying that convicted sex offenders pose a danger to the public if they are allowed access to the Internet, a New Jersey appellate court on Tuesday upheld a state parole board ban on the their use of social media.such as Facebook and Twitter. Objectors argued that the rule is overly…

Nov 27, 2013 7:20 PM CST

Father faces criminal case over his 4-year-old son’s slaying of playmate with unsecured gun

A father who is facing criminal charges because his 4-year-old son fatally shot a 6-year-old neighbor earlier this year has rejected a plea bargain and pleaded not guilty to six counts of child-endangerment. Anthony Senatore, 34, of Toms River, N.J., could get as much as 15 years if he is…

Nov 18, 2013 5:15 PM CST

Patton Boggs axes 10 attorneys and 35 staff in second round of layoffs this year

As a possible merger with Locke Lord looms, lobbying powerhouse Patton Boggs is laying off lawyers and staff for the second time this year. The 450-lawyer Washington, D.C.-based law firm is letting go of 10 associate attorneys in its Newark, N.J., office and 35 staff members throughout its 10 locations…

Nov 14, 2013 9:15 PM CST

Ex-Miss USA contestant told to pay Donald Trump $5M files malpractice suit against her former lawyer

Ordered to pay $5 million to Donald Trump earlier this year in a federal-court ruling upholding an award in a defamation and breach-of-contract arbitration she didn’t attend, an ex-participant in his Miss USA contest has now sued her former lawyer. Sheena Monnin is not alone in blaming attorney Richard Klineburger…

Nov 13, 2013 11:00 PM CST

Closing attorney indicted in claimed mortgage-fraud and identity-theft scheme

A New Jersey lawyer has been indicted along with two other defendants in a claimed scheme to defraud residential mortgage lenders of $873,000 by submitting mortgage applications in the name of individuals whose identities authorities say had been stolen. Attorney Stephanie Hand, 49, practices in Newark and was the lawyer…

Nov 7, 2013 10:10 PM CST

Woman sues estate of prominent lawyer, says he committed suicide after lying about $1.2M settlement

A woman has filed suit against the estate of a prominent New Jersey lawyer, contending that he lied about obtaining a $1.2 million settlement on her behalf before committing suicide in July. In fact, alleges Vivien Thorsen, attorney John “Jay” Fahy never even filed an employment discrimination suit on her…

Nov 6, 2013 7:00 PM CST

Goldman Sachs must pay legal bills for programmer it accused in code-theft case, federal judge rules

Goldman Sachs Group accused its former computer programmer Sergey Aleynikov of stealing its confidential source code. Now the company must pay his legal bills, a federal judge in Newark, N.J., has ruled. “Immediate advancement of fees is required, subject only to an unsecured undertaking to repay them if the applicant…

Oct 24, 2013 3:30 PM CDT

Gov. Christie drops gay-marriage challenge, says NJ state supreme court has spoken

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has dropped his challenge to gay marriage after an adverse decision on Friday by the state supreme court Christie had sought to stay a trial judge’s September order requiring the state to recognize gay marriages beginning on Oct. 21, but the New Jersey Supreme Court…

Oct 21, 2013 3:06 PM CDT

2 rabbis among 10 charged in claimed kidnap-and-torture plot to force religious divorces

For years, there have been stories that men in ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in New York City were sometimes kidnapped or beaten to persuade them to provide the required permission for their wives to obtain a religious divorce. More than a decade ago, a Brooklyn rabbi sued another rabbi, claiming that…

Oct 11, 2013 5:20 PM CDT

Suit says those with most United frequent flier miles pay more for redeemed hotels and flights

Those with the most frequent flier miles in their United Airlines accounts are charged higher redemption rates for hotels and flights, contends a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in New Jersey. Seeking class action status, plaintiffs Robert Gordon and Melissa Chan said they found out about the double-standard when…

Oct 10, 2013 6:45 PM CDT

Alleged name-calling not defamation, judge says in dismissal of NJ lawyer’s suit against ex-wife

A judge has dismissed a New Jersey lawyer’s defamation suit against his ex-wife. Ocean Township lawyer Mark Kentos had sued his ex-wife, Kelly, for remarks he says she made about him in front of one of his clients, the New Jersey Law Journal reports. According to the suit, Kelly Kentos…

Oct 3, 2013 7:45 PM CDT

Young lawyer takes plea in lender-looting case as trial looms for 4 other defendant attorneys

Cory A. Leshner said he was still a law student when he became part of a claimed scheme to take over and loot a Texas-based mortgage company. Now Leshner, a 30-year-old Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in federal court in Camden, N.J., according to…

Oct 2, 2013 8:25 PM CDT

New Jersey trial judge orders state to recognize same-sex marriage

A New Jersey trial judge Friday granted an emergency motion ordering the state to recognize gay marriage. Current law only recognizes civil unions, the Star-Ledger reports, and Mercer County Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson’s order (PDF) is expected to be appealed. The action (PDF) was filed after the U.S. Supreme…

Sep 27, 2013 9:30 PM CDT