New Jersey

Inspired by Son’s Description of Law Classes, Dad Pursues Degree at Rutgers, Too

Updated: It isn’t unusual for a son or daughter to follow a parent into law practice, even attending the same law school. But Bill Popovich and his son have followed that program in reverse. Talking with his son, also named Bill Popovich, about what he’d learned every day in classes…

Apr 25, 2011 9:37 PM CDT

Man Accused of Driving Rutgers Roommate to Suicide Faces New Grand Jury Charges

A grand jury in Middlesex County, N.J., has issued new charges against an 18-year-old former Rutgers University freshman who is accused of driving his roommate to suicide by secretly recording a same-sex romantic dorm encounter with the help of another student. Dharun Ravi now faces allegations of witness and evidence…

Apr 20, 2011 5:32 PM CDT

When Is a Law Firm Allegedly Part of a RICO Criminal Enterprise? 3rd Circuit Explains

A federal district judge erred in dismissing racketeering counts against a prominent New Jersey defense attorney and former prosecutor accused of using his law offices as part of a criminal enterprise, a federal appeals court ruled yesterday. Although the judge was understandably concerned about the complexity of the case against…

Apr 13, 2011 3:46 PM CDT

3rd Circuit Says Ex-Prosecutor Accused of Plotting to Murder Witness Must Also Face RICO Charges

Criminal defense lawyer Paul Bergrin must face federal racketeering charges in addition to a lengthy list of other counts, a federal appeals court has ruled. Although a federal judge in Newark last year said the crimes of which he and other defendants are accused are too loosely connected to establish…

Apr 12, 2011 4:29 PM CDT

Lawyer Gets Enhanced Sanction (a Reprimand) for Ignoring Both Client and Disciplinary Authorities

The New Jersey Supreme Court imposed an enhanced sanction on a lawyer who not only failed to return a former real estate client’s many phone calls but didn’t refund $250 from an escrow account, reports the Legal Profession Blog. But that was because Christopher McCarthy also didn’t respond to a…

Apr 12, 2011 10:53 AM CDT

Middleman Pleads Guilty in $34M Insider-Trading Case, Says Lawyer Stole Info from 4th BigLaw Firm

A man accused of being a middleman in an alleged insider-trading operation that prosecutors say reaped some $34 million in illegal profits over a 17-year period pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Newark, N.J., to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and two counts of securities fraud.…

Apr 12, 2011 10:33 AM CDT

Nixed for Urination-Monitor Job Over Birth Gender, Worker Files Unusual Discrimination Suit

Born physically female, 39-year-old El’Jai Devoureau is now male according to his birth certificate, driver’s license and social security card, following a course of male hormones and sex-change surgery. But after he was hired by Urban Treatment Associates in Camden to watch men provide urine samples at a drug-treatment center—to…

Apr 11, 2011 5:24 PM CDT

Accused Middleman ID’d, Expected to Plead in Alleged Insider Info Theft By BigLaw Attorney

A middleman who allegedly passed confidential merger and acquisition information from a BigLaw attorney to a trader involved in a $109 million insider-trading scheme is expected to plead guilty as early as today to charges of conspiracy and securities fraud, reports the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.), relying on unidentified…

Apr 11, 2011 10:02 AM CDT

Former Prosecutor and Chief City Judge Admits Arranging for Innocent Man to Make False Confession

A former New Jersey prosecutor and chief municipal judge in the state’s biggest city has pleaded guilty to accepting a $3,500 payment in exchange for arranging for an innocent man to make a false confession in a gun-possession case. In addition, Clifford Minor, 68, who runs a Newark criminal defense…

Apr 6, 2011 8:57 PM CDT

Judge Orders Newspaper to ID Commenter re Manslaughter Case Against Former ‘Melrose Place’ Actress

A judge in New Jersey yesterday ordered the Newark Star-Ledger to identify an anonymous commenter who said he witnessed a fatal car crash that resulted in an aggravated manslaughter charge against actress Amy Locane-Bovenizer, 39, who starred in the original Melrose Place television series. The comment by the claimed witness…

Mar 30, 2011 8:38 PM CDT

Former NJ Judge Is Accused of Representing Mayor While on City’s Municipal Court Bench

A former judge in Montville, N.J., is accused of continuing to represent the city’s mayor in real estate matters, while simultaneously sitting on the municipal court bench. Seth Davenport faces two legal ethics counts concerning his alleged work for then-Mayor John Rosellini, the Daily Record reports. First, the Supreme Court’s…

Mar 30, 2011 6:45 PM CDT

Martin Sheen Testifies for James Marshall in Suit Seeking $11M from Maker of Acne Drug Accutane

Actor Martin Sheen testified via a video hookup from California today in a New Jersey trial in which actor James Marshall is seeking $11 million from the maker of the acne drug Accutane. Marshall, 44, who played the role of Louden Downey in the movie A Few Good Men had…

Mar 25, 2011 12:16 AM CDT

Convicted Ex-Qwest CEO Sues over $25M Legal Bill, Claims Lawyers Billed Him for Their Underwear

Contending that he was “grossly overbilled” for a negligent defense in an insider trading case, the jailed former CEO of Qwest Communications International Inc. has sued over his legal bill of more than $25 million. Joseph Nacchio, who is serving a 70-month prison term for illegally selling $52 million in…

Mar 23, 2011 6:06 PM CDT

Former Office Manager to Get 7 Years in Theft of Over $400K from NJ Law Firm

A former office manager of a northern New Jersey law firm has agreed to a plea bargain that includes a seven-year prison sentence for her admitted theft of over $400,000 from Maloof Lebowitz Connahan & Oleske between 2003 and 2010. Beth Friedland, 39, is expected to actually serve only a…

Mar 22, 2011 7:14 PM CDT

Fashion Manager’s Arbitration Claim Seeks $2M for Anguish of New Jersey Exile

A manager for design house Elie Tahari alleges in a $2 million arbitration claim that he was exiled to New Jersey due to his complaints about being unfairly passed over for promotions. Thomas Horodecki is Christian and Polish; he claims his manager favored less experienced Jewish Israeli staffers who vacationed…

Mar 18, 2011 1:40 PM CDT