New Jersey

N.J. Judge Attributes Obscenities to Stressful Events

A New Jersey judge told a disciplinary panel last week that his use of obscenities on the bench was the result of several stressful events. Judge F. Michael Giles of Essex County is accused of directing profanities at lawyers on two occasions, the New Jersey Law Journal reports. He is…

Jun 24, 2008 3:26 PM CDT

N.J. Supreme Court Says Cohabitation Not Required for Palimony

The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled that cohabitation is not an essential requirement for a palimony suit, although it is a factor that should be considered. The New Jersey Law Journal says the ruling is a break from precedent set by “nearly every other state court.” Although cohabitation is…

Jun 18, 2008 11:59 AM CDT

Suit Challenges Public Intoxication Statutes in N.J.

A federal lawsuit contends at least 74 towns in New Jersey are enforcing statutes against public intoxication even though they were repealed by a state law adopted in 1975. The suit filed in federal court in Camden is seeking class action status, an order banning prosecutions and the return of…

Jun 17, 2008 12:51 PM CDT

From $253M to $0: Reduced $26M Vioxx Verdict Overturned by Texas Appeals Court

A Texas appellate court today has overturned a verdict against Merck & Co. concerning its popular Vioxx painkiller, eliminating the $26 million judgment that remained after a previous $253 million verdict was cut due to a state punitive damages cap. Meanwhile, an appeals court in New Jersey today has reduced…

May 29, 2008 6:27 PM CDT

Prosecutor Explains Possible Case Against JuicyCampus

Only a few of Chelsea Gorman’s closest friends knew she had been raped one night as the freshman was walking back to Vanderbilt University. Yet, months after the attack, the attack became a topic of anonymous gossip—and vicious criticism of Gorman—on the JuicyCampus Internet site. The anonymous campus gossip site—which…

May 19, 2008 11:49 PM CDT

Convicted Murderer Gets New Trial Because of Lawyer’s Stalking Indictment

A New Jersey lawyer who had been indicted for criminal stalking had an obligation to disclose the charge to a client accused of murder, according to the New Jersey Supreme Court. The opinion issued yesterday (PDF) said the client, Mylee Cottle, was entitled to a new murder trial because of…

May 7, 2008 12:42 PM CDT

Closed Trial in One Governor’s Divorce; Closed File in Another’s

Although a former New Jersey governor and his soon-to-be ex-wife have been going at each other publicly for months, the first three days of their divorce trial, which started today, will be held behind closed doors. Reportedly focused, at this point, on the custody of their one child, the divorce…

May 6, 2008 8:22 PM CDT

N.J. High Court Protects e-Privacy With Landmark Ruling

Even police in New Jersey will need a subpoena to access personal information about users from Internet service providers, New Jersey’s Supreme Court ruled Monday. The court held that the Garden State’s constitution gives residents greater protection against unreasonable searches and seizures than the U.S. Constitution, the Newark Star-Ledger reports.…

Apr 22, 2008 10:12 AM CDT

10 Thelen Reid Lawyers Jump Ship to Big Labor Boutique

Ten lawyers from Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner have jumped ship, joining the New York, Newark, N.J., and New Haven, Conn. offices of Littler Mendelson. They are: Joel Finger and Jean Schmidt as partners; Joseph Field, I. Michael Kessel and Eric Witkin as special counsel; Marguerite Stenson Wynne as…

Apr 17, 2008 6:59 PM CDT

Coach Can’t Kneel in Prayer With Players

The Philadelphia-based 3rd Circuit ruled Tuesday against a football coach who sued after his school district barred him from kneeling in prayer with his players. In the closely watched school prayer case, the court ruled that the East Brunswick, N.J., school district didn’t violate the rights of Marcus Borden when…

Apr 16, 2008 8:57 PM CDT

Newark’s Ex-Mayor Convicted of Fraud in Land Deal

Former Newark, N.J., Mayor Sharpe James has been convicted of fraud and conspiracy in connection with the sale of nine city lots to his mistress at bargain prices, the New York Times reports. The girlfriend, Tamika Riley, was also convicted of fraud and conspiracy. She was accused of reselling the…

Apr 16, 2008 4:21 PM CDT

Lawyer Sanctioned for Filing ‘Frivolous’ Depo Distress Suit

A New Jersey judge has ordered a plaintiffs lawyer to pay $2,500 plus attorney fees for filing a frivolous lawsuit alleging his opponent’s deposition questions caused his client emotional distress. That suit was dismissed last fall, and in late March New Jersey Superior Court Judge Alfonse Cifelli ordered the sanctions…

Apr 9, 2008 11:05 AM CDT

N.J. Agrees to Cough Up $1.8M for Demolishing Condo

Here’s the scenario that culminated in a $1.8 million settlement in New Jersey this week: Family takes plot of land that had been vacant for 20 years; developer builds condos; city condemns property to build new school; new condos are torn down; city no longer has money for new school;…

Apr 4, 2008 9:01 PM CDT

Pet Food Suits Resolved in Global Settlement

Canadian pet food distributor Menu Foods has reached an agreement in principle to settle pet food lawsuits consolidated before a federal judge in New Jersey. Terms of the agreement won’t be disclosed until the agreement is finalized May 1, the New Jersey Law Journal reports. The suits say at least…

Apr 3, 2008 4:16 PM CDT

In an About Face, New Jersey Provides Lawyer Records to Website

The state of New Jersey has complied with a request for records of thousands of lawyers in the state by lawyer-ranking website Avvo. Avvo had petitioned the New Jersey Supreme Court for access to names, year of admission and current bar status of the state’s lawyers after the clerk of…

Apr 2, 2008 1:38 PM CDT