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Charles Toutant

Charles Toutant

Charles Toutant is a litigation writer for the New Jersey Law Journal.

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November 01, 2006 | New Jersey Law Journal

Sills Cummis Opens 'Magnet' Office In Princeton, Hoping to Lure Laterals

Sills, Cummis, Epstein & Gross set up shop in Princeton this week, tapping into the area's potential for pharmaceutical and medical-device clients and for recruitment of new talent - especially laterals disaffected with their current firms.

By Charles Toutant

4 minute read

December 21, 2007 | New Jersey Law Journal

N.J. Firms Becoming Partner-Heavy

The ratio of lawyers to partners at the largest New Jersey firms has been dropping for the past three years, an indication that firms are putting more reliance on partners as billing engines.

By Charles Toutant

4 minute read

July 21, 2010 | New Jersey Law Journal

Punitive Damages, Attorneys' Fees Visited on Mortgage Rescue Firm

A judge orders the president of a debt-relief firm and one of its salesmen to pay $75,000 in punitive damages, and more in attorneys' fees, for defrauding a homeowner into a sale and lease-back deal.

By Charles Toutant

5 minute read

September 06, 2011 | New Jersey Law Journal

No Free Speech Violation in Rejection of Anti-Abortion Group's Billboard Ad

A federal judge in Newark has dismissed a First Amendment suit against a billboard company that deemed an anti-abortion group's messages too 'disturbing' to run.

By Charles Toutant

5 minute read

August 02, 2004 | New Jersey Law Journal

Alleging Race-Based Condemnation

With little success so far in stopping municipal condemnations of blighted property, opponents of urban renewal plans are trying out a new strategy - calling the condemnations violations of constitutional and civil rights. Challengers claim in court that the wrecking ball is hitting hardest in low-income, minority neighborhoods with high concentrations of African Americans and Hispanics.

By Charles Toutant

7 minute read

March 16, 2011 | New Jersey Law Journal

Parties May Take Judge at Her Word On Pact's Secrecy

A litigant's reliance on a judge's assurances of confidentiality in settlement discussions outweigh the public's common law right of access to the record, a federal appeals court rules.

By Charles Toutant

5 minute read

September 08, 2010 | New Jersey Law Journal

OK To Google Jurors During Voir Dire, Appeals Court Says

Now that New Jersey courtrooms have Wi-Fi capability, trial lawyers with wireless laptops have a distinct edge: the ability to Google prospective jurors at the counsel table. And an appeals court has given its blessing to the practice.

By Charles Toutant

5 minute read

August 28, 2006 | New Jersey Law Journal

Judge Facing Ethics Charges Seeks Recusal of Two High Court Justices

A judge facing a Supreme Court hearing on charges he made inappropriate comments to jurors and about other judges is asking that two members of the Court recuse themselves due to alleged bias.

By Charles Toutant

5 minute read

September 07, 2010 | Law.com

Judge Apologizes for Courtroom Rant, Says He Meant Well

A New Jersey judge who subjected a pro se litigant to a tirade that an ethics tribunal calls "disrespectful and insulting" has apologized, but says he acted out of "desire to do justice to children." The judge was hearing cross-complaints by a woman and her husband for restraining orders. According to the tribunal, when the woman expressed concern about a temporary visitation schedule set for the husband and their child, the judge became irate, screamed at her, called her a bad parent and threatened incarceration.

By Charles Toutant

4 minute read

August 11, 2005 | New York Law Journal

Lead Counsel Fight

Two New York plaintiffs' firms are fighting it out in federal court over whether one got too chummy with defendants, at the expense of claimants, in its efforts to become lead counsel in a class-action suit.

By Charles ToutantNew Jersey Law Journal

6 minute read