May 20, 2002 | New Jersey Law Journal
Attorneys` Liens Need No Perfection Prior to Concluding Underlying CaseAnswering its first certified question from the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the New Jersey Supreme Court put some gloss on New Jersey`s Attorney`s Lien Act in a way that should make attorneys smile. The justices said that a lawyer need not take any court action, prior to settlement or judgment in a case, to perfect the common-law lien that gives the lawyer the right to retain possession of the client`s property until all legal fees, costs and disbursements are paid.
By Charles Toutant
3 minute read
November 20, 2006 | New Jersey Law Journal
Judge Stays Airport Condemnation, Finding Township's Motives SuspectA town's attempted taking of a local airport's property - allegedly to preserve open space - has been stayed for four months while court-appointed special masters investigate whether the action is based on ulterior motives
By Charles Toutant
4 minute read
October 22, 2010 | Law.com
What's in a 'Name Partner'? Not a Law Partnership, Appeals Court SaysFor 17 years, Raymond Nadel considered himself a partner at New Jersey's Starkman & Nadel. His name was on the marquee and he worked under an agreement that gave him 25 percent of the firm's net profits. But in 2004, firm founder Morris Starkman canned him, citing performance concerns. Nadel sued for what he claimed he was due and was awarded $2.9 million. Now an appeals court says Nadel was a partner in name only and not vested with sufficient indicia of partnership to warrant a payout, regardless of the parties' intent.
By Charles Toutant
5 minute read
April 10, 2006 | New Jersey Law Journal
Prime RateThe state Department of Human Services is in a quandary. It's under a court order to declare that child-support obligors are liable for interest due on delinquent payments. But if it does, it will increase New Jersey's pool of overdue support and lower its collection rate. It's not just paper loss, either, because the federal government very likely would slash New Jersey's Aid to Families with Dependent Children.
By Charles Toutant
5 minute read
August 27, 2007 | New Jersey Law Journal
Criminal Lawyer Sanctioned Over Repeated Failures To AppearA Somerset County judge fines a Plainfield solo $1,000 for failing to appear at six scheduled court hearings in the same criminal case, bringing to $2,250 the total sanctions imposed.
By Charles Toutant
3 minute read
November 12, 2010 | Daily Business Review
Judge steps down amid disclosures of legal and financial indiscretionsJudge Renee Lamarre Sumners resigned in the wake of public disclosure that she had bounced checks to judicial authorities, was sued by creditors and was the subject of an arrest warrant. Sumners said in a letter that she was resigning "to spare my family any further embarrassment."
By Charles Toutant
4 minute read
June 02, 2009 | New Jersey Law Journal
Two Municipal Judges Are Disciplined for DWI InfractionsThe Supreme Court on Tuesday disciplined two municipal judges convicted of drunken driving, issuing a reprimand to Robert Jones, of Livingston, and a censure to Peter Tourison, who presides in Cape May, Stone Harbor and Middle Township.
By Charles Toutant
4 minute read
November 09, 2009 | New Jersey Law Journal
PERS Vote on Prosecutors' Pensions Violated Due ProcessTrustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System must vote a second time on a plan to increase pension contributions by prosecutors from 7.5 percent to 8.5 percent of their salary ? this time giving proper notice to prosecutors.
By Charles Toutant
4 minute read
September 16, 2003 | The Legal Intelligencer
Alcotest Gets Its Day In CourtA Camden County, N.J., judge opened hearings last week to decide whether a proposed substitute for the Breathalyzer in drunken driving cases passes muster with the scientific community.
By Charles Toutant
5 minute read
December 15, 2003 | New Jersey Law Journal
New Measurer of Alcohol Levels Passes First TestNew Jersey's new digital device for divining blood-alcohol levels got a seal of approval last Friday when a Camden County judge found the Alcotest 7110 scientifically reliable and accurate.
By Charles Toutant
4 minute read