Charles Toutant

October 05, 2005 |

KPMG and Sidley, Austin, Brown & Wood have reached a $225 million settlement with plaintiffs in a class action suit that charges the firms with having sold bogus tax shelters. The settlement is subject to approval by U.S. District Judge Dennis Cavanaugh in Newark, N.J., who will hear the matter on Friday. The parties reached the agreement after a year of mediation. Several similar class actions over the tax shelters are pending in other states.

By Charles Toutant

2 minute read

September 16, 2010 |

A state appeals court on Thursday had some critical words for a judge who said he routinely trims fee awards to discourage fee-shifting, calling that seat- of-the-pants policy "legally untenable."

By Charles Toutant

3 minute read

May 10, 2004 |

New Jersey's drunken driving statute has been revised for a second time this year - and the second revision is to fix problems incurred in the first. The earlier amendment had the untoward effect of giving drivers stopped for drunken driving an incentive to skip the Breathalyzer test.

By Charles Toutant

3 minute read

September 27, 2004 |

A same-sex couple who own a home in Montclair are suing local tax officials, saying their marriage in Canada should render them eligible for a disabled veterans' property tax exemption.

By Charles Toutant

2 minute read

March 01, 2004 |

The Affidavit of Merit Statute -- anathema to plaintiffs' medical malpractice lawyers since its inception -- has taken on a new reason to be loathed, thanks to Supreme Court rulings that seem to be of two minds on whether and when to forgive technical noncompliance.

By Charles Toutant

4 minute read

November 18, 2003 |

A recent ruling against same-sex couples marrying in New Jersey may give impetus to legislation creating a new status of domestic partnership that does not disturb the traditional definition of marriage.

By Charles Toutant

6 minute read

June 18, 2008 |

In a decision that will ease tensions among New Jersey chiropractors, the state Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that their practice isn't limited to cricks of the spine, despite murky statutory authority.

By Charles Toutant

4 minute read

November 13, 2006 |

Edward Imperatore, a litigator with a client base in real estate and transportation interests held by his prominent Bergen County family, will head the New Jersey office of New York's Phillips Nizer

By Charles Toutant

3 minute read

November 03, 2005 |

Lawyers have joined the flood of professionals helping to make "sponsored links" on Google, Yahoo and other Web search engines the fastest-growing segment of Internet advertising. The links are popular marketing tools for small law firms, particularly in practice areas where lawyers live or die on a steady stream of new business. But be warned, it's an auction-like system, where the most aggressive advertisers can claw their way to the top, and where clicks can bring clients, but at a cost.

By Charles Toutant

7 minute read

July 05, 2004 |

The General Assignment Order for the upcoming court term shows the highest depletion of judicial ranks in four years, as replacements failed to keep pace with retirements.

By Charles Toutant

5 minute read