04-2-5023 State v. Hasan , App. Div. (per curiam) (26 pp.) Defendant, an attorney, appeals the order of the Law Division finding her guilty of contempt of court, imposing a $500 fine, and placing her on probation for one year with the condition that she perform 16 hours of community service. Rejecting defendant’s claims that the municipal judge and the Law Division judge should have recused themselves, and finding that defendant’s persistent and willful defiance of the municipal judge’s instruction that she proceed with the trial in her client’s case before addressing her own situation constituted contempt and that her client’s rights were not violated by the contempt order, the panel concludes that enforcement of the contempt order is just. However, it vacates that part of the sanction regarding probation and community services, finding that the fine and referral to the Committee on Attorney Ethics are sufficient sanctions. [Decided Aug. 14, 2009.]
AUTOMOBILES — ACCIDENT
05-3-5002 Robinson v. Scarsdale Union Free School District , Law Div.-Bergen Cy. (Wilson, J.S.C.) (10 pp.) This action arises from a motor vehicle accident that took place in Teaneck, New Jersey. Plaintiff Mr. Robinson was the owner and operator of one vehicle; Defendant Sami Naber was operating the other vehicle, a school bus owned by Defendant Scarsdale Union Free School District. The issue is whether the New Jersey Courts must apply the New York Tort Claims Act when a New Jersey resident brings a cause of action in New Jersey for injuries caused by an accident in New Jersey with an employee of a New York public entity. Because New Jersey law applies, and the New Jersey Tort Claims Act defines “public entity” as “the State, and any county, municipality, district, public authority, public agency, and any other political subdivision or public body in the State,” plaintiffs claim is not dismissed for failure to file a Notice of Claim. The SUFSD is not a “public entity” within the New Jersey Tort Claims Act because it is a public entity of the State of New York. [Decided Aug. 13, 2009.]
