There are a number of federal laws on the books that shield gun manufacturers from liability for gun crimes and deaths. In order to bypass these laws, New Jersey officials are taking a new approach to investigate the gun industry. Specifically, they’re targeting Smith & Wesson, one of the largest gun manufacturers in the world,…
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New Jersey Governor Signs Bill to Officially Legalize Recreational Marijuana
In November of last year, New Jersey voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the state constitution to allow the possession and use of marijuana for individuals age 21 and older. The amendment also permits the cultivation, processing, and sale of the substance. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed the bill in February 2021, officially legalizing…
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New Jersey’s Civil Forfeiture Laws Receive “D” Rating in Recent Report
New Jersey recently received poor marks in a nationwide report that examined how each state addresses civil asset forfeiture. Although researchers praised New Jersey for recent legislation that increased forfeiture transparency, they also called on state lawmakers to make additional reforms, including the outright abolishment of civil forfeiture proceedings. Ultimately, this resulted in a “D”…
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Statute of Limitations in Legal Malpractice Cases
Attorneys are required to provide their clients with quality legal services. Some attorneys, however, fall far short in this area. When an attorney fails to provide a client with the level of service required by law, the client may file a legal malpractice lawsuit. Legal malpractice occurs when an attorney’s failure to provide service that…
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Beware of These Common Consumer Fraud Scams During the Holiday Season
The holiday season is a wonderful time of the year. Unfortunately, however, it can also be a dangerous time for consumers. Every year, crooks and scammers come out of the woodwork to take advantage of innocent people. Therefore, as the holidays approach, consumers should be on the lookout for scams designed to steal their personal…
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Measuring a Lawyer’s Standard of Care: Why Expert Testimony Is Needed in Legal Malpractice Cases
In order to prevail in a legal malpractice case, a plaintiff must prove that his or her attorney failed to meet the required standard of care. In order to prove this to the jury, expert testimony is often required. Below is an overview of why expert testimony is needed in legal malpractice cases. Establishing Legal…
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Resolving Business Disputes Outside of Court: The Value of Arbitration and Mediation
Alternative dispute resolution is a process that allows individuals to settle legal issues outside of court. There are many advantages to settling civil disputes through alternative dispute resolution. Two of the most popular forms of alternative dispute resolution are arbitration and mediation. Below we discuss the value of arbitration and mediation. What is mediation? Mediation…
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How to Protect Yourself from Civil Forfeiture
In New Jersey, law enforcement is permitted to seize property that is related to or derived from a crime. Civil forfeiture is common in drug crime cases, weapons crime cases, racketeering cases, and white-collar crime cases. Property subject to civil forfeiture in New Jersey includes: Homes Vehicles Financial Accounts Businesses When the government wins in…
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Avoiding Costly Partnership and Shareholder Disputes
Partnership and shareholder disputes happen for a variety of reasons. One of the primary reasons that partnership and shareholder disputes occur is poorly written partnership and shareholder agreements. When parties fail to effectively define their expectations by way of a shareholder or partnership agreement, this opens the door for disputes regarding issues like ownership percentages,…
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Legal Association Disapproves of New Jersey’s Plan to Restart Criminal Trials
New Jersey recently announced plans to restart criminal trials using a combination of in-person and remote proceedings, including jury selection. However, a prominent legal association of criminal defense attorneys has spoken out against the state’s plan to resume trials for the first time in approximately four months. According to state officials, approximately 5,000 defendants are…
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