GlobeSt.com - New Jersey

NJ High Court Adopts Rule Barring Sexual Relationships with Clients

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:20:52 EST

Among a host of amendments to state court rules approved by New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner on Thursday, was the addition of Rule 1.8(k) to New Jersey's Rules of Professional Conduct. Rule 1.8(k) would prohibit sexual relations between an attorney and a client, except in cases where a consensual relationship already existed when the attorney-client relationship commenced.

Judicial Procedure Mishap in Case of Lost Items Leads to Appellate Division Reversal

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 14:53:30 EST

The Appellate Division said in was “constrained to reverse the trial court's prior granting of summary judgment to NJM Insurance Company and remand to Somerset County Superior Court.

Amid Rising Rents, Litigators Await Guidance on Challenges to Rent-Setting Algorithms

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:10:04 EST

With litigators awaiting guidance on the growing crop of suits over the use of algorithms to set rents, a related case at the Third Circuit concerning hotels "has been pending since last fall, and I think a lot of people are waiting for it," law professor Salil Mehra said.

With Family Law Booming, NJ Practice Leaders Say Talent Can be Hard to Find

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:37:22 EST

Many law firms have recently announced expansions of their family law ranks, including New Jersey's Einhorn Barbarito and A.Y Strauss, as well as New York boutique Sterlington.

Johnson & Johnson Wins Big: Federal Judge Orders Nearly 70,000 Talc Claimants to Show Why They Shouldn't be Dismissed

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 19:42:40 EST

In Wednesday's order, U.S. Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah Singh, in the District of New Jersey, raised "deep skepticism" about the plaintiffs' specific causation experts and sought to reevaluate how to manage the "aged and complex mass tort MDL."

Novo Nordisk Says Lilly's ‘Gold Standard' GLP-1 Comparison Misleads Consumers

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:31:32 EST

Novo says Lilly is using an older head-to-head trial to promote Zepbound's superiority, despite newer data for a higher Wegovy dose that was not included in the comparison.

Critical Mass With Law.com's Amanda Bronstad: Lawsuits Hit Taylor Farms and Taco Bell Over Contaminated Lettuce, 1st Checks Sent From $4B Sex Abuse Settlement Amid Fraud Scandal

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:58:59 EST

This week: At least five lawsuits have been filed against Taylor Farms over its lettuce contaminated with cyclospora, and Taco Bell is an additional defendant in most of the cases. More than $700 million of a massive settlement with Los Angeles County is being sent out to sex abuse claimants, even as fraud claims continue. Find out who represents Best Buy in the latest consumer class action over allegedly deceptive price discounting.

Should Polluters Pay to Make New Jersey More Affordable?

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:44:59 EST

New Jersey is far from the only jurisdiction considering efforts to extract monetary damages from the fossil fuel companies for allegedly causing climate change harm.

'They Tried a Different Case': $3M Abuse Verdict Against Cape May Religious Group

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 17:34:22 EST

The plaintiff prevailed after choosing a cause of action that did not depend on the defendant religious organization's awareness of abuse by two of its agents.

PIP Insurance Fraud Claims Cannot be Arbitrated, NJ Supreme Court Rules

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:16:20 EST

After Allstate sued, some defendants sought to compel arbitration under the Automobile Insurance Cost Reduction Act, which includes a mandatory arbitration provision.

After Full Bench Sounds Off, How Much Did 3rd Circuit Reveal of Itself?

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:47:25 EST

Arthur Hellman, a law professor who studies federal appeals courts, said an en banc ruling in an assault weapons case demonstrates that litigators should not assume a judge's party affiliation will predict case outcomes in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

After Disqualifying Beasley Allen, Johnson & Johnson Sets Sights on Other Talc Lawyers

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 19:15:10 EST

Johnson & Johnson lawyer Kristen Fournier, at Kirkland & Ellis, wrote in a July 9 letter to U.S. Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah Singh in the talc multidistrict litigation about "concerning and newly developed facts" that surfaced during a July 6 evidentiary hearing in Florida.

How Dashcam Footage Secured a $2.3M Settlement in Rear-End Collision With Contested Liability

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:37:48 EST

The settlement came after the Appellate Division reversed summary judgment and returned the issues of proximate cause and comparative fault to a jury

NJ Has Not Followed Other Courts in Banning AI Glasses—but That Could Change

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:53:31 EST

New Jersey has no regulations addressing the use of smart glasses in court, but doing so would help ensure fair trials, preserve judicial control over the proceedings and minimize the potential of someone using a recording of courtroom proceedings for self-serving purposes, suggested J.C. Lore III, a professor and director of trial advocacy at Rutgers Law School.

No 'Breaks' to Perpetrators: Protect Domestic Violence Victims

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:27:21 EST

The trial court's concluding remark, “[d]o you understand the break you got today, might lead the plaintiff to believe the court was more concerned about the defendant's best interests.

NJ High Court Displays Judicial Restraint Without Abdication in Recent Consumer Finance Ruling

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:27:16 EST

Judicial restraint is an important virtue. So too is the recognition that state courts have historically done more than merely police legislative boundaries.

Sanofi Opens New Front in mRNA Patent Wars With Suits Against Pfizer, Moderna

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:46:38 EST

The two New Jersey suits assert eight patents against Pfizer and 10 against Moderna, extending existing mRNA litigation beyond delivery technology to manufacturing, purity and non-COVID respiratory vaccines.

NJ Supreme Court Clarifies How the AG's Office Can Intervene in Whistleblower Cases

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:38:37 EST

“The attorney general always had the ability to prevent application of the public disclosure bar, and the [amendment] altered only the way the attorney general could exercise the discretion to do so, New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Fabiana Pierre-Louis said.

Navigating New Jersey's CREAMMA: What Employers Need to Know

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:59:59 EST

Employers are well-served by a straightforward guiding principle: to the extent possible, document and take action based on actual work performance deficiencies and observable conduct, regardless of whether the employer suspects the employee may be under the influence of cannabis.

'Stunning Turn of Events': Johnson & Johnson Asks Judge to Order Potential Dismissal of All 67,000 Talc Lawsuits

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:01:50 EST

Johnson & Johnson, in a motion for order to show cause, insisted that lead plaintiffs' counsel in the talc multidistrict litigation withdrew their two "marquee" specific causation experts after they acknowledged other risk factors impacting women in six bellwether cases—and that most ovarian cancers are idiopathic.

Insurance Brokers and Agents Are Not Exempt from Consumer Fraud Liability, NJ Supreme Court Rules

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:24:13 EST

“This decision is yet another example of New Jersey courts accepting the Attorney General's broad interpretation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, an attorney who previously oversaw the New Jersey Attorney General's Office's Consumer Fraud Act enforcement said.

New Chief Judge for Appellate Division Set to Take Over in Fall

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:13:29 EST

The new chief judge will be replacing the retiring Judge Thomas Sumners.

Headaches Ahead? AI Glasses-Boom Brings Litigation Risks for Employers

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:10:49 EST

Some smart glasses collect biometric data about faces, voiceprints and other identifying characteristics, but collecting and storing these might require disclosure and informed consent under biometric laws in Illinois, Texas and Colorado, said attorney Adia Craig. Failure to comply might lead to statutory penalties and private rights of action, Craig said.

Mulling a Confidential Settlement? NJ Attorneys Say There Are Tax Implications

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 08:59:59 EST

“There's a potential penalty for any plaintiff who does agree to confidentiality," attorney David Mazie of Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman said.

Fox Rothschild Hit With Abuse of Process Lawsuit in NJ Court

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 20:56:18 EST

“Defendants maintained this litigation for years, repeatedly ignored demands for dismissal, ignored documentary evidence disproving their claims, and attempted to use the burdens and expense of litigation as leverage to force plaintiff to abandon claims for sanctions and attorneys' fees, the suit said.

$10.5M Settlement Reached Over New Jersey Lawyer's Death

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:48:16 EST

A cancer expert testifying for the deceased man's estate opined that Sills Cummis attorney Brian Coven had an 85% to 90% chance of survival, if doctors had taken appropriate action after the first signs of cancer.

'We're in a New Terrain': AI Bolsters Pro Se Litigation, but Judges Raise Alarms

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:58:51 EST

Many legal experts attribute skyrocketing pro se filings to artificial intelligence tools, but some judges in federal and state courts have sanctioned them over "hallucinations" and other errors caused by AI.

Are Confidentiality Requests on the Rise in NJ? Attorneys Debate What's at Stake

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:18:38 EST

After an attorney's estate repelled an attempt to introduce confidentiality into a settlement agreement, members of the plaintiff and defense bar weighed in on whether such a practice is becoming more commonplace.

Court Says Commercial Exception to Anti-SLAPP Law Doesn't Apply to Law Firm

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:55:18 EST

Attorney Bruce Rosen, who represented law firm Javerbaum Wurgaft in a libel suit by Holtec International, noted that Monday's ruling is the fourth Appellate Division win he's obtained in the last eight months in cases interpreting UPEPA.

NJ Shows Why SCOTUS's Expansion of Executive Powers Might Not Mean What It Seems

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:29:05 EST

The lesson is that constitutional text and administrative practice can diverge dramatically.

New Jersey Moves to Ban Sensitive Data Sales: What Businesses Must Do Now

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:09:59 EST

This alert breaks down what you need to know about the Garden State's new privacy law and outlines the practical steps your company should take now to limit enforcement exposure for noncompliance.

NJ Supreme Court Closes Door for Private Right of Action Under the Consumer Finance Licensing Act

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:30:28 EST

In writing for the bench, Justice John Jay Hoffman said the court saw “no reason to disturb the principle of preventing plaintiffs from suing for injunctions to enforce state penal laws.

New Jersey's New E-Bike Insurance Law Solves One Problem. But It Leaves an Important Question Unanswered.

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:59:59 EST

Beginning July 19, riders of certain higher-powered e-bikes will have to carry liability insurance because those bikes are now classified as motorized bicycles under state law. Some people have criticized the change as unnecessary regulation. I don't see it that way.

Appellate Division Tosses $40K Sanction Against Nagel Rice in Fee Dispute

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:55:37 EST

After an arbitrator awarded Blume Forte $56,250 in the fee dispute, Nagel Rice sued to vacate the award.

Can DEI Be Neutral?

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:02:50 EST

We commend the author and the AAA for publishing this piece and look forward to the wide-ranging discussions it should engender.

Baker Donelson Princeton Shareholder Talks Leadership During Firm Transition

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:05:17 EST

Baker Donelson launched in New Jersey last year with nearly 30 attorneys.

Einhorn Barbarito Launches Bergen County Presence With Boutique Firm Acquisition

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 11:43:27 EST

Since late last year, at least three midsize firms in New Jersey—Mandelbaum Barrett, Lauletta Birnbaum and A.Y. Strauss—have expanded into new locations through the acquisition of a smaller firm.

How I Made Practice Group Chair: 'Invest in the Success of Colleagues,' Says Andrew Kaplan of Baker Donelson

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:59:59 EST

"Attorneys interested in leadership roles should focus on developing strong client relationships, collaborating across practice groups, and investing in the success of colleagues. Effective leadership in a law firm setting requires balancing individual client service with a long-term commitment to strengthening the broader practice."

Mead Johnson Wins Defense Verdict in Latest NEC-Related Infant Formula Trial

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 15:23:36 EST

Thursday's verdict, in the 22^nd Judicial Circuit Court in St. Louis, Missouri, comes less than three weeks after Mead Johnson won reversal of a $60 million formula verdict, the first in the nation involving NEC, or necrotizing enterocolitis.

Judge Rules Against AIG Over Ambiguous Insurance Policy

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:00:30 EST

AIG had denied coverage.

NJ Firm Admits to Overcharging 68 Clients

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 17:26:53 EST

The firm admitted to a judge it tacked impermissible charges of $119,236 for things like courier services and online research onto bills for contingent-fee cases between 2013 and 2015.

29 States Head to Trial Against Meta After Social Media Addiction Judge Refuses to Toss Claims

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:05:57 EST

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who is overseeing the social media addiction multidistrict litigation in the Northern District of California, refused to grant Meta's summary judgment motion on Monday.

Federal Judge Orders US Transportation Dept. to End Suspension of Funds for $16B Gateway Rail Project

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:45:19 EST

“Defendants do not dispute that the suspension of federal grants flagrantly violates federal law, said District Judge Jeannette Vargas.

Pfizer Reaches Tentative Settlement in Depo-Provera Cases, Bellwether Trial Vacated

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 14:34:53 EST

U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers, in the Northern District of Florida, postponed her expert ruling this month due to a settlement reached between Pfizer and lead counsel in the Depo-Provera multidistrict litigation.

Health Insurers Push to Consolidate Mounting ‘No Surprises Act' Litigation in State Court

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:33:24 EST

Plaintiff firms have since launched a flurry of lawsuits against health insurance companies over the 2022 law that sets new billing limitations on emergency procedures.

Google Maps Drivers' NJ Wage and Hour Case Shows Evolving Misclassification Claims

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:24:20 EST

The case stems from Teaneck-based Cognizant's contract with Google to update Google Maps. Cognizant, in turn, relies on staffing company Aceolutions, also a defendant in the case, to get drivers to verify Google Maps data. Google is not a defendant.

Weiner Law Group Elects New Leadership Following Managing Partner Departure

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:16:35 EST

Weiner Law Group equity shareholders chose Surgent and Berkeley to co-lead the firm, and both attorneys will also serve on the firm's management committee alongside partner and litigation department chair Howard E. Brechner.

Google Maps Drivers' Wage and Hour Case Shows Evolving Misclassification Claims

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 21:43:11 EST

The case stems from Cognizant's contract with Google to update Google Maps. Cognizant, in turn, relies on staffing company Aceolutions, also a defendant in the case, to get drivers to verify Google Maps data. Google is not a defendant.

Trial Judge's Errors Get $954K Judgment Tossed in Boat Injury Case

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 17:45:44 EST

A decision overturning a judgment of nearly $1 million is sure to be closely examined in the future—it was designated a published case, and it was referred to the New Jersey Supreme Court's Civil Practice Committee.

Schepisi & McLaughlin, P.A. promotes Danielle J. Cardone Moutinho to Partner

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:50:38 EST

Schepisi & McLaughlin, P.A. promotes Danielle J. Cardone Moutinho to Partner

Reflections on 250 Years of New Jersey Constitutionalism

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:49:58 EST

The rights we have in our constitution exist only because of the structural mechanisms that protect the rule of law, the separation of powers, and an independent judiciary.

Trump Settlement with His Subordinate and His DOJ Showcase Conflicts of Interest

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:49:55 EST

We find that the concept of the executive branch leader making a settlement on his own behalf with someone who is his subordinate to constitute a clear conflict of interest.

'Expensive Style:' Judge Agrees to $600K Settlement in Long-Running Discrimination Suit

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:31:08 EST

In June 2025, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss. The motion was still pending at the time of the settlement. The motion said Gross-Quatrone's claim for gender discrimination against Mizdol failed because she could not demonstrate that she suffered any adverse employment action or that she was treated differently than anyone outside her purported class.

Third Circuit Bars Providers' Defamation Suit Over Claim Denials

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:23:44 EST

“ERISA broadly preempts state law claims. The explanation of benefits forms at issue in this appeal fall well within the scope of ERISA preemption, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Judge Thomas M. Hardiman said.

'Overdue Justice': Monsanto Praises SCOTUS Ruling, Roundup Lawsuits in Limbo

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:12:54 EST

Thursday's ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court could wipe out tens of thousands of Roundup lawsuits, but some plaintiffs' lawyers remain optimistic some claims could survive.

The Climate and Environmental Reality of Data Centers: A Litigation Snapshot

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:09:59 EST

Data center litigation is quickly becoming one of the most interesting frontiers in environmental, land use, and infrastructure law—offering courts, regulators, and developers new opportunities to define how critical digital infrastructure fits into the physical world.

‘Gotcha' No More? NJ Fed Court Considers Early Test for Affidavit of Merit Disputes in Med Mal Suits

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:53:27 EST

The proposed Local Civil Rule 16.1 amendment would eliminate the current language on affidavits of merit in negligence and malpractice litigation.

Critical Mass With Law.com's Amanda Bronstad: Doe Run Settles Long-Running Lead Case, Two Plaintiffs' Lawyers Sanctioned for MDL Protective Order Violations

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:58:59 EST

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PNC Bank Loses Bid for Release From Suit Over Fraud Against 76-Year-Old Man

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:11:56 EST

Guidance from FinCEN, the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, advises bank employees to watch for older customers engaging in unusual transactions or appearing to be under another person's influence. But employees of PNC didn't appear to follow that advice in Maas' case.

Gibbons Followed 'Accepted Standards' of Practice, Firm Says in Answer to $35M Legal Mal Suit

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:40:26 EST

“Plaintiffs' claims against defendants must fail as defendants exercised the knowledge, skill, ability and devotion ordinarily possessed and employed by members of the legal profession similarly situated, and utilized reasonable care and prudence in connection with those responsibilities, the defendants' answer stated, in part.

Preserving a Residence While Qualifying for Medicaid

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:59:59 EST

With proper and timely estate planning, a Medicaid applicant may be able to preserve his or her residence while still qualifying for Medicaid benefits.