Governor Murphy signed new laws that will crack down on worker misclassification in New Jersey and which will provide additional benefits for workers once in effect. Misclassification is the practice of illegally and improperly classifying employees as independent contractors, when they are, in fact, employees. This practice deprives workers of the right to earn minimum wage and overtime, workers’ compensation, unemployment, earned sick leave, […]
Category: News
SB-54, which cleared the Florida Legislature in April 2021, and would have repealed Florida’s PIP Scheme, was vetoed by Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, Wednesday. In his letter to the Secretary of State, Gov. DeSantis acknowledged “the PIP system has flaws,” but that “SB 54 does not adequately address the current issues facing Florida drivers,” adding the bill could have consequences the legislature had not […]
On June 10, 2021, the New Jersey Supreme Court reached a decision in the matter of Pareja v. Princeton International Properties 2021 WL 2371260. This decision, which is important in the context of commercial property landowners, is summarized below. Plaintiff, Pareja filed a lawsuit for personal injuries when he when he slipped and fell on a driveway apron, that section of the sidewalk that […]
On April 13, 2021, the New Jersey Appellate Division reached a decision in the matter of Hassan v. Williams, No. A-3336-18. This decision, which is important in the context of commercial transportation and motor vehicle accident lawsuits in the State of New Jersey, is summarized below. Plaintiff Ahmed Hassan filed a lawsuit claiming personal injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash that was alleged […]
Many small and mid-sized law firms are at an increased threat for cyberattacks resulting from failure to take adequate cybersecurity precautions. Smaller law firms often lack the expertise and willingness to expend operating costs on proper cybersecurity. Law firms operating without properly developed cybersecurity plans and safeguards are at risk for violating Rules of Professional Conduct and exposure to the very real threat of […]
News | 3 May 2021 | by Bradley K. Shafer
MINTZER SAROWITZ ZERIS LEDVA & MEYERS LLP LABOR & EMPLOYMENT BULLETIN APRIL 2021 We have all seen the statistics reporting declining membership in unions over the years. Indeed, at this point, there are more public employer union members than there are private employers. According to the January 22, 2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the union membership rate of public-sector workers (34.8 percent) is […]
After suspending civil and criminal jury trials on March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas resumed in-person civil jury trials on March 4, 2021. This decision was based on public health guidance and the recommendations of the CDC, as well as state and local public health officials. As of April 7, 2021, nearly 400 civil cases […]
News | 7 Apr 2021 | by Defense Counsel
As we approach the one-year anniversary of the New Jersey Statewide “shutdown” due to COVID-19, it is worth assessing how the New Jersey Courts adapted. Apart from jury trials, the New Jersey courts barely missed a beat keeping litigation in step. With little lag time required to figure out the technical aspects, the courts promptly switched to virtual hearings on discovery motions, substantive motions, […]
The Supreme Court heard two cases involving Ford Motor Company during its October 2020 term and issued a ruling on these cases on March 25, 2021. Ford Motor Co. v. Mont. Eighth Jud. Dist. Ct., 589 U.S. ____ (2020). In each, the State’s highest court held that it had personal jurisdiction over Ford Motor Company in a products-liability lawsuit stemming from a car accident. […]
Florida Supreme Court Adopts Federal Summary Judgment Standard On December 31, 2020, the Florida Supreme Court decided to scrap the established state law standard for summary judgment in favor of adopting the more lenient federal standard articulated by the United States Supreme Court in the trilogy of cases of Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986), Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. […]