Year: 2020

Third Circuit Clarifies Free Speech Rights of Public School Students

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals recently issued a significant decision involving public school students’ free speech rights and clarified how existing precedent will be applied to social media. In B.L. v. Mahanoy Area School District, the appeals court unanimously held that the First Amendment prohibits disciplining public school students

Divided-NJ-Supreme-Court-Rules-Police-Can-Compel-Cell-Phone-Access

Divided NJ Supreme Court Rules Police Can Compel Cell Phone Access

In State v. Robert Andrews, (A-72-18/082209) (Decided August 10, 2020), the New Jersey Supreme Court held that a defendant can be compelled to disclose a cellphone password. According to the four-member majority, requiring defendants to unlock their phones does not violate the Self- Incrimination Clause of the Fifth Amendment to

New Jersey Supreme Court Greenlights State’s Billion Dollar Borrowing Plan

New Jersey Supreme Court Greenlights State’s Billion Dollar Borrowing Plan

New Jersey’s highest court has signed off on the state’s plan to borrow $9.9 billion to address COVID-19-related revenue losses. The New Jersey Supreme Court held in New Jersey Republican State Committee v. Philip D. Murphy (A-82-19/084731) (Decided August 12, 2020) that the State’s plan to issue bonds and borrow

New-Jersey-Supreme-Court-Rules-Town-Must-Recalculate-Special-Assessment

New Jersey Supreme Court Rules Town Must Recalculate Special Assessment

In Carol Crispino v. Township of Sparta (A-16-19/083171) (Decided July 22, 2020), the Supreme Court of New Jersey struck a municipal resolution imposing a special assessment to fund a private dam restoration project. According to the court, the Township arbitrarily applied the special assessment to plaintiffs’ properties because the expert

NJ Supreme Court Holds Consumer Fraud Act and Product Liability Act Claims Can Be Brought in Same Suit

NJ Supreme Court Holds Consumer Fraud Act and Product Liability Act Claims Can Be Brought in Same Suit

In Sun Chemical Corporation v. Fike Corporation, (A-89-18/082815) (July 29, 2020),the New Jersey Supreme Court held that a Consumer Fraud Act (CFA) claim can be filed concurrently with a Product Liability Act (PLA) claim in the same complaint. “PLA and CFA claims may proceed in separate counts of the same

NJ Supreme Court Uphold Employment Arbitration Agreements

NJ Supreme Court Uphold Employment Arbitration Agreements

In Arafa v. Health Express Corp., (A-6-19-/083174) (July 14, 2020),the Supreme Court of New Jersey held that that arbitration agreements can be enforceable under the New Jersey Arbitration Act (NJAA), even if those agreements would be otherwise exempt from arbitration under Section 1 of the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA). In

New Jersey Supreme Court Rules Excessive Force Suit Can Proceed

New Jersey Supreme Court Rules Excessive Force Suit Can Proceed

In Bryheim Jamar Baskin v. Rafael Martinez, (A-70-18/081982) (Decided July 9, 2020), the Supreme Court of New Jersey held that a Camden police officer is not entitled to qualified immunity on summary judgment. According to the court, the issue of whether Detective Martínez’s use of deadly force was objectively reasonable