The U.S. Supreme Court recently agreed to consider a case involving a municipal ordinance authorizing law enforcement to inspect hotel guest registries without obtaining a warrant. The ordinance at issue was passed by the City of Los Angeles; however, more than 70 other states, counties, and cities across the country
A New Jersey judge recently ruled that videos recorded by police dashboard cameras are subject to New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA). The decision is expected to have wide implications, particularly given that Gov. Chris Christie recently signed a new law that will require that certain police vehicles be
In Hidden Lake Area Homeowners Association v. Township of North Brunswick, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court found that the North Brunswick zoning officer incorrectly determined that the construction of a fence was allowed. Accordingly, his approval of the permit was ultra vires. The Facts of the
The Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court recently upheld a sewer ordinance enacted by the Borough of Lodi. In Arnot 40 Realty, LLC v. Borough of Lodi, the panel found that the ordinance, which significantly raised rates for non-residential sewer usage, was not arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable. The
The deadline is approaching for New Jersey municipalities to participate in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) compliance initiative involving continuing disclosure requirements related to outstanding bonds and other securities. SEC’s Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation Initiative is intended to address what the agency views as “potentially widespread violations of the
The New Jersey Supreme Court recently addressed what happens when the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and attorney-client privilege intersect. In O’Boyle v. Borough of Longport, the state’s highest court specifically addressed the application of the common interest rule to litigation documents requested under OPRA and the common
New Jersey continues to see record rates of foreclosed properties. To help address the resulting neighborhood blight, municipalities now have a new tool to address abandoned properties. Assembly Bill No. 347, which took effect on July 14, 2014, authorizes municipalities to impose penalties on creditors that fail to timely remedy
The Appellate Division recently provided further guidance regarding when quasi-public agencies are subject to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA). In Kennedy v. Montclair Center Corporation Business Improvement District, the court held that the corporation responsible for managing Montclair’s business improvement district is subject to OPRA. The Facts
