As we reflect on the New Year, we are looking back at the public law issues that impacted New Jersey municipalities in 2017. The past year brought a number of legal developments involving the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA). Below is a brief summary: Dash Cam Footage: In North
A recent Appellate Division decision provides a useful discussion of how to determine when a request under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) is “overly broad.” As highlighted in Wronko v. Township of Jackson, et al., not all blanket requests may be denied under OPRA. Facts of the Case Plaintiff
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Brownfields Enhancement, Economic Redevelopment, and Reauthorization Act of 2017 (H.R. 3017). The legislation reauthorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields Program. Basics of EPA’s Brownfield Program There are currently more than 450,000 brownfield sites in the United States. The term “brownfield
The Supreme Court of New Jersey recently held oral arguments in two cases regarding whether the New Jersey Constitution bans government agencies from giving grants to local churches. The cases are Freedom from Religion Foundation v. Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders and American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey v.
In Pruent-Stevens v. Township of Toms River, the Tax Court of New Jersey addressed eligibility for the veteran’s property tax exemption pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.30. It clarified that the term “widow” and “widower” defines a person and not the continued marital status of the person. Accordingly, surviving spouses of disabled
In Moody v. Atlantic City Board of Education, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated a sexual harassment suit against the Atlantic City Board of Education. The federal appeals court held that the district court erred in concluding that the alleged harasser was not the plaintiff’s supervisor. Facts of the
The Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court has cleared the way for advocacy organizations to gain access to redacted reports detailing settlement agreements and other student records related to services provided to disabled and special needs students. Under the court’s decision, organizations must establish that they are bona
This month, New Jersey voters will decide whether to approve funding to finance capital projects at the state’s public libraries. The state has not approved new borrowing for library facilities for eight years. As more fully discussed in a prior post, the proposed bond act authorizes the issuance of $125 million
