The New Jersey Legislature recently passed legislation that would impose taxes on short-term rentals, or “transient space marketplaces,” like Airbnb. The bill, Assembly Bill No. 4587, now heads to Gov. Chris Christie. According to Airbnb, approximately 6,000 New Jersey “hosts” earned more than $50 million last year. Nonetheless, an increasing number
The Supreme Court of New Jersey recently agreed to consider whether the New Jersey Constitution bans a county government from giving historic preservation grants to local churches. The case is Freedom from Religion Foundation v. Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The suit, which was brought by the Freedom From
In Doe v. Hopewell Valley Reg. School Distr. Bd. of Ed., the Appellate Division held that Hopewell Valley Regional School District was not liable for damages arising out of sexual abuse committed against a student by one of the District’s former teachers. According to the court, there was no evidence the
The New Jersey Council on Local Mandates recently issued a formal decision rejecting the New Jersey Association of Counties’ challenge to the state’s bail reform law. The Counties had alleged that the reforms set forth in the Criminal Justice Reform Act (CJRA) constitute an unfunded mandate and are thus unconstitutional.
A New Jersey appeals court recently confirmed that the state’s Tort Claims Act (“TCA”) shields the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (“Turnpike Authority”) from any liability in a wrongful death lawsuit where a tree fell onto a vehicle traveling on the highway causing the death of two individuals. According to the
The Assembly recently passed legislation that would prohibit public agencies from incorporating confidentiality provisions into settlement agreements with a whistleblower. Assembly Bill No. 4243 also provides that such settlements constitute public records. Assemblyman John McKeon introduced the bill in response to a settlement agreement in which the state agreed to
The Appellate Division recently held that the City of Elizabeth (City) and Elizabeth Board of Education (BOE) are immune from liability under the New Jersey Tort Claims Act (TCA) for injuries sustained by a child who was struck by a motor vehicle while crossing the street near a municipal park
A New Jersey Court recently ruled that a volunteer Fire Company is subject to the state’s Open Public Records Act. In Justin D. Lamb v. Lavallette Volunteer Fire Company, No. 1, et al., the court held that in the absence of a designated record custodian, it was appropriate for the
