NJ Supreme Court Rules Condo Dispute Must be Resolved Via Arbitration

In Crystal Point Condominium Association, Inc. v. Kinsale Insurance Company (A-76-20/085606) (Decided July 18, 2022), the Supreme Court of New Jersey held that a condominium association must use arbitration to pursue its insurance coverage claims seeking to recover default judgements against two contractors. According to the court, Crystal Point Condominium

NJ Supreme Court Holds City Council Required to Fill Vacant Seat Under Municipal Vacancy Law

In Linden Democratic Committee v. City of Linden (A-30-21/086255) (Decided July 6, 2022), the Supreme Court of New Jersey clarified the state’s Municipal Vacancy Law. It held that the New Jersey Legislature’s 1990 amendments removed a governing body’s discretion to keep vacant a seat previously occupied by a nominee of

NJ Supreme Court Rules “High Crime Area” Didn’t Justify Investigative Stop

In State v. Nazier D. Goldsmith (A-77-20/085636) (DecidedJuly 5, 2022), the Supreme Court of New Jersey held that the information the officers possessed at the time of the stop, which included the defendant’s presence in a “high crime area,” did not amount to specific and particularized suspicion that the defendant

NJ Supreme Court Rules Traffic Stop for Window Tint Was Unconstitutional

In State v. David L. Smith (A-4-21/085635) (Decided June 28, 2022), the Supreme Court of New Jersey held that a purported violation of N.J.S.A. 39:3-74 based on tinted windows did not justify the Trenton Police Department’s investigatory stop of a motor vehicle. The court further held that, going forward, a

NJ Supreme Court Clarifies Affidavit of Merit Requirement for Vicarious Liability Claims

In Haviland v. Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, Inc., (A-70-20/085419)(Decided April 12, 2022), the Supreme Court of New Jersey held that plaintiffs are not required to serve an Affidavit of Merit (AOM) against defendant health care facilities for claims of vicarious liability arising from the negligent conduct of an

NJ Supreme Court Rules Prior Uncounseled DWI Convictions Can’t Be Used to Enhance Sentence for Subsequent DWI Convictions

In State v. Michael A. Konecny (A-21-20/084880) (Decided April 5, 2022), the Supreme Court of New Jersey held a previous uncounseled conviction for driving while intoxicated (DWI) can’t be used to enhance a sentencing scheme for subsequent DWI convictions. The court further holds that a conviction vacated through post-conviction relief

NJ Supreme Court Grants Parole to Former Black Panther Convicted of Killing State Trooper

In Acoli v. New Jersey State Parole Board (A-73-20/083980) (Decided May 10, 2022), the Supreme Court of New Jersey granted parole to Sundiata Acoli, a former member of the Black Liberation Army who was convicted in the 1973 shooting death of a New Jersey state trooper, Werner Foerster. The court

NJ Supreme Court Rules Detectives’ Contradicting Miranda Warnings Invalidated Waiver

In State v. O.D.A.-C. (A-78-20/085608) (Decided May 2, 2022), the Supreme Court of New Jersey held that because a detective repeatedly contradicted and minimized the significance of the Miranda warnings, the State could not shoulder its heavy burden of proving the defendant’s waiver was voluntary. Facts of State v. O.D.A.-C.