As we approach the New Year, we are looking back at the public law issues that impacted New Jersey school districts in 2017. The past year brought a number of legal developments involving education law both at the state and federal level. Below is a brief summary: Endrew F. v.
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
In Glenn v. City of Cape May Planning Board, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court held that a land use application was not barred by res judicata because the City of Cape May Planning Board never reached the full merits of earlier applications related to the site.
In Shipyard Associates v. Hoboken Planning Board, the Appellate Division held that a developer was entitled to automatic approval of a controversial plan to build two high-rise buildings on the Hoboken waterfront because the Hoboken Planning Board (Board) refused to hold a hearing on the application while related litigation was
In a recent decision, the Supreme Court of New Jersey opened the door for records custodians to go on the offensive in response to requests under the state’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA). In In the Matter of the New Jersey Firemen’s Association Obligation to Provide Relief Applications Under the
In Grabowsky v. Twp. of Montclair, the Appellate Division clarified when the fund in court exception applies, which alters the general rule that litigants bear their own litigation costs regardless of who prevails. The court held that because no litigation fund was ever created and taxpayers would ultimately bear the expense
The Supreme Court of New Jersey recently held that the public has the right to access recordings from the mobile video recorders (MVRs) in police vehicles under the common law right of access. The court further held in North Jersey Media Group, Inc. v. Township of Lyndhurst that unredacted Use of
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
