Appellate Division Rules Distant Neighbor Can Challenge Zoning Approval

In DiMarco v. Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Borough of Edgewater and Three Y LLC, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court ruled that a resident who lives approximately 2½ miles from a proposed development project can pursue a late lawsuit challenging a municipal zoning approval. In

What NJ Municipalities Need to Know About the SCOTUS Decision in Shurtleff v. City of Boston

The U.S. Supreme Court continues to issue decisions impacting New Jersey municipalities. In Shurtleff v. City of Boston, 596 U. S. ____ (2022), the U.S. Supreme Court held that the city of Boston violated the First Amendment when it rejected an application to fly a Christian flag on one of

SCOTUS Declines to Hear School Transgender Bathroom Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear Doe v. Boyertown Area School District. The Court’s refusal to grant certiorari means that the Third Circuit’s decision allowing a Pennsylvania school district to adopt a transgender-friendly bathroom policy will remain in place.  Challenge to Transgender Bathroom Policy Prior to the 2016–17 school

Unemployed Volunteer Firefighter Entitled to Disability Benefits

In Kocanowski v. Township of Bridgewater, (A-55-17/080510) (Decided February 19, 2019), the Supreme Court of New Jersey held that the lack of outside employment did not disqualify a volunteer firefighter from receiving disability benefits. According to the court, N.J.S.A. 34:15-75 authorizes all volunteer firefighters injured in the course of performing

NJ Teachers’ Lawsuit Challenges Workplace Democracy Enhancement Act Under Janus

Two New Jersey teachers have filed a lawsuit challenging the Workplace Democracy Enhancement Act. The complaint against Gov. Phil Murphy, the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), and Township of Ocean Education Association alleges that the law violates the teachers’ First Amendment rights in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Janus

SCOTUS to Decide Whether Age Discrimination Law Applies to Small Public Employers

One of the first cases considered by the U.S. Supreme Court this term is of particular interest to New Jersey public employers. The issue before the Court is whether the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) exempts political subdivisions of a state with less than 20 employees from the Act’s protections.  The

SCOTUS Rules Agency Shop Fees Are Unconstitutional

The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a crushing blow to the country’s public unions in Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31. By a vote of 5-4, the Court held that public-sector “agency shop” arrangements run afoul of the First Amendment. The Court also expressly overruled