Only If the Court Finds That the Prosecutor Abused His or Her Discretion Will a Trial Court or Appellate Division Overturn a PTI Denial

February 24, 2021 |

State v. Sorokach Appellate Docket No.: A-2868-18 Decided February 22, 2021 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In an unpublished opinion, the Appellate Division of New Jersey reviewed whether a denial for PTI was appropriate for a defendant attempting to lure an underage girl for sexual intercourse. In State v. Sorokach, defendant posted advertisements…

ATTORNEY GENERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DIRECTIVE NO. 2021-1

February 24, 2021 |

Submitted by New Jersey Drug Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark.

NEW JERSEY MARIJUANA IS NOW OFFICIALLY LEGAL – THREE BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW

February 23, 2021 |

Submitted by New Jersey Drug Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. On February 22, 2021, New Jersey Governor Murphy signed into law three bills legalizing marijuana possession and authorizes its sale by approved distributors. The bills and highlights are as follows: A21 – “The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act” Provides for details on…

SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY ISSUES ITS TENTH COVID-19 OMNIBUS ORDER

February 19, 2021 |

February 17, 2021 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. The Supreme Court of New Jersey has issued its tenth Omnibus Order in light of COVID-19.  The Order essentially covers excludable time for incarcerated defendants as well as continue provisions from previous Orders. The Tenth Omnibus Order provides for the following excludable time: For those…

NJ TRANSIT SUBJECT TO COMMON CARRIER LIABILITY

February 18, 2021 |

Anasia Maison v. New Jersey Transit Corporation A-34/35-19 Decided February 17, 2021 Submitted by New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court reviewed whether public common carriers such as NJ Transit is subject to the heightened duty of care standard governing private common carriers for personal injury suits.…

Understanding the Different Levels of Information Officers Need When Investigating to Be Able to Properly Make an Arrest and Charge Someone with a Crime

February 17, 2021 |

State v. Williams Appellate Docket No.: A-3746-18 Decided February 16, 2021 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent unpublished opinion, the Appellate Division of New Jersey reviewed whether a warrantless search was appropriate recovering cocaine from a trunk after officers continued to smell raw marijuana emanating from the vehicle despite already finding…

A South Jersey woman stole $600,000 from her employer and spent it on luxury goods and plastic surgery, police say

February 12, 2021 |

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. A former human resources manager at a South Jersey shipping-container company has been charged with stealing more than $600,000 from her employer and spending it on designer clothes and handbags, a vacation in Puerto Rico, and plastic surgery, Burlington County authorities said Thursday. Karen O’Brien, 41, of Maple…

Even If an Employee Is Volunteering, They Might Be Able to Still Make A Compensable Claim for Workers Compensation

February 11, 2021 |

Goulding v. NJ Friendship House Docket No. A-48 Decided February 8, 2021 Submitted by New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court reviewed whether an injury occurring during a Family Fun Day in which an employee volunteered to work without pay is compensable for workers compensation purposes. In…

Evidentiary and Discovery Rulings Can Make or Break A Defense to A Criminal Action

February 10, 2021 |

State v. Desir Appellate Docket No.: A-43-19 Decided February 9, 2021 Submitted by New Jersey Drug Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent opinion, the Supreme Court of New Jersey reviewed whether a defendant is entitled to discovery stemming from a purchase of narcotics by a confidential informant (CI) even though the defendant was not charged…

Hiring Preference Bill Approved by New Jersey Assembly Committee as Part of New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act

February 1, 2021 |

Submitted by New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. The NJ Assembly Labor Committee recently passed bill A-2617 sponsored by Assembly members Murphy, Benson, and Reynolds-Jackson. This bill requires an employer with at least 50 employees to provide a hiring preference to an employee who was injured in a work-related injury, has reached maximum medical…