The American Tort Reform Association has released its annual “Judicial Hellholes” report, and New Jersey is once again recognized as a state on the brink of becoming a litigation hot spot. ATRA notes that our state’s consumer protection laws are far from mainstream, and our court system is becoming hostile to arbitration agreements, in direct contravention of federal law.
This Thursday, December 17, the New Jersey Senate has scheduled a vote on S785, which would require all businesses in the state to offer their employees paid sick leave. NJCJI has joined a slew of pro-business groups opposing this legislation, which is being sponsored by Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D - Teaneck). While other organizations focus on the broader implications this bill will have on the state’s economy (see information on this from NJBIA), NJCJI is focused on how the highly prescriptive structure of the bill, compounded by the incentivized litigation enforcement mechanism, would deprive employers of the necessary flexibility to manage their business and respond to suspected abuse.
This Thursday, December 17, the New Jersey Assembly is voting on A3403, which would award more money to workers compensation attorneys at the expense of their injured clients.
On Monday, the Assembly Labor Committee voted to advance to the floor a package of bills that would prohibit employers from conducting credit history checks on employees and job applicants.
A selection of the need-to-know civil justice news for the week of December 5-11.
Something is missing from Bruce Stern’s November 27 guest editorial in the Star Ledger lambasting arbitration - a recognition that there is really no such thing as “forced arbitration.”
On Monday, December 14, 2015, at 10:00 AM, the Assembly Labor Committee is holding a hearing on a package of bills that would prohibit employers from conducting credit history checks on employees and job applicants.
On December 10, the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee held an informational hearing on A231, which would create a private cause of action for bad faith in settlement of certain insurance claims. NJCJI testified against the bill, which would have devastating effects for New Jersey's business community and raise insurance premiums for most New Jersey residents.
A lot of ridiculous lawsuits were filed in New Jersey this year, but only one can be crowned 2015’s Most Ludicrous Lawsuit. Cast your vote now for this year’s “winner.”
On December 2, the New Jersey Supreme Court held oral arguments in an arbitration case that is shaping up to be a follow-up to last year’s groundbreaking ruling in U.S. Legal Services Group, L.P. v. Atalese. It was clear from the oral arguments that our state’s high court is not done tinkering with the rules governing arbitration.
