Verdict . News

3w ago•4 min read

•New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously applied Heck v. Humphrey timing rule to state civil rights claims

NJ High Court Extends Federal Civil Rights Timing Rule to State Claims

The New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled that civil rights claims against the state must follow federal timing requirements under Heck v. Humphrey. The decision arose from a case involving a woman on lifetime parole who challenged social media and pornography bans as unconstitutional.

•Case involved constitutional challenge to parole conditions banning social media and pornography access

3w ago•4 min read

•New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled Bergen County immune from liability for rollerblading accident at Van Saun County Park

NJ Supreme Court Rules Bergen County Immune from Park Injury Lawsuit

The New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Bergen County is immune from tort liability under the state's Landowner Liability Act for a rollerblading accident at Van Saun County Park. The January 2026 decision reinforces protections for public landowners providing free recreational facilities.

•Court held that rollerblading qualifies as recreational activity protected under the state's Landowner Liability Act

Jan 20, 2026•4 min read

•New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously established new standard for attorney duty of care to non-clients in malpractice cases

N.J. Supreme Court Sets New Standard for Attorney Duty to Non-Clients

The New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously established a new standard for determining when attorneys owe a duty of care to non-clients in legal malpractice cases. The decision arose from a dispute over estate planning errors that allegedly cost beneficiaries their inheritance.

•Case involved estate planning attorney who allegedly misadvised clients about existing wills, causing beneficiaries to lose inheritance

Jan 14, 2026•4 min read

•New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled that categorical prohibitions on inmate access to psychological reports violate due process rights

NJ Supreme Court Rules Parole Board Must Allow Inmate Access to Records

The New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously held that state regulations categorically barring inmates from accessing their psychological reports and medical records used in parole decisions violate constitutional due process rights. The court found that while valid reasons exist to restrict disclosure in some cases, blanket prohibitions are unconstitutional.

•State Parole Board must revise regulations to allow case-by-case evaluations rather than blanket denials

Jan 6, 2026•4 min read

•New Jersey Supreme Court reviewed whether trial courts must give passion/provocation manslaughter jury instructions without defense counsel's request

N.J. Supreme Court Reviews Jury Instructions in Murder Case

The New Jersey Supreme Court issued a per curiam decision in State v. Michael Owens, examining whether trial courts must instruct juries on passion/provocation manslaughter as a lesser-included offense without defense counsel's request and whether domestic assault evidence should be separated from murder charges.

•Appellate Division ruled evidence must "jump off the proverbial page" to require sua sponte lesser-included offense instructions

Dec 19, 2025•4 min read

•New Jersey appeals court affirmed 42-year sentence for Jamel Carlton in casino sexual assault case

NJ Appeals Court Upholds 42-Year Sentence in Casino Sexual Assault Case

The New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division affirmed the convictions of Jamel Carlton for aggravated sexual assault, burglary, and other charges against an Atlantic City casino-hotel housekeeper. The court upheld a 42-year prison sentence after rejecting Carlton's appeal challenging his Confrontation Clause rights.

•DNA evidence and surveillance video supported victim's testimony about violent encounter

Dec 11, 2025•4 min read

•New Jersey Supreme Court affirmed teachers' status as essential employees for COVID-19 workers' compensation claims

NJ Supreme Court Affirms Teachers' COVID-19 Workers' Comp Rights

The New Jersey Supreme Court affirmed that teachers qualify as essential employees entitled to a rebuttable presumption that their COVID-19 infections were work-related for workers' compensation purposes. The December 2025 decision upholds lower court rulings establishing teachers' rights to compensation benefits during the pandemic.

•Decision establishes rebuttable presumption that teachers' COVID-19 infections were work-related

Dec 9, 2025•4 min read

•New Jersey Supreme Court ruled state education boards can impose additional discipline beyond arbitration decisions

NJ Supreme Court Upholds Dual Discipline for Teacher's On-Campus Drinking

The New Jersey Supreme Court affirmed that state education boards can impose additional disciplinary action against teachers beyond arbitration decisions. The ruling involved Nicholas Cilento, a special education teacher who faced both a three-month suspension from arbitration and a separate two-year certificate suspension for consuming alcohol on school grounds.

•Special education teacher Nicholas Cilento received both 3-month suspension from arbitrator and 2-year certificate suspension from state board

Dec 8, 2025•4 min read

•New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled Sea Bright can withdraw from current school districts under N.J.S.A. 18A:13-47.11(a)

NJ Supreme Court Upholds Sea Bright's Right to Exit School Districts

The New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Borough of Sea Bright has the legal authority to withdraw from its current two school districts and join a proposed all-purpose regional school district. The December 8, 2025 decision resolves a legal battle over school district reorganization with implications for municipal control over education governance.

•Borough seeks to leave Oceanport School District and Shore Regional High School District to join proposed regional district