Top News Clips for the Week of March 28-April 2
A selection of the need-to-know civil justice news for the week of March 28-April 2.
Weird Regulatory Lawsuits Flooding New Jersey Courts, Blindsiding Businesses
The judicial system was not designed with business regulation in mind. Nevertheless, over the past few years New Jersey businesses have faced an increasing number of regulatory-based lawsuits, many of them quite frivolous in nature. These lawsuits are not being brought by the government, but by private attorneys empowered to enforce obscure business regulations on the government’s behalf.
Top News Clips for the Week of August 1-7
A selection of the need-to-know civil justice news for the week of August 1-7.
Fighting Fraud with the Consumer Fraud Act
One of our complaints about New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act is that it is overly broad – encompassing many disputes that could resolved more efficiently by other means. We frequently testify in legislative hearings against bills that would add to the already cumbersome Act. So, it surprised many when we showed up to testify in favor of a recent bill expanding the CFA.
Not Everything Is a Consumer Fraud Act Violation
One of our complaints about New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act is that it is overly broad - encompassing many disputes that could resolved more efficiently by other means. So, it was nice to see a recent Appellate Division reverse a trial court CFA summary judgment for the plaintiff in the case of the house that is sliding down a hill.
Wegmans Fighting Half-Baked Lawsuit Over Bread Ads
New Jersey is a hotbed of food-based litigation. Late last year, the popular supermarket chain Wegmans was sued because its bread is not made from scratch at each store. Rather than settling this rather frivolous claim, Wegmans is fighting back, and in doing so is revealing how much of a shake-down these sorts of lawsuits truly are.
Data Suggests Consumer Fraud Act Does Not Need to be Expanded
The New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (CFA) was enacted in 1960 to protect New Jersey citizens against deceptive business practices. When it was first passed, the state’s Attorney General served as the sole enforcer of the act. Though the Act was amended in 1971 to permit private enforcement, the Attorney General’s office, specifically the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, is still the public’s most important protector against scam artists and fraudsters.
Top News Clips for the Week of Feb. 28-Mar. 6
A selection of the need-to-know civil justice news for the week of Feb. 28-Mar. 6.
Gay Conversion Case Highlights Breadth of Consumer Fraud Act
The New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act has been the focus of several news stories this week since a state court judge issued a ruling that will allow a CFA-based lawsuit over “gay conversion therapy” to move forward.
Legislature Passes Recall Bills Without Taking Out Consumer Fraud Act Provisions
The Assembly has passed two bills related to recalled motor vehicles that the New Jersey Civil Justice Institute warned the legislature to amend before advancing. A1892 would prohibit rental companies from renting, leasing or selling unrepaired motor vehicles which are the subject of a safety recall, while A3725 would prohibit used car dealers from selling motor vehicles which are the subject of a safety recall to consumers without notifying them of the recall.