Sexual predators who abuse children are a scourge on society. They should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. It is, however, equally wrong to treat tragedy that is childhood sexual abuse as a smoke screen for weakening our legal system. Continue reading
Fairness. Justice.
Rule of Law.
Tag Archives: Statute of Limitations
Legislative Alert: Bill Would Eliminate Statute of Limitations in Mesothelioma Cases
Sen. Robert Singer (R-Lakewood) has introduced a bill that would allow plaintiffs suffering from mesothelioma and their family members to file personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits at any time after the disease is diagnosed. If this bill is passed, it would make New Jersey a magnet for asbestos litigation. Continue reading
Court Overturns $25 Million Verdict
On August 11, the Appellate Division issued an important ruling in the ongoing litigation over Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.’s acne medication Accutane. The decision by appellate judges Sabatino, Simonelli, and Leone overturns a $25 million+ verdict from a 2010 jury trial, and brings to a close a case that has been bogging down the court system for over a decade. It also sends a clear message that some choice of law questions are no longer open for debate. Continue reading
Accutane Ruling Affirms New Jersey Law is Headed in the Right Direction
This morning the Appellate Division issued an important ruling in the ongoing litigation over Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.’s acne medication Accutane. The ruling brings to a close a case that has been bogging down the court system for over a decade, and sends a clear message that some choice of law questions are no longer open for debate. Continue reading
Is New Jersey Full of Terrible Attorneys?
Did you know that New Jersey lawyers are 70% more likely than their counterparts nationwide to file a claim with their malpractice insurer? Even attorneys practicing in our notoriously litigious neighboring states face fewer malpractice claims. This suggests that one of two things is going on. Either New Jersey attorneys are awful, or there is something about our legal system that is encouraging excessive litigation. Data provided to the New Jersey Civil Justice Institute by CNA insurance suggests that the latter reason is more likely to blame for the high number of malpractice claims filed in the Garden State.
Court Rulings Improve New Jersey’s Pharmaceutical Litigation Climate
A New Jersey appellate court has issued an opinion on three cases in the ongoing Accutane litigation in Atlantic County. NJCJI had expressed concerns over fairness of the lower court’s proceedings, and readers may also recall that Roche had sought the recusal of the trial judge in question, Judge Higbee, who recently was elevated to the appellate court. This decision reverses Judge Higbee on several key points.
In short, defendant Roche prevailed in all three cases included in this consolidated decision. Two jury verdicts for defendant were upheld, with the court finding ample evidence to support the jury’s conclusions. In the third and most interesting case, the court overturned a $2.1 million jury verdict and found for the defendant as a matter of law, on both causation and statute of limitations grounds. Continue reading
Why we’re opposed to the statute of limitations bill on today’s Senate board list
Child sexual predators exist everywhere. They harm children from all demographics and shatter families from all socio-economic statuses. It often takes years for victims to come forward and bring their accusers to justice. Like most reasonable people, we understand this reality. And that is why a criminal statute of limitations does not exist in New Jersey, and is not in question.
What today’s legislation addresses is the ability of victims to sue for damages. The civil statute of limitations is a time limit on cases brought by accusers seeking monetary damages from sex abuses or their employers for the abuses they have suffered. The statute of limitations on these efforts is currently two years from the time a person realizes that they have been injured by sexual abuse, not from the act itself. Advocates maintain that this window is not long enough.
Senator Paul Sarlo and Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald agree. They have introduced legislation known as the Child Protection Act of 2012, which would bring the civil statute of limitations to 10 years from the time a victim realizes they have been abused instead of the 2 years currently on the books in New Jersey. And it would hold their employers and supervisors accountable from this point forward.
Unfortunately, that is not the legislation that the Senate will be voting on today. Today’s legislation, S-1651, would completely eliminate the civil statute of limitations in all sex abuse cases. And it would be applied retroactively, leaving all current board members and officials vulnerable to claims which may or may not have occurred decades ago. And unlike criminal trials, the burden of proof is much lower in civil cases, so mounting any sort of defense is likely in vain. The most damning cases would undoubtedly be the ones involving public schools and municipalities, because ultimately, it’s the taxpayer’s dime that will be used to settle claims.
Today’s legislation is well-intentioned. But it takes a step beyond what is rational under the American judicial system. Child sex abuse victims experience society at its worst. They shouldn’t have to carry the financial burdens of therapy as they move forward; it is the responsibility of the perpetrator and those who have failed the child. But the legislation being considered today swings too far in the opposite direction. New Jersey’s honest charities, volunteers, and taxpayers will be left exposed to a plethora of indefinite, unintended consequences and opportunities for the dishonest to take advantage of the law’s newly-expanded liabilities. And it’s an expense all of us will bear.
Legislative Updates – “Facebook bill” advances, Statute of limitations bill stalls
The State Senate advanced legislation this week that would prohibit employers from asking employees and prospective employees about their social media usage. While intended to protect workers’ privacy, NJCJI and other business advocates stress that the so-called Facebook bill creates a new provision for workers to sue their employers, and with it, great potential for abuse. [Learn more about S-1915].
Legislation to amend New Jersey’s statute of limitations in certain civil cases was held from consideration by the full Senate. NJCJI and other business advocates have voiced concerns about both S-1651 and S-2281. [Learn more about NJLRA’s position].
Reasonable Statutes of Limitations Are an Important Aspect of a Fair Civil Justice System
All civil claims are subject to statutes of limitations, which are basically a legal “countdown” that begins when someone is injured. When the time period expires, a claim may no longer be brought. These laws promote justice, discourage unnecessary delay, and preclude the prosecution of stale or fraudulent claims. They are essential to a fair and well-ordered civil justice system. Continue reading