Liability
Appellate Division Rules that the Workers’ Compensation Act Bars Lawsuit against Firefighter for Firecracker Prank, as it was not an Intentional Wrong
Plaintiff Raymond Johns, a firefighter for the City of Linden, suffered injuries when he sat on a firecracker that was placed on a toilet seat as a prank by a fellow firefighter, Thomas Wengerter. In Johns v. Wengerter, 2019 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 730 (App. Div. April 1, 2019), the issue was whether Wengerter’s act […]
Apartment Complex Found not Liable to Plaintiff Who was Injured as a Result of Drive-By Shooting
Plaintiff Najee Paschall was in the vicinity of the Defendant Norfolk Square Apartments when he was shot as a result of a drive-by shooting. He was walking by the apartments when he saw a white van drive by, open its doors, and a person started shooting. Plaintiff was shot in the back. In Paschall v. […]
Step-down Provision in Auto Policy as to Spouse Upheld by Court
Plaintiff Lori-Anne Michel was injured while walking in a crosswalk when she was struck by a car being driven by Rosa Ludena (“Ludena”). Ludena had a basic policy that did not provide any liability coverage. Plaintiff was a named insured under a USAA policy that provided $25,000 in underinsured motorist (“UIM”) coverage and, after submitting […]
Fitness Club Liability Waiver Form Found to be Unenforceable
Plaintiff Kyung Pak was injured while participating in the fitness class at the defendant NJ Fitness Factory’s fitness center. She had signed a waiver form, in which she waived any liability claims she had against the fitness club. The issue in Pak v. NJ Fitness Factory, Inc., 2018 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 916 (App. Div. […]
Judge Charged Wrong Jury Charge for Social Guest Premises Liability Case
Plaintiff Staci Piech was attending a 40th birthday party hosted by the defendant John Layendecker for his son Glenn Layendecker when she suffered an injury. Glenn was using a hollow metal pipe to strike a piñata, which broke off and struck her arm. She sued both John and Glenn Layendecker for her injuries. As to […]
Court Finds an Unoccupied Two Family Home to Be a Residential Property for Purposes of Determining Liability for a Fall on Adjoining Public Sidewalk
Defendant Suresh Muthupandi bought a vacant two-family home, intending to rent out one of the dwellings in the building and, because he was having marital problems with his wife and wanted to separate from her, to move into the other dwelling. Before he could move in, in January 2014, the roof of the building collapsed. […]
Landlord Held Not Liable for Injuries Suffered by Commercial Tenant’s Employee When Tenant Responsible for Maintenance of Premises
The issue often arises as to who is responsible to an injured plaintiff when the plaintiff falls on leased property – the owner or the tenant? This issue was addressed in Caldas v. Janard Management Services, Inc., 2018 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 972 (App. Div. April 26, 2018). Plaintiff Juan Caldas was injured at work […]
Landlord May Be Liable to Tenant Injured in The Process of Changing Lightbulb in Ceiling Fixture in Common Hallway
Plaintiff Evelyn Delgado was injured while trying to change the lightbulb of the ceiling fixture in the entrance hallway leading to her apartment. She tried to change the lightbulb by standing on a stair, leaning over the banister. She lost her balance, fell to the floor, and injured her leg. The issue in Delgado v. […]
Plaintiff, as Trespasser to Property, Owed Minimal Duty of Care by Landowner
By: Charles F. Holmgren, Esq. Edited by: Betsy G. Ramos, Esq. The plaintiff injured himself when he tripped on an uncovered sewer drain in the parking lot of a doctor’s office across the street from his house. The plaintiff sued the owner of the property for his injuries, claiming the owner was negligent in failing […]
Church Found Not Liable for Fall on Public Sidewalk in Front of Vacant Church Property
Plaintiff Timothy Ellis fell on a public sidewalk in front of a vacant church owned by defendant Hilton United Methodist Church. Plaintiff argued that the church should be liable for his injuries suffered in the fall because its property should be deemed a “commercial” property for purposes of assessing liability. In the published decision of […]
Betsy G. Ramos
Todd
Bill Abate
Richard Ford
Yadia
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