In re Ridgefield Park Bd. of Educ., ___ N.J. ___ (2020). The question in this case was whether health insurance premium contribution rates for members of the Ridgefield Park Education Association (“the Association”) were non-negotiable because the subject was pre-empted by state legislation known as Chapter 78. The Association entered into a collective bargaining agreement that specified contribution rates, but thereafter the Public Employment Relations Commission (“PERC”) ruled in a case involving a different municipality that Chapter 78 pre-empted a negotiated...

Due to a personal matter, there have been no posts on this blog since June 2. This post will summarize some of the decisions from our appellate courts since that date. Separately, Governor Murphy nominated Fabiana Pierre-Louis to fill the Supreme Court seat currently held by Justice Timpone when he reaches retirement age in November of this year. A separate post, on another day, will discuss that nomination. Finally, the Supreme Court granted certification in one new case, Haley v. Board of Review. The question presented there, as phrased by the Supreme Court Clerk’s office, is...

McGory v. SLS Landscaping, ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2020). Judge Vernoia pulled no punches in this opinion for the Appellate Division today. Writing for a unanimous panel, Judge Vernoia concluded that a Judge of Workers Compensation had denied due process to the injured claimant in multiple ways. The claimant alleged that he had fractured his foot when he jumped from a loft while working at respondent’s premises. Respondent claimed that the injury occurred when the claimant jumped off a ladder at his home, not while at work for respondent. The claimant refused medical treatment...