Giarusso v. Giarusso, ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2018).  This opinion by Judge Geiger today involved an application for attorneys’ fees in a matrimonial matter by a well-known North Jersey firm.  The firm had represented the plaintiff wife in connection with post-judgment proceedings.  The firm rendered services to collect alimony and child support arrears from the defendant husband, as well as equitable distribution owed to the wife.  The wife did not pay any amounts to the firm after an initial $5,000 retainer. The firm sought over $99,000 in a post-judgment fee application, and...

The Supreme Court announced four more cases that will come before it.  The subject matters, and the paths that the cases took to reach the Court, are quite varied. Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is a matter in which the Court agreed to address questions certified to it by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.  Those questions, unchanged from the way that the Third Circuit framed then, are “Does a life insurance policy that is procured to benefit persons without an insurable interest in the life of the insured violate the public policy of New Jersey, and if so,...

State of New Jersey in the Interest of N.P., ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2018).  This decision by Judge Messano addresses four appeals involving seven different juveniles. The broad issue presented was “whether a juvenile complaint charging a crime or repetitive disorderly persons offense may be diverted without the prosecutor’s consent.”  Judge Messano carefully analyzed the applicable statutory and court rule sources of relevant law, and concluded that disorderly persons charges may be diverted but charges of crime cannot be diverted. For appellate practitioners, the...