Risko v. Thompson Muller Automotive Group, Inc., 206  N.J. 506 (2011).  This case came to the Supreme Court because of improper remarks made by plaintiff’s counsel in his trial summation.  The case was a slip and fall that caused plaintiff’s decedent to suffer a fractured arm and hip.  The hip injury required surgery, which led to a severe inflammation of the colon, which developed into septic shock and ultimately caused the death of plaintiff̵

Last night, I attended the retirement dinner for Judge Stern, who turned 70 last week.  Among the over 300 attendees were current and former Supreme Court Justices, sitting and retired judges of other courts, Governor Brendan Byrne, and many lawyers and friends of Judge Stern, as well as his family.

Chief Justice Rabner set the tone for the evening in his remarks about Judge Stern, whom he called “a giant in the history of the New Jersey judiciary.”  The Chief Justice described how Judge Stern can recite from memory Title 2C, the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice, 

Today, Judge Stern reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.  Accordingly, Chief Justice Rabner appointed Judge Wefing, the Presiding Judge of the Appellate Division, to the seat that Judge Stern had filled.  Judge Wefing is expected to serve until Governor Christie nominates and the Senate confirms someone to fill the seat, which became vacant when Governor Christie declined to reappoint Justice Wallace.  The latest date that that is expected to happen is March 2012, when Justice Wallace will turn 70.  Democrats in the Senate had stated that they would not consider the Governor&#