Chief Justice Rabner has issued the general Assignment Order for 2019-2020. It is available here. As occurs every year, the eight Appellate Division Parts have been reshuffled. But some things remain the same. Judge Messano continues as Presiding Judge for Administration, and Judge Sabatino as Deputy Presiding Judge for Administration. Those two judges, as well as Judges Koblitz, Alvarez, Fisher, Yannotti, and Fuentes remain as Presiding Judges of their respective Parts. Judge Fasciale has become the Presiding Judge of Part B, a position previously held by Judge Simonelli. There are two...

In the last several weeks, this blog has largely focused on Supreme Court decisions and grants of review. That was not meant to slight the Appellate Division, whose judges have made some important rulings as well. Here are summaries of some of the most significant published rulings of the Appellate Division during that period: Sosa v. Massachusetts Bay Ins. Co., ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2019). In an opinion by Judge Ostrer that focused on the language and effect of a water damage exclusion in the subject homeowner’s insurance policy, the Appellate Division reversed a summary...

Casino Reinvestment Development Authority v. Birnbaum, 458 N.J. Super. 173  (App. Div. 2019).  On January 7, 2019, the Appellate Division decided Borough of Glassboro v. Grossman, 457 N.J. Super. 416  (App. Div. 2019), as discussed here.  The key takeaway from that opinion was that, under the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-1 to -149 (“LRHL”), a municipal agency cannot condemn property for redevelopment unless there is a particular redevelopment project identified, tied to the proposed acquisition, and supported by proof.  Writing for that panel, Judge...