31
WINTER 2019/2020 2019-2020 Officers Deana L. Walsh ....................... President Charles I. Coant .............. President Elect Bohdan Zachariasevych . VP Fundraising Ashley Courtney ....................... Treasurer Elizabeth Vogelsong ................ Secretary Board of Trustees Andre R Araujo Kim L. Barfield Tariq Chaudhri Teri Giordano Jennifer Perez David Weber Jr. Trustee Ellyse Peterson Sr. Trustee Henry P. Zerella NJSBA Trustee Justin R. White Immediate Past President Matthew J. Robinson Foundation Trustees Isabella Garofola Theodore Ritter Beth White Executive Director Carol Walker Et Seq. Editors Andre R Araujo Carol Walker ET SEQ. MARK YOUR CALENDARS 2/26/20 ......................... 40/50/60 Dinner 3/19/20.............. CLE & Town Hall Meeting 3/25/20................Criminal Bench Bar Mtg. 4/14/20.......................Civil Bench Bar Mtg. 5/8/20 ............................................ Law Day 5/28/20...........................Party on the Deck A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT D EANA L. W ALSH , E SQ . Welcome to 2020! May this new decade bring you all health, happiness and great success. I would like to thank everyone who helped with our Children’s Holiday Party. Beth White does a wonderful job planning and coordinating this event for us every year and we are very grateful. Thank you to Kristin Eisenhardt who arranged for us to rent the Seabrook Fire Hall for a fraction of the normal fee. We sincerely appreciate the very generous donations by our members. Thank you also to everyone who helped shop, wrap, set up, cook, serve and clean up. Special thanks to our costume volunteers, as well. We had approximately 100 children participate this year, including 18 at the Bridgeton Hospital Mental Health Unit. I just learned this year that our Bar Association is the only one in South Jersey who hosts a holiday party for the children in a mental health unit. I can tell you from my experience the last few years attending as Mrs. Santa Claus that this is a very worthwhile event. The children are so grateful and happy to see us. Despite their difficulties, they are all smiles and hugs for Santa’s visit. It is wonderful that we are able to give all of these kids joy, even if just for an hour or two each year. Thank you to Teri Giordano for coordinating our Mock Trial program. We had 5 teams compete this year and 3 students from one team participated in the courtroom art contest. Many thanks to our 5 attorney coaches and the 8 volunteer attorney judges. Cumberland County Technical Education Center was the winner this year. Since our last edition of the Et Seq., we had our New Jersey State Bar Night with Timothy F. McGoughran, Treasurer, as well as our Holiday Party at the Levoy Theater and the Tri County Dinner, hosted this year by Gloucester County. I would like to thank everyone who attended our events. We know you have families and busy lives and we appreciate you taking the time to participate in our activities. I cannot stress enough that this is your organization and we want to hear your ideas as well as your complaints. After some inquiry, I received feedback from some members regarding the location of the holiday party and I thank those who provided me with their opinions. As a result of the suggestions, I am happy to announce that our 2020 Holiday Cocktail Party will be held on Friday, December 11, 2020 at Winfield’s Restaurant! continued on Page 2

ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

  • Upload
    others

  • View
    2

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

WINTER 2019/2020

2019-2020 Officers

Deana L. Walsh ....................... President

Charles I. Coant .............. President Elect

Bohdan Zachariasevych . VP Fundraising

Ashley Courtney ....................... Treasurer

Elizabeth Vogelsong ................ Secretary

Board of Trustees

Andre R Araujo

Kim L. Barfield

Tariq Chaudhri

Teri Giordano

Jennifer Perez

David Weber

Jr. Trustee

Ellyse Peterson

Sr. Trustee

Henry P. Zerella

NJSBA Trustee

Justin R. White

Immediate Past President

Matthew J. Robinson

Foundation Trustees

Isabella Garofola

Theodore Ritter

Beth White

Executive Director

Carol Walker

Et Seq. Editors

Andre R Araujo

Carol Walker

ET SEQ. MARK YOUR CALENDARS

2/26/20 ......................... 40/50/60 Dinner

3/19/20 .............. CLE & Town Hall Meeting

3/25/20 ................ Criminal Bench Bar Mtg.

4/14/20 .......................Civil Bench Bar Mtg.

5/8/20 ............................................ Law Day

5/28/20 ...........................Party on the Deck

A MESS AGE FRO M O UR PR ES IDENT

D E A N A L . W A L S H , E S Q .

Welcome to 2020! May this new decade bring you all health, happiness and

great success.

I would like to thank everyone who helped with our Children’s Holiday Party.

Beth White does a wonderful job planning and coordinating this event for us

every year and we are very grateful. Thank you to Kristin Eisenhardt who

arranged for us to rent the Seabrook Fire Hall for a fraction of the normal

fee. We sincerely appreciate the very generous donations by our members.

Thank you also to everyone who helped shop, wrap, set up, cook, serve and

clean up. Special thanks to our costume volunteers, as well. We had

approximately 100 children participate this year, including 18 at the

Bridgeton Hospital Mental Health Unit. I just learned this year that our Bar

Association is the only one in South Jersey who hosts a holiday party for the

children in a mental health unit. I can tell you from my experience the last

few years attending as Mrs. Santa Claus that this is a very worthwhile event.

The children are so grateful and happy to see us. Despite their difficulties,

they are all smiles and hugs for Santa’s visit. It is wonderful that we are

able to give all of these kids joy, even if just for an hour or two each year.

Thank you to Teri Giordano for coordinating our Mock Trial program. We had

5 teams compete this year and 3 students from one team participated in

the courtroom art contest. Many thanks to our 5 attorney coaches and the

8 volunteer attorney judges. Cumberland County Technical Education

Center was the winner this year.

Since our last edition of the Et Seq., we had our New Jersey State Bar Night

with Timothy F. McGoughran, Treasurer, as well as our Holiday Party at the

Levoy Theater and the Tri County Dinner, hosted this year by Gloucester

County. I would like to thank everyone who attended our events. We know

you have families and busy lives and we appreciate you taking the time to

participate in our activities.

I cannot stress enough that this is your organization and we want to hear

your ideas as well as your complaints. After some inquiry, I received

feedback from some members regarding the location of the holiday party

and I thank those who provided me with their opinions. As a result of the

suggestions, I am happy to announce that our 2020 Holiday Cocktail Party

will be held on Friday, December 11, 2020 at Winfield’s Restaurant!

continued on Page 2

Page 2: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

2

Bar Donation Restores Bridgeton Library Bilingual Computer

An article by Joseph P. Smith was published in the Vineland Daily Journal on December 4, 2019 reporting on the

Cumberland County Bar Foundation’s donation to the Bridgeton Public Library to enable the installation of a new

AWE Early Bilingual Literacy Station. The donation was made in the memory of the late Samuel J. Serata, CCBA

member and former library trustee. The article included a photograph (below) of Bar President Deanna L. Walsh

and Foundation Trustee and Bar Historian Theodore H. Ritter at the library.

The article can be accessed online at the following address:

https://www.thedailyjournal.com/story/news/2019/12/04/nj -cumberland-bar-donation-computer-bilingual-

children-stem-games-school/2613438001/

A Message from our President, Continued

Don’t forget our 40-50-60 dinner on February 26, 2020 at Running Deer Golf Club!

The Board would like to further expand communication with the membership, so we are having a Town

Hall Meeting at the NJ Motorsports Park on Thursday, March 19, 2020. We want to know what you as

members like and dislike, and what changes and enhancements you would like to see regarding our

organization. The Town Hall Meeting will be preceded by a one-hour CLE eligible for 1.2 Ethics credits.

I look forward to seeing some new faces in 2020, as well as the many faces that come to every event!

Thank you.

Page 3: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

3

2017 marked the 60th Anniversary of the admission to the bar of the Bridgetonian who was then Cumberland County’s oldest practicing attorney: Samuel J. Serata. The Bar Association posthumously recognized Sam at a March 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed to mesothelioma, a month earlier, on February 19, 2017. True to form, Sam was still meeting with clients and working on cases two days before he died.

Sam was a graduate of Bridgeton High School, where he was elected President of the National Honor Society and played varsity football. Cornell University followed (Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, 1951), and then Dickinson School of Law (1957), where Sam was an editor of the Law Review. Between college and law school, Sam served in Korea, in 1952 and 1953, as a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

For much of his career, Sam taught part time. This included classes at Cumberland County College, the Institute for Court Management for the National Center of State Courts, the Administrative Office of the Courts, Widener University Graduate School of Business Administration, and Widener University (now Delaware) Law School.

Sam was an advocate of the organized bar. He belonged to the American Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association, and the Cumberland County Bar Association, for his entire career. He was a mentor to many young lawyers.

Sam served as Solicitor to more than a dozen public bodies and boards, including the Bridgeton Board of Education, the Cumberland Regional School District and the Cumberland County Agricultural Development Board. He served for two years as County Counsel to the Cumberland County Board of Chose Freeholders. In the late 1960s, Sam served as Assistant Cumberland County Prosecutor under the Honorable Joseph Tuso. In those days, the Prosecutor and all assistants were part-timers. Sam handled that office’s Appellate work.

Sam was a Judge of Municipal Courts in the City of Vineland, Sea Isle City, Weymouth Township, Corbin City, Estell Manor and Dennis Township. He served, by appointment of the Chief Justice, as Presiding Judge of Municipal Courts for Vicinage One (Atlantic and Cape May Counties) from 1986 to 1992. He was co-editor of the New Jersey Bench Book for Municipal Courts.

Sam’s community activities included involvement in the Boy Scouts, and serving as a trustee or a member of multiple cultural, civic and charitable organizations. One of his pet charities was the Bridgeton Free Public Library. Sam was a proud member of the American Civil Liberties Union.

As for our County Bar, Sam served four separate, nonconsecutive terms as a Trustee. He also was a Trustee of the Cumberland County Bar Foundation, Chairman of the Bridgeton Law Day Committee, and served on our County Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee.

In his free time, Sam was an avid reader, a lover of history, of theater, museums, and the opera. As a younger man, Sam derived great enjoyment from snow skiing and sailing his boat, “Samsong”. A widower, Sam was survived by two sons, two daughters, seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

In Sam’s memory, the Cumberland County Bar Foundation recently made a $1,000.00 donation to the Bridgeton Free Public Library which was used for the purchase of a new Early Literacy computer station.

Post Script Remarks

At the risk of departing from objectivity, I want to include a few personal observations.

I clerked for Sam during the Summer of 1971 between my first and second year of law school. At that time, Sam employed four, full-time secretaries and his thriving practice kept us all busy. I remained friends with Sam for the next 46 years.

Sam had considered opinions on nearly every imaginable subject. A compassionate Republican, Sam had a special soft spot for immigrants and their legal needs. I greatly enjoyed the many conversations we had about history, politics, literature, marriage, children and life in general.

I miss him.

REMEMBERING SAMUEL J. SERATA B Y T H E O D O R E H. R I T T E R ,

C U M B E R L A N D C O U N T Y B A R A S S O C I A T I O N H I S T O R I A N

Page 4: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

4

The Cumberland County Bar Association invites you to a Town Hall Meeting

on Thursday, March 19, 2020

5:30 p.m. Cash Bar 6:15 p.m. Buffet Dinner at

The Pub at New Jersey Motorsports Park 8000 Dividing Creek Road

Millville, NJ FROM 4:30 P.M. TO 5:30 P.M. WE WILL BE OFFERING A CLE ENTITLED

“USING CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE TO AVOID LEGAL

MALPRACTICE AND ETHICS GRIEVANCES” PRESENTED BY MATTHEW CAPONE AND THOMAS THISTLE

OF THE ROSNER LAW OFFICES, P.C.

This Course will provide a basic overview of case management software. It is

intended for attorneys who do not presently use case management software.

Pending approval by the New Jersey Supreme Court Board of Continuing Legal

Education, this course will provide 1.2 ethics CLE credits.

_______________ CLE only: $10.00

_______________Dinner only: $45.00

_______________CLE and Dinner: $55.00

__ will attend as indicated above on

March 19, 2020. Enclosed is my check for the event.

Please respond no later than March 12, 2020 by returning this form with your

check to: Cumberland County Bar Association, P.O. Box 2374, Vineland, NJ

08362

*All reservations for dinner made and not honored will be invoiced.

Financial Hardship Policy Available Upon Request

Page 5: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

5

You Are Invited To Join the Cumberland County Bar Association

As We Honor

Gerald M. Eisenstat, Esquire

For 60 Years

And

Charles W. Gabage, Esquire

Charles J. Girard, Esquire

For 50 Years

And

Hon. Georgia M. Curio

Michael A. Pirolli, Esquire

Richard P. Tonetta, Esquire

For 40 years

As Members of the Cumberland County Bar

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Running Deer Golf Club, 1111 Parvins Mill Road, Pittsgrove, NJ

5:30 pm Cocktails -Cash Bar and Hors D’oeuvres

6:30 pm- Dinner and Presentations

$55.00 per person

__________ Champagne Chicken – Chicken breast topped with fresh mozzarella and

spinach, wrapped in a puff pastry and finished off with roasted red pepper

champagne sauce

__________ Maryland Style Crab cake – citrus Infused jumbo lump crabmeat with roasted

red pepper sauce

__________ Seared Bistro Sirloin – peppercorn crusted top sirloin drizzled with roasted

garlic au jus

will attend the February 26, 2020 dinner. Enclosed is a check for $55.00 per person made payable to the Cumberland County Bar Association.

Please respond no later than February 16, 2020 by returning this form & check to: Cumberland County Bar Association, P.O. Box 2374, Vineland, NJ 08362 or by fax to (856) 696-5558.

Page 6: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

6 LAWYER OF THE MONTH

OCTOBER 2019

CARL CAVAGNARO, ESQUIRE

Firm: Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office

Area of Practice: Criminal Law, and in a prior life Family Law, Municipal Law, & School Law

Do you have any “guilty pleasure” TV shows?

Mr. Robot

If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?

Ability to read minds

If you wrote a memoir/biography, what would the title be?

If I Only Knew Then, What I Know Now

What is your spirit animal?

Eagle

NOVEMBER 2019

STEPHEN D. BARSE, ESQUIRE

Firm: Gruccio, Pepper, De Santo & Ruth, P.A.

Area of Practice: Labor and Employment, Corporate,

Business, Real Estate. Estate Planning and Administration

(including estate litigation).

Do you have any “guilty pleasure” TV shows?

Not if I want to stay married.

If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?

The ability to fly, so I would never be late.

If you wrote a memoir/biography, what would the title be?

A Bridge Too Far

What is your spirit animal?

Bugs Bunny—significant influence on my sense of humor

Page 7: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

7 LAWYER OF THE MONTH

DECEMBER 2019

BARBARA LAPHAM, ESQUIRE

Firm: Capizola, Pancari, Lapham & Fralinger, PA

Area of Practice: Banking/Commercial/Residential Lending;

Business; Real Estate

Do you have any “guilty pleasure” TV shows?

Great British Baking Show

If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?

To Fly

If you wrote a memoir/biography, what would the title be?

She Was Right, She was the First to Retire

What is your spirit animal?

Cat

MOMMA BEARISTER

Looking for fun activities to do with your kids and/or grandkids in and around Cumberland County? Looking for a place to commiserate with other attorney moms and dads? Then check out Momma Bearister on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/MommaBearister/

Hoping to build a community of Mommas, Papas and Cubs! MB is based in Cumberland County, NJ so most of the activities posted and set up by MB will be in that area. Please feel free to share with friends - the more the merrier! You are welcome to post your events and activities to the page as well! Thanks again!

Page 8: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

8

CPR Course October 29, 2019

Page 9: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

9

NJSBA Night November 14, 2019

Page 10: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

10

Page 11: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

11

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

from the Cumberland County Bar Association!

Page 12: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

12

Page 13: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

13

Page 14: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

14

Page 15: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

15

Page 16: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

16

Editor’s Note: The full nine-page Report and Recommendation to the Supreme Court from the Criminal

Practice Committee Regarding Rule 3:4-2 is available for review on the NJ Courts website.

Page 17: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

17

Page 18: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

18

Notice to the Bar Vicinage XV Municipal Court Mergers/Dissolutions

Effective January 1, 2020 the Carneys Point and Pennsville Municipal Courts will be merging. The joint court will be known as the Carneys Point-Pennsville Municipal Court. All Carneys Point and Pennsville matters will be heard at

Carneys Point-Pennsville Municipal Court 303 Harding Highway

Carneys Point, NJ 08069 856-299-1013

Effective January 1, 2020 the East Greenwich Joint Municipal Court is dissolving. East Greenwich matters and all Woodbury matters filed between February 9, 2015 and December 31, 2019 will continue to be heard at

East Greenwich Municipal Court 159 Democrat Rd

Mickleton, NJ 08056 856-423-3014

Until further notice, all Woodbury Municipal Court matters filed on or after January 1, 2020 will be handled at

Deptford Municipal Court 1011 Cooper St

Page 19: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

19

Editor’s Note: The full text of the updated Rule 3:10-8 is available for review on the NJ Courts website.

Page 20: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

20

Memo By: Joseph E. Ruth, Esq.

Date: November 5, 2019

Re: INFORMAL MINUTES OF OCTOBER 2019 BENCH BAR CONFERENCE

On Tuesday, October 22, 2019 the Honorable Timothy Chell convened a Vicinage XV Bench

Bar Conference. A lot was accomplished in the short time it took to hold the conference.

Unfortunately, while the “Bench” was well represented, the “Bar” was not. From this

commentator’s point of view, the absence of attorneys from this conference is either a

reflection of the fact that things are running so smoothly in our vicinage that attorneys did

not see the need to attend this conference, or attorneys just didn’t take the time to attend.

The Bench Bar Conference was advertised in the Cumberland County Bar Association’s

Et Seq. that was circulated on October 10, 2019. The CCBA Executive Director, Carol

Walker, also published a separate notice about the conference, first, on August 21, 2019

and, again, on October 21, 2019. Regardless of the reason for not appearing, Vicinage XV

bar members, and especially the attorneys practicing in the civil arena, should appreciate

how invaluable these meetings are because (a) attorneys get a chance to hear the new

initiatives the State and/or the Judiciary are instituting throughout the State to improve

the practice of law in the civil arena; (b) attorneys are given the opportunity to ask

questions or make comments about any issue presenting itself in his/her own practice;

and (c) attorneys, young or old (like me), are given a chance to sit with and speak to the

judges in a setting much more relaxed and more conducive to the free flow of ideas than

when attorneys appear before our judges in the courtroom. If the judges are giving up their

time to attend and participate in these conferences, listen to our concerns and respond,

then the Bar should likewise be there and participate.

First on the agenda was Judge Chell’s kind introduction of the Honorable John Eastlack as

the newest addition to the civil bench in Gloucester County. Judge Ragonese will continue

to handle docket numbers ending in 00-32; Judge Chell will continue handling 33-65; and

Judge Eastlack will handle 66-99.

Next on the agenda was mention that there is now a NOMAD system set up in the old

Gloucester County Courthouse. Again, if you have an interest in using the NOMAD device

for a trial, be sure to either indicate your intention to the Team Leader who contacts you

with trial questions, or contact the court in sufficient time to reserve the device.

Page 21: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

21

With the addition of the vicinage’s newest judges, the Honorable Mark Shoemaker and the

Honorable Benjamin D. Morgan, to the Family Division in Cumberland County, the

Honorable Jean Chetney, who has been hearing both civil and family motions, will no

longer be handling family motions and will now be handling all civil motions in Salem

County.

Next, Judge Chell addressed court-ordered arbitration pursuant to R.4:21A. First, Judge

Chell mentioned that the AOC recently revised the application for admission to the roster

of civil arbitrators and also revised the arbitrator screening and appointment guidelines.

These matters were addressed in a September 10, 2019 memo from the Honorable Glenn

A. Grant to the assignment judges. Judge Chell was kind enough to make a copy of the

memo available at the meeting. These changes immediately took effect. Judge Chell also

mentioned the recent Arbitrator Refresher Training Course and reminded the respective

county bar members that any attorney wishing to serve on the approved list of arbitrators

must : (a) have 10 ful l years as a l icensed NJ attorney;

(b) have their training certification; and (c) submit a resume along with the completed

application. With regard to arbitration matters in general, where a court is determined to

have a conflict and that matter is sent to another county in the vicinage, that is where the

case will be tried; thus, that is where the case must be arbitrated.

One final note about arbitration. The arbitration administrators are recently noting that

attorneys are appearing late for the designated time of the hearing. Every effort should be

made to be on time for your hearings so as to: (1) allow for the timely completion of the

hearings; (2) cause less imposition on other counsel who are appearing on time; and

(3) cause less time required for arbitrators to hear the cases presented.

Judge Chell reminded all present that the Court is happy to make available translators for

any court proceeding, but the request must be timely made and the attorney must

understand that he/she will be responsible for any fee the translator charges when the

matter for which the translator’s services were required is cancelled and the attorney fails

to notify the translating service. Typically, notice of any such cancellation should be

provided at least 72 hours prior to the expected service date.

The next item on the agenda was “Judicial Surveys.” Judge Chell encouraged the Bar to

complete such surveys and be candid in your assessment of the court’s performance so

that the court can adequately address any legitimate concerns. Judge Chell advised that

the surveys are typically sent within six months of a court proceeding.

Judge Chell then introduced two new items for the Bar’s consumption. Beginning

November 1, 2019, the court will now be conducting case management of matters where

the DED is quickly approaching. At some point, likely 60 days before the original DED

expires, the court will contact counsel to determine the status of discovery and thereafter

manage the balance of the case in an effort to assist in getting discovery completed and

Page 22: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

22

avoid the need for motion practice.

Likewise, the Court will be scheduling Settlement Conferences. The conferences will be

conducted approximately 2 to 4 weeks after any arbitration hearing. Judge Chetney will be

conducting the conferences and expects the plaintiff and the insurance adjuster assigned

to the case to be either present or available by phone.

As with the case management initiative, the court welcomes the input of the Bar on all

matters related to these two initiatives.

Lastly, Judge Chell provided a list of some recent notices to the Bar that affect the practice

of civil law in the vicinage. If anyone from Cumberland County wants a copy of those recent

notices, please either contact our Executive Director or the Civil Practice Committee Chair,

Joe Ruth. In Gloucester County contact Ernie Alvino. In Salem County, contact Karin Wood.

Judge Chell then opened up the meeting for any new business. Joe Ruth offered the fact

that he was recently scheduled to try a case before Judge Swift in Cumberland County and

had requested at least two months in advance of the trial date a copy of the list of pro-

spective jurors who would constitute the pool the week his trial was scheduled. Mr. Ruth

complimented the court’s staff on promptly responding to that request and hopes that

similar requests made in each of the other two counties in the vicinage can be met in a

timely manner, as well.

No other new business was offered, so the Bench Bar Conference was adjourned. The

Conference started promptly at 3:30 p.m. and ended at approximately 4:00 p.m.

Page 23: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

23

SAVE THE DATE

______________________________________________________________________

FROM: Hon. Linda L. Lawhun, P.J.Cr.

DATE: January 22, 2020

RE: Criminal Bench Bar Meeting

____________________________________________________________

WHEN: Wednesday, March 25, 2020

TIME: 3:00 p.m.

PLACE: Cumberland County Courthouse

ROOM: TBD

SAVE THE DATE

RE: Tri-County Civil Bench Bar Meeting

WHEN: Tuesday, April 14, 2020

TIME: 3:30 p.m.

PLACE: Gloucester County Courthouse simulcast to Salem & Cumberland Counties

ROOM: Old Courthouse, Courtroom 301

VIDEO VIEWING IS AVAILABLE IN EACH COUNTY:

Cumberland County Courthouse: Room A207

Salem County Courthouse: Fenwick Building Training Room #10

Page 24: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

24

COMPARE

Arbitration Awards & Jury Verdicts VICINAGE XV

October 2019 (*filed De Novo)

Damico-Hansen v. McDermott Jury Trial James R. Swift, J.S.C.

CUM-L-624-17

Pf Atty: Alexander J. Wazeter, Esquire

Df Atty: Toni M. Gheen, Esquire

Date(s) : 10/23, 10/24/2019

Verdict : No Cause

Award: $25,000 D*

Braxton v. Munoz & Dunn Jury Trial Samuel J. Ragonese, J.S.C.

GLO-L-1290-17

Pf Atty: Matthew Weng, Esquire

Df Atty: Nicole M. Downs, Esquire

Date(s): 10/15, 10/16/2019

Verdict: No Cause for Action

Oates v. Doe Jury Trial John C. Eastlack, J.S.C

GLO-L-1333-17

Pf Atty: Jonathan R. Ivans, Esquire

Df Atty: Stephen C. Wolf, Esquire

Date(s): 10/29, 10/30, 10/31/2019

Verdict: Settled during Trial - Confidential

Award: $37,500 D*

Dare Living v. Frontier Development Bench Trial Samuel J. Ragonese, J.S.C.

GLO-L-296-18

Pf Atty: Thomas S. Onder, Esquire

Df Atty: Jonathon R. O’Boyle, Esquire

Date(s): 9/25/2019

Verdict: Settled during in the amount of $34,000 in favor of Plaintiff

Narragansett Bay v. Marciano Jury Trial Jean S. Chetney, J.S.C.

SLM-L-200-17

Pf Atty: John Burke, Esquire

Df Atty: Michael L. Testa, Esquire & Vincent J. Pancari, Esquire

Date(s): 10/21, 10/22, 10/23, 10/24/2019

Verdict: In favor of Pf, case to be decided on Nov 22

Auto Neg

Contract

Insurance

Page 25: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

25

McCarty v. Erbicella Jury Trial Samuel J. Ragonese, J.S.C.

GL0-L-33-17

Pf Atty: James Tutton, Esquire

Df Atty: Mark A. Petraske, Esquire

Date(s): 10/30/2019

Verdict: Settled by Judge prior to start of Trial $275,000

Riley v. Mendozademota Jury Trial James R. Swift, J.S.C.

CUM-L-212-17

Pf Atty: Joseph E. Ruth, Esquire

Df Atty: Toni M. Gheen, Esquire

Date(s): 10/23/2019

Verdict: Settled by Judge prior to start of Trial $34,626.63

Award: $64,045 D*

Med Mal

Personal Inj

Page 26: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

26

COMPARE

Arbitration Awards & Jury Verdicts VICINAGE XV

November 2019 (*filed De Novo)

Kumiski v. Morgan Jury Trial James R. Swift, J.S.C.

CUM-L-694-17

Pf Atty: Anthony J. Leonard, Esquire

Df Atty: Toni M. Gheen, Esquire

Date(s) : 11/6, 11/7/2019

Verdict : No Cause

Award: $20,000 D*

Dixon v. Silvestro Jury Trial John C. Eastlack, J.S.C.

GLO-L-1293-17

Pf Atty: Brian L. Katz, Esquire

Df Atty: James Meissler, Esquire

Date(s): 11/12, 11/13, 11/14/2019

Verdict: No Cause for Action

Award: $48,500 D*

Young v. Heagen Jury Trial Jean S. Chetney, J.S.C

SLM-128-17

Pf Atty: Bruce Ginsburg, Esquire

Df Atty: Steven Antinoff, Esquire

Date(s): 11/18, 11/19, 11/20/2019

Verdict: No Cause for Action

Award: $175,000 P*

Narragansett Bay v. Marciano Jury Trial Jean S. Chetney, J.S.C.

SLM-L-200-17

Pf Atty: John Burke, Esquire

Df Atty: Michael L. Testa, Esquire & Vincent J. Pancari, Esquire

Date(s): 10/21, 10/22, 10/23, 10/24/2019 - Case closed on 11/22/19

Verdict: Verdict in favor of Pf (Narragansett does not need to cover Df Marciano)

Motion to dismiss was denied 11/22/19

Staffieri v. Truumees Jury Trial James R. Swift, J.S.C.

CUM-L-613-17

Pf Atty: Vincent J. Pancari, Esquire

Df Atty: Toni Gheen, Esquire

Date(s): 11/4/2019

Verdict: In favor of Pf and against Df on the issue of liability

Award: $42,500 D*

Auto Neg

Insurance

Personal Injury

Page 27: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

27

Matarazzo v. Thalman Jury Trial Samuel J. Ragonese, J.S.C.

GL0-L-97-18

Pf Atty: John D. Borbi, Esquire

Df Atty: John J. Mastronardi, Esquire

Date(s): 11/18/2019

Verdict: Settled by Judge prior to start of Trial $60,000

Award: $150,000 P*

UIM

COMPARE

Arbitration Awards & Jury Verdicts VICINAGE XV

December 2019 (*filed De Novo)

Lewis v. Okoro Jury Trial John C. Eastlack, J.S.C.

GLO-L-1533-17

Pf Atty: Laura J. Levenberg, Esquire

Df Atty: Nicole M. Downs, Esquire

Date(s): 12/2/2019

Verdict: No Cause for Action

Award: $22,500 D*

Auto Neg

Page 28: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

28

ATTENTION ATTORNEYS!

HELP PROVIDE EQUAL JUSTICE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT

Volunteer attorneys are always needed and appreciated in our nine county service area through the SJLS Private Attorney Involvement Program (PAI). Below are current volunteer attorney opportunities (projects operate in all nine counties unless indicated otherwise) – get involved today! If you would like to share your time and expertise while earning Madden credits, please contact Michelle T. Nuciglio, Esquire, SJLS Director of Pro Bono Services, at 856-964-2010 ext. 6229 or at [email protected] or Kristine M. Carranceja-Gurski, Esquire, SJLS Assistant Pro Bono Coordinator, at 732-414-6750 ext. 6516 or at [email protected].

The Bankruptcy Project – volunteer attorneys help individuals in need of Chapter 7 bankruptcy assistance. PAI provides the volunteer attorney with all the documents from the client needed to file the bankruptcy, including credit reports, bank statements, tax returns, bills, etc.

The Divorce Project – volunteer attorneys help individuals in need of a divorce. These are uncontested divorces with no debt or asset issues. If there are children born of the marriage, child support and custody must already be established by court order.

The SJLS Guardianship Project for Children (Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth and Ocean only at this time) - volunteer attorneys help parents obtain guardianship over their disabled children prior to the children turning 18 years of age.

The Family Assist Project – volunteer attorneys provides 30-minute advice consultations to individuals in need of family law advice either in-person or over the phone.

The Expungement Project – volunteer attorneys help individuals in need of an expungement, often to enable them to obtain employment or housing, The attorney receives, at a minimum, the client’s New Jersey State Police Criminal History Background report.

The Children’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Project – volunteer attorneys help children who have been denied disability benefits. This Project was started in 2006 and has resulted in over 150 favorable decisions for children in New Jersey and their families. Attorneys willing to review cases for advice only are also welcome.

The benefits of taking a case for pro bono representation include malpractice insurance provided by SJLS for the duration of the case, time towards satisfaction of your annual Madden requirement, confidence that your time and efforts go to a deserving, low-income client and the knowledge that you have made a difference in the life of an indigent New Jersey resident.

Page 29: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

29

ADVERTISE IN THE ET SEQ.

We are still taking Ads to be published in the Et Seq. All payments are due prior to the posting.

Quarter Page $25.00 per issue

Half Page $50.00 per issue

Full Page $100.00 per issue

Discounts are available for multiple-issue postings.

Contact our Executive Director, Carol Walker, at [email protected] for more information.

DO YOU HAVE A VACATION RENTAL ? DO YOU HAVE EXTRA OFFICE SPACE? ADVERTISE HERE.

Court Closings

for Municipal Court closings:

njcourts.gov/courts/closingsmuni.html

to register for Superior Court closing alerts:

www.getrave.com/login/judiciary-state-nj-us

(links not active)

Page 30: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

30

The CCBA

congratulates

our own

Awesome

Attorney,

Chuck Coant!

Page 31: ET SEQ. - Cumberland County Bar Association & Foundationccnjbar.org › images › pdfs › EtSeqWinter2020.pdf · 2020-03-13 · 29, 2017 Bar Association meeting. He had succumbed

31