Category: Hot Trends: Developing Case Law
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07.25.2017
Appellate Division Affirms Burlington County Decision: Handwritten Document Constitutes A Valid Will
In the Matter of the Estate of Alice M. Malsberger, deceased, No. A-2751-15T3 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. July 14, 2017). This is an unpublished Appellate Division decision arising out of Burlington County. The material facts were not in dispute. Alice Malsberger (“Alice”) died May 26, 2015. Following Alice’s death, plaintiff Patricia White (“Patricia”), a […]
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06.19.2017
Sovereign Immunity Bars Suit Against State Employees of DMAHS
Deal v. Velez, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39427 (D.N.J. March 20, 2017). This matter was on appeal before the District Court on defendants’ motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint for lack of jurisdiction. The issue before the Court was whether the defendants are entitled to sovereign and/or qualified immunity under the Eleventh Amendment. This case […]
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05.31.2017
Domestic Partners Not Eligible for Marital Exemption under NJ Estate Tax
Jiwungkul v. Dir., Div. of Taxation, 2017 N.J. Super. LEXIS 62, No. A-4089-15T2, (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. May 30, 2017). This case pertains to marital deduction eligibility for domestic partners in New Jersey under the New Jersey Inheritance Tax and the New Jersey Estate Tax. Here, Rucksapol Jiwungkul and Michael R. Connolly, Jr. were […]
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05.11.2017
Court Determines the Principal Place of Trust Administration
Stegier v. Steiger, 2016 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 5806, No. 37-2013-00072651 (Cal. App. Div. Aug. 5, 2016). This case is an unpublished Appellate Division decision arising out of San Diego County, California. Lee Steiger (“Lee”) petitioned the probate court in California to compel trustee Paul Steiger (“Paul”) to account for the Louise A. Steiger Trust […]
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04.18.2017
Plaintiff Fails To Establish An Inter Vivos Gift and Award of Counsel Fees Reversed
McDermott-Guber v. Estate of McDermott, 2017 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1240, Docket No. A-1210-15T3 (N.J. Sup. Ct. App. Div. May 19, 2017). This is an unpublished Appellate Division decision arising out of Morris County, New Jersey. This case pertains to whether plaintiff adduced sufficient evidence to establish a valid inter vivos gift. Here, a vacant […]
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04.10.2017
Fraud Must Be Pleaded With Specificity
Epstein v. Epstein, 2017 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1165, No. A-1558-15T3 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. May 15, 2017). This case is an unpublished Appellate Division decision arising out of Ocean County, New Jersey. Plaintiff Neal Epstein (“Neal”) appealed the trial court’s order dismissing his Complaint against Barbara Epstein (“Barbara”). Neal’s Complaint alleged that as […]
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03.30.2017
Appeallate Division Affirms Finding Of Trustee’s Breach Fiduciary Duty
Estate of Lerner v. Lerner, No. A-0399-15T4, 2017 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 804 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Mar. 30, 2017). Defendant Tisa Lynn Lerner appeals from an August 11, 2015, judgment finding she breached her fiduciary duties as trustee for plaintiff, the Estate of Harry Lerner. Tisa is one of three daughters of the […]
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03.16.2017
Appeals Court Found Arbitrator Did Not Exceed His Authority
In Re Estate of Lederer, No. A-0175-14T1, 2017 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 665 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Mar. 16, 2017). This case pertains to an arbitrator’s authority to decide the validity of a Will. The Appellate Division addressed two appeals that were consolidated.
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03.08.2017
New Jersey Court Applies The Doctrine Of Forum Non Conveniens
Travelers Casualty and Surety Company, Inc. v. Skrabonja, et al., 2017 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 591 (N.J. Super. Ct. Law Div. Mar. 8, 2017). Bronko Grcic was involved in a car accident in the late 1970s that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body, confining him to a wheelchair. Litigation related to […]
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02.21.2017
Appellate Court Finds Financial Institutions Do Not Owe A Legal Duty To Non-Customers
Wolens v. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC, 155 A.3d 1 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Feb. 21, 2017). Plaintiff Kathleen Wolens (“Wolens”) appealed a trial court order granting summary judgment and dismissing her complaint against her deceased mother’s former investment company — Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) — and its account manager, co-defendant […]
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