In April 2021, the Bergen Vicinage assumed responsibility for the administration of the collection matters previously assigned to former Special Civil Part Officer Bruce Piekarsky. The Vicinage is in the process of contacting creditors and/or attorney creditor firms; defendants and/or defendants’ employers; and financial institutions to obtain necessary information/documentation to reconcile collection data and judgment balances on writs previously assigned to Officer Piekarsky. In cases where collection data and judgment balances cannot be reconciled, the Vicinage will direct that a motion be filed before the Court, on notice to the parties of the action, so that a Court order can be entered as to the balance owed on the judgment. Any party filing such a motion may request the Court to refund the filing fee or request for said fee to be included in the amount(s) potentially claimed against the bond(s) of Officer Piekarsky. As the Vicinage is the insured party under Officer Piekarsky’s bond(s), claims on behalf of litigants will be filed by the Administrative Office of the Courts with the bonding company utilizing the aforementioned Court order(s).
In light of the current COVID-19 surge and consistent with COVID-19 public health recommendations, the Judiciary will reduce on-site presence of judges and staff for the first two weeks of January 2022. As we monitor and assess the changing COVID-19 conditions, we currently plan to resume regular on-site presence as of Monday, January 17, 2022.
During this period, notwithstanding the reduced on-site presence, all state court locations will continue to be fully open to the public and all judicial operations will continue uninterrupted. State court judges and court staff will support all essential functions and conduct emergent matters. In-person trials already in progress may continue. Virtual jury selection and virtual trials will continue but jurors will not report in-person for new trials until after January 17. Certain in-person court events will also proceed as scheduled. The Presiding Judge for Administration of the Appellate Division, Vicinage Assignment Judges, and the Presiding Judge of the Tax Court will provide judges with more detailed guidance as to ongoing and scheduled in-person court events during this time.
Managers will provide further direction regarding work requirements, including as to employee requirements to report on-site to court locations during this time.
Everyone is reminded of the importance of following the masking and social distancing requirements when working in on-site locations. Care should also be taken when working remotely and outside of work.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week issued revised isolation and quarantine recommendations. In light of those recommendations, the Judiciary is in the process of revising certain COVID-19 policies so as to reduce the time for exclusion from work of employees who have tested positive, been diagnosed, developed symptoms, or have been exposed to the virus. Further details will be provided.
Chief Justice Stuart Rabner
Administrative Director Glenn A. Grant
WHEREAS, due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the National Emergency,
first declared on March 13, 2020, remains in effect, as does the national public health
emergency, renewed again by the federal government on October 18, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public
health authorities continue to advise taking precautions to reduce the possibility of exposure
to COVID-19 and to slow the spread of the disease by, among other things, wearing masks fully
covering the nose and mouth, limiting sustained group gatherings of people, maintaining six feet
of physical distance from others (social distancing), and limiting sustained indoor activities
involving spoken presentations; and Read More
By: Theodore M. Davis, Chair, Tax Law Committee
Current Items:
1) The Maltese Pension Falcon
2) Santa’s Wishes
1) It’s almost Christmas and you’re still stuck at home with this new virus threat. What to do, oh, what to do! Now, who doesn’t love Humphrey Bogart, Sidney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Mary Astor? If you’re guessing Casablanca you would be close. In the fall of 1941 director, John Houston put together a dazzling cast to create what is perhaps the first noir classic detective story where Bogie plays Sam Spade. By now you of celluloid addictions may be able to guess “The Maltese Falcon.” In this detective thriller, Sam Spade gets more than he bargained for when a case is brought to him by beautiful and secretive Mary Astor playing Miss Wonderly. Sam’s partner is soon murdered and Peter Lorre shows up demanding he locates a valuable statuette. In 1539, the Knight Templars of Malta paid tribute to Charles V of Spain by sending him a golden falcon encrusted from beak to claw with the rarest jewels. But Pirates seized the galley carrying this priceless token and the fate of the Maltese falcon remained a mystery. Of course, none of this is true but it is a great backdrop for the film. Now I will bet you have no idea where Malta is. It is actually an island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea. It played a strategic role in World War II and these days a wonderful vacation spot. I won’t spoil the mystery by telling you how the movie comes out. But by this time you must be asking yourself what does this have to do with the tax law. Read More
DVLAP is a joint program of the Bergen County Alternatives to Domestic Violence and the Bergen County Bar Association. Participating attorneys help eligible victims of domestic violence take their first step to begin a life beyond their abusive relationship.
To learn more, please call Elizabeth R. Ostuni, Victim Advocate Coordinator at [email protected].
Any person interested in applying should complete an application using the following link: Bergen County New Jersey. Please complete, print, and sign the application. You may either scan and e-mail to: [email protected] or fax to (201) 336-7555.
The Diversity in the Profession Committee is accepting nominations for the Diversity In the Profession Award. Click below to download the form. Submissions are due no later than January 14, 2022.
The Nominating Committee is soliciting members interested in serving as an officer or trustee of the Association. Please see the link below to learn more about sending in your submission. Applications are due by Thursday, December 23, 2021.
The New Jersey State Bar Foundation is hosting its annual Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial competition this year with a modified format. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the competition will proceed virtually via Zoom for the second season in a row. As a result, volunteering to coach or judge is even more convenient than it has been in the past.
Once again, Nicole McDonough, Esq. of Archer & Greiner P.C. and John McDermott, Esq. of Harwood Lloyd are serving as co-coordinators of the Bergen County competition. We are writing to request your participation in the competition as an attorney-coach or judge.
By Theodore M. David, Chair, Tax Law Committee
Current Items:
1) Tax Cops
2) Inflation Hooray
3) A Turkey Tribute
1). Over 2,500 criminal investigations, the identification of more than $10 billion from tax fraud and financial crimes, and a nearly 90% conviction rate are just a few highlights from the IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report. The report details statistics, important partnerships, and significant criminal enforcement actions from IRS-CI, the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, for the past fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, 2020, and ended Sept. 30, 2021. Read More
This Order addresses whether court events should be conducted in person or virtually, both now and when the COVID-19 pandemic ends. For the past 18 months, judges have conducted more than 260,000 virtual court events involving more than 2.7 million participants, and municipal courts have conducted more than 3 million events. Based on that experience, as well as input from judges, attorneys, and members of the public, this Order outlines a framework for the future of court operations.
Attorneys, parties, and judges have praised the reduced time and cost associated with virtual proceedings for brief and straightforward matters. They also noted there are fewer scheduling conflicts and requests for continuances. At the same time, commenters highlighted the value of bringing parties together in person at certain critical junctures, including settlement conferences and proceedings that involve especially serious penalties or consequences. In addition to those considerations, it is important to balance consistency and predictability in court operations with the need to exercise discretion based on the facts and circumstances of individual cases.