Opinion Summaries
At Sullivan | Simon, we read and summarize every precedential opinion from all of the state appellate courts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
The New Jersey Supreme Court reversed the Appellate Division and ruled that Lapsley’s injuries were compensable under the Workers’ Compensation Act. Lapsley worked as a librarian at the Sparta Public Library. In February 2014, Lapsley’s husband arrived at the library to drive her home. As they walked from the library to the car through the… Continue reading Lapsley v. Twp. of Sparta
In this international collections action, the Third Circuit ruled that the District Court did not reach a final decision under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and thus the appellate court did not have jurisdiction. The action arose after the plaintiff prevailed in an arbitration proceeding against Venezuela and was awarded a $1.4 billion judgment. The plaintiff,… Continue reading Crystallex Int’l Corp. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
The New Jersey Appellate Division reversed the trial court’s order that denied the parties’ joint motion to vacate the mandatory period of parole ineligibility of the defendant’s sentence. The parties filed that motion pursuant to the former Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Directive No. 2021-4, “Directive Revising Statewide Guidelines Concerning the Waiver of Mandatory Minimum Sentences… Continue reading State v. Arroyo-Nunez
The Pennsylvania Superior Court affirmed the defendant’s sentence for driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked (“DWS”). The defendant relied on Commonwealth v. Eid and claimed that Section 1543(b)(1)(i) of the statute was unconstitutionally vague. The Court distinguished Eid and held that although Section 1543(b)(1)(i) contains some of the same language highlighted in Eid,… Continue reading Commonwealth v. White
The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court heard the claimant’s petition for review after a Workers’ Compensation Judge found that the petitioner was “in the course of his employment” when he was injured. The claimant slipped on ice as he was about to take a cigarette break, calling into question the “personal comfort” rule. The WCJ held that… Continue reading Henderson v. WP Ventures, Inc. (Workers Comp. Appeal Bd.)
In these ten one-sided appeals, which the New Jersey Appellate Division consolidated, Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group LLC (“the firm”), challenged the denial of its motions to enforce the terms of its retainer agreement (“RA”) to obtain a judgment against its former clients for unpaid fees, or to compel the former clients to submit… Continue reading Kopec v. Myers
The New Jersey Appellate Division heard a husband’s appeal after the trial court bifurcated a divorce, conducted a bench trial on the grounds for the divorce, and found in favor of the wife. The Appellate Division largely affirmed the trial court’s order. The Court found that the trial court properly bifurcated the issues of the… Continue reading Steiner v. Steiner
The Third Circuit ruled that the National Labor Relations Board overreached and acted punitively. The General Counsel issued a complaint alleging that East Brunswick European Wax Center (“EBEWC”) violated Section 8(a)(1) and (3) of the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”). EBEWC signed a Settlement Agreement three weeks later. Subsequently, the General Counsel moved for default… Continue reading E. Brunswick European Wax Ctr. v. Nat’l Labor Rel. Bd.
The plaintiffs sued their daughter’s college under Title IX after the daughter’s boyfriend murdered her in her dorm room. The college maintained a Title IX Policy, which defined sexual misconduct to include dating and domestic violence. Any conduct constituting sexual misconduct under this policy was considered a violation of Title IX. And before the student’s… Continue reading Hall v. Millersville Univ.