It’s a little known fact that kidnapping charges most commonly involve two individuals who know each other and are either romantically linked or related. Many stem from an argument or domestic dispute where then one party to a relationship traps the other or takes their child from the other parent outside the terms of their custody arrangement. (more…)
There are several reports coming out this and last week that lawsuits are being filed against businesses that are accused of price gouging in the weeks following Hurricane Sandy hitting New Jersey.
The lawsuits started with a handful of gas stations that hiked prices, as much as $2.00 is one instance, in the days following the hurricane. New Jersey has a state statute that prohibits price increases that are found excessive during an announced state of emergency. Price increases are considered ‘excessive’ if the increase is more than 10% higher than the price charged in the days prior to the declared state of emergency. Sometimes, understandably, natural disasters can disrupt supply of certain items, however this was not the case. In fact, in once case against a gas station, the shipment of gasoline received on November 1st was reportedly less expensive than previous shipments. However, the law states that if there are markups lower down the supply chain as a result of the state of emergency, businesses are not allowed to set a price that is above 10% of the markup they paid. (more…)
The NJ Star Ledger is reporting in an article published today that aerial estimates of the damage from Hurricane Sandy are predicting that nearly 70,000 homes and businesses in New Jersey suffered damage as a result of the storm. That number is expected to grow as the full understanding of flood damage (not visible by air) becomes clear. Federal authorities conducted the assessment by helicopter counting damaged properties and tallying them. Estimates were that nearly 500 buildings were completely destroyed beyond repair. The report cited that in some places like Union Beach, NJ, nearly one in five homes are considered no longer inhabitable. That is a pretty significant statistic. In Toms River, NJ, 138 buildings are damaged beyond repair. Some that weren’t damaged by the storm itself suffered damage as a result of natural gas fires. (more…)
More often than you’d think, however most often the charges don’t stem from what you’d think of as actual terrorists or a group of organized criminal planning an attack. Typically, the charges stem from an arrest where an individual threatens another individual in a written or witnessed form. Often, the individuals charged have no actual intention of following through on their threats, but have been charged with making them anyway. Just last month a West Amwell, NJ man was arrested and charged following a criminal mischief complaint. The additional charges stemmed from an argument and his yelling a threat and throwing something at the car of the complainant before he was arrested. (more…)
There was a request this week by New Jersey State Senator Mike Doherty to hear the possibility of a new law that would require free access to Jersey shore beaches that accept Federal Funds to rebuild from the effects of Hurricane Sandy. According to NJ.com, there are only five beaches in New Jersey that currently allow visitors without beach tags – Atlantic City, Strathmere, Wildwood Crest, and North Hollywood. Admission to others can range from $5 dollars a day to $15, however, season passes are available for most. (more…)
As New Jersey continues the recovery effort in the weeks following Hurricane Sandy, there are ways that everyone can get involved, regardless of proximity to the affected areas. There are volunteering opportunities as well as donation opportunities: (more…)
As we near the holiday season, it is important to remember that the holidays can be a happy and joyous time of year, but it’s also a time when, statistically, traffic accidents increase. The combination of inclement weather and holiday parties combine to create a perfect storm of roadway hazard. According to 2009 data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 411 car accident fatalities and 140 alcohol-related deaths during the four-day Thanksgiving holiday, 262 car accident fatalities and 967 alcohol-related deaths during the three-day Christmas holiday, and 468 car accident fatalities and 199 alcohol-related deaths during the four-day New Year’s holiday. Couple that fact with the fact that traffic stops for alcohol-related traffic violation always increase in New Jersey around the holiday season, and it’s obviously far better off to stay off the road after having consumed alcohol. (more…)
In New Jersey, having points on your license can lead to insurance surcharges (at six points) and the suspension of your driving privileges (at twelve points). You should know how many points have been assigned against you, but can also check by requesting a copy of your driving record from the NJDMV. Don’t know if you have points? Here are some common traffic violations, compiled by our Atlantic City personal injury lawyers, that can have points associated with them: (more…)
Insurance carriers will be dealing a massive influx of policy claims in the weeks and months following Hurricane Sandy. For many homeowners, the physical damage is just the start of their stress – enter the insurance claim process. Making sure that you are adequately compensated for your policy is crucial to the rebuilding of your home and belongings if you suffered a loss. Here are some tips to help you navigate the process of filing a Hurricane or flood damage insurance claim. (more…)
Reports are coming out of multiple news outlets that homeowners’ insurance claims are already being filed to the tune of around 20,000 claims a day in the Atlantic Coastal States affected by Hurricane Sandy. Given that many of the areas in New Jersey that were most affected are just reopening now, that figure is sure the explode. Estimated to top a whopping $20 billion in damages, Sandy is easily the most expensive storm to hit the region in the last 50 years. (more…)
