Hearing Set for Supreme Court Nominee | Federal Shutdown

In New Jersey

Fernandez-Vina high court hearing set for Oct. 17

By Bill Mooney | Politicker NJ
October 1, 2013

Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Nicholas P. Scutari today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will convene Oct. 17 to consider the governor's nomination of Judge Faustino Fernández-Vina to the state Supreme Court.

Gov. Chris Christie formally nominated the Camden County judge on Monday.

Two other Christie high court nominees - Robert Hanna and David Bauman - remain in limbo awaiting hearings.

Two earlier nominees - Bruce Harris and Phil Kwon - were rejected by the Judiciary Committee.

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Conrail responds to lawsuit from Paulsboro spill

The Associated Press
October 2, 2013

The railroad whose train derailed in southern New Jersey last year and spilled a toxic chemical is fighting back in court.

Consolidated Rail Corporation, known as Conrail, filed a motion this week to dismiss some claims brought by plaintiffs and businesses in Paulsboro.

A half-dozen rail cars derailed on a bridge over Mantua Creek in Paulsboro last November. One tanker released vinyl chloride.

Some residents and business owners sued last year. And a filing last Friday that added more plaintiffs to the case wants Conrail to pay for future medical monitoring of people who live or work near where the spill occurred.

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NJBIA to Fulop: Paid sick-leave proposal will hurt Jersey City's businesses

By Andrew George | NJ BIZ

September 24, 2013

Forcing Jersey City businesses to offer mandatory paid sick-leave to their employees will end up doing more harm to the local economy than good, and a comprehensive study should be conducted before the plan is implemented.

That's the message coming from New Jersey Business and Industry Association in a letter to Mayor Steven Fulop from the industry group's assistant vice president for labor and development.

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Kardashians Off the Hook in Suit Over Diet-Product Endorsement

By Charles Toutant | New Jersey Law Journal

October 1, 2013

A federal judge has dismissed a class-action suit against Kourtney, Khloe and Kimberly Kardashian over their endorsement of QuickTrim diet products.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Peck in the Southern District of New York threw out the suit on Sept. 17, saying he was "reluctant to serve as a parking lot for this case" while a related California settlement is the subject of an appeal...

The suit also named Amazon, Drugstore.com, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and GNC, which sold QuickTrim products. Those defendants, represented by Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti of Morristown, were dismissed in July 2012.

Around the States

Federal courthouses open, civil lawsuits to slow

By Ann E. Marimow | The Washington Post
October 1, 2013

Federal courthouses are open for business for at least the next 10 days, but civil lawsuits involving the government are likely to slow significantly because of the government shutdown.

Prosecutors in the Justice Department's criminal division are continuing to work, but only a skeleton crew of attorneys in the civil division are on call. In dozens of federal court filings throughout the country this week, including in the District and Maryland, prosecutors are asking judges to delay upcoming deadlines and court proceedings until Congress has restored funding.

Even the outgoing voicemail for the department's public affairs office was on message Tuesday: "In the event of a lapse of appropriation, this message will be listened to and responded to upon a funding resolution."

Justice Department attorneys are prohibited from working during the shutdown even on a voluntary basis, except in cases involving public safety, according to a series of motions filed by department attorneys.