Acting Governor Signs Legislation Increasing Counsel Fees to 25% in Workers’ Compensation Cases

August 23, 2024

Submitted by New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. On Thursday, August 22, 2024, Acting Governor Nicholas Scutari signed legislation increasing counsel fees for petitioners’ attorneys from 20% to 25%.  This change in the law is codified in N.J.S.A. 34:15-64. The statute now reads as follows:  “The official conducting any hearing under this chapter may allow to…

Credible Evidence Which Supported the Final Restraining Order (FRO) Results in Awarding Counsel Fees to Plaintiff

September 23, 2022

K.A.M. v. R.P.S., Jr. Docket No. A-2482-20 Decided September 22, 2022 Submitted by New Jersey Family Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent unpublished opinion, the defendant appealed the FRO entered against him, and the Appellate Court of New Jersey affirmed the trial court’s ruling. The Appellate Court reasoned in their opinion that the trial court found…

Affirmed: Several Post Judgment Orders From 38 Post Judgment Motions Filed by Plaintiff, Often Requesting the Same Relief

March 4, 2022

S.M. v. J.T. Docket No. A-5359-18 A-4428-19 Decided March 3, 2022 Submitted by New Jersey Family Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent unpublished decision the Appellate Division affirmed several post judgment orders resulting from 38 post judgment motions filed by plaintiff, often requesting the same relief. In S.M., The parties, who divorced in 2014, have an…

Counsel Fees (And Counsel Fee Awards) Are Always an Issue When Lawyers Are Involved in a Divorce

January 29, 2021

Wilk v. Wilk Docket No. A-5013-18T1 Decided January 28, 2021 Submitted by New Jersey Family Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent unpublished decision the Appellate Division reversed a trial court’s decision to award plaintiff $40,000 in counsel fees payable by defendant at the conclusion of their divorce. In Wilk, The parties were married for eighteen…