87 08901 a the middlesex dvocate - cdn.ymaws.com€¦ · ground zero for mass tort/toxic tort...

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ADVOCATE The Middlesex County Bar Association Monthly Newsletter November 2019 · Volume 34, Number 3 The Middlesex October was a busy month for the MCBA. Past President William Isele was presented with the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award for Middlesex County by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law. Congratulations to Bill on a welldeserved award. Bill’s service to the MCBA and as Secretary to the Middlesex County Fee Arbitration Panel exemplify his service, dedication and professionalism. On October 17th the MCBA celebrated Professionalism Day. The Honorable Frank M. Ciuffani (ret.) moderated a program on an important topic today whether discussing the legal profession or otherwise, “Professional Relationships: Bridging the Age Gap.” Technology has been a blessing to our profession but it has also led to a growing gap in the ways that the generations communicate and practice law. Technology presents generational challenges to many baby boomers like myself while at the same time giving us opportunities including allowing us to stay connected while we are miles or oceans away from our office. The program was well received by the attendees and gave all valuable insights into different thoughts about the way we practice and the goals that we seek. One important takeaway from the program stressed by the entire panel was the need for communication and not just emails or texts. We need to make an effort to pick up the phone more often and talk to each other. The MCBA will be holding another CLE on the topic on December 18th. Whether you are a baby boomer, millennial, Generation “X” or “Y”, please join us as we further discuss this important subject. The MCBA honored our members who passed during the year on October 30th. The annual memorial ceremony is an opportunity for us to recognize those members and their service to the MCBA as well as their contribution to the practice of law. It is also a time for us to thank the families and friends of our deceased members for sharing their beloved with us, knowing that the practice of law can often take us away from precious family time and commitments. Join us on November 13th for our Karaoke/Talent Contest Tryouts at RoosterSpin in New Brunswick where bar members will compete for a spot at the annual “Battle of the Bars” Contest in April against the Mercer, Somerset and Union County Bar Associations. Finally, to all, sincere wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving and a special thanks to all of our members, trustees and sponsors. Remembering all of you and your support of the MCBA as you do your part in helping the MCBA not only survive but thrive. The Middlesex County Bar Association 87 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 www.mcbalaw.com 732.828.3433 Upcoming Events Karaoke/Talent Contest RoosterSpin, New Brunswick Wednesday, November 13th (See page 7 for details) YLC Annual Holiday Brew Ho-Ho Fox & Hound, Menlo Park Mall Tuesday, December 3rd (See page 11 for details) What’s Inside Calendar of Events…………... 2 NJ Supreme Court Eases Burden to Prove Cross-Claims Against Settled Defendants at Trial by Marc Gaffrey, Esq. ……….. 3 How to Say It: Legal Writing That Persuades by Hon. Robert Jones, Jr. …… 5 Avoiding Small Business Start-Up Problems ………….. 6 RAM Law Wins Golf Outing…. 8 Nominations Sought for Annual Practice Area Awards ……….. 10 Bar Members in the News …… 13 Top 4 Paralegal Skills By Melissa Acosta …………… 15 Mandatory CLE Need Credits? We Got ‘Em ….. 17 Call for Board Nominations ….. 17 MCBA Message from the President . . . By Daria Venezia, Esq.

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Page 1: 87 08901 A The Middlesex DVOCATE - cdn.ymaws.com€¦ · ground zero for mass tort/toxic tort litigation, and once again it is the origination of a significant decision which impacts

ADVOCATE The Middlesex County Bar Association Monthly Newsletter

November 2019 · Volume 34, Number 3

The Middlesex

October was a busy month for the MCBA.  Past President 

William Isele was presented with the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award for Middlesex County by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law. Congratulations to Bill on a well‐deserved award. Bill’s service to the MCBA and as Secretary to the Middlesex County Fee Arbitration Panel exemplify his service, dedication and professional‐ism. 

On October 17th the MCBA cele‐brated Professionalism Day. The Honor‐able Frank M. Ciuffani (ret.) moderated a program on an important topic today whether discussing the legal profession or otherwise, “Professional Relation‐ships: Bridging the Age Gap.”   Technology has been a blessing to our profession but it has also led to a growing gap in the ways that the genera‐tions communicate and practice law. Technology presents generational chal‐lenges to many baby boomers like myself while at the same time giving us oppor‐tunities including allowing us to stay con‐nected while we are miles or oceans away from our office.   The program was well received by the attendees and gave all valuable in‐sights into different thoughts about the way we practice and the goals that we seek. One important takeaway from the program stressed by the entire panel 

was the need for communication and not just emails or texts. We need to make an effort to pick up the phone more often and talk to each other.   The MCBA will be holding another CLE on the topic on December 18th. Whether you are a baby boomer, millen‐nial, Generation “X” or “Y”, please join us as we further discuss this important sub‐ject.   The MCBA honored our members who passed during the year on October 30th. The annual memorial ceremony is an opportunity for us to recognize those members and their service to the MCBA as well as their contribution to the prac‐tice of law. It is also a time for us to thank the families and friends of our deceased members for sharing their beloved with us, knowing that the practice of law can often take us away from precious family time and commitments.   Join us on November 13th for our Karaoke/Talent Contest Tryouts at RoosterSpin in New Brunswick where bar members will compete for a spot at the annual “Battle of the Bars” Contest in April against the Mercer, Somerset and Union County Bar Associations.   Finally, to all, sincere wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving and a special thanks to all of our members, trustees and spon‐sors. Remembering all of you and your support of the MCBA as you do your part in helping the MCBA not only survive but thrive. 

The Middlesex County Bar Association 87 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 ♦ www.mcbalaw.com ♦ 732.828.3433 

Upcoming Events Karaoke/Talent Contest RoosterSpin, New Brunswick Wednesday, November 13th (See page 7 for details) YLC Annual Holiday Brew Ho-Ho Fox & Hound, Menlo Park Mall Tuesday, December 3rd (See page 11 for details)

What’s Inside Calendar of Events…………... 2 NJ Supreme Court Eases Burden to Prove Cross-Claims Against Settled Defendants at Trial by Marc Gaffrey, Esq. ……….. 3 How to Say It: Legal Writing That Persuades by Hon. Robert Jones, Jr. …… 5 Avoiding Small Business Start-Up Problems ………….. 6 RAM Law Wins Golf Outing…. 8 Nominations Sought for Annual Practice Area Awards ……….. 10 Bar Members in the News …… 13 Top 4 Paralegal Skills By Melissa Acosta …………… 15 Mandatory CLE Need Credits? We Got ‘Em ….. 17 Call for Board Nominations ….. 17

MCBA Message from the President . . . By Daria Venezia, Esq.

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The Middlesex Advocate 87 Bayard Street

New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Phone: (732) 828-3433

Fax: (732) 828-5862 www.mcbalaw.com

Newsletter Editor John F. Gillick, Esq.

Letters to the Editor We welcome letters from MCBA members responding to recent articles or to events or issues of general concern to the bar. Commentary Articles Bar members are invited to submit “op-ed” articles, not longer than 750 words, which take affirmative or negative positions on matters of interest to the bar. Practice-Oriented Articles We welcome the submission of substantive law articles, to be limited to 2,000 words or less. News About People & Firms MCBA members are invited to submit announcements and photographs of new firms, new hires, promotions, awards, celebrations and other noteworthy events. Obituaries Obituaries about Middlesex County lawyers may be submitted and should be 300 words or less. Materials submitted for publication should be sent to [email protected] and may be edited for style or abridged due to space limits. Photographs must be submitted electronically in jpg format.

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Page 2 — November 2019 — The Middlesex Advocate

November 4 – Monday, 6:00 p.m. FAMILY LAW SECTION DINNER – The Pines Manor, 2085 Route 27, Edison. Topic: Gray Divorce. Cost: $55‐Members and $65 ‐ All Others. To RSVP please call Sec‐tion Chair Robert Goldstein, Esq. at 732.972.1600.  November 13 – Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. ELDER LAW COMMITTEE MEETING – The Committee will discuss current practice related issues and CLE program ideas for the coming year. There is no cost to attend.  November 14 – Thursday @ 12:15 p.m. CIVIL TRIAL PRACTICE LUNCH CLE (1.5 Credits) – Topic: NJ Civil Procedure – Part 1. Speakers: Hon. Patrick Brad‐shaw, JSC; Tyler Hall, Esq.; Michelle O’Brien, Esq. and Andrew Dressel, Esq. Cost: $10‐Law Clerks; $20‐Young Lawyers; $25‐MCBA Members; and $50‐All Others.  November 15 – Friday, 12:15 p.m. CYBER SECURITY LUNCH CLE (1.5 Credits) – Cyber Secu‐rity & Protecting Your Law Practice. Speaker: Nathan Horn‐Mitchem, Sr. VP & Chief Information Security Offi‐cer, Provident Bank. Cost: $10‐Law Clerks; $15‐Young Lawyers; $20‐MCBA Members; and $40‐All Others.  November 19 – Tuesday @ 8:00 a.m. FAMILY LAW BREAKFAST CLE (1.5 Credits) – Topic: Hiring Your First Financial Expert. Speakers: Hon. Daniel Brown, JSC; Andrea Mackaronis, Esq.; and Robert J. Chalfin, CPA, JD. Cost: $5‐Law Clerks, $15‐Young Lawyers, $20‐Members and $40‐All Others.  November 20 – Wednesday @ 4:30 p.m. MUNICIPAL COURT PRACTICE SEMINAR (2 Credits) – Topic: DWI – Miranda and Probable Cause Hearings.  Speakers: Hon. Spero Kalambakas, JMC; Hon. Tara Au‐ciello, JMC; David Oakley, Esq. and John Hogan, Esq. Cost: $15‐Law Clerks, $30‐Young Lawyers, $40‐Members and $75‐All Others.  November 21 – Thursday, 8:00 a.m. ENVIRONMENTAL/REAL ESTATE LAW BREAKFAST CLE (1.5 Credits) – Topic: Real Estate/Environmental Due Diligence. Speakers: Lawra Dodge, PG, LSRP and Ron Harwood, PG, LSRP, Excel Environmental Services. Cost: $5‐Law Clerks; $5‐Young Lawyers; $10‐MCBA Members; and $20‐All Others.  November 25 – Monday @ 9:15 a.m. IMMIGRATION & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SEMINAR  (3 Credits) – Middlesex County Courthouse, Courtroom 201, 56 Paterson  Street, New Brunswick. Topic: Immi‐gration & Domestic Violence. Speakers: Carmen Rey, Esq., Michelle Roman, JMC; Raul Menar, Esq. and Megha Thakkar, Esq. Free‐Law Clerks, $25‐Young Lawyers, $40‐Members and $75‐All Others.  

November 25 – Monday @ 2:00 p.m. FAMILY LAW CLE SEMINAR (3 Credits) – Topic: Success‐fully Negotiating Retirement Assets. Speaker: Judith Deer, Esq., All‐Pro QDRO, LLC. $10‐Law Clerks, $25‐Young Lawyers, $35‐Members and $70‐All Others.  November 26 ‐ Tuesday, 8:00 a.m. TAXATION COMMITTEE SEMINAR (1.5 Credits) ‐ Law Offices of Greenberg & Schulman, 90 Woodbridge Cen‐ter Drive, Suite 200, Woodbridge. Topic: Planning Strate‐gies for Like‐Kind Exchanges & Qualified Opportunity Zones. Speaker: Alan Kornstein, Esq. Cost to attend is $5 for Young Lawyers and $10 for all others.  November 26 – Tuesday @ 2:00 p.m. CIVIL TRIAL PRACTICE SEMINAR (2 Credits) – Topic: Prov‐ing Economic Damages in Personal Injury Cases. Speak‐ers: George Shamy, Jr., Esq. and Patrick Heller, Esq. Cost: $15‐Law Clerks; $30‐Young Lawyers; $40‐MCBA Mem‐bers; and $75‐All Others.  December 3 – Tuesday, 6:00 p.m. YLC ANNUAL HOLIDAY BREW HO‐HO – Fox & Hound, Menlo Park Mall, Edison. Co‐sponsored by the NJSBA YLD and NJDA. Cost: $20‐Law Clerks; $25‐MCBA Young Law‐yers; $35‐MCBA Members; $50‐All Others (includes food, beer, wine & soft drinks).  December 5 – Thursday @ 1:45 p.m. CIVIL TRIAL PRACTICE SEMINAR (3 Credits) – Middlesex County Courthouse, Ct 201, 56 Paterson Street, New Bruns‐wick. Co‐sponsored by the Middlesex County Trial Lawyers Assn. Topic: Jury Selection. Speakers: Hon. Michael Cre‐sitello, Jr., JSC; Hon. Lisa Vignuolo, JSC; Craig Aronow, Esq.; Lynn Hershkovits‐Goldberg, Esq.; Patrick Flinn, Esq.; and Juliann Alicino, Esq. Cost: $10‐Law Clerks; $20‐Young Law‐yers; $25‐MCBA Members; and $50‐All Others.  December 5 – Thursday @ 5:00 p.m. CYBER SECURITY CLE (1.5 Credits) – Cyber Security & Protecting Your Law Practice. Speaker: Nathan Horn‐Mitchem, Sr. VP & Chief Information Security Officer, Provident Bank. Cost: $10‐Law Clerks; $15‐Young Law‐yers; $20‐MCBA Members; and $40‐All Others.  December 10 – Tuesday @ 12:15 p.m. TRIAL PRACTICE LUNCH CLE (1.5 Credits) – Topic: Surviv‐ing Discovery in the Age of Social Media. Cost: $10‐Law Clerks; $20‐Young Lawyers; $25‐MCBA Members; and $50‐All Others.  December 12 – Thursday @ 4:30 p.m. CRIMINAL PRACTICE SEMINAR (2 Credits) – Topic: Police Video Systems & Operations Best Practices. Speakers: Sgt. Brandon Epstein, New Brunswick Police; Joseph Surman, Esq.; and Bina Desai, Esq. Cost: $10‐Law Clerks, $20‐Young Lawyers/APs/APDs, $30‐Members and $60‐All Others. 

The MCBA is an approved provider of continuing legal education in NJ and all CLE programs listed above will meet the requirements of the BCLE of the Supreme Court of NJ. All events will be held at the MCBA Office, 87 Bayard Street in New Brunswick unless otherwise indicated. 

To RSVP go to www.mcbalaw.com or call 732.828.3433, ext. 102. 

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The Middlesex Advocate — November 2019 — Page 3

   Middlesex County has always been ground zero for mass tort/toxic tort litigation, and once again it is the origination of a significant decision which impacts the burden of a trial defendant to prove cross‐claims against settled defendants, thus po‐tentially reducing the trial defen‐dants’ allocated share at trial. While this decision is based upon allega‐tions of asbestos exposure, the Supreme Court Jus‐tices during oral argument, and in their opinion, clearly opened the door for its applicability in all liti‐gated trial matters. The primary issue was what proof a defendant may bring in to prove the liability of a settled defendant who is no longer available, and therefore, cannot be subpoenaed to testify at trial.       In the case at bar, Mr. Rowe alleged that he de‐veloped mesothelioma as a result of his long‐term exposure to several asbestos products over the course of his working career, which spanned decades. Eight defendants settled prior to trial leaving only Universal Supply Company, through its successor, Hilco, Inc. (“Universal”). Of the eight defendants, six were deemed unavailable by the trial judge, either due to ceasing its operation, or having its principal place of business in another jurisdiction. In the case of all six, the companies had been involved in asbes‐tos litigation since the 1970s or 1980s, have an‐swered interrogatories in other asbestos lawsuits, and in most instances, its corporate representatives, who are now deceased, were deposed. The state‐ments included successor liability, asbestos content of products sold and  failure to warn. Universal sought to read in the interrogatory responses and deposition transcripts of those companies in order to convince the jury to allocate liability to those compa‐nies.         Plaintiff’s counsel objected citing New Jersey Rules of Evidence 803 (c)(25), that the statements were not being submitted as statements against the settled defendants’ interests, but instead, against the plaintiff's interest. The trial judge permitted the reading of sections of  the answers to interrogatories and deposition transcripts to the jury during trial. Ul‐timately, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, but allocated 80% of the jury verdict to the settled defendants whose discovery was read in at 

New Jersey Supreme Court Eases Burden on Remaining Defendants to Prove Cross‐Claims Against Settled Defendants at Trial ‐ Rowe v. Bell & Gossett, et al. 

By Marc Gaffrey, Esq. & Amelia Lyte, Esq. 

trial, leaving Universal with only 20% of the verdict. The Appellate Division reversed, and the New Jer‐sey Supreme Court accepted certio‐rari. In addition to the parties, the New Jersey Supreme Court permit‐ted both the New Jersey Defense Association (NJDA) and the New Jer‐sey Association for Justice (NJAJ) to argue as amicus curiae. 

       In a unanimous opinion, our Supreme Court re‐versed the Appellate Division and reinstated the trial court’s ruling under N.J.R.E. 803(c)(25). The Court found that the statements made in the admitted in‐terrogatories and depositions were adverse to the settling defendants’ interests in this and other asbes‐tos litigation in which they were involved. This was despite the fact that the statements we made in dec‐ades old lawsuits in jurisdictions outside of New Jer‐sey, involving different plaintiff’s counsel. The test the Court used was whether the statements were against those defendants’ interests when uttered, not necessary at the time of the current time.      The Justices sent a clear message that this deci‐sion is not just limited to long‐term exposure cases, such as asbestos, but to all litigated matters. During oral argument, the Justices expressed concern that a plaintiff could achieve a windfall by settling with a party, and then seeking to preclude the remaining defendant from introducing the same evidence that plaintiff would have used had the settled defendants not resolved their case. Justice Patterson questioned plaintiff’s counsel using the example of a trial involv‐ing a three car accident wherein one driver answered interrogatories, settled the case and thereafter, could not be located to testify at trial. The clear fo‐cus of Justice Patterson’s example was that it would not be fair to the remaining defendant at trial, if the interrogatory answers could not be read to the jury at trial.      Marc S. Gaffrey, Esq. (Partner at Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas) – Argued the Rowe case before the New Jersey Supreme Court as Amicus Curiae on behalf of New Jersey Defense Association (NJDA). Amelia Lyte, Esq.‐ Associate at Hoagland Longo Moran Dunst & Doukas 

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  Picture this:    It’s time to write the most  important  brief  of  your  career.  It’s a big‐money case with a demand‐ing  client—your  brief  must  be  top flight.  You haven’t written anything in a while,  but  you’re  not worried.    It’s 

like riding a bike, right?  Anyway, it doesn’t really matter how you present your arguments, because  the  judge will see you should win from the get‐go.  It’s that obvious.   But it’s not.  There is an empirical relationship between a brief’s quality and its success.1  How you present your argu‐ments makes a difference.  So what do brief writers do to get in their own way?  Here are nine common mistakes:  1.  Hitting the keyboard first.  I’m sure you’ve heard people 

say,  “don’t  just  stand  there;  do  something.”    Let’s  be clear:  This saying does not apply to brief writing.  Before you put fingers to keyboard, take the time to think things out.   Brainstorm.   Refine  the  issues.   Map out your  fact statement.   Outline your arguments.   When you don’t,  it shows. 

2.  Obscuring the issues.  You should narrow your issues and present  them  in  the  brief’s  opening  paragraphs.    Don’t wait until the middle of the brief—or worse yet, the end of the brief—to frame the key issues.  If you set them out from  the start, you give  the  judge  the context  to under‐stand everything that follows. 

3.  Bickering with  your  adversary.    Your  adversary  bogged down  discovery,  refused  reasonable  settlement  offers, and did everything possible to delay trial.  And when you finally went to trial, he used every dirty trick  in the book and  demeaned  you  and  your  client  at  every  turn.    So while you may want to retaliate when you write your re‐sponding brief on appeal, don’t.  Stick to the facts and the issues.  Judges abhor refereeing a food fight. 

4.  Pasting  long quotes  into  your  arguments.   Nothing  en‐courages  skimming  like  block  quotes.    I’m  sure  you’ve seen briefs where the writer litters each page with two or three block quotes strung together by a sentence or two and a  citation.   Don’t be  that person.   Fairly  summarize the  key  authorities,  and  reserve  block  quotes  for  text from  statutes or  for  that  rare  case quote  that hits  your issue  dead  on.    And  even  then,  question  whether  you really need  the quote, and excise unnecessary  language.  Make the quote as succinct as possible. 

5.  Weighing  down  your  brief with  footnotes.    Avoid  sub‐stantive  footnotes.   And when you must use them, keep them  short.    Footnotes  break  the  reader’s  train  of 

How to Say It:  Legal Writing That Persuades 

Your Next Brief:  Nine Hazards to Avoid by Hon. Robert J. Jones, J.S.C. 

thought.  You want to make it as easy as possible for the judge to follow your argument.   So follow this maxim:   If it’s not important enough to put in the body of the brief, don’t put  it  in  a  footnote.   Remember,  you’re writing  a brief, not a law‐review article.  You need to focus on per‐suading  the  judge  to  rule  in  your  client’s  favor,  not  on trying  to  impress  the  judge  with  your  research  skills.  I confess:    I  occasionally  use  substantive  footnotes—but not proudly.  Do your best to avoid them. 

6.  Relying on facts outside the record.  Your factual asser‐tions must be supported by the record.  The court rules require this (even if you think the facts you set out are irrefutable).  Your brief must cite to affidavits or certifica‐tions based on firsthand knowledge.  And attached docu‐ments must be properly authenticated.  When you fail to follow these rules, you immediately lose credibility.  

7.  Dumping long, unnecessary documents into the exhibits.  Some attorneys think the judge has nothing better to do than scavenger‐hunt through hundreds of pages of docu‐ments to ferret out support for purported facts.  They attach long contracts without citing to the page, section, or paragraph.  Or they attach entire deposition transcripts and simply refer the judge to these transcripts, without a page cite.  You do your client a disservice if you don’t make the reader’s job as easy as possible. 

8.  String citing even the most basic propositions of law.  Some writers believe they need to string cite even the most well‐accepted legal propositions.  They don’t.  If a statement of law is accepted in your jurisdiction, cite a case or two and move on.  Save string cites for controver‐sial issues or for issues undecided in your jurisdiction.  

9.  Inserting boilerplate unrelated to your issues.  Admit it:  When you read a brief with a seven‐page dissertation on the summary‐judgment standard, you immediately start flipping pages, hunting for the meat of the argument.  If you do that yourself, what do you think the judge does?  Avoid pasting unnecessary boilerplate into your briefs.  And when you do use something you’ve used before, mold it to fit your facts and arguments.  The judge has limited time to consider your brief.  Make that time count. 

 Next month:   How  to write a  fact  section  that  captures  the judge’s attention.   1 Shaun B. Spencer & Adam Feldman, Words Count:  The Empirical Relation‐ship Between Brief Writing and Summary  Judgment Success, 22  Journal of the Legal Writing Inst. 62 (2018).  

The Middlesex Advocate — November 2019 — Page 5

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Hundreds of new busi‐nesses are started every day, and unfortunately more than half of them fail within their first two years.  Some businesses fail because the original business concept was ill conceived, while others fail because of ex‐ternal factors such as a deteriorating economy.  However, most businesses fail due to the decisions that the owner makes.  Here are some common pitfalls that business owners should try to avoid:  Not anticipating start‐up issues.  Starting a business is difficult, time consuming and requires capital.  There are literally hundreds of decisions that must be made and ac‐tions to be taken.  Everything, including choosing a name, handling all the paperwork, setting up a location, getting supplies and staffing, takes time and effort, probably more time than what you may think.  And everything costs money.  So be prepared to work hard, make decisions, and have the necessary financial resources.  Inadequate consideration of financial issues.  There is always some period of time between the decision to start a business and when revenues start coming in.  During that time, you must have the funds to pay all the start‐up costs and cover your normal living expenses.  It can be tempting to just continue to charge more on your credit cards, but ultimately those balances must be paid and the interest can add up.  Be sure you have enough funds to see you through these difficult months.  Once the business starts, the financial issues continue.  If you have a retail business, sales may start quickly, but get‐ting an initial inventory and keeping inventory can be costly.  Many vendors are reluctant to extend credit to start‐ups and may require payment in advance or upon delivery.  Negotiate terms with your vendors early.  If you have a service business, do not forget to consider how long it may take for your customers to pay you after you send an invoice.  Thirty to sixty days are not uncommon, and until you get a flow of payments, the anxiety of wait‐ing for a check to arrive can be difficult.  On an ongoing basis, you must balance your desire to pay yourself, the operating cash needs of the business, and accumulating funds to grow and expand the business.  Starting a business demonstrates that you have an entre‐preneurial spirit and that ambition often enables you to see additional opportunities. 

Avoiding Common Small Business Start‐Up Problems 

Poor marketing.  Most people that start busi‐nesses have a passion about their product or ser‐vice.  Do not let that pas‐

sion blind you to the reality that others may not share that passion for your product or service.  You must have a mar‐keting plan that identifies potential customers, makes the benefits of your product visible to those prospects and motivates them to make a purchase decision.  Creating a formal marketing plan early and then constantly adapting it to what you learn in the marketplace is critical.  In addi‐tion, you must execute that plan.  Poor location.  It should go without saying that if you have a retail business, customers must be able to find your lo‐cation and visit it easily.  It may be tempting to commit to a long‐term lease, but traffic patterns can change, com‐petitors may move close by and your needs may change.  Be sure to consider these factors before you sign that ini‐tial lease and every time it comes up for renewal.  If your business is more service‐oriented in nature, the location may not be as important, but parking and access to con‐veniences may be factors in recruiting the right employees and in your personal lifestyle.  Not listening to good advice. The self‐confidence it takes to start a business can also hinder your efforts if you are not careful.  One of the most enlightening aspects of being in business is realizing that you do not have all the answers.  Professionals like attor‐neys and accountants can help you deal with some of the technical aspects of your business, but others, like cus‐tomers, employees, other business people and even com‐petitors, can also provide insights into the operation of your business and marketplace.    Truly listening to a customer who tells you what they want from your products and how they want to interact with your business can provide clues for making improvements that will help you deal with that customer and others.  Em‐ployees will often know more about certain aspects of the business than you do, and their observations can be valu‐able.  Business people you know, especially other small business owners, may have already faced many of the is‐sues you are facing and would be happy to offer ideas.  Even your competitors may be a source of valuable advice.  It is surprising how often a casual conversation can lead to useful ideas and maybe even a way to work together on certain types of business.  

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The Middlesex Advocate — November 2019 — Page 7 The Middlesex Advocate — November 2019 — Page 7

$35 FOR LAW CLERKS & COURTHOUSE STAFF | $55 FOR MEMBERS | $75 FOR NON‐MEMBERS (includes open beer & wine bar and a large variety of heavy hors d’oeuvres) 

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13  | 5:30 ‐  8:30 PM 

@ ROOSTERSPIN 120 ALBANY STREET NEW BRUNSWICK 

Join your colleagues for a drink and some great food after work  . . . 

. . . then sit back and find out who will represent us in next year’s  “Battle of Bars” contest against the Mercer, Somerset & Union County Bar Associations on April 22, 2020. 

Annual Karaoke Contest Preliminary Round Competition 

Karaoke Contest - Round 1 - 11/13/2019 Name(s):

Telephone #: Email:

Credit Card Account #: Sec Code:

Exp. Date: Name on Card:

Billing Address:

Payment Amount: $ Signature (for Credit Card Payment Only):

Cost: $35-Courthouse Staff/Law Clerks; $55-MCBA Members; and $75 for Non-Members. Make checks payable to "MCBA" and mail registration form to: Middlesex County Bar Association; 87 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Deadline for advance reservations – Tuesday, November 12th. Cancellations must be made 24-hours in advance of the meeting to receive a refund. To reserve by phone call (732) 828-3433, x. 102, to reserve by fax send to (732) 828-5862 or to reserve by e-mail send to [email protected].

Payment Type

Visa

MasterCard

Amex

Check

Event Sponsors 

Master of Ceremonies Joseph Hughes , Esq. 

(GoldenSeal Lead Singer/MCBA Member)

Check One: Courthouse Staff/Law Clerk MCBA Member All Others

Guest Judges Former Middlesex County Law Clerks 

2016‐17 1983‐84 2008‐09 1985‐86 1986‐87

!!!  SOCK DRIVE TO HELP ELIJAH’S PROMISE DURING WINTER MONTHS  !!! We will be collecting NEW socks & underwear for distribution during Code Blue periods in New Brunswick. 

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The Middlesex Advocate — November 2019 — Page 8

Led by associates Paul Brandenburg and Tyler Hall, Team RAM Law took the title of this year’s golf outing held at Cherry Valley Country Club on October 7th, with an unbeliev‐able score of 58.  RAM Law was two strokes better than last year’s winning team, led by Greg Goodman, who took 2nd place this year.  Rounding out the RAM team were partners Ed Rebenack and Jay Mascolo, who contributed sparingly throughout the day. Goodman’s team included Peter Her‐man, Tim McEneny and Ged Bliwise.  3rd place with a score of 61 went to last year’s runner up team of father/son combina‐tion Thomas DeStefano, Sr. & Jr., Diane Hoagland and Joe Don Swino with a score of 61. 

The top two teams played differently throughout the day with one scoring early and the other late. In the end, it was Hall’s irons and Brandenburg’s putts that were the difference. 

RAM LAW TAKES 2019 GOLF OUTING CHAMPIONSHIP  

There was an inquiry as to the number of mulligans used by RAM Law, however tournament officials ruled there were no provable irregularities. (It was recommended that drones be used next year to monitor play.) 

In addition to team play, there were some outstanding individual shots made at the four  closest‐to‐the‐pin holes – Mark Stevens at Hole #2 (8’5”), Frank Lattal at Hole #8 (1’6”) and Greg Goodman at Hole #11 (10’7”) and Hole #14 (3’4”). This year’s long drive went to Juliann Alicino.  

The outing also featured the annual putting contest, sponsored by Chris Volk and the Volk Insurance Group. Only four golfers sank their putts during the outing making it to the finals: Tom Barlow, Robert Goldstein, Barry Wiegmann and Ged Bliwise. Each finalist was given one chance at a 25’ putt. Tom Barlow was the only one to sink it. Congratulations Tom! 

The MCBA wishes to express its appreciation to the following: 

EVENT SPONSOR The Provident Bank Pam Jasones | Sandra Kennedy Gabe Rosanio | Tracey Bara 973.259.9449 | providentnj.com  DINNER SPONSOR Greenbaum Rowe Smith & Davis LLP 732.549.5600 | greenbaumlaw.com  LUNCH SPONSOR Schulman Wiegmann & Associates Barry Wiegmann|732.752.7800 www.swreporters.com  BEVERAGE CART SPONSOR Couch Braunsdorf Insurance Group Gary Pinckney, Esq.|908.542.1700 www.couchbraunsdorf.com  PRIZE SPONSORS  Rutter & Roy, LLP Freehold | 732.462.1990  Mark Stevens, Esq.  Fox Rothschild 973.548.3317 Morristown/Princeton  The Martin Rizzo Group  @ Morgan Stanley Lawrence Township | 609.620.7141  Wade Martin   Sponsors  750 Mediation 750Mediation.com | 908.255.3455 John S. Sawicki, Esq.  All‐Pro QDRO 

973.716.9777 | Judith Deer, Esq.   All State Investigations, Inc. Tony DeLorenzo | 1.800.948.7884   Arthur’s Steakhouse North Brunswick | 732.828.1117  The Barge Restaurant Perth Amboy | 732.442.3000  Benedict & Altman New Brunswick | 732.745.9000   Casa Giuseppe Restaurant Iselin | 732.283.9111  Catherine Lombardi/Stage Left New Brunswick | 732.296.9463  Hon. Frank Ciuffani, JSC (Ret.) Of Counsel Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, PA 732.855.6155  Clydz Restaurant New Brunswick | 732.846.6521   Cowan Gunteski & Co. PA Tinton Falls | 732.676.4100  Joe Gunteski   Document Solutions, LLC 800.937.6977 | Kevin O’Connor  Drescher & Cheslow Manalapan | 732. 972.1600   East Coast Title Agency Nancy Mullins  [email protected]  

EisnerAmper Eisneramper.com | 732.243.7377 Hubert Klein, CPA, ABV, CFF, CFE  

William M. Fetky, Esq. 732.545.7755   Fox & Hound Edison | 732.452.9100  Golden Rothschild Spagnola Lundell Boylan & Garubo, PC Bridgewater | Philip Lundell, Jr.   Guaranteed Subpoena Service, Inc. 908.687.0056 Phil Geron | John Metta   Hoagland Longo Moran Dunst & Doukas, LLP New Brunswick | 732.545.4717   Peter H. Lederman, Esq. Freehold | 732.462.7170  Robert R. Levinson, Esq. Edison | 732.248.0800   LouCas Restaurant Edison | 732.549.8580   Martin Kane & Kuper East Brunswick & Perth Amboy Jack Kane, Esq. | 732.214.1800  Mazars, LLP Iselin | 732.475.2108  Joseph D’Avella, CPA  NJ Spine & Wellness Old Bridge | Freehold  732. 952.2292 

Dr. Michael Zolotnisky, PT, DPT  Ponte Vecchio Old Bridge | 732.607.1650  Rainone Coughlin & Minchello 732.709.4182 | Iselin  Rebenack Aronow & Mascolo, LLP New Brunswick & Somerville  732.247.3600 Craig Aronow, Esq. /Jay Mascolo, Esq.  Sciortino’s Harbor Lights South Amboy | 732.721.8788  Sterling Title Agency, LLC Thomas DeStefano, Sr.  609.203.2625  The Stress Factory New Brunswick | 732.545.4242  Sunny Palace Restaurant East Brunswick | 732.651.8668   Surety Title Agency Coastal Region Megan Kurtz |  732.341.1090 vintagetitleservices.com  Vintage Title Services, LLC 732.967.6590 Jason Dombrowski   Volk Insurance Group Milltown | 732.257.2212 Chris Volk  Wells Fargo Advisors 800.565.1776 | Bruce Pomerantz  Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, PA 

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Scenes from the 2019 Golf Outing Cherry Valley Country Club, Skillman ‐ October 7, 2019 

Page 10: 87 08901 A The Middlesex DVOCATE - cdn.ymaws.com€¦ · ground zero for mass tort/toxic tort litigation, and once again it is the origination of a significant decision which impacts

On March 25, 2020, the Association will hold its 15th An‐nual Awards Dinner at The Pines Manor in Edison. Awards will be given to bar members in the following areas: Pro Bono; Civil Trial Practice; Criminal Trial Practice; Municipal Court Practice; Chancery; Transactional; and Young Lawyers. 

The purpose of the Practice Area Awards is to recognize attorneys practicing in Middlesex County and adjacent munici‐palities who devote a significant portion of their work to their respective specialty areas and exhibit one or more of the fol‐lowing: 

Leadership in the potential candidate’s field of practice; 

Significant, tangible contributions to the Bar, such as providing CLE, serving on Bar committees, etc., pertain‐ing to non‐litigation issues; 

Significant, tangible contributions to the community and/or charitable endeavors; 

A record of promoting participation and involvement in the MCBA and collegiality within the Association; and 

A reputation for personal and professional integrity.   

The purpose  of  the  Young  Lawyer of  the  Year Award  is  to recognize  attorneys  who  meet  one  or  more  of  the  following conditions: 

Devote substantial time and energy to community‐oriented activities such as pro bono work, government service, charity involvement or other public service;

Dedicate considerable volunteer time to bar activities 

at the county or state level, including specialty and mi‐nority bars; and/or

Have received professional recognition through publica‐tions, excellence in a particular area of law, a significant verdict or law‐changing appellate decision, or other such professional achievement.

  The purpose of the Pro Bono Award is to recognize attor‐

neys who have devoted substantial time and effort doing pro bono work through the Central Jersey Legal Services Corpora‐tion. 

The Bar Association invites the submission of names of those individuals whom you believe to be appropriate candi‐dates. Please include a brief explanation as to why you believe the individual you name is an appropriate candidate for one of these awards.  The candidates should be bar members who are well recognized for character and competence, individuals who are respected by all and looked upon as models of professional behavior.  

Last year’s recipients were Maritza Rodriguez (Pro Bono), Eric Kuper (Civil), Bina Desai (Criminal), Robert Adochio (Municipal Court), Alison Sutak (Young Lawyer) and Steven Fox (Chancery). 

Please submit names for consideration to the attention of Executive Director Jonathan Cowles at [email protected] by December 13th. 

MCBA Seeks Nominations for Annual Practice Area Awards Dinner 

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The Middlesex Advocate — November 2019 — Page 11

MCBA Young Lawyers Annual Holiday Brew Ho-Ho!

Co-sponsored by NJSBA Young Lawyers Division | New Jersey Defense Association

Tuesday, December 3rd @ 6:00 p.m. Fox & Hound Pub and Grill, Edison Menlo Park Mall, off Route 1 South

(southeast corner - outside entrance)

Event Sponsors 

2 Hour Open-Bar* Hot & Cold Hors d’oeuvres | Unlimited Billiards

Cost: Law Clerks …………. $20

MCBA|NJSBA|NJDA Young Lawyers ……. $25

MCBA|NJSBA|NJDA Members ……………. $35

All Others …………… $50

MCBA Holiday Reception - 12/3/19

Name(s):

Payment Type: Visa MasterCard Amex Check Payment Amt: $

CC#: Exp.Date: Sec Code/CVV:

Billing Address:

Name on Card: Signature (Credit Card Payment Only):

Cost: Law Clerks—$20; MCBA/NJSBA/NJDA Young Lawyers—$25; MCBA/NJSBA/NJDA Members—$35; and All Others—$50 in advance. $5 extra at the door. Make checks payable to "MCBA" and mail registration form to: Middlesex County Bar Association; 87 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Deadline for reservations–Tuesday, December 2nd. To reserve by phone call (732) 828-3433, ext. 102 or send email to [email protected].

RSVP Online at: www.mcbalaw.com

Date:

December 3, 2019

6:00pm - 8:00pm

Place:

Fox & Hound Pub & Grill Menlo Park Mall

Edison

Law Clerk Member Young Lawyer Members Non-Member

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James P. Nolan, Jr., Esq. Law Offices of James P. Nolan & Associates

61 Green Street Woodbridge, NJ 07095

(732) 636-3344 [email protected]

Certified Criminal Trial Attorney for 25 years Former Assistant County Prosecutor

Former Municipal Court Public Defender

Representing Defendants in Superior and Municipal Court since 1990

Accepting Referrals in all Criminal Matters

Referral fees payment paid promptly pursuant to Rule 1:39-6.(d)

The Middlesex Advocate — November 2019 — Page 13

Congratulations to longtime bar member Donald Heilman on receiving the 2019 George Hammell Cook Distin‐guished Alumni Award 

Graduating in 1976 with a BA in An‐thropology, Don went on to earn his JD from Seton Hall University School of Law. He practiced civil trial attorney for nineteen years. In 2003, Don shifted his career focus, earning his Masters (2007) and then Doctorate of Education from Rutgers Graduate School of Education in 2012. 

Starting in 2004 as the director of the Rutgers University Student Legal Information Center found in back of Nicholas dormitory, Don is now the director and attorney for the Office of Student Legal Services, which he helped to create. The of‐fice is dedicated to helping provide students with legal ser‐vices, while also creating educational outreach programs and internship opportunities.  

At the University level, Don has been an academic advi‐sor, taught classes for both graduate and undergraduate 

courses, and has been involved in the development and nurturing of several initiatives including the legal center and an assessment program for 50,000 Rut‐gers University students.   Heilman credits his wife Diane, his father, Donald Heilman Sr., and Dr. Lee Schneider for influencing his career aspi‐rations, supporting his decisions, and helping along the way to his successes. 

Bar Member Don Heilman Receives 2019 George Hammell Cook Distinguished Alumni Award Winner 

The George Hammell Cook Distinguished Alumni Award, estab‐lished in 1976, commemorates the life of George Hammell Cook (1818 – 1889) whose efforts helped to bring Land Grant College status to Rutgers and to create the New Jersey Agricultural Experi‐ment Station. Dr. Cook’s inquisitive and results‐oriented spirit re‐mains active in the ideals embodied by the Cook community, which includes the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the George H. Cook campus. This award is presented annually to an alumnus or to alumni whose outstanding accomplishments in pro‐fessional or volunteer work reflect dignity and distinction on their alma mater. The Cook Award is the highest honor presented by the Cook Community Alumni Association to undergraduate alumni. 

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Top 4 Skills a Successful Paralegal Must Have in Order to Succeed By Melissa Acosta, Paralegal 

  One of the growing fields in our country is the field of the Paralegal Professional.  Many companies and institutions hire paralegals and para‐legals have become an important part of Corporate America.  Now a days, 

you can obtain a job in the paralegal field in law firms, court houses, banks, and in the legal department of most corporations.   Some may wonder what a paralegal actu‐ally does and why is this such a growing field?  Others may wonder what are the keys of success for a paralegal and what does it take to make it in this ever growing field? This article will highlight the top 4 skills a successful para‐legal must have in order to succeed. 

There are several traits a paralegal should possess. The first is you must be organized. Throughout the course of your day, you will be getting tons of information and per‐haps a lot of documentation as well.  A successful parale‐gal knows how to keep an organized desk. Attorneys ex‐pect that you will maintain all the information they give you in an organized manner and being organized will make your job easier as you take on assignments and different tasks.  One example of being organized could be keeping something as simple as a task list.  A list of tasks that need to be done or assignments that have been assigned to you.  Another example of something that could help keep a paralegal organized is a docket list of all active matters.  This list should include the name of the matter and any important due dates relating to the matter.  One other way to keep organized is by having an organized filing sys‐tem.  This would entail a way to identify all active files and a running list of all file locations so that all files are in or‐der and easy to identify. 

The second skill is the ability for a paralegal to priori‐tize. It is important that you ask the attorneys for the due date of each assignment you are given so that you can pri‐oritize your work in an efficient manner.  The more you prioritize, the likely you are to efficiently complete all of your assignments.   This is especially important because we are often asked to complete multiple assignments at one time.  It is very important that you keep a running list of the assignments assigned to you and the due dates.  The assignments that are completed first should be the assignments that have the soonest deadline.  It is also a good idea to ask the attorneys for some guidance when it comes to making your priority list.  It is a good idea to con‐firm with the attorney that what you have identified as priority fits their priority list as well. 

The third skill is the ability to multi task.  In order to be a successful paralegal you must be able to multi task and 

handle various assignments at the same time. It is a skill you develop with time but it is a very big skill that poten‐tial employers look for in a paralegal.  The more you multi task, the more valuable you become to your employer.   I would suggest that you start small with multi‐tasking an e‐mail with an assignment or answering the phones with an e‐mail.   It is not an easy task but it is one that is essential in this field. 

The last skill for a successful paralegal is what I like to call the "sponge" skill. That means you must learn and act like a sponge when absorbing information.  I always say if you learn 1 new thing each day you make yourself more marketable as a paralegal.  You can never learn too much and your thirst for knowledge should always be a part of your job.  If your job offers training courses in any area, you should certainly sign up.  For example, some jobs offer continuing education opportunities and other jobs offer in house training.  If your job does not currently offer these opportunities, it is a good idea to suggest this to your su‐pervisor or office manager and it will not only benefit you but it will also benefit your employer in the end.  Another way to learn would be to partner up with a senior parale‐gal in your job or attend your local paralegal organization where you can meet plenty of people in your field who can mentor you.  You would be surprised how much you learn just by talking with a more experienced paralegal. 

If you utilize the skills set forth in this article, you are on your way to having a successful career as a paralegal.  It is a very rewarding field and a very interesting field.   The demand for paralegals is at the highest that it has been in recent years.  More and more companies are rec‐ognizing the value that a paralegal brings to their company or practice. 

The Middlesex Advocate — November 2019 — Page 15

Mark Your Calendar Now! February 3, 2020  

 

Celebration of the 100th Anniversary  of the 19th Amendment 

 Co‐Sponsors 

New Jersey State Bar Association New Jersey Women Lawyers Association 

 New Jersey Law Center New Brunswick, NJ 

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Page 16 — February 2018 — The Middlesex Advocate

Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) Participate in the MCBA’s ABA-approved lawyer referral service which provides as-

sistance to over 5,000 callers each year. For a nominal fee, members can join the computer-ized service and receive referrals. LRS Reduced Fee Program Panel members provide legal services at re-duced fees to those individuals who do not qualify for Legal Services but whose income barely exceeds the official poverty threshold. The Program provides a great way for bar members to provide a public service to those in need and for younger lawyers to gain valu-able experience. LRS for RU Students In conjunction with Rutgers University Office of Student Legal Services, participating panel members provide legal services at reduced fees to RU students. Monthly Newsletter

The Association’s newsletter is published monthly from Sep-tember to May and contains law-related articles, important no-tices from the court, a calendar of events and other news from around the legal community. Access to current and past edi-

tions is available via the website (mcbalaw.com) and members who advertise in the newsletter receive 50% off the published rates. New Bar Office Conference Room Facilities

Members get free use of the Bar Of-fice conference room, located in New Brunswick (½ block from the courthouse). Join the growing list of

attorneys who use the room for depositions, mediations, private meetings, etc. Professionalism Program Designed to resolve complaints regarding unprofessional behavior on the part of attor-neys, judges and court personnel, the program is a good faith effort to work with attorneys who are in conflict over professional matters, and to attempt to improve the general quality of professional life by encouraging coopera-tive, constructive, civil behavior.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) The MCBA was the first NJ County Bar

Association to be granted Accredited

Service Provider Status by the Supreme Court of NJ Board on Con-

tinuing Legal Education for both live and online CLE. You can now earn all of your mandatory CLE credits conveniently and affordably at the MCBA. Members enjoy a 50% discount on live

seminar tuition and get members-only pricing for online seminars! There is no better CLE

value anywhere!

Career Center

Find the best jobs in the legal profession. Search for jobs quickly and easily, set-up Job

Alerts, place your job openings in front of highly skilled bar members.

Annual Bar Awards

The MCBA recognizes outstanding contribu-tions made by bar members in the following

areas: Service to the Bar; Lawyer Achievement; Family Law; Pro Bono; Transactional; Civil Trial

Practice; Criminal Trial Practice; Municipal Court Practice, Chancery Practice and Young

Lawyers. The Family Law Awards are presented in January, the other practice area awards are

presented at the March Awards Dinner, and the David Pavlovsky “Service to the Bar” Award

and Arthur H. Miller Lawyer Achievement Award are presented at the May and/or Septem-

ber General Membership Meetings.

Attorney Mentor Program Through this new program lawyers seeking ad-vice and guidance will be matched up with ex-

perienced attorneys willing to help. Having someone you trust to ask questions as you navi-gate the professional world, can make the differ-

ence between struggling and success. Mentor-ship will cover practice specific areas as well as

general practice, ethics, and more.

Committees & Sections Committee/Section participation offers

opportunities to play an active role in shaping events which influence the practice and the

profession, and also provides a social setting in which to share ideas and hear speakers with

expertise in varied practice areas. Visit the web-site for a complete list of committees.

Middlesex County Bar Association

Membership Benefits www.mcbalaw.com

Through a partnership program with Provident Bank get preferred rates and fees

for commercial loans and mortgages, ProvidentConnect for Business Online

Banking, free wire transactions and initial check orders, a free safe deposit box and discounted merchant services; Business

dvantage Relationship Package for clients of bar members; and EmployeeAdvantage Program for employees of bar members.

“Attorneys First” Banking Program

Lawyers Professional Liability Program

Contact Couch Braunsdorf Insurance Group for all of your professional liability

insurance needs as well as life insurance. For information on PLI and/or life, business over-

head and long-term care insurance visit the website at mcbalaw.com.

Environmental Consultation Services Programs

Excel offers the following expert environ-mental consultation services to all attorney

members of the Association and their clients with a special MCBA member discount:

No cost initial consultation for MCBA

members for any environmental compli-ance or issue;

10% cost savings on Excel expert profes-sional services, excluding any outside subcontractors if/as needed; and

The inherent value associated with Excel's ability to redirect problem projects and balance technical innovation, economic feasibility, and agency acceptability with a clear focus on achieving project closure in a timely, cost-effective, and compliant manner.

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  If you are like countless other bar members, the end of the year spells CLE trouble. Have you taken enough CLE courses to meet your mandatory 2‐year obligation of 24 cred‐its (including 4 ethics/professionalism credits)?   Well, we are happy to say that if you need credits, we’ve got them on our calendar. Whether you need all 24 credits or just 1, we have 22 seminars scheduled between now and the end of 2019 offering over 38 CLE credit hours.     The parade of courses starts on November 4th at the Family Law Section dinner meeting at The Pines Manor in Edi‐son and ends at the Bar Office on Friday, December 20th with a lunch seminar on Interventional Pain Management. The CLE calendar through the end of the year is as follows:   Nov 4 – Family Law: Gray Divorce (1 credit) 

Nov 61 – Estate Planning: NJ Health Care Programs for Adults/Persons w/Disabilities (1.5 credits) 

Nov 14 – Civil Practice: NJ Civil Procedures – Part 1 (1.5 credits) 

Nov 15 – Law Practice Management: Cyber Security & Protecting Your Firm (1.5 credits) 

Nov 19 – Family Law: Hiring Your 1st Financial Expert (1.5 credits) 

Nov 192 – Tax Law: Planning Strategies for Like‐Kind Exchanges & Qualified Opportunity Zones (1.5 credits) 

Nov 20 – Municipal Court: DWI – Miranda & Probable Cause Hearings (2 credits) 

Nov 21 – Environmental/Real Estate Law: Due Diligence (1.5 credits) 

Nov 25 – Immigration & Domestic Violence (3 credits) 

Nov 25 – Law Practice Management: Life After Your Clerkship (Law Clerks Only) (1.5 credits) 

Nov 26 – Civil Practice: Proving Economic Damages in Personal Injury Cases (2 credits) 

Dec 3 – Young Lawyer’s Annual Holiday Brew Ho‐Ho @ Fox & Hound (not a hint of CLE here) 

The Middlesex Advocate — November 2019 — Page 17

Dec 53  – Civil Practice: Jury Selection (3 credits) 

Dec 5 – Law Practice Management: Cyber Security & Protecting Your Firm (1.5 credits) 

Dec 10 – E‐Discovery & Social Media (1.5 credits) 

Dec 12 – Criminal Practice: Police Video Systems & Operations Best Practices (2 credits) 

Dec 13 – Civil Practice: Handling Your 1st Deposition (1.5 credits) 

Dec 13 – Civil Practice: NJ Civil Procedure – Part 2 (1.5 credits) 

Dec 172 – Tax Law: Social Security ‐ Maximizing Benefits Under the “New Rules” (1.5 credits) 

Dec 18 – Professional Relationships: Bridging the Age Gap (2 credits) 

Dec 18 – A Primer on Digital Assets (2 credits) 

Dec 20 – Immigration/Criminal Law: Immigration/Criminal and Bail Reform (1.5 credits) 

Dec 20 – Civil Practice: Interventional Pain Management (2 credits) 

   We have several other programs being planned as well so check your emails and the website from time to time for a complete list.   All Events will be held at the MCBA Office, 87 Bayard Street in New Brunswick unless otherwise indicated. For more information or to RSVP for any bar event go to www.mcbalaw.com or call 732.828.3433, ext. 102.   The MCBA is an approved provider of continuing legal education in NJ and all CLE programs listed above will meet the requirements of the BCLE of the Supreme Court of NJ. (NJ CLE courses are recognized for NY CLE credit.)  1  Nov 6 program will be held at Fiddlers’ Elbow Country Club in Bedminster 2  Nov 19 & Dec 17 programs will be held at the Law Offices of Greenberg & Schulman in Woodbridge 3  Dec 5 program will be held in the Middlesex County Courthouse 

 

Mandatory CLE Credits Need ‘em? We Got ‘em! 

Wanted: intelligent, committed, energetic lawyers with time to devote to vital, non‐profit professional association. Must have innovative ideas for positive change on a Board of Trustees devoted to enhancing relationships among members of the profession, lawyers and the judiciary, and between lawyers and the public. Great opportunity for professional growth and net‐

working. Past leadership experience a plus. Equal Opportunity Board. Interested candidates should submit a resume and letter outlining their qualifications to: Joanne Vos, Esq., Nominating Committee Chair, c\o Middlesex County Bar Association, 87 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. The deadline for sub‐missions is Friday, December 13, 2019. 

2020‐21 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: FUTURE BAR LEADERS WANTED 

FOR OFFICER AND TRUSTEE POSITIONS 

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Discounted Environmental Consultation Services Available to Bar Members Through Excel

We are pleased to continued partner-ship program with Excel Environmental Resources, Inc. of North Brunswick. Excel offers the following expert envi-ronmental consultation services to all attorney members of the Association and their clients with a special MCBA member discount: No cost initial consultation for MCBA members for any

environmental compliance or issue; 10% cost savings on Excel expert professional services,

excluding any outside subcontractors if/as needed; and The inherent value associated with Excel's ability to redi-

rect problem projects and balance technical innovation, economic feasibility, and agency acceptability with a clear focus on achieving project closure in a timely, cost-effective, and compliant manner.

Excel provides full-service expert environmental consulting services that are solution-oriented, innovative, and focused on the needs and objectives of our clients. Key professional services provided by Excel include: Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) Services

Transactional Due Diligence (LSRP or non-LSRP) Redirection of Problem Projects, including Those Over Schedule, Over Budget, or in Non-Compliance Expert Services/Litigation Support Preliminary Assessments/Phase I Environmental Site Assessments

Site and Remedial Investigations Remediation of Brownfield Properties to Enable Redevelopment Vapor Intrusion (VI) Investigation and Mitigation Innovative & State-of-the-Art Solutions to Remediate Soil &

Groundwater Impacts to Enable Redevelopment to Proceed Technical/Strategic/Regulatory Support Construction Management and Oversight During

Remediation/Redevelopment For more information about any of our services, please visit our website at www.excelenv.com or contact:

Ron Harwood, LSRP Excel Environmental Resources, Inc.

111 North Center Drive North Brunswick, NJ 08902

(732) 545-9525 | (732) 545-9425 fax [email protected]

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87 Bayard Street New Brunswick, NJ 08901