Mark Law Firm Blog

One of the highest priorities of New Jersey employers is to promote safety in their workplaces. Drug and alcohol use, however, can contribute to workplace accidents and create a hazardous environment. One method employers use to combat these dangers is drug testing, either before employees are hired or during their employment (or both). Although New Jersey does not have any laws regulating or restricting drug testing in the workplace, case law provides some guidance on the circumstances in which employer drug testing is permissible.

In the last few years, numerous New Jersey municipalities have passed local laws governing paid sick leave, including East Orange, Jersey City, Montclair, Newark, Paterson, Plainfield, and Trenton. This patchwork of local laws left employers and workers alike confused about what was required of businesses and unsure of how to calculate and use leave. Many of these problems will be resolved when New Jersey Paid Sick Leave Act (the “Act”), which was signed into law on May 2, 2018, goes into effect on October 29, 2018 and preempts all existing New Jersey municipal earned sick leave laws.

If you’ve been terminated without a warning or any advance notice, you might feel that your employer’s decision is unjust, unfair, or ill conceived—but is it illegal under New Jersey employment laws?

If you’re in an auto accident, you may worry about who is going to pay for your medical expenses and vehicle damage. If another driver is at fault for a collision, it will likely be his or her legal responsibility to pay for your damages. But what if that driver doesn’t have automobile insurance or doesn’t have enough coverage to pay all your expenses?

Looking for a job can be stressful. The difficult interview and hiring process can be even more difficult, however, if a previous employer gives you a negative reference. If your former employer gives you a bad reference, do you have any recourse?

New Jersey’s transit system offers an economical and relatively reliable way to travel for business or pleasure. While train travel is statistically safer than traveling by car, high-profile train crashes can have disastrous consequences for both passengers and bystanders. If you’re injured in a New Jersey train crash, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries.

If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle collision, animal attack, slip-and-fall, or other incident, you will likely want to consult with an attorney. You may worry that an attorney will be very expensive, or you may be concerned that even talking to a lawyer could result in another bill to pay. The good news is that many personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations. They may also allow you to enter a fee agreement that minimizes your expenses while allowing you to pursue compensation for your damages.

A non-compete agreement is a contract between an employee and his or her employer that prohibits the employee from engaging in business activities that compete with the current employer's business. These agreements can operate in the present (i.e., to prohibit “moonlighting”), or they can begin to run when the employee leaves his or her employment. They are also sometimes called “covenants not to compete” or “restrictive covenants.”

Social media can help you stay connected with friends and family, get and pass on news, and share your thoughts about the issues and problems in the world today. While many people believe that what they do outside of work is their own business, in today’s hyper-connected world, what you post on your social media profiles could have serious consequences at your workplace. You could be disciplined or even fired for the content of your posts, or they may be a form of protected speech. How do you know what’s protected and what’s not?

We all love our pets, but sometimes they’re less loveable to others than they are to their owners. If your neighbor or friend has a dangerous animal, whether that’s an unusual species or an ordinary pet with aggressive tendencies, you might fear for your safety and that of your family. Your fear may be justified: many animal bites or scratches, even small ones, can result in serious impairments, illness, and even death. What can you do to mitigate your risk and protect your loved ones?