In part 1 of this 2-part series, we looked at disputes involving trees, plants, and fences. Today, we'll take a brief look at some other common neighbor disputes.

Part 1—Trees, Plants, Hedges, and Fences

Is your neighbor's tree growing on your side of the property line? If this is a nuisance or problem, you should consider your options before you make an enemy of your neighbor. After all, you never know when you might need to borrow a cup of sugar! As a property owner, you do have legal rights when it comes to your neighbor's trees, but non-litigious options may result in a better outcome. 

Most personal injury lawsuits are actually settled out of court. In fact, Black's Law Dictionary Online cites that 95% of cases involving accident and/or injury never make it to trial. It's impossible to know for sure how your case will ultimately be resolved, but there are many things to consider if you do have the opportunity to settle.

Although “wiretapping” sounds like something out of a spy movie or mafia crime ring investigation, it generally just refers to the act of recording a conversation (typically a conversation held over a telephone, hence the “wire” reference). There are many valid reasons you may want to record a telephone conversation or online video communication. You may record meetings with new clients to refer back to later and make notes, or you may want to take a recorded statement from a witness for an insurance investigation, for example. New Jersey’s wiretapping act regulates when and how it is legally allowable to record all kinds of oral communications.

With hurricanes and strong storms in the forecast, much of the emergency information focuses on homeowners. If you live in an apartment or rent property, however, you might be concerned about what to do if your home suffers storm damage or flooding.

Maybe you’ve been injured in an auto accident or suffered a personal injury; maybe you’ve been the victim of sexual harassment, wage theft, or other employment law violation; maybe you need representation in a civil dispute. If you need representation but worry that you can’t afford an attorney, there are a number of ways that law firm retainer agreements can meet your needs.

Accidents happen sometimes. Whether it’s in a crowded parking lot or on a narrow side street, at some point you may be involved in a collision with an unattended vehicle, or your car may be the one that suffers damage while it’s parked and out of your control. What do you do?

If you live in an apartment or rental property, storm damage and flooding can be a real hassle. From roof leaks to basement pools, water infiltration is at best an inconvenience and at worst a danger to you and your family. Standing water can cause electrocution, gas leaks, or other building system malfunctions. Improper remediation of water damage can allow dangerous mold to flourish. Once you’ve called your landlord or property manager and reported the issue, what do you do next?

Most legal claims in New Jersey are heard by municipal courts throughout the state.  In fact, New Jersey municipal courts take anywhere from six to seven million cases of varying complexity every year.  Municipal courts in towns such as Bernardsville, Bernards Township, Mendham, Far Hills, and Watchung can hear cases involving many different types of legal claims.  These are the top five types of claims that are heard in local municipal courts throughout northern and central New Jersey: