April 16, 2020
Barry Kozyra and Michael Rankin report that New Jersey has now legalized Virtual Notarization of certain legal documents during the public health emergency under the Governor's Executive Order 103.
The law allows for remote signatures to be applied and notarized as to Wills, Codicils, Deeds, Mortgages and other legal instruments. There are strict legal requirements to be followed as to preserving a record of the signing of the document and preparation of the documents.
Mr. Kozyra said, "This is welcome relief for our many clients who need to proceed with important legal affairs during this unprecedented crisis and cannot travel to or meet with counsel or others. It does so with safeguards to prevent fraud or other mischief in the execution of personal and business documents."
Mr.(...)
March 30, 2020
Kozyra & Hartz, LLC, congratulates its associates, Margarita Romanova and Robert Spawn, for their hard work in co-coordinating this year's Essex County Bar Association High School Mock Trial Competition, which took place at the Essex County Veterans Courthouse in Newark. After seventeen high schools went head-to-head throughout the month of January 2020, the competition concluded with Montclair High School defeating Montclair Kimberley Academy in the finals.
Ms. Romanova and Mr. Spawn would like to thank all of the attorneys who volunteered their time to serve as judges for the competition, as well as all of the teacher-coaches and administrators who ensured that the event ran smoothly.
And, most importantly, congratulations to all of the participating students, whose hard(...)
March 10, 2020
COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) has now been identified as being present in the United States.
Everyone should be aware of what you can do now to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The following are recommended steps from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) :
(1) Wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. Do this often.
(2) Do not touch your face, nose, hands or mouth, as that will spread the virus.
(3) Use your folded arm or a tissue if you cough or sneeze and discard the tissue immediately afterward.
(4) Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home when you are sick.
(5) Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
For current information on COVID-19, as well as signs and symptoms,(...)
February 4, 2020
On January 13, 2020, Michael J. Rankin was sworn in as the Planning Board Attorney for the Township of West Caldwell for the 2020 term. Mr. Rankin's practice includes, amongst other things, all aspects of real estate law including, but not limited to, real estate litigation, commercial and residential transactions and land use.
Congratulations Michael!
December 12, 2019
ROBERT B. SPAWN reports on a recent unpublished decision from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division.
In a recent New Jersey case, a Plaintiff-Tenant was sitting in a chair in the basement laundry room of her apartment building (owned by a Defendant-Landlord) for about thirty minutes before a leg on the chair gave way, causing Plaintiff to sustain personal injuries to her shoulder, arm, neck, back, and knees. The chair was part of a set of chairs that were connected to each other, and Plaintiff was sitting on an end chair. Plaintiff described the leg of the subject chair as having "collapsed," and asserts that she became caught between the chair she was sitting on and the chair connected to it on her right, after which she fell to the floor.
On August 6,(...)
