Published: Thursday, September 06, 2012, 7:45 AM | By Eliot Caroom/The Star-Ledger Penalties could get much harsher for utilities that fail their customers in storms like Irene, if Gov. Chris Christie has his way. Saying there were “avoidable mistakes” in storm damage recovery efforts last year that left some residents in the dark for as long as a week, Christie Wednesday proposed significantly raising fines on utilities that fail to adequately respond to power outages, with penalties of up to $25,000 a day. They are currently $100 a day. “It empowers our regulators to levy financial penalties with real teeth,”  [ Read More ]

By David Gialanella | New Jersey Law Journal | August 30, 2012 A Johnson & Johnson unit agreed Thursday to pay $181 million to settle dozens of states’ claims that it engaged in illegal off-label marketing of antipsychotic drugs, with New Jersey to receive $5.3 million. Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Titusville improperly marketed Risperdal, Risperdal Consta, Risperdal M-Tab and Invega, in violation of federal law, according to Chiesa v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, MER-C-75-12. The drugs are primarily used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar mania, but have off-label uses. While doctors also may prescribe Risperdal to treat Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, depression and  [ Read More ]

BY DEENA YELLIN STAFF WRITER The Record Trees: They’re such a part of the landscape, you hardly notice them. But officials are taking increasing note of their vital role beyond providing shade and homes for wildlife and making the neighborhood look nice. They also improve air quality and, of added importance given recent extreme weather, prevent soil erosion in heavy rains and cool things down during summer scorchers. So if you want to chop one down, beware. All across the Garden State, stiff municipal laws are targeting the razing of trees. Many local governments require private property owners to obtain  [ Read More ]

The iconic figure of the court stenographer has largely been replaced by digital recording devices in Superior Court in Hackensack and Paterson and almost all such courtrooms in New Jersey as the state judiciary moves toward new technology. Proponents say the change is a successful, cost-effective attempt by courts to keep pace with technology and keep reliable records of proceedings. But the switch also is being watched closely by skeptics, who say recording technology is never a full substitute for a court reporter. Of concern are the uniquely human aspects now absent. For instance, court reporters often interrupt proceedings to  [ Read More ]

By James Queally and Sue Epstein/The Star-Ledger FREEHOLD — For the second time in four days, the Monmouth County Courthouse had to be shut down after several people fell ill inside the facility, authorities said. More than 10 people became sick for an unknown reason and were removed from the courthouse, which was closed at 1 p.m., according to Cynthia Scott, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Office. Reports of people suffering shortness of breath, nausea, chest pain, palpitations, rashes and dizziness on Friday forced county officials to clean the courthouse over the weekend. “This afternoon, County Emergency Management and Health  [ Read More ]

Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) has announced that even if the New Jersey state legislature sends him a bill to increase the state’s minimum wage, he will veto it. Christie claims that the result of the bill — which would raise the Garden State’s minimum wage to $8.50 and index it to inflation — would be “more layoffs“: “We’re telling small business owners that not only are we going to raise their costs by a buck and a quarter, but we’re also going to raise it with these cost-of-living adjustments,” Christie, a 49-year-old Republican, said during a town-hall style meeting in  [ Read More ]

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — A judge here sentenced Dharun Ravi to 30 days in jail Monday for using a webcam to spy on his Rutgers University roommate having sex with a man, in a case that galvanized concern about suicide among gay teenagers but also prompted debate about the use of laws against hate crimes. The case drew wide attention because his roommate, Tyler Clementi, jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge in September 2010, a few days after learning of the spying. A jury convicted Mr. Ravi in March of all 15 counts against him, which included  [ Read More ]

By: David Matthau | NJ 101.5 Jersey’s highest court has heard oral arguments on Kyleigh’s Law. The justices must now decide whether the law requiring new drivers to place red decals on their cars, to help police monitor their behavior, violates privacy laws. Rockaway attorney Gregg Trautmann says the case is really about his daughter Catherine – and thousands of other young women “that are going to be out there driving alone at night, having to place a decal on their car – and make them potential victims for any creep or stalker that wants to do them harm.” He  [ Read More ]

Did you know that PNC Bank Arts Center is one of the top 5 most popular outdoor concert venues in the U.S.? PNC Bank Arts Center is managed by Live Nation, the 2nd major outdoor concert venue in the NYC metro area; the other, Nikon at Jones Beach Theater on Long Island. Many concert-goers love the outdoor arena; about 2/3 of the event seating is located on the lawn. The Summer concert schedule includes shows from May through September. Located off Exit 116 on the Garden state Parkway, the PNC Bank Arts Center is a great summer concert staple. 2012  [ Read More ]

Lin-sanity has swept up the NBA over the last week. Now it seems like the phenomenon has gone worldwide. Friday’s 38 point performance by Harvard grad Jeremy Lin for the New York Knicks against the LA Lakers was his greatest performance yet as a starter, since he burst on to the scene and propelled the team to 4 straight wins. Lin now has over 200,000 followers on Twitter. He’s got over 800,000 on Weibo – including 200,000 new ones in the 24 hour period after beating the Lakers. But there’s more to this story than basketball. This isn’t just a  [ Read More ]

JTOWN Magazine – Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 | Posted by Jackson, NJ Jackson, NJ – The New York City Office of Emergency Management, in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and mobile telephone service providers will be conducting the first-ever end-to-end test of cellular broadcasting technology Friday, December 15, 2011 from approximately 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM. It is possible that messages broadcasts over the cellular network may be received by enabled cell phones in the State of New Jersey. This event will be just a test, and not a real emergency alert. Cellular phone  [ Read More ]

December 15, 2011 Edition Howell woman honored as mother of the year BY JAMES McEVOY Staff Writer Joy Walk HOWELL— When ElizabethWalk was born, her parents Joy and Todd were ready for the typical challenges of parenthood. Then, a few years later, came a doctor’s diagnosis that Elizabeth, now 8, was autistic. “It wasn’t the plan we laid out. We’ve been together 21 years,” said Joy Walk, of Howell. “Back when we were teenagers talking about our future, this definitely was not it, but in some ways it’s better.” Walk, an administrative assistant with the Woodbridge office of the Financial  [ Read More ]

APP.com About the Series The largest health care firm in the world has seen record profits – and global allegations of fraud, bribery and deception. How did the most admired company in America get in trouble? Our four-day series examines the secret world of J&J. Click here to read the four part series… Johnson & Johnson, the gold standard for American corporations, has been admired for its devotion to a simple business philosophy: Put your customers first, no matter the cost, and profits will follow. That idea, found everywhere from giant tablets in the lobby of J&J’s New Brunswick headquarters  [ Read More ]

By APP.com | 6:58 AM, Dec. 13, 2011 TRENTON — The president and chief executive officer of a Marlboro-based mortgage company was sentenced Monday to two years in prison for failing to report almost $200,000 in assets, including cash, wine and artwork, on his bankruptcy filing. The sentence came nearly three months after David Findel was sentenced to more than five years in prison for wire fraud he committed when he led Worldwide Financial Resources. He will serve the two sentences at the same time. “I regret what I have done, and I take full responsibility,” Findel said during the  [ Read More ]

(12/13/11) ASBURY PARK(AP) – Bon Jovi will be among the headliners for The Bamboozle 2012, a three-day music festival in May at Asbury Park. Foo Fighters and blink-182 also will headline the event scheduled for May 18, 19 and 20. The 10-year-old concert returns to the beach in Asbury Park for the first time since 2003. It will feature more than 100 acts performing on nine stages on the beach and boardwalk. Additional performers will be announced after the New Year. The festival also will feature “The Break Contest,” a competition for unsigned bands with the grand prize winner receiving  [ Read More ]