Lavery, Selvaggi & Cohen PC

01/12/2021

Richard W. Wenner was elected as a Trustee to the New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys. The NJILGA has a membership of approximately 300 attorneys engaged in the representation of various local government units in the State of New Jersey, including municipalities, counties, planning and zoning boards, utilities authorities, and other local government entities.
The governing body of the Institute is made up of its officers, past presidents, thirty district trustees, two at-large trustees, and a number of senior trustees. Two trustees are elected from each of fifteen districts, which coincide with the vicinages established by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
The attorneys at LSAC are highly skilled and professional practitioners and Mr. Wenner’s selection to the NJILGA reflects that fact. If you need representation and counsel on a matter involving a governmental authority, please contact one of the attorneys at LSAC to arrange a consultation.

01/30/2020

Heath Village hosts FREE Senior Seminar
Making the Move, What you Need to Know

Washington Township, Morris County – Heath Village is hosting a free senior seminar Making the Move, What you Need to Know on Thursday, March 12 at 1:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

The program will include two panels. The ASK THE SPECIALIST panel will feature Janen L. Ardia, Broker of Record, Re/Max Heritage Properties, Michael S. Selvaggi, Counsellor at Law and Steve Bayly, Home Inspector. The real estate panel will discuss issues including:

• What makes selling a senior’s home unique
• Common mistakes sellers make
• Tips for getting the most value from your home

The second panel will feature Heath Village residents who have moved to the Village within the last 18-24 months. They will share their moving experience and what they found to be helpful in making their move a success.

Both panels will take questions from the audience.

While the event is free; space is limited, and reservations are required. To register, please call Melissa Nichols at 908-684-5006.

Heath Village is a full-service retirement community located at 430 Schooley’s Mountain Road in Washington Township, Morris County. For further information, please call 908-852-4801 or visit us on our website at www.heathvillage.com. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heathvillage.

01/09/2020

EXPUNGEMENT MADE EASIER

If you have been convicted in the past for a ma*****na-related offense, expunging your record just got a lot easier. On December 18, 2019, Governor Phil Murphy signed Senate Bill S-4154 into law which modified the severity of the offenses for certain ma*****na and hashish related violations making the expungement of your record more convenient. Offenses like the unlawful distribution of or possession of less than five pounds of ma*****na or less than one pound of hashish or the distribution or possession of ma*****na on or within 1,000 feet of any school property or on or within 500 feet of a public housing facility, park, or building are now considered disorderly persons offenses instead of crimes for purposes of determining your eligibility for expungement. Now, these offenses only count towards the cap on convictions for disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offenses.
Importantly, the new law prohibits certain ma*****na and hashish related offenses from counting towards the numerical cap that would limit your ability to request an expungement. These include obtaining or possessing a small amount of ma*****na or hashish or being under the influence of ma*****na or hashish or possessing drug paraphernalia used with ma*****na or hashish.
The legislation also created an additional category of expungement, as well instituting a new, court-initiated sealing of records upon sentencing. This will serve as a quicker method to clear a person's record. For instance, anyone, who prior to the effective date of the act, was charged with, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent for certain ma*****na or hashish crimes or offenses, there would no longer be a waiting period imposed before an application for expungement could be filed. However, you still must still first pay any court-ordered financial assessment, satisfactorily complete probation or parole, been released from incarceration, or been discharged from legal custody or supervision at the time you apply.
If you are, on or after the effective date, charged, convicted, or adjudicated for any number of such ma*****na or hashish crimes or offenses after December 18, 2019, other than a larger amount distribution crime, the court could order, on its own initiative, the sealing of all records through an "order of nondisclosure". Such an order will be issued immediately upon the disposition of the associated charges and would cover relevant court, probation, and law enforcement records.
If you are concerned about having a criminal record as a result of a prior conviction of a ma*****na-related offense, now would be a great time to contact one of the lawyers at Lavery, Selvaggi, Abromitis and Cohen to discuss how this new law might help you expunge your record.

11/15/2019

Every holiday season LSAC supports DASACC by hosting a toy drive among our staff and attorneys. This year we are opening our doors as a drop off location for others in the Hackettstown area who want to contribute, but can’t make it to Washington. If you would like to donate a gift for the DASACC Holiday Shop, please feel free to stop by our office and place your gift under our tree. We will be accepting donations from now until December 12, 2019.

10/17/2019

Every October, LSAC joins with Atlantic Health Systems to promote their campaign, designed to raise breast cancer awareness. LSAC and Atlantic Health Systems recognize that so many women put the care of others before themselves, and believe that it is up to each of us to remind the women in our lives to make their own health a priority. The campaign, originally created by a group of innovative employees, encourages breast cancer screening because early detection saves lives.

Today LSAC wore Pink, had our Annual Think Pink breakfast with our attorneys and staff and had some fun with photos.

So ask yourself or the women in your life to get a mammogram. For more information or to schedule a screening mammogram at any of Atlantic Health System breast screening sites, please visit www.atlantichealth.org/askher or call 1-844-343-3540. Hackettstown Medical Center

09/21/2019

LSAC is a proud sponsor of the Hope 250th Year Celebration. Give the quaint town of Hope a visit today for some of the festivities.

08/20/2019

New Liability Standard for Towns Involved In S*x Assault Cases

On August 7, 2019, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law the “Cleanup Bill”. This new law will make it easier for victims to sue a municipality and public officials in cases involving sexual misconduct. The law also can also hold public entities and employers liable for their negligent hiring, retention or supervision of a public employee engaged in sexual misconduct.
Traditionally, municipalities were immune from civil liability under the New Jersey Tort Claims Act unless the public entity or employer was willfully, wantonly or grossly negligent act in connection with the hiring or supervision of a public employee found guilty of a sexual assault or any other crime of a sexual nature. The law also states that a victim of sexual abuse involving a public entity or public employee shall have the ability to sue their abusers up until the age of 55, or within seven years of their realization that the abuse caused them harm.
The law now subjects municipalities to the same standards as private entities and their employees. It should force municipal officials to be more circumspect in the hiring process and more diligent in the supervision of the workplace. It also affords those who have suffered a greater opportunity to achieve justice.
Should you have any questions concerning this new legislation feel free to contact one of our knowledgeable lawyers to ensure that your rights are adequately protected.

08/14/2019

LSAC are proud sponsors of the 4th Annual Oktoberfest hosted by DASACC. For tickets to this event please visit www.dasacc.org

08/14/2019

Recently, Acting Governor Sheila Y. Oliver signed A1094 into law, which will prevent employers from asking about workers' wage and salary history. A1094 makes it an unlawful employment practice in New Jersey for any employer to screen a job applicant based on their salary history, including prior wages, salary, commission, benefits or any other current or previous compensation. The law is designed to ensure that employees in the state receive salaries that are commensurate with their skills, qualifications, and experience.

Under the new law, any employer who attempts to ask or obtain applicants salary history will be subject to a civil penalty of no more than $1,000 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second violation and $10,000 for any subsequent violations.

With a stroke of a pen, the panoply of pre-employment legislation has grown significantly. Coupled with “Check the Box” legislation, employers must be as cautious as ever in conducting interviews and performing due diligence on prospective employees. At Lavery Selvaggi, Abromitis & Cohen, P.C., our employment attorneys will help businesses navigate the increasingly complex world of employment law.

05/07/2019

We are proud to be a Presenting Sponsor for the 2019 Carnival at Turkey Brook Park

Special thanks to
Lavery, Selvaggi , Abromitis & Cohen, P.C.&
ISTANBUL Turkish Restaurant
for being Presenting Sponsors for our 2019 Carnival .
Tickets are on SALE NOW !!!!!