Case Update: January 2009
Don Crowley, Ed Thornton, Bill Bloom And Eric Harrison: Super Lawyers
Key Media, the creators of the “Super Lawyers” rosters which in New Jersey are published in partnership with New Jersey Monthly Magazine, has named an unprecedented four M&W attorneys as “Super Lawyers”. In related news, the Supreme Court recently rejected a challenge to the methodology employed in the survey, accepting the report of a Special Master that the process is “a comprehensive, good-faith and detailed attempt to produce a list of lawyers that have attained high peer recognition.”
The nominees are grouped into practice areas. Those nominees with the highest point totals from each practice area are invited to serve on a blue ribbon panel to select nominees from their own practice area. The top 5% of candidates from each group are selected as Super Lawyers. Congratulations to Don, Ed, Bill and Eric, whose peers have recognized them for the skills and dedication that M&W and its clients have valued for years.
Reyes v. Egner
In a case handled by Bill Bloom, the Appellate Division cited changes in the Restatement to adjust the rules of premises liability applicable to landlords under a short-term lease. Departing from the bright-line Patton rule that a landlord who leases the entire premises will be held liable only for damage arising out of a hazard which was fraudulently concealed, the Appellate Division held that a jury should determine whether it was unreasonable for the insured landlord not to warn his tenant regarding the absence of a clear marking on a single step between an exterior door and a rear deck. [MORE]