News

NJSBA to Honor Judge Mellaci

Ansell Grimm July 15, 2022

The Honorable Anthony J. Mellaci, Jr., retired Superior Court Judge, currently serving as Of Counsel with Ansell Grimm & Aaron will be honored by the New Jersey State Bar Association as Monmouth County’s Daniel J. O’Hern Professionalism Award winner.

The O’Hern Award is presented annually to an attorney who is a well-respected member of the legal community and exhibits integrity, competence, high ethical standards, career achievement and service to the bar and/or community. The award is named for the Honorable Daniel J. O’Hern, a retired associate justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, and lifelong Monmouth County resident, who was an advisor to the Commission from its inception in 1996 until his passing in 2009.

Judge Mellaci is slated to receive the award at the NJSB’s July 19 luncheon at the Forsgate Country Club, Monroe.

July 2022 Newsletter

Ansell Grimm July 5, 2022

Axelrod Performing Arts Annual Gala Celebrates Honoree James G. Aaron

On Thursday, June 23, the Axelrod Performing Arts Center (APAC) invited guests to a Gala affair — an evening to honor James G. Aaron, Esq. The event celebrated Mr. Aaron as well as APAC’s mission to provide cultural arts to the community. The event is the theatre’s principal fundraiser of the year and ended with a special performance by Tony Award nominee, and Broadway Star, Jarrod Spector and his 10-piece band. “We’re excited to celebrate our longtime supporter and friend, Jimmy Aaron” said CEO Jess Levy. Mr. Aaron, a partner at Ansell Grimm & Aaron, PC, has served as a leader and longtime board member supporting the expansion and advancement of APAC programming. “This event is both a spectacular party and an opportunity to applaud and support the work Jimmy’s contributions to APAC, and the mission of Axelrod Performing Arts Center’s innovative work, and cultural experience for theatre lovers.” Event organizer, Karen Rafiqi, coordinated the event along with dedicated APAC staff members. The Honorary Committee for the event included Co-Chairs, Elise Feldman and Ira Kreizman.

The Cannabis Law Practice Continues Training through the National Business Institute on July 19

The National Business Institute (NBI) is hosting a speaker event titled, “Marijuana Business Law in New Jersey.” NBI is an organization dedicated to providing continuing education and learning for professional. Joshua Bauchner will cover the following topics: Application Procedures: Avoiding Mistakes Grounds for License Refusal, License Renewals, License Transfers, Appealing Application Denials. This will be presented as a LIVE Online Seminar. Please click HERE for registration information.

MINI-ROUNDTABLE: Q&A Report with Cannabis Industry Experts and Advocates

Financier Worldwide Magazine, publisher of the quarterly e-magazine, Corporate Disputes, reached out to Ansell Grimm & Aaron’s Cannabis Law Practice Chair, Joshua Bauchner, to participate in a special Q&A report titled, “Cannabis Regulation and the Litigation Landscape.” This report is available online and registration is free. Please click HERE to be directed to the latest edition.

Ansell Grimm & Aaron, PC Celebrates Nomination at New Jersey’s First-Ever Cannabis Industry Awards Gala

Ansell Grimm & Aaron, PC attended the New Jersey Cannabis Insider Awards Gala as an “Excellence in Cannabis Law” nominee on June 9, 2022. The Cannabis Awards Gala marked New Jersey’s first-ever cannabis industry awards event. A few hundred thought-leaders and supporters gathered at the Carteret Performing Arts Center to recognize 24 businesses for their excellence in the Cannabis industry. “We feel honored to be recognized and have our firm included among the inspired community that comprises the New Jersey Cannabis industry,” said Joshua Bauchner, Chair of the Cannabis Law Practice. The award recipients were announced during the evening and attendees enjoyed celebrating a new milestone for the cannabis industry.

Jackson Planning Board Approves Warehouse on Herman Road

The members of the Jackson Planning Board voted 8-1 to grant preliminary and final major site plan approval to an applicant who plans to construct a 35,361-square-foot, one-story warehouse on Herman Road. The application of 498 Herman Jackson, LLC, was heard during the board’s June 6 meeting in the municipal building. The applicant was represented by attorney Jennifer S. Krimko of the firm, engineer Thomas Muller, and architect David Collins.

Asbury Park Free Summer Concert Series Returns in Summer 2022

ASBURY PARK, NJ — The Asbury Park Music Foundation announces a full return to multiple free live music series this summer. The 2022 summer music series starts with Music Mondays in Springwood Park. There are performances booked through July and August for the sixth season of this popular event. AP Live on the Asbury Park boardwalk also returns, with free music on Wednesday nights right next to MOGO. Lakehouse Academy bands, some of which feature APMF scholarship students, will open the show each week followed by local artists of all genres.

CWCBExpo: A B2B Tradeshow To Remember

Ansell Grimm & Aaron, PC attended the CWCBExpo at the Javit’s Center during its 3-day cannabis industry event. New York is rapidly becoming one of the largest cannabis economic sectors. AG&A met with industry leaders and demonstrated its commitment to diverse and inclusive business practices.

Joshua S. Bauchner Speaks at The NORML Aspen Legal Seminar

The NORML Aspen Legal Seminar was held at the Gant Hotel from June 2 to June 4 in Colorado. Joshua Bauchner joined a cadre of presenters from across the nation who shared their insights on important issues in cannabis law in this fully accredited legal seminar. Timely topics included: The Admissibility of Digital Evidence; 280E Battle with the IRS: How to Prepare and Represent Your Cannabis Client; Social Equity in NY & NJ; Marijuana and Child Custody Issues; Surviving an Overreaching Prosecutor; Attorney Fees In Criminal Cases; Overcoming Racial Bias When Representing a Black Defendant; Ethical Considerations in Representing the Cannabis Industry Client; The Future of Cannabis; and Annual Review of Important 4th Amendment Decisions.

NJSBA Cannabis Law Committee Co-Chairs Reappointed for 2022-2023 Term

The New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) is instrumental in providing members with training and information. NJSBA announced its reappointment of Joshua Bauchner, Esq. and Lisa Gora, Esq. as the Co-Chairs of its Cannabis Law Committee. In their role as co-chairs, Josh and Lisa also moderated cannabis panels at the NJSBA Annual Convention in Atlantic City.

Andrea B. White Appointed to The New Jersey State Bar Association’s Family Law Strategic Planning Committee

Andrea B. White, Esq. was invited and accepted an appointment as a member of The New Jersey State Bar Association’s (NJSBA) Membership Committee in May 2022. The work of the committee is essential to advancing the interests of the Association, the legal profession, and the public. Andrea B. White also serves on the New Jersey State Bar Association Family Lawyer Editorial Board as a Senior Editor and on its Planning Committee for the Annual Mid-Year Meeting and Retreat. Her practice is exclusively devoted to Family Law at Ansell Grimm & Aaron where she assists clients in divorce, custody, parenting time, child support, alimony and domestic violence issues. Ms. White is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney and is qualified pursuant to R. I :40 to mediate family law cases. She also has been admitted as an Attorney and Counselor of the Supreme Court of the United States since 2006. Ms. White lectured at the NJSBA’s Annual Meeting on May 19 on the topic, “Re-examining Child Support Guidelines In 2022.”

Former Red Bank Council President Charged with Stealing Thousands from Non-Profit

Former Red Bank Council President Hazim Yassin has been charged with stealing thousands of dollars from a non-profit education foundation, acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey said. Yassin, 32, of the Lincroft section of Middletown, has been charged with third-degree theft by unlawful taking, the Prosecutor’s Office said. Yassin’s defense attorney, Robert A. Honecker, Jr., of Ansell Grimm & Aaron PC, defended his client’s charges in a phone call with the Asbury Park Press.

Athletes In Cannabis Conference Creates Community

The Athletes in Cannabis NY/NJ Regional Tradeshow was held on May 6 – 7, 2022 at the Hilton Newark Airport. Joshua Bauchner of Ansell Grimm & Aaron, PC was the Keynote Speaker and gave a poignant “State of the Cannabis” speech on Friday morning. This 2-day event allowed individuals from growers to cannabis lending companies to interact with retired members of the NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB.

Cannabis Law Update — June 2022

Ansell Grimm June 23, 2022

MINI-ROUNDTABLE: Q&A Report with Cannabis Industry Experts and Advocates

Financier Worldwide Magazine, publisher of the quarterly e-magazine, Corporate Disputes, reached out to Ansell Grimm & Aaron’s Cannabis Law Practice Chair, Joshua Bauchner , to participate in a special Q&A report titled, “Cannabis Regulation and the Litigation Landscape.” This report is available online and registration is free. Please click HERE to view the latest edition.

The Cannabis Law Practice Continues Training Through the National Business Institute on July 19

Ansell Grimm & Aaron, PC Celebrates at New Jersey’s First- Ever Cannabis Industry Awards Gala

CWCBExpo: A B2B Tradeshow To Remember

Ansell Grimm & Aaron (AG&A), PC attended the CWCBExpo at the Javit’s Center during its 3-day cannabis industry event. New York is rapidly becoming one of the largest cannabis economic sectors. AG&A met with industry leaders and demonstrated our firm’s commitment to diverse and inclusive business practices.

Joshua S. Bauchner Speaks at The NORML Aspen Legal Seminar

The NORML Aspen Legal Seminar was held at the Gant Hotel from June 2 to June 4 in Colorado. Joshua Bauchner joined a cadre of presenters from across the nation who shared their insights on important issues in cannabis law in this fully accredited legal seminar. Timely topics included: The Admissibility of Digital Evidence, Social Equity in NY & NJ; Marijuana and Child Custody Issues; Attorney Fees In Criminal Cases; Overcoming Racial Bias When Representing a Black Defendant; Ethical Considerations in Representing the Cannabis Industry Client; The Future of Cannabis; and Annual Review of Important 4th Amendment Decisions.

NJSBA Cannabis Law Committee Co-Chairs Reappointed for 2022-2023 Term

Athletes In Cannabis Conference Creates Community

David J. Byrne to Present at CAI Webinar on April 20

Ansell Grimm April 13, 2022

David J. Byrne Esq., Chair of Ansell Grimm & Aaron’s Community Association Law Group, will be a featured presenter at the Community Associations Institute of New Jersey’s Wednesday, April 20th, Webinar.

The one-hour webinars focus on important issues affecting the rights, operations, and business of common interest communities. Mr. Byrne’s presentation, on April 20^th, will focus on the rights of — and strategies available to — community associations facing the demands of owners and/or residents who claim to be disabled, including those who seek accommodations with respect to animals characterized as service or emotional support

Registration is free and currently open for all CAI-NJ members via the CAI-NJ website. Community association managers will receive 1 CEU credit for attending.

April 2022 Newsletter

Ansell Grimm April 12, 2022

Six Attorneys Named Super Lawyers

Ansell Grimm & Aaron is pleased to announce that six attorneys from the firm have been selected to the 2022 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.* Selected as Super Lawyers again this year are Allison Ansell, Mitchell J. Ansell, and Andrea B. White. Named as Rising Stars this year are Alfred M. Caso, Ashley V. Whitney, and Nicole D. Miller. This is Caso’s first selection, Whitney’s second, and Miller’s fourth consecutive selection as a Rising Star. Each year, no more than 5% of lawyers in the state are selected to the Super Lawyers list, and no more than 2.5% are selected to the Rising Stars list. The list of New Jerse Super Lawyers is based upon surveys of the more than 35,000 lawyers across the state who have been licensed to practice for five years or more.
*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court.

Ansell Grimm & Aaron Welcomes Carol J. Truss

We are pleased to announce that Carol J. Truss has joined Ansell Grimm & Aaron’s Commercial Real Estate Department. Ms. Truss previously served as a partner at Gross, Truss & Herstik in Freehold, New Jersey. Ms. Truss’s primary focus is on real estate, including commercial acquisitions/dispositions and refinances, commercial leasing and commercial property management matters. She also handles the purchase and sale of small businesses and the general representation of such businesses. Ms. Truss is an active member of the Monmouth Bar Association (MBA), and has served in several leadership roles for the MBA, including President, Trustee, and Chair of the Real Estate and Land Development Committee. She is also a past Chair and Lifetime Member of the New Jersey State Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section Board of Consultors.
“Carol is a great addition to the AGA Commercial Real Estate Department,” Managing Partner Michael V. Benedetto said. “She brings vast experience as a counselor, as well as tremendous respect from the Bench and Bar.”

Seth Rosenstein Defends Clients Targeted by Serial Plaintiffs

Seth Rosenstein of AGA’s Woodland Park and White Plains office had recently represented several businesses that were sued by serial Plaintiffs for purported violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related state and municipal statutes. As in nearly all of the cookie cutter Complaints filed by Plaintiffs’ counsel in the ADA actions, Plaintiffs generally alleged that accessibility barriers prevented them from entering Defendants’ place of business and/or accessing the business’ website. Leveraging the fact that ADA Plaintiffs expect to settle counsel-driven litigation before actively litigating in exchange for substantial payouts, Mr. Rosenstein aggressively pursued discovery and motion practice to take counsel to task, and successfully compelled settlements for a fraction of what ADA Plaintiffs’ counsel typically demand and collect.

Ansell Grimm & Aaron Continues to Build Commercial Litigation Group

We are pleased to announce the addition of Kelsey Barber as an associate with Ansell Grimm & Aaron’s commercial litigation group, where she will continue to focus her practice on a variety of complex civil litigation matters. Ms. Barber received her B.A. in Historical Studies from Stockton University with a minor in Philosophical and Religious Studies. She thereafter obtained her J.D. from Rutgers Law School, where she was an editor of the Rutgers Journal of Public Policy and spearheaded Youth Court, a pro bono youth organization dedicated to teaching legal and ethical youth adjudication for school disciplinary actions in Camden. Ms. Barber previously clerked with the Honorable Linda Grasso Jones, in the Monmouth County Courthouse, Civil Division, where she also acted as a court appointed mediator. After her clerkship, Ms. Barber went on to work in established plaintiff and defense oriented firms, litigating in the areas of catastrophic tort, products liability, contract, employment, and complex business litigation.

Ansell Grimm & Aaron Named as Finalist for Excellence in Cannabis Law

Ansell Grimm & Aaron has been voted among the Top 3 nominees for the NJ Cannabis Insider 2022 Business Awards in the Excellence in Cannabis Law category. On June 9, 2022, NJ Cannabis Insider will host New Jersey’s first-ever cannabis business awards gala at the Carteret Performing Arts Center where businesses, including Ansell Grimm & Aaron, will be recognized for their achievements in the fields of law, social equity, building, innovation, and consultancy.

Ansell Grimm & Aaron Speaks on the Mid-Atlantic Cannabis Industry

Joshua Bauchner, a Partner serving as both Co-Chair of the Litigation Department and head of the Cannabis Law Practice group, will be discussing the cannabis industry’s legal landscape at a series of upcoming events. On April 28, Mr. Bauchner will moderate the New Jersey State Bar Association’s 4th Annual Cannabis Symposium. You can find program details and register to attend in person here or via webcast here. Mr. Bauchner will be speaking at the Athletes in Cannabis NY/NJ Regional Tradeshow, which will be held May 6 – 7, 2022 at the Hilton Newark Airport. Tickets for the event can be found here. On May 19, Mr. Bauchner will moderate a panel on adult-use licenses during the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting at the Borgata in Atlantic City. You can register for the Meeting here. On June 3, Mr. Bauchner will be discussing social equity in the New Jersey and New York cannabis markets at the 2022 NORML Aspen Legal Seminar. The seminar will be held June 2 – 4, in Aspen, Colorado, and registration information can be found here. Mr. Bauchner will also discuss licensing and professional ethics in New Jersey at the National Business Institute’s Marijuana Business Law in New Jersey Seminar on June 19, 2022.

Cannabis Regulatory Commission Special Meeting

On Monday, April 11, 2022 the Cannabis Regulatory Meeting held a special meeting open to the public. At the meeting the Commission approved 34 conditional licenses for cultivators and manufacturers, bringing the number of approved conditional licenses to 100+. The Commission also considered expanded ATC certifications for 7 existing ATCs including, Acreage-CCF, Curaleaf, Columbia Care, Verano, Ascend Wellness, GTI, and TerrAscend. The ATCs will still need to complete an operational assessment for regulatory compliance and submit payment of their full expansion fees before they are authorized to begin adult-use sales. Recordings of all Cannabis Regulatory Commission public meetings can be found here.

Ansell Grimm & Aaron welcomes Carol J. Truss

Ansell Grimm April 4, 2022

We are pleased to announce that Carol J. Truss has joined the firm.

“Carol is a great addition to the AGA Commercial Real Estate Department,” Ansell Grimm & Aaron PC Managing Partner Michael V. Benedetto said. “She brings vast experience as a counselor, as well as tremendous respect from the Bench and Bar.”

Her practice is concentrated in the areas of real estate law, including commercial and residential title transfers and refinances, commercial leasing, and residential and commercial property management matters. Ms. Truss also handles the purchase and sale of small businesses and the general representation of such businesses.

Ms. Truss is an active member of the Monmouth Bar Association (MBA), and has served in several leadership roles for the MBA, including President, Trustee, and Chair of the Real Estate and Land Development Committee.

Six Ansell Grimm & Aaron PC attorneys named Super Lawyers

Ansell Grimm April 1, 2022

We are pleased to announce that six attorneys from the firm have been selected to the 2022 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.*

Selected as Super Lawyers again this year are Allison Ansell, Mitchell J. Ansell, and Andrea B. White.

Named as Rising Stars this year are Alfred M. Caso, Ashley V. Whitney, and Nicole D. Miller. This is Caso’s first selection, Whitney’s second, and Miller’s fourth consecutive selection as a Rising Star.

Each year, no more than 5% of lawyers in the state are selected to the Super Lawyers list, and no more than 2.5% are selected to the Rising Stars list.

The list of New Jersey Super Lawyers is based on surveys of more than 35,000 lawyers across the state who have been licensed to practice for five years or more.

*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court.

Cannabis Law Update

Ansell Grimm March 23, 2022

Excellence in Cannabis Law – NJCannabis Insider 2022 Business Awards

After enduring two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, states have begun dropping their most stringent restrictions and in-person events are slowly returning to the cannabis industry. On June 9, 2022, NJ Cannabis Insider will host New Jersey’s first-ever cannabis business awards gala at the Carteret Performing Arts Center. Businesses including Ansell Grimm & Aaron, have been nominated for their achievements in the field of law, social equity, building, innovation, and consultancy. Voting is open until March 31 at 11:59PM, and votes can be submitted once per day, per email address. The ballot can be found here. Please consider voting for us!

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Social Equity in the Municipal Landscape

Joshua Bauchner, a Partner serving as both Co-Chair of the Litigation Department and head of the Cannabis Law Practice group, was featured in a March 15, 2022 article for Law360 that discusses the challenges faced by social equity applicants as they navigate the patchwork of Municipal regulations across New Jersey. The article sheds light on how various aspects of the municipal approval process are incompatible with CREAMMA’s social equity goals and explores how the two might be brought into alignment. A copy of the article can be found here.

Athletes in Cannabis Regional Tradeshow

The Athletes in Cannabis NY/NJ Regional Tradeshow will be held May 6 – 7, 2022 at the Hilton Newark Airport. During this conference, there will be opportunities to meet with retired members of the NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB, as well as growers, suppliers, retailers and more within t he hemp, medical, and adult-use cannabis spaces. There will also be an opportunity to hear from Ansell Grimm & Aaron’s very own, Joshua Bauchner. In addition to the two day conference, a networking soiree will be held at the end of the day on May 6th. Tickets for the event can be found here.

4th Annual Cannabis Symposium

On April 28, 2022, the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Cannabis Law Committee will host its 4th Annual Cannabis Symposium. The Program will be moderated by Joshua Bauchner of Ansell Grimm & Aaron and Michael Schaff of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer. This will be an excellent opportunity to hear from industry leaders on all things legal within New Jersey’s cannabis industry. Topics will include capital markets, labor & employment, hemp, and social equity solutions amongst other things. You will also hear from Chairwoman Dianna Houenou and Chief Counsel Christopher Riggs of New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission. You can register to attend the symposium in person here or via webcast here.

CBA Cannabis Law Section Appointments

Attorney Zachary Windham, of Ansell Grimm & Aaron’s Cannabis Law Practice group, will take on the role of Chair for the Colorado Bar Association’s Cannabis Law Section. The CBA’s Cannabis Law Section was one of the first in the country, as Colorado was and is a leader in the cannabis space nationally, both in terms of industry participants and regulatory developments.

Cannabis Regulatory Commission Public Meeting

On Thursday March 24, 2022 at 1:00PM, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission will hold a meeting open to the public. At the meeting the Commission will consider delegating authority for orders to recall or destroy adult-use cannabis items or medicinal cannabis items, as well as for certain applications for facility modifications. The Commission will also consider applications for an adult-use conditional license. On the medical side, the Commission will also consider reissuance of a 2019 RFA award for a medicinal dispensary permit and expanded ATC certifications. The link to attend the meeting can be found here. Attendees can register to speak before 9:00AM on March 24th here.

Ansell Grimm & Aaron 2021 Litigation Roundup

Ansell Grimm January 20, 2022

As the world continues to struggle with the coronavirus pandemic, and millions of small and mid-sized businesses continue to be confronted with unprecedented challenges, the attorneys in Ansell Grimm & Aaron’s Litigation Department assisted the Firm’s clients in protecting their businesses and livelihoods. Led by co-chairs Lawrence Shapiro and Joshua Bauchner, and assisted by attorneys Barry Capp, Anthony D’Artiglio, Stefan Erwin, Rahool Patel, Seth Rosenstein, and Ashley Whitney, the Department is pleased to share its numerous successes.

Bankruptcy Litigation & Debtor/Creditor Matters

Ansell Grimm & Aaron successfully compelled conversion of a meritless Chapter 11 Bankruptcy to a Chapter 7 and convinced the Court to vacate an extension of the automatic stay to principal’s of the Debtor company. Debtor filed a Chapter 11 petition in the District of New Jersey just before it and its principals were scheduled to face trial in the Western District of Missouri on multi-million dollar fraudulent scheme related to the sale of a business. Led by Joshua S Bauchner and Anthony J. D’Artiglio, the firm successfully convinced the Court to vacate an extension of the automatic stay to the principals of Debtor who sought to utilize the Bankruptcy to shield themselves from liability. Furthermore, we vigorously opposed confirmation of a meritless Plan of Reorganization, culminating in Debtor voluntarily converting its Chapter 11 reorganization to a Chapter 7 liquidation requiring the appointment of a Trustee to pursue our client’s and other creditors’ interests. As a result, the adversary complaint and related Bankruptcy matters were dismissed in New Jersey permitting the action to proceed to trial in Missouri.

Breach of Contract Litigation

The Ansell Grimm & Aaron team continued its efforts to recover sums owed to its clients in connection with finance agreements and contracts for the provision of certain services. We doggedly pursued our clients’ counterparties who absconded with loaned funds and enjoyed the benefit of services rendered, resulting in substantial recoveries and settlements for our dedicated and hard-working clients. By way of example, in one action brought on behalf of a trucking insurance agency that guaranteed payments for its client, the insured failed to make millions of dollars in payments under its finance agreement and created a new entity to hide its property and assets from collection. We aggressively tracked down the fraudulently transferred assets, brought the insured’s owner and his new entity into the action, and secured a favorable settlement prior to trial.

Partnership Dispute Litigation

The firm successfully obtained temporary restraints enacted to avoid continued irreparable harm to our client in a derivative action asserting claims against our client’s former business partners for, inter alia, unfair competition, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty, based on their acts of engaging in direct competition with their shared business and allowing their family members to use the company’s proprietary information to siphon clients and profits from the business. The temporary restraints prevented all competition with our client’s business and provided the leverage necessary to negotiate a dissolution of the business which allowed our client to extricate himself and pursue independent ventures.

Real Estate Litigation

The firm works closely with real estate professionals across the region to protect their rights and put practices in place to minimize potential liability. In an action filed earlier this year on behalf of a Hudson County-based real estate broker, the Firm sued a national real estate developer after the failure to pay a referral fee offered under the developer’s agreement with local brokers. These efforts resulted in our client recovering a substantial portion of the referral fee owed to it, and the same broker subsequently engaged our team to revise their agreements used with clients — and to speak with the broker’s team of agents about mitigating risk and general best practices.

FINRA Matters

In addition to serving as a Financial Industry Resolution Authority (FINRA) Dispute Resolution Services arbitrator, associate Seth Rosenstein also practices before FINRA arbitration panels. In an arbitration filed against a national broker-dealer, the Firm sought an award requiring removal of incorrect and misleading information set forth on the broker-dealer’s Form U5 issued for our client, and for the expungement and removal of the information from FINRA’s Central Registration Depository and BrokerCheck system. Our efforts resulted in the broker-dealer issuing an amended Form U5 that removed the incorrect and misleading information, correcting an injustice that falsely besmirched our client’s reputation.

Police Benevolent Association Matters

Earlier this year, Attorney Ashley V. Whitney filed an appeal with the New Jersey Supreme Court challenging an opinion from the Appellate Division which upheld the termination of a police officer with no prior discipline for alleged violations of the Criminal Justice Information System through his use of full-disclosure vehicle registration searches despite the police department’s failure to identify a single full-disclosure search conducted without justification. The Appellate Division’s decision may have a lasting impact upon the law enforcement community as the performance of searches by police has not been significantly addressed by New Jersey Courts since the decision in State v. Donis, 157 N.J. 44 (1998). The decision is especially pertinent to the issues facing police as it comes on the heels of the Supreme Court’s decision in the matter of In re AG Law Enf’t Directive Nos. 2020-5 & 2020-6, 2021 N.J. LEXIS 486 (June 7, 2021), which upheld the New Jersey Attorney General’s Directives requiring the release of the names of police officers who receive major discipline.

Ms. Whitney continued her prior practice of the representation of police officers as a member of the PBA Legal Protection Plan at the Firm’s Woodland Park office, which included the defense of a high-ranking correctional police officer served with inflated disciplinary charges seeking termination. Following a departmental hearing and the presentation of favorable witness testimony, the employer decreased the proposed penalty from termination to suspension and we are awaiting a final decision.

Class Action Litigation

Ansell Grimm & Aaron successfully obtained dismissal of a nationwide class action in the District of New Jersey for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Plaintiff brought claims against related to beauty products against the seller, shipper, and a host of individuals and entities. We filed a Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule 12(b)(1) asserting the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction as a result of a pre-litigation, full refund offer by our client to the aggrieved consumer. The Court agreed that the full refund offer made in the ordinary course of business operated to moot Plaintiff’s claims, and dismissed the entire action.

Public Entity Litigation

Ansell Grimm & Aaron successfully secured summary against Plaintiff on a multi-million dollar claim against the City of Bayonne, wherein Plaintiff alleged that Bayonne discriminated against him when it condemned and subsequently demolished a rental property he owned because it was unsafe. We successfully convinced the Court that the claims were barred by the statute of limitations, that the demolition did not constitute a taking within the meaning of 11 U.S.C. 1983, and that Plaintiff’s tort claims could not be asserted against a municipality as a matter of law, leading to dismissal of the entire case.

Ansell Grimm & Aaron Welcomes Lateral Hire to Woodland Park Office

We are pleased to announce Stefan J. Erwin, Esq. has joined Ansell Grimm & Aaron. Mr. Erwin is a Trial Attorney who came to Ansell from an established Newark practice where he represented the largest cities in New Jersey. Mr. Erwin brings nearly a decade of experience to the firm specializing in complex commercial litigation, criminal defense, appellate practice, labor and employment law, public entity, and civil rights. Mr. Erwin graduated from Rutgers University with dual degrees in Political Science and Criminal Justice, and then attended Rutgers Law School where he interned for the Honorable Noel Hillman in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. After law school, he clerked for the Honorable James Hely, J.S.C. of the Superior Court Law Division in Union County. He has taught public school children a course in Constitutional Law, founded a local community garden, and sat on the board of a charter school. Mr. Erwin has received several favorable jury verdicts for his clients in the Public Defender’s Office where he litigated cases from inception through appeal.

Best of the Best

It is with great pleasure that Ansell Grimm & Aaron, PC has been named “Best of the Best” Law Firm in the 2021 Official Community Choice Awards published by the Asbury Park Press. This recognition is greatly appreciated as it was not determined by the Bar or another professional organization, but rather by the community we serve on a daily basis.

Jenny Hallowell 1978-2021

Ansell Grimm December 23, 2021

The Shareholders and the entire AGA Team mourn the sudden and too early loss of Jenny Hallowell, a longtime member of the AGA Team. Jenny joined the Firm in 1996 and, after taking a short hiatus, rejoined the firm in 2006. Jenny worked her way up through various positions in the Firm, most notably as an Assistant to the Commercial Real Estate Department and then Legal Assistant to Mitchell J. Ansell, Esq., Chair of the Firm’s Criminal Defense Department for the past 15 years. Jenny passed suddenly and unexpectedly on December 21^st.

Jenny’s infectious smile and good humor, as well as dedication to the Firm, will be dearly missed by all. On a daily basis, Jenny positively impacted countless numbers of lives. Any time a client was in crisis, Jenny’s calming voice and reassuring demeanor would invariably help each and every client move forward. Our tears, hearts, and prayers go out to Jenny’s family, friends, and the myriad of people she has touched over the years.