The association's governing body, the Board of Trustees, met earlier this month and tackled several issues of importance, including malpractice insurance; pending legislation that affects the practice of law; and a preliminary budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The meeting was held at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick on March 8.
Here's a look at what was discussed:
Attorney malpractice insurance: The board discussed recent communication from the Judiciary regarding recommendations of the Court’s Ad Hoc Committee on Attorney Malpractice Insurance. The updated indicated that while there will not be a requirement that attorneys have mandatory malpractice insurance; it will soon be required – as per a new Rule of Court – that attorneys must report whether they have malpractice insurance and, if so, file a certificate of insurance setting forth basic policy information that will be accessible to the public. The Judiciary is still considering an additional item that would require attorneys to disclose to clients if they do not have professional malpractice coverage. The NJSBA strenuously opposed these changes when the original report of the committee was released. That information can be found here. The NJSBA will continue its dialogue with the Judiciary on this issue and review how it may affect proposed legislation, A4880, which seeks to level the playing field for professionals.
Budget: The trustees gave preliminary approval to the 2019-2020 budget for the association. The roughly $12 million budget includes several proposals to help members. It contains a plan to allow young lawyers to join substantive sections for free, with the goal of providing them additional reasons to stay invested in the organization throughout their careers. It also continues the Mentor Match program to connect experienced attorneys and retired judges with attorneys who are starting out or facing a career transition. The budget anticipates creating a law practice management component so that members can get valuable information and guidance about running their practice. And the NJSBA also plans to conduct a survey of young lawyers to learn more about how they want to communicate, what services they need and what benefits they want from their membership. The proposed budget will be published and then go back to the board for final review and approval in June.
Section and Committee awards: The board voted to ask all sections and committees to share information about the criteria and review process they use for giving awards. Further, to create a uniform process, the board voted that all committee awards should receive final approval. Section awards will continue to be approved by a section’s governing body.
Diversity Summit 2019: As recommended by the Diversity Committee, the board approved Robert Lattimer as a speaker at the June 26 Diversity Summit. Lattimer is a Non-Resident Scholar and Senior Fellow for Diversity Studies at Rutgers University. This year’s summit will examine “Diversity at a Crossroads: The Global Rise of Nativism, Nationalism and Extremism.”
Future Annual Meeting and Conventions: The trustees approved hosting the 2020 and 2021 Annual Meeting and Conventions at the Borgata, Hotel, Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. Those events are expected to be held May 13-15, 2020 and May 12-14, 2021. The location has been the site of the Annual Meeting for several years, and is where it will be this year from May 15-17. Learn more about this year’s event here.
Government affairs: The trustees voted on several measures. They agreed to support:
• S2441 Diegnan, which clarifies, under “The New Jersey Alternative Procedure for Dispute Resolution Act,” timeframe for party to seek judicial review of alternative dispute resolution award after making request to modify award with umpire of alternative proceeding.
• A4547 Lopez / S3120 Greenstein, which requires collection and reporting of information concerning crimes against the elderly and disabled.
• A4556 Mukherji, which allows parents or legal custodians separated from their children because of immigration matters to appoint standby guardians.
• S2982 Ruiz, a measure that clarifies that child may not be excluded from public school based on membership in protected category under the “Law Against Discrimination” or due to their immigration status.
• A1700 Dancer / S1583 Cruz-Perez, which would specify vacant shopping malls and office parks as eligible for designation as areas in need of redevelopment.
• A1117 Downey, a bill that aims to increase certain minimum liability coverage required for motor vehicle insurance and abolishes basic automobile insurance policy.
• A3311 Bramnick / S2430 Scutari, which requires motor vehicle insurance policies to include certain underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage.
• A4610 Dancer, which permits municipalities to require registration of vacant and abandoned properties and use registration fee proceeds to maintain these properties.
• A3150 Lampitt/S2133 Cruz-Perez, a measure that mandates health benefits coverage for fertility preservation services under certain health insurance plans.
• S477 Vitale, which would remove the statute of limitations in civil actions that involve minor victims of sexual abuse.
The board voted to oppose A4122 Pintor Marin / S2778 Greenstein, a measure that concerns disclosure by homeowner of lead plumbing prior to home sale.