NJSBA Family Law Section

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  • 1.  Tevis Claim

    Posted 06-02-2015 05:31 PM

    Hello,

    I need to file a complaint and include a cause of action for a tort against the other side for physical and mental abuse.  Does anyone have any forms on this COA?  Please send the forms to me at [email protected].

     

    Thanks,

    ------------------------------
    Rachel Cotrino Esq.
    Jackson NJ
    (732)987-9966
    ------------------------------



  • 2.  RE: Tevis Claim

    Posted 06-03-2015 03:24 PM
    Rachel,
    Just add it as an additional count in your divorce complaint, using language as you would for a personal injury, and be sure to seek compensatory and punitive damages. I was very successful in such a claim that went to trial. The court first awarded equitable distribution and then awarded damages against the defendant from his share of the equitable distribution. It also defeated the defendant's claim that he was entitled to alimony.

    F

    Felice T. Londa, Esq.
    Londa & Londa, Esqs.
    277 North Broad Street
    Elizabeth, New Jersey 07208
    Work (908) 353-5600
    Fax (908) 353-5610
    [email protected]
    www.LondaLaw.com




  • 3.  RE: Tevis Claim

    Posted 06-03-2015 06:26 PM

    Knock yourself out

     

    COUNT TWO ASSAULT AND BATTERY

    1. Plaintiff repeats the allegations of Count One of the Complaint as if set forth verbatim and at length.

    2. On or about ________________________, 2015, defendant did bad things.

    3. As a result of the aforementioned occurrence, plaintiff suffered severe physical and emotional trauma, necessitating medical intervention (or not).

    4. As a further result of the aforementioned episode, plaintiff filed domestic violence complaint against defendant under Docket No. ___________________, which action (results), or not.

    5. As a direct and proximate result of defendant's actions, plaintiff has experienced and will continue to experience physical and emotional pain and suffering and will require additional medical attention in the future, or something like that.

    6. The actions by the defendant in attacking plaintiff at the time and place set forth above were done intentionally with the express and exclusive purpose of causing grievous and severe physical injury (maybe not that intense) to plaintiff and to cause plaintiff to be in fear of further physical injury.

    7. As a result of the defendant's intentional, willful, malicious and/or gross negligence and/or wanton disregard of the surrounding circumstances and safety of the plaintiff (or words that get your point across less operatically), the plaintiff sustained serious, permanent and painful injuries (if so, degree taken into account), will in the future experience great pain and suffering (if so, degree taken into account), was obligated to expend large sums of money for medical care and attention (if so, degree taken into account), was caused to lose large sums of money for wages she would have earned but for her injuries (if so, degree taken into account), will in the future lose further sums of money for lost wages (if so, degree taken into account), was deprived of pursuing her usual activities (if so), and will in the future be so deprived of pursuing her usual activities (if so).

    8. At the time of the domestic violence trial (if there was one), the plaintiff specifically reserved her right to damages, because the extent and duration of the medical treatment, both physical and mental, had not yet been determined (if so).

    WHEREFORE, plaintiff demands judgment against the defendant, as follows:

    1. For compensatory damages in an amount that is fair and just;

    2. For punitive damages in an amount that is fair and just;

    3. For costs, including reasonable attorney's fees;

    4. For such other and further relief as the court deems equitable and just.

    That should give you a good start anyway.



    ------------------------------
    Curtis Romanowski Esq.
    Senior Attorney - Proprietor
    Metuchen NJ
    (732)603-8585
    ------------------------------




  • 4.  RE: Tevis Claim

    Posted 06-04-2015 10:11 AM

    Curtis' complaint language is excellent, in my humble opinion.

    I'd add: If the torts occurred (or some of them occurred) over two years prior to the filing of the complaint, I'd include in the complaint itself that your client is a battered spouse and was psychologically unable to step forward earlier.  You could wait for a motion addressing the statute of limitations issue and then argue it, but I think it's a better idea to allege key facts like this in the complaint itself.

    If the torts were committed less than two years earlier, it's not a "Tevis claim" (even though many people and even a few judges still call it that) as you don't need to get around the two year statute of limitations and thus Tevis isn't implicated - it's just an interspousal tort claim.

    Keep in mind that you'll need an expert to establish that client was psychologically unable to step forward within the two year period.  The cheapest I found was $1500, and that was for initial report only (which lead to that case resolving, so I can't speculate what it would have cost if it had gone further).

    David Perry Davis, Esq.

    -----------------------
     www.FamilyLawNJ.pro
    -----------------------
    112 West Franklin Avenue
    Pennington, NJ 08534
    Voice: 609-737-2222
    Fax:    609-737-3222



  • 5.  RE: Tevis Claim

    Posted 06-05-2015 04:23 PM

    Thank you.

    ------------------------------
    Curtis Romanowski Esq.
    Senior Attorney - Proprietor
    Metuchen NJ
    (732)603-8585
    ------------------------------




  • 6.  RE: Tevis Claim

    Posted 06-04-2015 12:01 PM
    Who did you use for an expert?


    GERALDENE SHERR DUSWALT
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  • 7.  RE: Tevis Claim

    Posted 06-05-2015 03:22 PM

    Took me a while to locate the name. I remember early on someone saying that the day comes for all of us when we can't connect the facts of a case to the name, but didn't believe it until now.  Anyway:

    Our expert was Dr. Cynthia Lischick  [email protected]

    Here's other potential experts, but I can't vouch for them:

    Dr. Evan Stark       [email protected]

    Also recently both of the below PH.D.�s were providing trainings on expert witnesses and may be serving as the same at this time or could possibly provide appropriate referrals.  

    Mary Ann Dutton, Ph.D.
    Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Psychiatry
    Georgetown University Medical Center
    Washington, DC

    Dawn M. Hughes, Ph.D., ABPP
    Independent Practitioner 
    Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology - Weill Medical College of Cornell University New York, NY          

     
    David Perry Davis, Esq.
    ----------------------------------------------------
       www.FamilyLawNJ.pro
    ----------------------------------------------------
    112 West Franklin Avenue
    Pennington, NJ 08534
    Voice: 609-737-2222
    Fax:    609-737-3222