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SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY

APPELLATE DIVISION

 

APPLICATION TO FILE APPEAL OR MOTION ON AN EMERGENT BASIS

 

TO:  Hon. James M. Havey, JAD       DATE:   March 4, 2001

 

FROM:  David Perry Davis, Esq.        TELEPHONE:   732-274-9444  

     The following questions are to be answered by the attorney or pro se litigant requesting emergent relief.  This questionnaire is simply designed to determine if the application be handled in the ordinary course or on an emergency basis.  COMPLETION OF THIS APPLICATION DOES NOT IN ANY SENSE CONSTITUTE THE FILING OF AN APPEAL OR MOTION.  There is no right to be heard orally on an emergency application.

 

CASE NAME:    Cruz v Cruz          

 

1.   What is the vicinage of the matter? (i.e. what judge, in what county or what agency entered the decision?)

     Hon. Rosalie B. Cooper, JSC, Ocean County

 

2.   a)  What is your name, address, phone number and fax number?

     David Perry Davis

     31 Jefferson Plaza

     Princeton, NJ 08540

     (732) 274‑9444

     (732) 274‑2050 (fax)

 

     b)  Whom do you represent?

     Juan Cruz (For appellate purposes only)

 

3.   What is your adversary's name, address, phone number and fax number?

     Ocean County Probation Dept

     PO Nancy Cain

     Ocean County Justice Complex

     PO Box 2191

     Toms River, NJ 08754

 

4.   Do you have a written order or judgement entered by the judge or a written agency determination?  YOU MUST ATTACH A COPY OF THE ORDER, JUDGEMENT OR DECISION.

     No order has yet been received by any party.  Please note that in a prior application (Tolbert) that mirrors the present one, no written order was ever entered.  A copy of the (2 page) Order on Emergent Application is enclosed; the Appellate Division acted without a written order in that matter after both Judge Skillman's law clerk and I attempted unsuccessfully to obtain a written order from the trial court.  I have written the Probation Department and the Judge and requested that an Order be issued and faxed to me.

 

5.   Are there any claims against any party below, either in this or a consolidated action, which have not been disposed of, including counterclaims, cross-claims, third-party claims and applications for counsel fees?  IF SO, THE DECISION IS NOR FINAL, BUT RATHER INTERLOCUTORY, AND LEAVE TO APPEAL MUST BE SOUGHT.

     No; this is a post-judgement matrimonial matter brought pursuant to R. 5:7-5 and R. 1:10-3.

    

6.   Have you filed for a stay before the trial court or agency?  If so, do you have a court order or agency decision denying or granting same?

     No; client was pro-se at the support enforcement hearing.  Also, technically no stay is being sought, summary reversal is being sought.

 

7.   If the order or agency decision is interlocutory, are you filing a motion for leave to appeal?

     Not applicable

 

8.   If interlocutory, are you filing a motion to stay the trial court or agency proceeding?

     Not applicable

 

9.   If the order, judgement or agency decision is final, have you filed a notice of appeal?

     Not yet; will do so immediately upon decision on this application.

 

10.  What is the essence of the order, judge or agency decision?

     Defendant was incarcerated for child support arrears without a proper ability to pay hearing and without any allegation that he has the ability to pay.

 

11.  Has any aspect of this matter been presented to or considered by another judge or part of the Appellate Division by emergent application or prior appeals proceedings?  If so, which judge or part?

     Not as to this party.  Four prior emergent applications of a similar nature have been filed and all were granted.

 

12.  What is the nature of the emergency?

     Defendant is being deprived of his liberty.

 

13.  What is the irreparable harm?

     Unconstitutional or improper deprivation of liberty / incarceration constitutes irreparable harm.

 

14.  What relief do you seek?

     Release pending an ability to pay hearing.

     Minor supplementation of the record on appeal.

 

15.  What citation is most important for the proposition that you are likely to prevail on appeal?

 

     Saltzman v. Saltzman, 290 N.J.Super. 117 (App.Div. 1996), Pierce v. Pierce, 122 N.J.Super. 359 (App.Div. 1973); Federbush v. Federbush, 5 N.J.Super. 107, (App.Div.1949); Biddle v. Biddle, 150 N.J.Super. 185 (Ch.Div. 1977); Department of Health v. Roselle, 34 N.J. 331 (1961), Lake v. Speziale, 580 F Supp 1318 (D.Conn. 1984).  See also unpublished decisions on emergent applications in Weinstein v. Weinstein, (App. Div., 3/27/00), Weinstein v. Weinstein, (App. Div., 4/7/00), Bachman v. Cohen, (App.Div. 4/12/00), Williams & Brookins v. Tolbert, (App.Div. 6/7/00) (copy enclosed).

 

16.  Have you notified your adversary that you will be appealing?

     Yes, by copy of this application

 

17.  If this application is being made during trial, does the judge know of it?

     Not applicable

 

18.  Have you served your adversary with all papers?

     Yes

 

19.  Have any transcripts been ordered (particularly of the trial judge's challenged ruling)?

     Yes - in possession of appellant (copy enclosed, 4 pages).

    

     If so, when will the transcripts be available?

     See above

 

20.     Please give me a brief summary of the facts of your case:

Defendant-appellant is in arrears on a child support obligation.  He has arrears of $57,748.74 and an ongoing obligation of $90.00 for current support, $10.00 toward arrears.  The last payment made was in November of 2000 when defendant borrowed $2,000 following his arrest.  Defendant is incarcerated in the Ocean County Jail.  A brief hearing as to his continued incarceration was conducted on February 27, 2001.  At that hearing, it was uncontradicted that defendant is indigent and unemployed.  No inquiry was made into defendant's assets.  A letter submitted by defendant's sister and considered by the Court on the record during the hearing indicated that defendant has psychiatric difficulties and is unable to work.  The trial court (correctly) ordered that defendant be evaluated and pursue SSI if he is disabled.  The trial court (incorrectly) ordered defendant to remain incarcerated in the interim.  Defendant seeks summary reversal of the Order incarcerating him pending a proper ability to pay hearing.

 

The "children" involved are both over 18 and neither is a full-time college student.  Defendant seeks to supplement the record to establish this undisputed fact.  Defendant was pro se until his family hired counsel for this appeal; he has never applied to have the children declared emancipated.  This is a "pure debt" incarceration.

 

6/99

     NOTICE OF APPEAL       

superior court of new jersey - appellate division

 

title of action as captioned below                      attorney of record

 

               name David Perry Davis, Esq.

Brenda  Cruz

                                                 address        31 Jefferson Plaza

            Plaintiff                                               Princeton, NJ 08540

                                                 phone no.    (732) 274‑9444

vs.

                                                 attorney for Defendant

Juan  Cruz

                                                        on appeal from

            Defendant Superior Court of New Jersey

                                                 Chancery Division, Family Part

               Ocean County             

                                                 trial court or state agency

 

                                                 FM-15-354-85___________________

                                                 trial docket or indictment number

 

notice is hereby given that    Defendant     appeals to the superior court of n.j. appellate division from the judgement (X )  order  (  )  other (specify)                      

 

entered in this action on    February 27,    , 20  01     in favor of     Plaintiff        

 

                                                                                                                   

 

if appeal is from less than the whole specify what parts or paragraphs are being appealed.

                                                                                                                     

 

are all issues as to all parties disposed of in the action being appealed? yes  (X ) no  (  )

 

if not is there a certification of final judgment entered pursuant to r. 4:42-2?  n/a

 

priority under r. 1:2-5 yes (   ) no  (X )  applicable section under the rule            

 

in criminal quasi-criminal and juvenile cases  not incarcerated (  )  incarcerated (  )

confined at                                                                                          

 

give a concise statement of the offense and of the judgement date entered and any sentence or disposition imposed                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                         

                                                                                         

 

1/  notice of appeal has been served on:                  date of   type of

                        name                    service    service

 

trial court judge   Hon. Rosalie B. Cooper, JSC                

 

 

trial court clerk state agency                                        

 

 

attorney general or governmental                                                               

office under r. 2:5-1 (h)

 

other parties

name and designation                                date of   type of

                        name                    service    service

 

 Ocean County Probation Dept / Child Support Enforcement Division

 

   Brenda Cruz                                                                                                 3/6/01         FedEx  

 

               i hereby certify that i have served a copy of this notice of

                 appeal on each of the persons required as indicated above

 

 

                             March 4                  2001                                                                       

                                                   signature of attorney of record

2/  prescribed transcript request form has been served on:

     (also indicate if sound recorded)

 

                                                            date of   type of

                                    name                    service    service

administrative office of the courts

chief court reporting services                                

 

court reporter's supervisor

clerk of county or agency                                    

 

court reporter                                            

 

 

 

i hereby certify that i have served the prescribed court

transcript request form on each of the above persons

and paid the deposit as required by r. 2:5-3(d)

 

n/a already in possession

 

                                    19                                                                         

                                          signature of attorney of record

3/                i hereby certify that:

                  (  ) there is no verbatim record

                  (X ) transcript is in the possession of the attorney of record

                  (  ) a motion for abbreviation of transcript has been filed with the court or agency below

                  (  ) a motion for free transcript has been filed with the court below

 

 

      ___________________________  20____ __________________________________

                                     signature of attorney of record

        superior court of new jersey - appellate division

  civil case information statement

────────────────────────────────────────

title in full                               for official use only

                                   appeal docket no.

Brenda Cruz

            Plaintiff                     notice of appeal filed:

                                  

vs.

                                   date sent:

Juan Cruz

            Defendant                              

────────────────────────────────────────

appellant's attorney(s):        Plaintiff           Defendant           Other (Specify)

name                address            telephone          client

David Perry Davis, Esq. 31 Jefferson Plaza          (732) 274‑9444     Defendant

                    Princeton, NJ 08540    

 

respondent's  attorney(s)*:

name                        address               telephone          client

Ocean County Probation Dept.       PO Box 2191         

Child Support Enforcement Unit    Ocean County Justice Complex

                           Toms River, NJ 08754

Brenda Cruz, pro se

 

[indicate which parties, if any, did not participate below or who were no longer party to the action at the time of entry of the order/judgment being appealed.]  Brenda Cruz, plaintiff, did not participate.  Application for enforcement hearing was brought by Ocean County probation, child support enforcement unit.  Arrears are owed to OCBSS.  Plaintiff never consulted as to enforcement application being made.

────────────────────────────────────────

give date and summary of terms of judgement entered below:

Are there any claims against any party below, either in this of in or a consolidated action,

which have not been disposed of, including counterclaims, cross-claims, third party

claims and applications for counsel fees?                              Yes         No    X   

 

If so, has it been certified as final pursuant to R. 4:42-2?      n/a            Yes         No         

(If not, leave to appeal must be sought. R. 2:2-4, 2:5-6)

 

Is the validity of a statute, executive order, franchise or

constitutional provision of this State questioned?  (R. 2:5-1)                  Yes         No    X   

────────────────────────────────────────

give a brief statement of the facts and procedural history:

     Defendant was improperly incarcerated without an ability to pay hearing, and has now been incarcerated for in excess of 10 days.  See attached application for leave to file an emergent appeal.

────────────────────────────────────────

to the extent possible, list the proposed issues to be raised on this appeal, as they will be described in appropriate point headings pursuant to r. 2:6-2(a)(5).

(appellant or cross appellant only.)

     I.  See attached application for leave to file an emergent appeal.

 

     II.  Such other points as research and preparation of the appellant's brief and appendix may reveal.

 

if you are appealing from a judgment entered by a trial judge sitting without a jury or from an order of the trial court, complete the following:

 

1.  Did the trial judge issue oral findings or opinion?

Yes   X     No          

     If so, on what date?   February 27, 2001

2.  Did the trial judge issue written findings or opinion?

            Yes         No    X  

     If so, on what date? __________________

 

Caution: Before you indicate that there was neither an opinion nor findings, you should inquire of the trial judge to determine whether findings or an opinion was placed on the record out of counsel's presence or whether the judge will be filing a statement or opinion pursuant to R. 2:5-1(b).

     Date of your inquiry: __________________

 

Will the trial judge be filing a statement or opinion pursuant to R. 2:5-1(b)?  Yes         No   X    

 

────────────────────────────────────────

All civil appeals will be screened under the Civil Appeals Settlement Program to determine their potential for settlement or, in the alternative, a simplification of issues, abbreviation of transcript and any other matters that may aid in the disposition or handling of the appeal.  Please consider these when responding to the following question.

 

State whether you think this case may benefit from a conference.   Yes         No     X   

 

Explain your answer.  A negative response will not necessarily rule out the scheduling of a pre-argument conference.

     Defendant should be immediately released pending a proper ability to pay hearing; at said hearing he should not be incarcerated absent evidence his non-compliance constitutes a willful disregard of the child support obligation and/or he has the present ability to comply.

────────────────────────────────────────

1.  is there any case now pending or about to be brought before this court which:

  (A) Arises from substantially the case or controversy as this appeal?                   Yes         No     X   

  (B) Involves an issue that is substantially the same, similar or related to an issue in this appeal? Yes        No     X   

 

2.  was there any prior appeal involving the case or controversy?                Yes        No    X   

 

if the answer to either 1 or 2 above is yes, state:

     Case name:                   Appellate Division Docket No.:

 

────────────────────────────────────────

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                    

   Name of Appellant or Respondent           Name of Counsel of Record

 

 

                                                                                                      

             Date                                        Signature of Counsel of Record

  The Law Office of

David Perry Davis

31 Jefferson Plaza

Princeton, NJ 08540

(732) 274‑9444

(732) 274‑2050 (fax)

Attorney for defendant / appellant

───────────────────────────────────────

Brenda Cruz,

 

     Plaintiff / Respondent

 

         vs.

 

Juan  Cruz,

 

     Defendant / Appellant

:::::::::

SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY

APPELLATE DIVISION

DOCKET NO. A-

 

Civil Action

 

NOTICE OF MOTION FOR

EMERGENT RELIEF

 

───────────────────────────────────────

     PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, at a time and place selected by the appellate division, defendant shall move for an Order:

 

     1.  Waiving the required filing fee in this matter pursuant to R. 1:13-2(a) and granting leave to appeal out of time pursuant to R. 2:4-1(a);

 

     2.  Summarily reversing the trial court's February 27, 2001 Order pursuant to R. 2:8-3(b) and compelling the immediate release of defendant pending a proper ability to pay hearing;

 

     3.  Ordering that defendant shall not be re-incarcerated absent a finding, based on substantial and credible evidence, that he has the present ability to comply with the court orders subject to enforcement or that he has wilfully failed to comply with any employment-related conditions or disability-related conditions set by the court;

 

     4.  Permitting minor supplementing of the record on appeal;

 

     5.  For such further relief as the court may deem equitable and just.

 

     Defendant shall rely on the enclosed letter brief, certification and attachments.

 

___________________________     

    David Perry Davis, Esq.  


 The Law Office of

David Perry Davis

31 Jefferson Plaza

Princeton, NJ 08540

(732) 274‑9444

(732) 274‑2050 (fax)

Attorney for defendant

───────────────────────────────────────

Brenda Cruz,

 

     Plaintiff / Respondent

 

         vs.

 

Juan  Cruz,

 

     Defendant / Appellant

:::::::::

SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY

APPELLATE DIVISION

DOCKET NO. A-