Table of Contents
Cover Page.................................................................. i
Table of Contents.......................................................... ii
Table of Authorities...................................................... iii
Index to Transcripts...................................................... vii
Table of Contents to Appendix............................................. vii
Procedural History.......................................................... 1
Statement of Facts.......................................................... 6
Summary of Argument........................................................ 20
Legal Argument
I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN RULING THAT THE
DEFENDANT-COUNTERCLAIMANT'S INABILITY TO ATTEND THE DECEMBER 21, 1993 HEARING
DID NOT CONSTITUTE EXCUSABLE NEGLECT......... 23
II.
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN HOLDING THAT MS. M WOULD NOT SUCCEED ON THE
MERITS OF HER CLAIM; THE UNCONTROVERTED FACTS OF THE CASE DEMONSTRATE THAT SHE
WILL SUCCEED ON THE MERITS ............................................................................ 29
A. The purchase of the co-habitants’ home as
joint tenants with
rights of survivorship
clearly indicates an intent on the part of the plaintiff to provide for the
defendant-counterclaimant beyond the end of their relationship..................................................................... 29
B. The trial court erred in
failing to consider the palimony factors announced
in Kozlowski v. Kozlowski,
and instead focusing on the legal irrelevancy of the nonexistence of a writing............................................ 32
III.
THE
IV.
THE APPELLATE DIVISION SHOULD EXERCISE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION TO REDRESS
THE FINANCIAL INJUSTICE CAUSED BY THE
A. The court should revive pendente lite
support pending the resolution of the defendant-counterclaimant's claims at the
trial level 47
B. As the underlying Order improperly deprived
the defendant-counterclaimant of her property, she must be considered ousted
and is therefore entitled to half the fair rental value of the residence since
her removal................. 52
Conclusion................................................................. 54
Table of Authorities
Federal Statutes
42
................................................................... 24,
25, 27
Article
IV, section V, paragraph 3........................................ 43
N.J.
Stat. Ann. 3B:1-2 (West 1994)....................................... 24
N.J.
Stat. Ann. 30:1-12 (West 1994)...................................... 25
N.J.
Stat. Ann. 3B:12-28 (West 1994)..................................... 24
N.J.
Stat. Ann. 10:5‑4.1 (West 1992) (
N.J.
Stat. Ann. 17:48-6a (West 1994)..................................... 25
New
Rule
4:50-1.......................................................... passim
Federal Case Law
Reitmeier
v. Kalinski, 631 F.Supp. 565 (D.N.J. 1986)............. 38,
39, 40
Anastasia v. Planning Board of
(App. Div. 1986)........................................................... 43
Arrow
Mfg. Co. v. Levinson, 231 N.J.Super. 527 (App.Div.1989)........ 27, 36
Baird
v. Moore, 50 N.J. Super. 156
(App.Div. 1958).................. 52,
53
Baker
v. Drabik, 224 N.J. super. 603 (App.Div.1988)...................... 53
Bauer
v. Migliaccio, 235 N.J. Super. 127 (App.Div.1994).................. 52
Baumann
v. Marinaro, 95 N.J. 380 (1984) ................................. 27
Bressman
v. Gash, 131 N.J. 517 (1993) ................................... 43
Citizens
Coach Co. v. Camden Horse R.R. Co., 29 N.J.Eq. 299 (E. & A. 1878) 50
City
of
Clowes
v. Terminix Int'l Inc., 109 N.J. 575 (1988)....................... 24
Coffin
v. Kelly, 133 N.J.L. 252 (E. &
A. 1945)...................... 24,
29
Court
Inv. Co. v. Perillo, 48 N.J. 334 (1966)............................ 23
Crowe v. DeGioia, 90 N.J. 126 (1982)
reh'g on remand 203 N.J. Super. 22
(App. Div. 1985)............................................... 35, 49, 50, 51
Eiseman
v. Schneider, 60 N.J.L. 291 (Sup.Ct. 1897)....................... 35
Gery
v. Gery, 113 N.J.Eq. 59 (Ct.E. & A.1933)............................ 39
Gimello
v. Agency Rent-A-Car Systems, 250 N.J. Super. 338 (App.Div.1991). 24
Gross
v. Yeskel, 100 N.J. Eq. 293 (1926)................................. 31
Hodge
v. Giese, 43 N.J.Eq. 342 (
In
the Matter of Collestar, 126 N.J. 468 (1991).......................... 25
In the Matter of the Adoption of a Child
by J.R.D., 246 N.J.Super. 619 (Ch. Div.1990) 26
In the Matter of George Hahn, an Attorney
at Law, 120 N.J. 691 (1990).... 24
Klockner
v. Green, 54 N.J. 230 (1969).................................... 35
Kozlowski v.
Kozlowski, 164 N.J. Super. 162 (Ch.Div. 1978), aff’d 80 N.J. 378
(1979)
........................................... 28,
30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 48, 50, 51
Lohmann
v. Lohmann, 50 N.J.Super. 37 (App.Div.1958)...................... 52
Lombardo
v. Hoag, 269 N.J. Super. 36 (App. Div. 1993)................ 24, 29
Maisonet
v. N.J. Dept. of Human Service, 274 N.J. Super. 228, cert granted
138 N.J. 265 (1994)..................................................................... 44
Mancini
v.
Manning Eng', Inc. v.
Marder
v. Realty Construction Co., 84 N.J. Super. 313 (App.Div. 1964), aff'd,
43 N.J. 508 (1964)................................................................. 27,
29
Margaritondo
v. Stauffer Chemical Company, 217 N.J. Super. 560 reaffrm'd 217 N.J.
Super. 565 (App.Div.1986) ........................................................ 43
Morin
v. Becker, 6 N.J. 457 (1951)....................................... 47
Moscowitz v.
(App.
Div. 1952)........................................................... 31
Newman
v. Chase, 70 N.J. 254 (1976)................................. 39, 52
Quagliato
v. Bodner, 115 N.J. Super. 133 (App.Div. 1971)............. 37, 41
Rova
Farms Resort v. Investors Insurance Co., 65 N.J. 474 (1974)......... 24
S.E.W.
Friel Company v. N.J. Turnpike Authority, 73 N.J. 107 (1977)...... 27
S.S.
v. E.S., 243 N.J. Super. 1 (App.Div. 1990).......................... 43
Saul
v. Midlantic National Bank, 240 N.J. Super. 62 (App.Div.1990)....... 47
State
v. Tumminello, 70 N.J. 187 (1976).................................. 43
State
v. Jarbath, 114 N.J. 394 (1989).................................... 44
State
v. Macon, 57 N.J. 325 (1971)....................................... 47
State
v. Scher, 278 N.J. Super. 249 (App. Div. 1994)..................... 24
Tradesman National Bank and Trust Co. v.
Cummings, 38 N.J. Super. 1
(App.Div. 1955)........................................................ 24,
27
Weichert
Co. Realtors v. Ryan, 128 N.J. 427, (1992)...................... 31
Weiss
v.
Foreign State Case Law
Clarke
v. Clarke, 423 N.W.2d 818 (S.D. 1988)..................... 26,
27, 42
Crowell
v. Danforth, 222
Hall
v. Eaton, 258 Ill.App.3d 893, 631 N.E.2d 833, 197 Ill.Dec. 611 (App.Div.
1994) 52
Henderson
v. Eason, 17 Q.B. 701, 117 Eng.Rep. 1451 (Ex.Ch.1851).......... 52
Iddings
v. McBurne, 657 A.2d 550 (R.I. 1995)............................. 27
Sawyer
v. Cox, 36 N.C.App. 300, 244 S.E.2d 173 (1982).................... 27
U.S.I.F.
Wynnewood Corp. v. W. G. Soderquist, 27 N.C.App. 611, 219 S.E.2d 787 (1975) 27
Other Sources
Accountability of Co‑tenants,
Weible, 29
Black's
Law Dictionary, 6th Ed........................................... 30
Law
of Property, Cunningham, §§ 5.8, 5.12. .............................. 52
Real
Property, Thompson, (1940), § 1908, p. 431.......................... 52
Restatement
(Second) of Contracts §27, §213, (1982 App.)................. 31
Index to Transcripts
Transcript 1 [1T] - Feb 25,
1995 Hearing before J.S.C. Mahon,
Transcript 2 [2T] - Dec 21,
1993 Hearing before J.S.C. Mahon,
Transcript 3 [3T] - June 12,
1992 Hearing before J.S.C. Sullivan,
All transcripts are included
in Volume II, immediately following the end of the Appendix documents.
Table of Contents to Appendix
VOLUME I
Complaint for Custody, dated June 12,
1992: (John H., Plaintiff).... Da 1 - 3
Plaintiff's accompanying Order to Show Cause,
dated June 12, 1992 ... Da 4 ‑
7
Plaintiff's Certification in Support of Order
to Show Cause, dated June 12, 1992 Da 8
‑ 21
Answer and Counterclaim (Janice M a/k/a
Janice H, Defendant-counterclaimant), dated June 17, 1992............................................................... Da
22 ‑ 36
Defendant-counterclaimant's Order to Show
Cause to Dissolve Restraints and Other Relief, dated June 17, 1992................................................ Da
37 ‑ 40
Plaintiff's Supplemental Certification in
Support of Order to Show Cause Da
41 ‑ 46
Defendant-counterclaimant's Supplemental
Certification in Support of Order to Show Cause, dated June 17, 1992................................................ Da
47 - 57
Plaintiff's Certification in Response to
Defendant-counterclaimant's Counterclaim and Certification in Support of Order
to Show Cause, dated June 29, 1992 Da
58 ‑ 80
Certification of Brian H in Support of
Plaintiff's Order to Show Cause, dated June 29, 1992................................................................... Da
414-416
Letter Brief of Jan L.
Bernstein (Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti) in support of
defendant-counterclaimant-counter-claimant's Order to Show Cause,
dated July 1, 1992................................................. Da 81 ‑
89
J.S.C. Carchman Order to
Transfer Venue (Mercer to Monmouth),
dated June 12, 1992.................................................... Da 400
Order Granting Relief and Transferring Venue
(Monmouth to Somerset), signed by Mark A. Sullivan, J.S.C. and Alexander
Lehrer, P.J.F.P., dated July 22, 1992 Da
90 ‑ 93
Plaintiff's Answer to Counter Claim, dated
July 28, 1992........... Da 94 ‑
98
Two criminal complaints
lodged by defendant-counterclaimant (harassing phone calls),
dated July 15 & 27, 1992................................................ Da
99
Third criminal complaint lodged by defendant-counterclaimant
(flashing camera through bedroom windows at night), dated Aug 18, 1992.................................. Da 100
Temporary Restraining Order
under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act,
dated Aug 19, 1992............................................... Da 101 - 104
Domestic Violence complaint
merger and withdrawal (Mutual Restraint stipulation),
dated Jan 19, 1993............................................... Da
105 ‑ 106
District VII Ethics Committee, Disciplinary
Action against John H, for threatening J.S.C. Linda Feinberg, dated May 28,
1993............................... Da
401 - 405
Answer of John H. denying
the Judge's allegations (partial document)
....................................................................... Da
406
Cover page of
interrogatories propounded by defendant-counterclaimant,
dated Mar 26, 1993..................................................... Da 407
Cover page of Document Production Request
propounded by defendant-counterclaimant, dated Mar 26, 1993............................................................... Da
408
Consent Order re Defendant giving documents
to plaintiff, dated July 14, 1993 Da
107 - 108
Riker Danzig's Notice of Motion for Leave to
Withdraw as Counsel (Nonpayment of legal fees), dated July 9, 1993............................................... Da
109 - 110
Certification in Support of
Notice of Motion for Leave to Withdraw as Counsel,
dated July 9, 1993............................................... Da 111 - 112
Order Granting Leave to Withdraw as Counsel,
dated July 23, 1993. Da 113 - 114
Certification of John H, in Support of Order
to Show Cause, dated July 8, 1993 Da
115 - 123
Summons and Notice of Court Hearing, dated
Nov 24, 1993................ Da 124
Amended Complaint for
Partition (correctly states that title is held as "joint tenants"),
dated Nov 30, 1992............................................... Da 125 - 127
Plaintiff's trial brief (now incorrectly
claims that residence held as tenants in common), dated Dec 13, 1993............................................... Da
128 - 137
Jan 6, 1994 Order of J.S.C. Roger
Pro se Notice of Appeal, dated Feb
10, 1994............................ Da
142
Pro se Court Transcript Request,
dated Mar 8, 1994..................... Da
146
Pro se Motion to Reconsider (Trial
level), dated Mar 9, 1994........... Da
147
Pro Se "Additional Affidavit
in Support of Motion to Reconsider
Filed February 10, 1994"......................................... Da
148 - 150
Pro se Notice of Motion for Stay Pending
Appeal (Trial level)
....................................................................... Da
151
Pro Se "Affidavit in Support
of Motion for Stay Ending Appeal", dated March 15, 1994
................................................................... Da
152-154
Pro se motion "for the
Appintment of Attorney", (Trial level) dated Mar 9, 1995 Da 155
Pro Se "Certification in
Support of Application Appointing Attorney dated 3/7/94 Suing in Forma
Pauperis".................................................. Da
156 - 157
Appellate Division Notice of Docketing of
Defendant-counterclaimant's Motion for Stay and Further Relief, dated Mar 29,
1994..................................... Da
158
Plaintiff's Notice of Cross Motion,
(Appellate Division) dated Mar 29, 1994 Da
159 - 160
Plaintiff's Certification in Opposition to
Defendant-counterclaimant's Motion and in Support of Cross Motion, dated Mar
18, 1994.............................. Da
161 - 179
Appearance Grace Dennigan, Esq, (for trial
level proceedings only), dated April 14 Da
180
Plaintiff's Notice of Motion to Extend Time
to Answer, dated Apr 18, 1994 Da
181
Plaintiff's Supporting Certification of
Counsel in Support of Motion to Extend Time to file Answering Papers to Motion,
dated Apr 18, 1994................... Da
182 - 185
Appellate Division's Order on (3/18/94) Motion for Stay Pending
Appeal,
dated
Apr 21, 1994..................................................... Da
185
Defendant-counterclaimant's Supplemental
Notice of Motion for Reconsideration of All Issues Addressed in the January 5,
1994 Order (Converts out of time Reconsideration Motion into R. 4:50-1
Motion), dated Apr 27, 1994............................... Da
186 - 188
Defendant-counterclaimant's
Supporting Certification in Support of Supplemental Notice of Motion, dated Apr
14, 1994....................................... Da
189 - 195
Defendant-counterclaimant's Letter Brief in
Support of Relief From Judgment under R. 4:50-1, dated Apr 27, 1994............................................... Da
196 - 199
Defendant-counterclaimant's
Attorney's Certification of Services, dated Apr 27, 1994
................................................................. Da
200 - 202
Plaintiff's Responsive Certification in Opposition
to Defendant-counterclaimant's Motion to Reopen Judgment under R. 4:50-1
(This is partial document; the remainder is lost), dated May 4, 1994.......................................................... Da
202 - 212
Pro Se Notice of Motion to Compel Production
of Documents (Appellate Division), dated May 9, 1994................................................................... Da
213
Pro Se Certification in Support of
Motion to Compel Notice of Motion to Compel Production of Documents (Appellate
Division), dated May 9, 1994...................... Da
214
Police report re Defendant-Counterclaimant
removing her items from residence Da
413
Pro Se Notice of Motion for
Extension of Time to File The Answer to the Cross Motion for Relief, dated May
9, 1994.............................................. Da
215
Pro Se "Certification of Pro
Se in Support of Notice of Motion to Extend Time to File The Answer to the
Cross Motion for Relief AND in Support of the Motion to Compel Production of
Documents", dated May 9, 1994.................................... Da
216 - 217
Pro se letter-motion to Appellate
Division requesting Miscellaneous Relief,
dated June 2, 1994............................................... Da 219 - 220
Appellate Division: Order on Motion by
Appellant to Compel Production of Documents and to Extend Time to Answer to
Cross Motion, dated June 7, 1994.............. Da
221
Appellate Division: Order on Motion by
Respondent for Relief, dated June 7, 1994 Da
222
Appellate Division: Order on
Motion by Appellant for Stay and for Further Relief,
dated Jun 7, 1944...................................................... Da 223
Supplemental
Certification of Defendant-counterclaimant, dated Jul 14, 1994 Da 224 - 226
Responsive Certification in Opposition to Defendant-counterclaimant's
Supplemental Certification and Certification of Stephen Marrin and In Further
Support of Cross Motion,
dated
July 25, 1994.............................................. Da
227 - 239
VOLUME II
Grace Dennigan, Esq, letter
brief outlining meritorious defenses available to defendant-counterclaimant if
judgement were re-opened under R. 4:50‑1, dated Sep 9, 1994
................................................................. Da
240 - 248
Certification of Edna Bijou
concerning defendant-counterclaimant's alcoholism during period of 12/21/93
hearing,
dated Sep 7, 1994 ............................................... Da 249 - 251
Certification of Robert Bijou concerning
defendant-counterclaimant's alcoholism during period of 12/21/93 hearing, dated
Sep 7, 1994........................... Da
251 - 253
Certification of Steven Marrin concerning
defendant-counterclaimant's alcoholism during period of 12/21/93 hearing, dated
Sep 7, 1994.................... Da
409 - 412
Plaintiff's responsive
letter brief, dated Sep 12, 1994
................................................................. Da
254 - 260
Court
Order memorializing decision on August 5, 1994, dated Oct 5, 1994 Da 260 - 262
J.S.C.
Mahon Order (decided February 23, 1994) denying R. 4:50-1 Motion, dated
Mar 28, 1995......................................................................
Da 263
Defendant-counterclaimant's substitution of
Counsel (Grace Dennigan to Janice M, pro se), dated Mar 6, 1995...................................................... Da
264
Pro se Notice of Motion to Amend
Appeal (to include J.S.C.'s
Appellate Division Scheduling Order, dated
May 11, 1995................ Da 265
Pro se Notice of Motion to Extend
Time, dated Jun 22, 1995
....................................................................... Da
266
Pro se
Certification of Janice M in support of Notice of Motion to Extend Time, dated
Jun 22, 1995............................................................. Da
267 - 269
Pro se Notice of Motion to Amend
Notice of Appeal and to Relinquish Jurisdiction, dated Jun 22, 1995............................................................. Da 270
Pro se
Certification of Janice M in support of Notice of Motion to Amend Notice of
Appeal and to Relinquish Jurisdiction, dated Jun 22, 1995................... Da 271 - 272
Certifications
of John H in Opposition to Defendant-counterclaimant's Motions to Extend Time
and Amend Notice of Appeal, dated Jun 30, 1995................... Da
273 - 276