PO Box 45029, 124 Halsey St.,
Newark, NJ 07101 Directions

Peter Basso
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Affirmative Civil Enforcement – Newark Practice Group will spearhead the efforts to bring affirmative “pattern and practice” civil rights cases on behalf of the State under the NJ Civil Rights Act and authorizing statutes of the Division on Civil Rights. Additionally, the section will work with the Department of Labor to bring actions against employers and entities for labor and workplace violations.

Hughes Justice Complex
2nd Fl., P.O. Box 117
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
(609) 376-2965 /fax (609) 777-3503

Richard Wegryn, Jr.
Section Chief

Nicholas Kant
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Banking & Insurance Section provides legal representation and counsel to the Department of Banking and Insurance. That representation includes bringing civil enforcement actions against licensees and regulated entities, representing the Commissioner in the role of rehabilitator or liquidator of insolvent insurance companies, counseling the Department on proposed legislation and regulations, and defending challenges to the Department’s actions.

The Section litigates regulatory enforcement matters against licensees, including insurance producers and public adjusters, who have violated the State’s insurance laws, civil insurance fraud matters on behalf of the Bureau of Fraud Deterrence, by seeking civil penalties pursuant to the New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act, and pursues regulatory enforcement actions on behalf of the Division of Banking against New Jersey chartered banks, consumer lenders, check cashers, and money transmitters who violate New Jersey’s banking laws. Deputies also counsel the Division of Banking in the Division’s regulatory oversight, together with Federal authorities, of national banks in New Jersey and New Jersey Real Commission, which oversees the licensing and conduct of New Jersey real estate agents and brokers, as well as the Individual and Small Employer Health Care Board.

PO Box 45029, 124 Halsey St.,
Newark, NJ 07101 Directions
(973) 877-1280 /fax 973-648-3555

James Michael
Interim Chief, Deputy Attorney General

VACANT
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Civil Rights Section enforces antidiscrimination laws on behalf of the Division on Civil Rights and the Attorney General. The section’s work includes providing legal counsel to the Division on Civil Rights, assisting with strategic investigations and bringing administrative and trial court litigation to combat unlawful discrimination such as redlining, housing discrimination, employment discrimination, religious discrimination, and gender discrimination, among others.

Hughes Justice Complex –
7th Fl., P.O. Box 112
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
(609) 376-2955 / fax(609) 633-7434

Susan Scott
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Nicole Adams
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Dominic Giova
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

VACANT
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney GeneralCommunity Affairs and State provides legal representation and counsel to the Department of Community Affairs, Department of State, Civil Service Commission, Government Records Council, New Jersey Racing Commission and Second Injury Fund. Within the Department of Community Affairs and the Department of State are several divisions, bureaus and programs (listed below) to which the Section provides significant legal advice and representation. The Section’s focus is the administrative enforcement of New Jersey’s statutes and regulations governing areas such as elections, housing, the safety of buildings and facilities, horse racing, public records retention and production, land use, local government services, municipal finance, and civil service actions. The deputies in Community Affairs and State have varied assignments including counseling, administrative practice in the Office of Administrative Law, and litigation in the State and federal courts at all stages from pre-trial through all appeals. Finally, the Section represents the Second Injury Fund, which makes benefit payments to totally and permanently disabled workers where the cause of disability was subsequent to a prior disability rendering the worker permanently and partially disabled.

• Department of Community Affairs
  — Division of Codes and Standards
  — Division of Fire Safety
  — Division of Housing and Community Resources
  — Division of Local Government Services
  — Division of Sandy Recovery
• Council on Affordable Housing
• Department of State
• Secretary of State
• Division of Elections
  — Business/Economic Development
  — Arts/History/Cultural Programs
• Motion Picture & Television Commission
• Civil Service Commission
• Government Records Council
• New Jersey Racing Commission
• Second Injury Fund

P.O. Box 45029, 124 Halsey Street, 5th Fl.,
Newark, NJ 07101 Directions
(973) 648-7454 /fax (973) 648-7782

Steven Flanzman
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Megan Cordoma
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Consumer Affairs Counseling Section provides legal counsel and representation to approximately fifty professional licensing boards and committees housed within the Division of Consumer Affairs. Those Boards and Committees regulate a broad array of professions, industries and activities, including health care workers (doctors, dentists and nurses among the ranks), engineers, architects, cosmeticians, plumbers and cemeteries. The Section also provides counsel to an equally diverse set of regulatory units within the Division of Consumer Affairs including the Prescription Monitoring Program, Drug Control Unit, Charities Registration, Legalized Games of Chance, Lemon Law, and the Bureau of Securities.

Deputies typically have the opportunity to become well versed in one or more of the specialty areas that our client agencies regulate. Deputies can expect to work closely with their client agencies on matters involving licensing and credentialing; matters requiring investigative hearings; and in the drafting and promulgation of regulations. Deputies also routinely provide counsel to the boards when those boards conduct disciplinary hearings, and can expect to be involved both in efforts at settlement and in the drafting of Board orders following hearings. Deputies often work collaboratively with other State and federal entities, and are asked to provide advice and assistance on issues concerning compliance with requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act, responses to subpoenas and Open Public Record Act requests.

Deputies will appear upon occasion in the Superior Court, Appellate Division, and New Jersey Supreme Court on litigated matters, including actions where a law suit is filed against the client agencies and in appeals of actions taken by the client agencies.

P.O. Box 45029, 124 Halsey Street
Newark, NJ 07101 Directions
(973) 648-3070 / fax (973) 648-6835

VACANT
Section Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Isabella Pitt
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Jesse Sierant
Assistant Section Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Chanel Van Dyke
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section represents the Attorney General and Division of Consumer Affairs in its enforcement of several New Jersey consumer protection laws and regulations that protect the public against unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent practices. The section also investigates and litigates violations of antitrust law.  The Section’s work includes civil investigations and prosecutions across a vast array of areas and industries impacting vulnerable consumers, from matters involving financial services, predatory lending, loan servicing, and debt collection to matters involving charities fraud, registered home improvement contractors, health care service firms, and automobile dealerships.

P.O. Box 45029, 124 Halsey Street
Newark, NJ 07101 Directions

Kashif Chand
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Thomas Huynh
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Section represents the Attorney General and the Division of Consumer Affairs in digital privacy and data security matters that include emerging issues related to social media and technology platform accountability. The section investigates and litigates matters involving the compromise of personal information as a result of data breaches; insufficient corporate security practices in response to threats to consumer information, including malware, ransomware, phishing, and advanced persistent threat attacks misuse of personal information collected from consumers; the use of online platforms and websites by children; failure to protect personal health and financial information; and deceptive policies, practices, and operations of social media and technology platforms impacting user privacy, health, and safety.

PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a DYFS office. Use the following link to contact the New Jersey
Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P), formerly DYFS.

283-299 Market Street
153 Halsey Street
Newark, NJ 07101 Directions
862-350-5606 or 862-350-5699 / fax (973) 353-8220

Section Chief: Lori DeCarlo
Deputy Attorney General

Christina Duclos
Assistant Section Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Department of Children and Families Practice Group is working cooperatively with the Division-Wide Appeals Practice Group, is responsible for supervising, coordinating, drafting and reviewing appeals in matters involving New Jersey Department of Children and Families including but not limited to child abuse and neglect matters and termination of parental rights in a matter that is at the appellate level.

PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a DYFS office. Use the following link to contact the New Jersey
Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P), formerly DYFS.

Hughes Justice Complex –
8th Fl., P.O. Box 112,
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
(609) 376-2900 / fax (609) 633-1739

Jennifer Lochel Burns
Section Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Cynthia Schappell
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Mira Ogrizovic
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Michael Thompson
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Amy Klauber
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The DCF-Central Section provides representation to the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the agency tasked with protecting children and strengthening families. The deputies in this section represent DCF when it seeks supervision or custody of abused and neglected children or is seeking termination of parental rights when deemed necessary. The work is litigation intensive but also touches on aspects of social work. There is also significant appellate work undertaken by all deputies in the section. This DCF section also provides representation at the Office of Administrative Law in DCF’s administrative cases, advice to various units in DCF, on issues such as licensing and employment. The section provides representation in matters originating in Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties as well as the Administrative Hearings Unit in administrative cases at the OAL.

PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a DYFS office. Use the following link to contact the New Jersey
Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P), formerly DYFS.

P.O. Box 45029, 124 Halsey Street,
Newark, NJ 07101 Directions
(973) 648-7579 or 973-648-2500 / fax (973) 648-3879

Elizabeth Sherwood
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Lisa Cerasia
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

VACANT
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Merav Lichtenstein
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The DCF-Essex Section provides representation to the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the agency tasked with protecting children and strengthening families. The deputies in this section represent DCF when it seeks supervision or custody of abused and neglected children or is seeking termination of parental rights when deemed necessary. The work is litigation intensive but also touches on aspects of social work. There is also significant appellate work undertaken by all deputies in the section. The section provides representation in matters originating in Essex County.

PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a DYFS office. Use the following link to contact the New Jersey
Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P), formerly DYFS.

153 Halsey Street, 8th Floor
Newark, NJ 07101 Directions
(973) 565-8146 / fax (973) 353-8221

Peter D. Alvino
Chief, Senior Deputy Attorney General

Lea DeGuilo
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Toni Imperiale
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Tara Beth LeFurge
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Christina Ramirez
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Jessica Steinglass
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Susan Saraiva
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The DCF-North Section provides representation to the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the agency tasked with protecting children and strengthening families. The deputies in this section represent DCF when it seeks supervision or custody of abused and neglected children or is seeking termination of parental rights when deemed necessary. The work is litigation intensive but also touches on aspects of social work. There is also significant appellate work undertaken by all deputies in the section. The section provides representation in matters originating in Bergen, Hudson, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties.

PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a DYFS office. Use the following link to contact the New Jersey
Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P), formerly DYFS.

4 Echelon Plaza, 201 Laurel Rd., 3rd Fl.,
Voorhees, NJ 08043 Directions
(856) 325-6091 / fax(856) 770-3945

Tosca Blandford-Bynoe
Section Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Nancy Andre
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

William Harvey
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Cassandra Rhodes
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Elizabeth Wallace
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The DCF-South Section provides representation to the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the agency tasked with protecting children and strengthening families. The deputies in this section represent DCF when it seeks supervision or custody of abused and neglected children or is seeking termination of parental rights when deemed necessary. The work is litigation intensive but also touches on aspects of social work. There is also significant appellate work undertaken by all deputies in the section. The section provides representation in matters originating in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties.

Hughes Justice Complex –
8th Fl., P.O. Box 112,
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
(609) 376-3100 / fax (609) 943-5853

Christopher Weber
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Matthew Lynch
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

VACANT
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Education and Higher Education Section provides counsel and representation to the Department of Education. The work on behalf of the Department includes federal, state, and administrative litigation and appeals regarding State funding of education, charter schools, and special education. Representation has been provided in the ongoing Abbott v. Burke matter and related administrative litigation, regarding the constitutionality of the State’s system for funding public schools. The section also counsels and represents State institutions of higher education, representing them in federal and State trial court litigation, defending tenure decisions and providing advice on a wide variety of academic, health care, educational and business issues.

Hughes Justice Complex –
7th Fl., P.O. Box 112,
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
609-376-2953 / 609-633-8702

Christopher Hamner
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Rimma Razhba
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Ryne Spengler
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Employment Counseling and Labor Section represents all State departments and agencies in hearings at the Office of Administrative Law, as well as labor related cases in the State and federal courts. The section defends the State in all appeals related to the denial of unemployment benefits, and represents State entities and the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations in grievance arbitrations and allegations of unfair labor practices filed with the Public Employment Relations Commission. The section also provides a variety of legal services to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and when needed, provides advice to State entities on employment and labor related matters.

Hughes Justice Complex – 7th Fl.,
P.O. Box 093, Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
(609) 376-2740 / fax (609) 341-5031

Gary Wolf
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Kevin Fleming
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

James LaBianca
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Jessica Palmer
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Environmental Enforcement and Environmental Justice Section, which is part of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Practice Group based in Trenton, represents the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) and other State agencies and commissions in federal, State, and administrative courts to enforce a wide range of environmental laws. Of particular note, the Section represents the Department in actions to compel the clean-up of contaminated sites across the State, and to recover funds spent to cleanup these sites and associated natural resource damage restoration costs.  In addition, the Section represents the Department enforcing the cleanup of new and emerging contaminants, which present challenging risks to human health and the environment.  The Section’s work is guided by the principles of environmental justice, ensuring that all communities across New Jersey have access to a safe and clean environment.  Consequently, the Section frequently pursues enforcement efforts in communities that are overburdened by a history of environmental neglect.  Finally, the Section, in coordination with other states, also represents the Department and other agencies in federal facing environmental litigation and regulatory comments to protect New Jersey residents from regional and national environmental threats.

Hughes Justice Complex –
7th Fl., P.O. Box 093,
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
(609) 376-2950 / fax(609) 341-5030

John Renella
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Mark Collier
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Kristen Heinzerling
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Kristina Miles
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Environmental Permitting and Counseling Section provides general legal counsel and representation to the Department of Environmental Protection and other State agencies and commissions whose responsibilities include protection of the environment. These agencies include the Department of Agriculture, New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and Pinelands Commission. The types of matters handled include appeals of final agency decisions and regulations, real estate transactions, formal advice, contracts and public bidding, open public records, and trial court and administrative defense of permitting decisions by these agencies. The section also provides legal counsel to its clients with respect to the issuance and denials of permits and the promulgation of regulations. The substantive areas involved include air pollution, water resources, solid waste, parks and forestry, fish and game, land use, shore protection and public access, green acres, and farmland preservation.

124 Halsey Street
5th Floor, P.O. Box 45029
Newark, NJ 07101 Directions
973- 693-5055 / fax 973-648-3879

VACANT
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Kenneth Levine
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Government & Healthcare Fraud Section (“GHF”) of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Practice Group conducts large-scale civil investigations and brings litigation in federal and state court on behalf of the State of New Jersey and its agencies to enforce the New Jersey False Claims Act (“NJFCA”).  Whistleblowers who detect fraud against the State file qui tam lawsuits against government contractors or grantees, which GHF investigates, and where appropriate litigates, to bring wrongdoers to justice.  GHF also initiates civil NJFCA investigations and prosecutions when the State itself suspects fraud by providers of goods and services or grantees. The GHF Section has handled matters involving fraud alleged in the provision of environmental testing services, education services, transportation services, financial services, prevailing wages, and pharmaceutical manufacturers and other providers of healthcare goods or services. GHF is dedicated to holding those who defraud the State accountable, oftentimes-in concert with the federal government and other states across the nation.

Hughes Justice Complex –
8th Fl., P.O. Box 112,
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
(609) 376-3200 / fax (609) 777-4036

Deborah Shane-Held
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Stephen Slocum
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Jacqueline D’Alessandro
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Health and Human Services Section provides legal counsel and representation to the Department of Human Service (DHS) and the Department of Health (DOH) which are the two largest Departments within the State of NJ. Within DHS there are various divisions that deputies in the section interact with on a day-to-day basis: Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), Division of Family Development (DFD), Division of Aging Services (DoAS), Bureau of Guardianship Services (BGS) and Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) which oversees the NJ Medicaid Program. The Division of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DMHAS) is also within DHS and is the single state mental health agency for NJ as well as the single state substance use agency in NJ.

The Department of Health oversees all aspects of licensure, regulation and certification of the State’s psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, hospice care facilities, assisted living facilities, adult day care facilities, and drug treatment facilities. The DOH also manages the treatment for the Special Treatment Unit for sexually violent predators.

The deputies within the section handle myriad cases for DHS and DOH including Medicaid matters, Special Needs Trusts, Guardianships, enforcement actions involving penalty matters against health care providers, license certification, denials and revocations, and prepare advice memos regarding regulatory changes and policy issues. The deputies also handle matters for the NJ Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner (NJOCSME), the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC), the Medicaid Fraud Division of the Office of the State Comptroller, and the Children’s System of Care (CSOC). The deputies within the section also appear in a variety of forums including the Office of Administrative Law, the Law Division, Appellate Division, Supreme Court, the United States District Court and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Finally, a group of deputies in HHS prosecute initial commitment hearings and yearly reviews for sexually violent predators pursuant to the Sexually Violent Predator Act (N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.24).

PO Box 45029, 124 Halsey St.
Newark, NJ 07101 Directions

VACANT
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Eve Weissman
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Labor Enforcement Section assists with investigations and handles the Office’s litigation enforcing workplace protections on behalf of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The Section’s work includes assisting with strategic investigations and handling litigation in the Office of Administrative Law and Superior Court enforcing New Jersey laws prohibiting worker misclassification, child labor, wage theft, and failure to pay prevailing wages, among others

Hughes Justice Complex –
8th Fl., P.O. Box 112,
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
(609) 376-2955 / fax (609) 633-7434

Emily Bisnauth
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Vivek Mehta
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Law & Public Safety (LPS) Section provides legal representation and counseling to clients including, the Division of State Police, Division of Criminal Justice, Office of Emergency Management, Juvenile Justice Commission, and Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, among others. Representative matters include legal counseling, the review of significant transactional matters, and the handling of certain litigation, including appeals. The LPS Section represents its clients at all levels of the State and Federal court systems.

P.O. Box 45029, 124 Halsey Street,
Newark, NJ 07101 Directions
(973) 648-7457 / fax (973) 648-3879

Doreen Hafner
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

David Puteska
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Professional Boards Prosecution section prosecutes disciplinary matters against licensed professionals for violations of statutes, regulations and standards governing the practice of professions and occupations in New Jersey. The actions are brought in administrative forums and in the name of the Attorney General. Section attorneys also work closely with the Division of Consumer Affairs in the investigation of alleged regulatory violations by professionals. While the section prosecutes cases across a wide range of professions which encompass the close to fifty licensing boards, a major focus is on health care related matters. Deputies frequently file actions before the State Medical, Nursing and Dental boards involving cutting edge legal issues such as the indiscriminate prescribing of controlled dangerous substances (“CDS”) which gave rise to the opioid abuse crisis; sexual misconduct; and quality of care.

Public Records Advice & Disputes
P.O. Box 112
25 Market St.
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
(609) 376-3220

Raymond Chance
Assistant Attorney General

Demery Roberts
Assistant Attorney General

Elizabeth Kern
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Public Records Advice & Disputes Section provides legal representation and counsel to all State departments and agencies represented by the Division of Law. That representation includes advising on matters pertaining to public records requests under the Open Public Records Act. The section also represents State agencies in litigating public records disputes in the Superior Court of New Jersey and in the Government Records Council.

Hughes Justice Complex –
7th Fl., P.O. Box 112
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
(609) 376-2818 /Fax (609) 984-9315

Daren Eppley
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Pamela Owen
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Public Utilities Section provides legal representation and counsel to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), the state agency charged with advancing New Jersey’s renewable energy projects, and the regulation of utilities which provide critical services such as electricity, natural gas, water, waste water treatment, telecommunications and cable television services. New Jersey is in the midst of a monumental transformation into a clean energy future that will grow the economy, mitigate the impacts of clean energy, reduce energy use and improve the health of communities. The Section counsels BPU on their clean energy initiatives involving energy efficiency programs and the development of clean, renewable sources of energy including solar, wind, geothermal, combined heat and power and sustainable biomass. Deputies handle complex administrative litigation before the Office of Administrative Law, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the United States Department of Energy, and the Federal Communications Commission as well as represent BPU in litigation and appeals before State and federal courts. Counsel is also provided to the BPU with respect to administrative decision making, enforcement of the Underground Facility Protection Act, procurement issues, rulemakings, Open Public Records Act requests, and Open Public Meetings Act issues.

P.O. Box 45029, 124 Halsey Street,
Newark, NJ 07101 Directions
(973) 648-3441 / fax(973) 648-3956>

Victoria Manning
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Evan Showell
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Securities Fraud Prosecution Section represents state agencies in civil securities enforcement litigation and investigations, administrative proceedings, and other legal matters. The section’s primary client is the Bureau of Securities which administers and enforces the New Jersey Uniform Securities Law. Enforcement litigation includes complex securities fraud actions and administrative proceedings, and appeals. State securities regulation and enforcement is the first line of defense in protecting the investing public and ensuring integrity of the securities markets in New Jersey. The Section also counsels the New Jersey Division of Investment regarding recovery of investment losses and oversees outside counsel in securities litigation on behalf of the Division.

124 Halsey Street,
Newark, NJ 07101 Directions
(973)877-1280 / Fax (973) 648-3956 

And 

Hughes Justice Complex –
8th Fl., P.O. Box 112,
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
(609) 376-3377

Jessica Palmer
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

VACANT
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Special Litigation Section protects New Jersey residents from unlawful actions by the Federal Government and other states, supports federal actions that benefit New Jerseyans, defends New Jersey laws against constitutional challenge, and handles high-profile affirmative enforcement actions brought by the Attorney General. The Section engages in affirmative and defensive litigation in federal and state court, as well as amicus briefing and regulatory comment letters to the Federal Government. The Section’s work covers a wide range of topics, including civil rights, consumer protection, immigration, worker’s rights, as well as a significant and growing docket of firearms-related affirmative investigations and defensive litigation.

Hughes Justice Complex – 2nd Fl.
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
(609) 376-2440 / fax (609) 777-3607

Dianne Moratti
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

James Duttera
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Peter Draper
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Michael Vomacka
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Agnes Rymer
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Matthew Sapienza
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Deputies assigned to the State Police, Employment and Corrections (“SPEC”) section practice in the U.S. District Court, Third Circuit Court of Appeals, N.J. Superior Court, N.J. Appellate Division, OAL, Government Records Council and the EEOC. SPEC provides primary representation to the N.J. State Police, Department of Corrections, Parole Board and the Juvenile Justice Commission. Individual and class action civil rights claims include matters such as excessive force, fatal shootings, wrongful arrest, conditions of confinement, religious, medical and legal access and ADA violations. Deputies hone their written advocacy skills through a significant appellate practice, with opportunities to argue in the Appellate Division. Trial skills are sharpened in defense of employment claims brought against State agencies, with opportunities to try cases in State and Federal court.

Hughes Justice Complex –
2nd Fl., P.O. Box 116,
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
(609) 376-2750 / fax (609) 633-7434

Joseph Micheletti
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Kathleen J. O’Brien
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

 Robert McGuire
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Randall Weaver
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Maurice Jefferson
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Barbara Berreski
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Timothy O’Brien
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Tort Litigation & Judiciary Section’s members are the defenders of the State and its many departments and agencies, as well as State officials and employees, when sued in any tort (personal injury) lawsuit and in many civil rights lawsuits. They also defend certain sue-and-be-sued governmental entities, such as New Jersey Transit, and their employees, in such lawsuits. They also represent the State Judiciary, as well as its judges and other employees, in any non-employment lawsuits. Pursuant to Wright v. State, they also defend certain tort and constitutional claims brought against county prosecutor’s offices and their employees. The Section’s members handle the lawsuits in all stages of litigation, from inception through arbitration and/or trial. They also handle any appeals resulting from these lawsuits. As such, they appear regularly before the Law Division and United States District Court throughout the State, frequently before the Appellate Division and Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and occasionally before the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

The claims confronted by the Section’s members are similarly diverse. Some examples include: personal injuries ranging up to and including wrongful death and survivorship claims resulting from State vehicle accidents, allegedly dangerous conditions on State roads or other State-owned property, or allegedly negligent acts of State employees; Fourth Amendment claims (e.g., malicious prosecution, false arrest, unlawful search and seizure, excessive force) against assistant prosecutors, county detectives, and certain State law enforcement officers; Fourteenth Amendment (e.g., substantive and procedural due process, equal protection) and other constitutional claims against State judges and other State employees; and related constitutional challenges to State laws.

As the State’s attorneys, the matters handled by the Section frequently implicate, and often result in, changes or developments in the laws on immunity and liability affecting governmental entities and employees, and private citizens, statewide. Among others, these include the New Jersey Tort Claims Act (Title 59), Section 1983 and the New Jersey Civil Rights Act, and the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act.

Hughes Justice Complex –
8th Fl., P.O. Box 114,
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
(609) 376-3300 / fax (609) 943-5853

Philip Espinosa
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Wanda Ortiz
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Amy Chung
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Transportation, Construction and Condemnation Section provides representation and counsel to the Department of Transportation (“DOT”), the Motor Vehicle Commission and the Division of Property Management & Construction in the Department of the Treasury with respect to transportation, construction and maintenance projects (roads, bridges and buildings), eminent domain and real property issues. Representing these agencies involves litigation and counseling as well as transactional work. The Deputies represent their State agency clients in the Superior Court, Law Division and Appellate Division; the New Jersey Supreme Court; the New Jersey Office of Administrative Law; and occasionally in federal district court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Deputies assigned to construction litigation and condemnation litigation matters handle every aspect of preparing a case for trial, including working with the State’s experts, defending against the opponent’s experts, substantive motion practice and settlement negotiations. For more complex litigation matters, deputies may work in teams.

The TCC Section also provides ongoing legal counsel to State agencies and to multiple commissions on a wide range of statutory and regulatory matters. Deputies typically have the opportunity to become well versed in one or more of the specialty areas that our client agencies regulate including, State highway access design, outdoor advertising (billboards and other signs) and aeronautics approvals. On the transactional side, Deputies in this section advise State agencies regarding procurement issues and review a variety of agreements between their client agencies and other private parties or other governmental entities to ensure statutory and regulatory compliance and to ensure the State’s and the public’s interests are protected in the agreements. Agreements include developer, contractor, consultant, local transportation aid, and park and ride agreements. Deputies also review proposed regulations and may assist in drafting legislation and regulations to implement new programs.

Hughes Justice Complex –
6th Fl., P.O. Box 106
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
(609) 376-2880 /Fax (609) 777-3515; (609)-292-6007

Aimee Manocchio Nason
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

VACANT
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Matthew Reagan
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Joseph Palumbo
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

George Loeser
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

The Treasury – Finance and Benefits Section provides counsel and representation to the Division of Pensions and Benefits, the various State pension and health benefit boards and committees in the Department of the Treasury, and certain other divisions within the Department of the Treasury, including the Division of Purchase & Property, the Division of the State Lottery, the Office of Public Finance, the Office of lnformation Technology, the Division of Property Management and Construction, and the Division of lnvestment. The T-FAB Section also provides counsel and representation to various State authorities that handle, among other things, financing, housing, economic development, and real estate development. These authorities include the Economic Development Authority, the Educational Facilities Authority, the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, the Garden State Preservation Trust, the Building Authority, the Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, and the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank.

The Pensions and Health Benefits Unit of the T-FAB Section represents the Boards of Trustees for State-administered retirement systems in a wide variety of matters, including defending the Boards’ decisions in contested disability retirement applications filed by public employees who claim to be permanently and totally disabled from performing their job duties. Deputies representing the Division of Purchase and Property provide advice to the Division on a variety of procurement vehicles such as requests for proposals, cooperative contracts and waivers, draft and negotiate contracts, including licenses agreements, provide guidance on final agency decisions, and also appear in Superior Court and in the Appellate Division on contract litigation matters.

Deputies representing the Office of Public Finance and the State authorities issuing bonds, notes and other financing obligations provide advice on constitutional and State law issues. Deputies in this assignment serve as “issuer’s counsel” and review and negotiate bond financing documents, attend the pre-closings and deliver opinions on behalf of the Attorney General. These matters are often complex and fast-paced and, at times, involve the development and documentation of novel financing structures.

Hughes Justice Complex – (for Tax & Bankruptcy)
6th Floor West, PO Box 106
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
Fax No. (609-777-3515 or 609-292-6007)

Hughes Justice Complex  – (for Debt Recovery)
6th Floor West, PO Box 119
Trenton, NJ 08625 Directions
Fax No. 609-777-3055

Jonathan Peitz
Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Carolyn Lurry Mapp
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Heather Anderson
Assistant Chief, Deputy Attorney General

Treasury, Revenue, Estates and Taxation (“TREAT”) Section provides legal representation and advice to many divisions and agencies within the Department of the Treasury, including the Division of Taxation, the Unclaimed Property Administration, the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, and the State Lottery. Deputies in the TREAT Section are assigned a variety of cases and matters, including litigation and counseling assignments. Deputies can expect to appear in the Tax Court and, as needed, in the Appellate Division, New Jersey Supreme Court, Federal Bankruptcy Court and Federal District Court, with the guidance of seasoned supervisors. The Section supports the Attorney General’s parens patriae role of protecting the value of charitable gifts made by trust or will, through informal review of estate administration or by litigation in response to orders to show cause and verified complaints. The TREAT Section plays an integral part in reviewing and approving complex sales, mergers and other hospital dispositions under the New Jersey Community Health Care Assets Protection Act. Representation of the Division of Taxation includes litigation in State and Federal court, advice and legislative and regulatory review. Tax cases handled by TREAT involve planning case strategy, conferring with State clients and conducting discovery, trials and hearings against individual taxpayers, small businesses, and many of the most highest profile, multi-national Fortune 500 taxpayers. In addition, the TREAT Section represents the 21 County Boards of Taxation and other State agencies and personnel in local property tax matters. TREAT Deputies appear in Federal Bankruptcy Court on behalf of the Division of Taxation, the Department of Labor and other State agencies. The debt recovery unit of this Section collects significant debt annually, through informal communication and litigation.