The dollar amount obtained by the Division in 2014 represents $42 million more — a 14 percent increase — over the amount recovered in 2013.
Monies obtained on behalf of the State in 2014 included settlements and judgments resulting from environmental litigation, debt recovery, taxation matters, and lawsuits alleging consumer, securities and other fraud, as well as other types of affirmative litigation.
Acting Attorney General Hoffman credited Division of Law attorneys for their dedication and hard work, noting that they perform at a consistently high level in every facet of the Division’s mission – including advice to client agencies, defense of state statutes, and the handling of a broad array of legal matters, many of them highly sensitive or complex, or both.
”Attorneys in the Division of Law continue to do a fantastic job of handling affirmative litigation, defending New Jersey statutes and preserving the State’s vital environmental, economic and other resources,” said Hoffman. “While the total number of dollars recovered in any given year is affected by many variables, there is one constant — the stellar quality of the legal work being done, day in and day out, by the Deputy Attorneys General and Assistant Attorneys General in the Division of Law.”
“The Division of Law is honored to serve its clients and the citizens of New Jersey,” said Division of Law Director Jeffrey S. Jacobson. “Through the work of some of New Jersey`s best lawyers, we remain committed to pursuing monetary and other relief where New Jersey residents have been victimized, the State`s resources have been compromised, or government programs have been misused or abused.”
Noteworthy outcomes obtained by Division attorneys in 2014 included:
In addition to imposing significant financial penalties, DOBI revoked the insurance producer licenses of East Coast Title Services and ordered payment of more than $50,000 in restitution. East Coast Title Services did not respond to the charges.
The property at issue was the former site of manufacturing operations for the National Envelope Corporation. In total, the Division has now brought in approximately $3.7 million in relief from the National Envelope matter. Specifically, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware previously authorized payment of $1.4 million to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for future clean-up at the site. A developer also agreed to perform a $1.3 million cleanup at the property, so it could be developed for future housing. That work was completed in 2013. In 2014, Division of Law attorneys negotiated an additional payment of $1 million from Linde, a prior owner of the property and another responsible party, as part of the settlement of private federal court litigation that DEP was asked to join. The additional $1 million also will be used by DEP for clean-up of the National Envelope property, which is contaminated with chlorinated solvents in the soil and groundwater, and with heavy metals (lead and arsenic) in the soil.
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