2053 Woodbridge Avenue - Edison, NJ 08817

Thursday, October 19, 2017

NJ LAWS EMAIL NEWSLETTER E527


1. Vice President Biden and Kenneth Vercammen in Edison 10/12/17. 
      Joe Biden grew up in Scranton PA. Ken V first met then Senator Biden in 1981 at the University of Scranton. VP Biden founded the Biden Cancer Initiative whose mission is to develop and drive implementation of solutions to accelerate progress in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, research, and care, and to reduce disparities in cancer outcomes.


2. Recent cases. OPRA can also require electronically stored data.  John Paff v. Galloway Township.   

       The Appellate Division's overly constrictive reading of OPRA cannot be squared with the OPRA's objectives or statutory language. OPRA recognizes that government records will constitute not only paper documents, but also information electronically stored. The fields of information covering "sender," "recipient," "date," and "subject" in the emails sent by the Galloway Township Chief of Police and Clerk over a two-week period are government records under OPRA.

3. Mandatory DNA samples in serious Municipal court criminal.
   Anyone who pleads guilty to most criminal disorderly criminal offenses must provide a DNA sample upon a guilty plea.

     Effective July 1, 2017, the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety will require DNA collection for 19 disorderly persons offenses at the time of conviction. The State Police memo dated May 12, 2017 can be viewed

    At the time of collection, the offender's identity must be electronically verified via the LiveScan machine using the Criminal Inquiry option, not Criminal Arrest as Criminal Arrest prints were already taken at the time of arrest. Care must be taken to avoid taking Criminal Arrest prints from a subject for the same offense twice.
2C:12-1 Assaults
2C:35-10 All drug charges and Paraphernalia
2C:34-1  Prostitution

4. Charity Races and events: 
November 5, 2017     
RUN with the VIKINGS 5K 10:00 AM South Brunswick High School, Bob Tona's event [Ken V can't attend , but it's a good race]  then 11/ 5  watch NY Marathon
November 12, 2017 
Hashathon 6.6 Mile   Cheesequake challenging, dangerous trails, beer, great post race party with band, Mark Griggs' great race 11am
November 18, 2017 
Manasquan Turkey Run  5-mile 11am party at taverns after race discount beer co sponsor Wakefern Shoprite
November 19, 2017 
Gobbler Express Train Run, Asbury Park, not a race. Get on train in Asbury, go south and get off either Bradley, Belmar or Spring Lake, then run back 2,4, or 6 miles, Post Run social at Johnny Mac's Located at 208 Main Street in Asbury Park - Across from Train Station  co sponsor Wakefern Shoprite

5. Handling Drug, DWI and Serious Cases in Municipal Court Seminar.  
 October 30, 2017 5:30PM-9:05PM
NJ Law Center, New Brunswick, NJ
     Please forward to any attorneys, prosecutors or judges you believe may be interested.
Speakers: Kenneth A. Vercammen, Esq., Metuchen Public Defender, & Past Municipal Court Attorney of the Year.     
Tara Auciello, Esq., Municipal Prosecutor (South River)
William Brigiani, Esq., Past Middlesex Bar President
Gregory DeMichele, Esq., NJSBA Trustee
John Menzel, Esq., Past Chair, NJSBA Municipal Court Practice Section
Norma M. Murgado, Esq., Chief Prosecutor (Elizabeth), Chief Prosecutor (Woodbridge)

    This informative seminar on Municipal Court practice and procedure will familiarize you with recent new developments affecting cases that are heard in Municipal Court. An authoritative panel of experienced attorneys will be joined by well-respected Municipal Prosecutors to explore a wide variety of matters that you are likely to encounter. They will also bring you up to date on recent developments you need to understand in order to effectively represent your clients.
Free for law students based on space available.
NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION
NJICLE, A Division of the NJSBA NJ State Bar Association 732-214-8500 CustomerService@njicle.com Seminar #ICMCP150717 
For lawyers  $170- $190 tuition depending on NJSBA membership 
½ price for Judges.

6.  General Christopher Burne with Ken V at NJ Bar Assoc Veterans Affairs Symposium. 

     Both went to University of Scranton.  Lt. Gen. Christopher F. Burne is Judge Advocate General, United States Air Force.  He is a 3 star General and Scranton class of 1980. Ken V was co-captain of Scranton cross-country and class of 1981.


7.  Linda Klein Immediate Past President, American Bar Association ABA w Ken v at Veterans Affairs Symposium.   Ken V is the author of the ABA's Wills and Estate Administration book.  


Editorial Assistance provided by Kelly Mazza.  Ms. Mazza, currently participating in Kenneth Vercammen's Fall Internship program, attends Rutgers University majoring in Philosophy and minoring in Criminology. 
Like Us On: Facebook

Endorse Us On: Linkedin  


KENNETH VERCAMMEN & ASSOCIATES, PC
ATTORNEY AT LAW
(Phone) 732-572-0500
(Fax) 732-572-0030
website: www.njlaws.com


Friday, October 06, 2017

NJLAWS NEWSLETTER E526

E 526
1. Governor Signs Digital Fiduciary Act
The Governor signed legislation recognizing a fiduciary heir's right to obtain control of a decedent's digital assets.
The legislation was proposed in 2014 by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. The commission said 23 states already have enacted a version of the legislation, while 18 others are in the process of doing so.
The state Assembly gave final legislative passage to A-3433, known as the Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, in July. The bill passed both houses of the Legislature without opposition.
"If a custodial party wants to guard their digital assets, they should be able to without regulatory barriers. Digital property such as email accounts, social media accounts and Internet-based currency is just as important as any other asset a person may have," said the lead sponsor, Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald, D-Camden. "This will help individuals protect digital properties as they would their physical assets."
Under the UFADAA, the traditional power of a fiduciary to manage a person's tangible property when that person dies or loses the ability to manage his own property would be extended to include digital assets.
The act defines the term "digital assets" as a person's digital property and electronic communications. Some examples of digital assets are financial accounts, such as online bank accounts; email accounts and social media accounts; computer files; web domains; and virtual currency.
The UFADAA allows fiduciaries to manage digital property but restricts a fiduciary's access to electronic communications such as email, text messages and social media accounts unless the original user consented to such access in a will, trust, power of attorney or other record, the sponsors said.
     The act covers four types of fiduciaries: Executors or administrators of deceased persons' estates, court-appointed guardians of incapacitated persons, agents appointed under powers of attorney, and trustees.
The bill does not apply to digital assets of an employer used by an employee.
Also under the UFADAA, fiduciaries for digital assets are subject to the same fiduciary duties that normally apply to tangible assets. For example, an executor would not be authorized to publish the decedent's confidential communications or impersonate the decedent by sending email from the decedent's account.
The sponsors noted that a fiduciary's management of digital assets may also be governed by other law. For example, a fiduciary may not copy or distribute digital files in violation of copyright law, and may not exceed the user's authority under the account's terms of service.
To gain access to digital assets, a fiduciary will be required to send a request to the custodian, with a copy of the document granting fiduciary authority, such as a letter of appointment, court order or certification of trust.
    •           
http://www.njlawjournal.com/id=1202797922811

      This law, as amended, would enact the “Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act” (UFADAA). The model act was promulgated by the Uniform Law Commission in 2014 and revised by the commission in 2015.
      Under the law, the traditional power of a fiduciary to manage a person’s tangible property when that person dies or loses the ability to manage his own property would be extended to allow the fiduciary to manage digital assets.  The law defines the term “digital assets” to mean a person’s digital property and electronic communications.  The term does not include an underlying asset or liability unless the asset or liability is itself an electronic record.
      The law allows fiduciaries to manage digital property, such as computer files, web domains, and virtual currency, but restricts a fiduciary’s access to electronic communications such as email, text messages, and social media accounts unless the original user (i.e., accountholder) consented in a will, trust, power of attorney, or other record.
      The law encompasses four types of fiduciaries: (1) executors or administrators of deceased persons’ estates; (2) court-appointed guardians of incapacitated persons; (3) agents appointed under powers of attorney; and (4) trustees.
      The law would not apply to digital assets of an employer used by an employee during the ordinary course of business.   
      The law distinguishes between a “catalogue of electronic communications” (information that identifies each person with which a user has had an electronic communication, and the time and date of that communication) and the “content of an electronic communication” (information concerning the substance or meaning of the communication).  The law provides that generally a fiduciary would have access to a catalogue of the user’s communications, but not the content, unless the user consented to the disclosure of the content.
      Under the law, a “custodian” is a person or entity that carries, maintains, processes, receives, or stores digital assets.  The law provides that if a custodian provides an “online tool,” separate from the general terms of service, that allows the user to name another person to have access to the user’s digital assets or to direct the custodian to delete the user’s digital assets, the user’s online instructions would be enforceable.
      If the custodian does not provide an online tool or if the user declines to use the online tool provided, the user may give directions for the disposition of digital assets in a will, trust, power of attorney, or other written record.
      If the user has not provided any direction, either online or in an estate plan, the terms of service for the user’s account would determine whether a fiduciary may access the user’s digital assets. If the terms of service do not address fiduciary access, the default rules presented in the law would apply.
      Under the law, fiduciaries for digital assets would be subject to the same fiduciary duties that normally apply to tangible assets.  Thus, for example, an executor would not be authorized to publish the decedent’s confidential communications or impersonate the decedent by sending email from the decedent’s account. A fiduciary’s management of digital assets may also be limited by other law.  For example, a fiduciary may not copy or distribute digital files in violation of copyright law, and may not exceed the user’s authority under the account’s terms of service.
      In order to gain access to digital assets, a fiduciary would be required to send a request to the custodian, accompanied by a copy of the document granting fiduciary authority, such as a letter of appointment, court order, or certification of trust.
     

2. Fun Upcoming Running Races & Charity events selected by Kenneth Vercammen
10/3/17 Edison Library Will Seminar

10/ 7/17 Metuchen Fair [not a race] 1pm, then stop over Hailey’s Harp
10/7  Keyport Screamin Country Jamboree- Spider Daniels Band 3:15
10/8 Rook Run Long Branch 10am $$
10/8 NJ VETFEST MUSIC FESTIVAL 4:30PM – Little Jimmy & the Starlites – Classic Oldies, Soul, and MOTOWN
5:45PM – Round Trip – Classic Rock from 60s, 70s & 80s
7PM – World Within – A tribute to The Grateful Dead and The Band
Marlboro Municipal Complex
1979 Township Drive
Marlboro, NJ 07746
Oct 9 at 7 PM South Brunswick Library Wills, Estate Planning & Probate Seminar Mon open to the public

October 12, 2017 Piscataway Library Kennedy Branch
Wills & Power of Attorney Seminar  at 7pm
500 Hoes Lane Piscataway NJ 08854
Piscataway J.F. Kennedy Memorial Library
     Open to the public. You do not need to be a township resident

Oct 14 2017 Military Law Symposium- to help Veterans
Rutgers College Avenue Student Center, 126 College Ave New Brunswick, NJ 08901 [the Barn]
Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM ET
This a free seminar for NJ Bar members. Pre-registration is required.

10/ 15/17  Race Against Hunger 5k Roosevelt Park 9am
10/ 15     East Brunswick 5k & 10k   10am RVRR new start EB Community Arts Center 721 Cranbury Rd. in East Brunswick) well run event www.ebrr.org, post race we go to Lori’s Lakeside on Farrington Lake, North Brunswick
3. Recent cases
GPS tracking device by police not barred
State v McDuffie
The court examined defendants' attack on the State's exercised privilege, refraining from disclosing information regarding details related to a global positioning system (GPS) tracking device used to prove their involvement in two burglaries. The court rejected defendants' constitutional attacks and upheld the privilege granted by N.J.R.E. 516 and N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-28, defining the guidelines reviewed when weighing disclosure in light of the asserted privilege. These include: (1) whether defendant demonstrates a particularized need for disclosure related to advance a stated defense; (2) whether the opportunity to cross-examine the officer, asserting non-disclosure based on privilege, satisfies a defendant's need to challenge the credibility of the testifying witness; (3) whether law enforcement provided required corroborating evidence extrinsic to the GPS, to protect a defendant's rights of confrontation and fair trial; and (4) whether a defendant has the opportunity to provide expert testimony to attack the evidence without disclosure of the requested information. Docket A-3634-14T3

4 State v Tringali
The State alleged that, acting in Florida, defendant paid an accomplice to launch spam attacks on a website that was integral to a New Jersey internet-based business, for the purpose of harming the business owner. The Appellate Division reversed an order dismissing the indictment charging defendant with the offenses of disrupting or impairing computer services, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-25(b), and impersonating another for the purpose of obtaining a benefit or depriving another of a benefit, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-17(a)(1). As to both offenses, the harmful result to the victim is an "element" of the offense, within the meaning of the territorial jurisdiction statute, N.J.S.A. 2C:1-3(a)(1) and -3(g). Because the prosecutor produced some evidence that the New Jersey victims suffered harm in this State, which was an element of each computer crime statute, New Jersey has territorial jurisdiction to prosecute defendant for those offenses. Therefore, the trial court erred in dismissing those counts of the indictment for lack of territorial jurisdiction. A-1262-15T1