2053 Woodbridge Avenue - Edison, NJ 08817

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

E407 New Cases: 1. Medical Examiner did not have Expertise to Testify on Movements of Car Occupants in Fatal Accident. 2. Court could Permit Wiretap of Calls Outside New Jersey. 3. Next events 4. Kenneth Vercammen's Christmas Party/Holiday Happy Hour, Friday, December 7, 2012, 5:00PM - 7:00PM 5. Register now for: FREEZING COLD HASH RUN & PARTY 3 & 5 MILE GROUP

NJ Laws Email Newsletter E407
Kenneth Vercammen, Attorney at Law   

October 24, 2012
 


Office Phone Number:   
  
(732) 572-0500
  
  
www.njlaws.com 


In This Issue:
 E407 New Cases:
1. Medical Examiner did not have Expertise to Testify on Movements of Car Occupants in Fatal Accident. 

2. Court could Permit Wiretap of Calls Outside New Jersey. 

3. Next events 

4. Kenneth Vercammen's Christmas Party/Holiday Happy Hour, Friday, December 7, 2012, 5:00PM - 7:00PM 

5. Register now for: FREEZING COLD HASH RUN & PARTY 3 & 5 MILE GROUP 
 

 


 
  



Greetings Kenneth Vercammen, Esq.,   

New Cases: 
1. Medical Examiner did not have Expertise to Testify on Movements of Car Occupants in Fatal Accident.State v. Locascio 425 NJ Super. 474 (App. Div. 2012)

  Defendant was convicted of vehicular manslaughter after a jury trial. The indictment stemmed from a one-car accident in which defendant's boyfriend was killed after the car veered off the road and struck a tree. The pivotal issue at trial was whether, as the State contended, defendant was the driver or whether, as the defense and its expert contended, the boyfriend was the driver.

  The State presented expert testimony from the county medical examiner opining that defendant was the driver. During the course of his testimony, the medical examiner rendered opinions, over defendant's objection, about the probable movements of the occupants within the car as it decelerated and crashed, including an analysis of how the passenger's body allegedly "cushioned" the driver's body during the accident.
      
 The court reversed defendant's conviction and ordered a new trial because the testimony of the medical examiner, who the State concedes is not qualified as an expert in biomechanics or accident reconstruction, prejudicially went beyond the scope of his expertise on a crucial disputed issue. The examiner's testimony should have been confined to the aspects of his expertise as a pathologist concerning the nature and causes of bodily injury, and should not have delved into the biomechanical forces and movements within the automobile.

2. Court could Permit Wiretap of Calls Outside New Jersey. State v. Ates 426 NJ Super. 521 (App. Div. 2012)

  Defendant appealed his conviction for the murder of his ex-son-in-law, arguing the unconstitutionality of the New Jersey Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act, N.J.S.A. 2A:156A-1 to -34, because it permitted the interception of telephone calls between individuals located entirely outside New Jersey. The court rejected this argument, finding no infirmity so long as the listening post was located in New Jersey.
      
  Defendant also argued that the State should have been barred from using all intercepted telephone calls because the State recorded a telephone call between defendant and his attorney. The trial judge precluded the use only of the calls intercepted after the recording of the attorney-client communication and the court concluded this was an appropriate remedy for the reasons expressed in the trial judge's written opinion, State v. Ates, __ N.J. Super. __ (Law Div. 2009).

3. Next Events

10/26/12   Pre- Halloween Party Bar A   6pm

10/27/12   Hoboken 5k 10am Wakefern    co-sponsor
10/28/12  Trick or Trot 5k Long Branch party at Celtic Cottage after run, 2 for 1 drinks
10/30/12    JSRC club meeting at Bar A, followed by short Freezing Cold Hash meeting 7:45
10/31/12    RVRR Halloween pub-crawl New Brunswick
11/4/12     RUN with the VIKINGS 5K 10:00 AM South Brunswick High School, Bob Tona's good event
11/11/12    Hashathon 6.6 Mile   Cheesequake challenging, dangerous trails, free beer, best post race party with band, 732-542-6090 11am
11/17/12    Manasquan Turkey Trot 5-mile Manasquan   11am party at taverns after race discount beer
11/23/12    Born to Run 5 mile 11am
11/25/12    Navesink 15k & 5k
4. Kenneth Vercammen's Christmas Party/Holiday Happy Hour
Friday, December 7, 2012
5:00PM - 7:00PM
at Bar Anticipation "Where Summer Never Ends"
703 16th Avenue
Lake Como/ Belmar, NJ 07719
Free
5-7PM Hot & Cold Buffet with carving station
The reduced price Happy Hour is 6-7PM with $1 House Drink, Bud/BudLt draft & House Wine Special

Email Ken Vercammen's Law Office so we can put your name on the VIP list for wristbands.
Bring a canned food donation for the St. James Food Bank Hands of Hope.
More details at:

5. Register now for:
FREEZING COLD HASH RUN & PARTY 3 & 5 MILE GROUP RUN Sat. Jan. 5, 2013 10am  Edison, NJ
See info at:
Register now at:
Volunteers go free. Email us;
        Tired of the same old neighborhood roads, traffic, bad drivers? Join the off-road runners for a great and unusual training run.  See the swamps and wooded areas saved from development. The Rumson Hash House Harriers again return to the woods and marsh of Edison. Hashing is not a race but a non-competitive group run which follows an off-road course laid out with baking flour. If you like trail running without the competition of a formal race, this will be a fun switch for you. This is a complex and different course through woods, grass, swamp and marsh.  Wear old running shoes.
        $20.00 TO RUN.   FREE  T-SHIRT AND OPEN BAR FROM 7:30AM - 11:30AM for Pre-registered.
 $25.00 DAY OF EVENT.  VOLUNTEERS RECEIVE A SHIRT AND OPEN BAR!  PLEASE BRING A CAN FOOD DONATION FOR THE ST. JAMES FOOD BANK. POST RUN SOCIAL HELD AT THE GREEN DERBY BAR, SITE OF THE "ON-ON" BREWS.  FREE BEER FOR WOMEN 21-69. A fun time is guaranteed! You must be over 21 years old to participate.  No times are recorded.  A sense a humor is a must. Prizes and giveaways at the post race social!  

Saturday, October 13, 2012

E406 1. Recommendation for Tax Planning now if husband and wife's total assets including life insurance exceeds $675,000. 2. Recent Cases: Expert Cannot Testify that Activity was Drug Distribution. 3. Post-Conviction Motion may be available where Trial Attorney Provided Wrong Advice. 4. 2012 Municipal Court College



NJ Laws Email Newsletter E406
Kenneth Vercammen, Attorney at Law   

October 10, 2012
 


Office Phone Number:   
 
(732) 572-0500 
 
www.njlaws.com 

 
In This Issue:
 
1.  Recommendation for Tax Planning now if husband and wife's total assets including life insurance exceeds $675,000. 

2.  Recent Cases: Expert Cannot Testify that Activity was Drug Distribution.  

3.  Post-Conviction Motion may be available where Trial Attorney Provided Wrong Advice.  

4.   2012 Municipal Court College

 





Greetings!   

1. Recommendation for Tax Planning now if husband and wife's total assets including life insurance exceeds $675,000.

              A New Jersey estate tax return must be filed if the decedent's gross estate plus adjusted taxable gifts as determined in accordance with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code in effect on December 31, 2001 exceeds $675,000. It must be filed within nine months of the decedent's death (nine months plus 30 days if the Form 706 method is used). Additionally, a copy of any Federal estate tax return filed or required to be filed with the Federal government must be submitted within 30 days of the date it is filed with the Internal Revenue Service and a copy of any communication received from the Federal government must be submitted within 30 days of its receipt from the Internal Revenue Service.

  The NJ Estate Tax is in addition to any NJ Inheritance Tax.

Who Must File
     A New Jersey estate tax return must be filed if the decedent's Gross Estate exceeds $675,000. There is substantial taxes that must be paid after the 2nd spouse dies on amounts over $675,000. You can hire an attorney to set up Trusts to try to reduce taxes due. We charge a minimum fee of $600 for each trust within a Will. A separate stand alone Trust has a minimum fee for $2,000.

    Even if your net worth is well below the threshold where the federal estate tax becomes an issue, the New Jersey Estate Tax may still be a problem. The New Jersey Estate Tax affects any person or married couple with net worth over $675,000. There is no exemption for assets you leave to your children; those assets are fully taxed. There is also no exemption for the value of your home and life insurance, so it is easy to hit the $675,000 threshold very quickly.

WHAT IS CREDIT SHELTER TRUST?
      
     The Credit Shelter Trust (sometimes referred to as a "Bypass Trust" or an "A/B Trust") is a popular estate planning technique used by married couples with combined assets in excess of $675,000. The purpose of the Credit Shelter Trust is to avoid the wasting of federal and state exemptions on the death of the first spouse. Instead of leaving all assets to the surviving spouse and thereby exposing the surviving spouse's estate to more tax, both spouse's Wills are drafted to establish a Credit Shelter Trust to come into existence and be funded on the first spouse's death.
    
    In a typical Credit Shelter Trust, the surviving spouse is entitled to receive all of the income from the Trust for his or her lifetime, and has the right to demand principal distributions for his or her health, education, support and maintenance in his or her accustomed manner of living. Distributions in excess of that standard require the cooperation of a Co-Trustee - often an adult child of the surviving spouse or a trust department of a bank.
        
  The amount, which funds a typical Credit Shelter Trust, varies according to a particular Client's financial and family circumstances. For Federal Estate Tax purposes, a Credit Shelter Trust can be funded with the Decedent's remaining federal estate tax exemption ($5 million as of 2012 if no prior gifts have been made). However, in New Jersey, since the state estate tax exemption is only $675,000, if the Credit Shelter Trust is funded with more than $675,000, this will cause some New Jersey Estate Tax to be paid. For example, if the $2 million is funded, the tax to the State of New Jersey is $99,600. Because of this, many Clients choose to fund the Credit Shelter Trust with only $675,000.
    
   If the Credit Shelter Trust technique is implemented as part of a Client's Estate Plan, you can hire the attorneys for a separate fee to assist the Client in re-titling his or her assets so that assets are available to fund the Credit Shelter Trust. Re-titling is necessary because most Clients tend to hold assets jointly with right of survivorship and assets must be titled individually in a person's name in order to be eligible to fund a Credit Shelter Trust. We work with a tax attorney to help our clients.

Please call today to schedule a confidential appointment for estate planning 732-572-0500

Examples of NJ Estate Tax due if no estate planning
Estate of $800,000
Your Estimated Federal Estate Tax:  0.00


Your State Taxable Estate Value:  $740,000.00


Your Estimated State Estate Tax:  $22,799.60




If Estate Value:  $900,000.00


Your Estimated Federal Estate Tax:  $0.00



Your State Taxable Estate Value:  $840,000.00


Your Estimated State Estate Tax:  $27,600.00


 


If Estate Value: $1,000,000.00


Your Estimated Federal Estate Tax:  $0.00


 

Your State Taxable Estate Value:  $940,000.00

Your Estimated State Estate Tax:  $33,200.00



Estate Value:  $1,100,000.00

Your Estimated Federal Estate Tax:  $0.00

Your State Taxable Estate Value:  $1,040,000.00

Your Estimated State Estate Tax:  $38,800.00



Estate Value: $1,200,000.00

Your Estimated Federal Estate Tax:  $0.00

 

Your State Taxable Estate Value:  $1,140,000.00

Your Estimated State Estate Tax:  $45,200.00

 

Estate Value:  $1,300,000.00

Your Estimated Federal Estate Tax:  $0.00

Your State Taxable Estate Value:  $1,240,000.00

Your Estimated State Estate Tax:  $51,600.00


       We recommend tax planning when the husband and wife own over $700,000 in assets.
When an Estate Tax Return Is Required
  If you're a New Jersey resident and leave assets with a gross value of more than $675,000, the executor of your estate will have to file a New Jersey estate tax return. (Federal estate tax returns are required only for estates of more than $5.12 million in 2012, but this amount may change in 2013.) The New Jersey estate tax does not apply to nonresidents, even if they own valuable New Jersey real estate or other property.
  
    The value of your gross estate is calculated by adding up all of the assets you own at death, including:
                    
Real estate in New Jersey
 
Bank accounts and certificates of deposit
 
 Investment accounts and securities
 
Vehicles and other items of personal property
 
Proceeds from insurance policies on your life, unless you didn't own the policy
                     
Retirement account funds
                     
Small business interests (sole proprietorship, limited liability company, or small corporation)
        
It doesn't matter, for tax purposes, whether or not any of your assets go through probate at your death. Real estate in a living trust, a retirement account for which you've named a beneficiary, a jointly owned bank account-it all gets counted.

Some other less obvious assets are also included:
                     
taxable gifts you made during life (more than the federal gift tax annual exclusion amount, currently $13,000 per year per recipient).
                     
proceeds of any life insurance policy you transferred to an irrevocable life insurance trust within three years before death.
        
Property you leave to your spouse or civil union partner is exempt from state estate tax, no matter what the amount. 

This differs from federal law, which does not treat same-sex couples, whether they are legally married under state law or civil union partners, like married couples.    
More information on Estate Tax is available on our website: http://www.njlaws.com.


2. Recent Cases   Expert Cannot Testify that Activity was Drug Distribution. State v. Jones 425 NJ Super. 258 (App. Div. 2012)
 
      The court reversed defendant's drug distribution conviction, concluding that: 1) the testimony provided by the State's drug distribution expert, on whether defendant possessed the cocaine for personal use or instead for distribution, ran afoul of the proscriptions in State v. McLean, 205 N.J. 438 (2011), and State v. Odom, 116 N.J. 65 (1989); and 2) the admission of evidence that defendant possessed oxycodone denied him a fair trial, as he was not charged with that offense, and the State should not have been permitted to use such N.J.R.E. 404(b) evidence to bolster its contention that defendant possessed the cocaine with the intention of selling it. [This case limits experts ability to testify in other cases on the main subject matter of the case]

3. Post-Conviction Motion may be available where Trial Attorney Provided Wrong Advice. State v. Barros 425 NJ Super. 329 (App. Div. 2012)
 
      In this case, the court previously applied Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. __, 130 S. Ct. 1473, 176 L. Ed. 2d 284 (2010), and affirmed the grant of post-conviction relief based on defendant's assertion that his attorney did not advise him that his guilty plea in 2008 to drug distribution charges subjected him to mandatory deportation. The Supreme Court granted the State's petition for certification and remanded for the court's reconsideration in light of State v. Gaitan, __ N.J. __ (2012), which held that Padilla announced a new rule applicable only to guilty pleas entered after Padilla was decided. In light of Gaitan, the court reversed the grant of post-conviction relief but also stayed its judgment to allow defendant to seek habeas corpus relief in federal court in light of the Third Circuit's determination in United States v. Orocio, 645 F.3d 630 (3d Cir. 2011), that Padilla does not constitute a new rule. 
 
4.   2012 Municipal Court College
October 29, 2012
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM


A guide to handling municipal court matters in your practice and a "crash course" designed to build your skills!
 
       This information-packed program is designed for attorneys who do not concentrate in Municipal Court law, including practitioners seeking to expand into this practice area & attorneys looking to create a niche practice. Seasoned Municipal Court lawyers will learn new skills and obtain CLE credits.

You'll "go back to school" to attend 6 half hour segments and panel discussions that will provide you with a working knowledge of municipal court law basics. You'll quickly be able to represent clients in a wide range of matters you would normally have had to refer to others. Gain confidence in your ability to handle Municipal Court matters. Make an investment in your legal career and register today!!

Program Agenda:

Program Agenda:
5:30   Opening
5:35 Initial client interview; getting retained; dealing with the prosecutor. Plus an update on the conditional dismissal program by Kenneth A. Vercammen, Esq.
6:05 Driving While Suspended by Damian A. Scialabba, Esq. 
6:35 Drug Cases and DREs by Norma M. Murgado, Esq.
7:15 Assault and miscellaneous proceedings by William D. Feingold, Esq.
7:45 DWI and Blood by John Menzel, Esq.
8:15 Alcotest; Ignition Locks; Alcotest Refusal by John Menzel, Esq.
8:45 Q&A and closing comments
9:00 Adjourn

Who should attend:
Judges & Prosecutors
General practitioners
Criminal law practitioners
Municipal Court law practitioners
Litigators
New attorneys
Members of law enforcement


Gain insight and information that will help you represent clients in every aspect of Municipal Court law, including:

Initial interview getting, retained and dealing with the prosecutor, Driving while suspended, Drug cases and DRE, Assault and miscellaneous DWI; Blood, DWI Alcotest


KENNETH A. VERCAMMEN, ESQ.
Past Chair, NJSBA Municipal Court Section
Past GP Solo Section Attorney of the Year
2006 NJSBA Municipal Court Practitioner of the Year
K. Vercammen & Associates (Edison)


JOHN MENZEL, ESQ.
Law Offices of John Menzel (Point Pleasant)
NORMA M. MURGADO, ESQ.
Chief Prosecutor (Elizabeth)
Assistant Prosecutor (Woodbridge)
Murgado & Carroll, Esq. (Elizabeth)


DAMIAN A. SCIALABBA, ESQ.

WILLIAM FEINGOLD, ESQ.
Prosecutor (Metuchen)
Prosecutor (Carteret)
Includes seminar, 400 page book, CD with over 1,000 pages of forms, dinner, coffee, desert Tuition ranges between $145- $189 depending on NJSBA membership Call Phone: (732)214-8500  Seminar # _______


NJ CLE information: This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 4.0 hours of total CLE credit. Of these, 4.0 qualify as hours of credit toward certification in criminal trial law.

Location: New Jersey Law Center
One Constitution Square
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
732-214-8500
NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION
NJICLE, A Division of the NJSBA NJ State Bar Association
http://www.njicle.com/viewprogram.aspx?catid=2115&progid=6772

CAN'T ATTEND?

Up to 12 of your 24 New Jersey MCLE credits can be earned via Audio CDs, Webinars & MP3s.
Order your audio package and earn New Jersey MCLE credits at your convenience.

Presented in cooperation with the NJSBA Municipal Court Practice Section and the NJSBA Young Lawyers Division



KENNETH VERCAMMEN & ASSOCIATES, PC
ATTORNEY AT LAW
2053 Woodbridge Ave.
Edison, NJ 08817
(Phone) 732-572-0500
(Fax)   732-572-0030


E405 Recent Cases: 1. No Constitutional Privacy in Cell Phone Number 2. Plaintiff Must Provide Proof that Domestic Violence Occurred. 3. Key Strategies to Get the Most Out of Your Website... While Staying within the Ethics Rule - A Webinar 4. YouTube Video of the Week! Defenses to Traffic Tickets 5. Next Charity Running Races. 6.Welcome - Fall Law Clerks!



NJ Laws Email Newsletter E405
Kenneth Vercammen, Attorney at Law   

September 26, 2012
 


Office Phone Number:   
 
(732) 572-0500 
 
www.njlaws.com 

 
In This Issue:
 
Recent Cases:
1. No Constitutional
Privacy in Cell 
Phone Number
  
2. Plaintiff Must Provide Proof that Domestic Violence Occurred. 

3.  Key Strategies
to Get the Most Out
of Your Website...
While Staying
within the Ethics
Rule - A Webinar  
 
4.  YouTube Video
of the Week!
Defenses to Traffic Tickets

5. Next Charity Running Races 

6. Welcome - Fall Law Clerks!



Greetings!   

Recent Cases:
1. No Constitutional Privacy in Cell Phone Number. State v. DeFranco 426 NJ Super. 240 (App. Div. 2012)
 
         The court held that a defendant school teacher, who had previously sexually assaulted a student, did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in his cell phone number when, at an earlier time, he had given his prior number to the student, did not seek to hide the new number from him, and had disclosed the number to the school for inclusion in its Staff Directory and to multiple parents and students in connection with a school trip that defendant was chaperoning. The court found further that the school's Resource Officer, a policeman functioning in that dual capacity, who was aware of the student's allegations of sexual assault, acted reasonably in requesting the number from the secretary to the school's principal, and that the school acted reasonably in disclosing the number to the officer. As a consequence, the court affirmed the trial court's decision to deny defendant's motion to suppress the transcript of a telephone call between him and the student that was intercepted by the police as a means for corroborating the student's claim of sexual assault with a juvenile. 

2. Plaintiff Must Provide Proof that Domestic Violence Occurred. E.A. v. A.A. ___ NJ Super. ___ (App. Div. 2012) A-4391-10T3 Unreported

Plaintiff appealed from an order vacating a temporary restraining order (TRO) and dismissing her complaint against defendant under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act. The trial judge, after several days of hearings, found that plaintiff had not proven by a preponderance of the credible evidence that acts of domestic violence had occurred, or her past history claims. The judge also had "significant difficulty with the credibility of the plaintiff" and cited several inconsistencies in her proofs. The appellate panel rejected plaintiff's argument that the trial judge imposed an onerous standard of proof upon her at the hearing and relied upon "legally discredited assumptions and stereotypes regarding domestic violence" in assessing the evidence. The judge's evidential determinations were not an abuse of discretion or a clear error in judgment. As to an "unauthenticated text message," the judge did not accord substantial weight to the text message and it was not a critical factor in his credibility findings. Thus, admission of the text message was not "clearly capable of producing an unjust result." Source: dailybriefing@njsbanjldailybriefing.com5-21-12 
 
 Speaker: Kenneth Vercammen
Speaker: Gary Victor
 
Earn up to 1.2 ETHICS Credits Without Leaving Your Office
Thursday, Sep 27, 2012, ONLINE
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Why You Need To Attend: 
You and your law firm need an online presence if you want to stay in business in the 21st century. This webinar will show you how to use a website and blogs to their fullest advantage. You will grow your client base and increase your online presence while staying within the ethics rules.

Webinar: Key Strategies to Get the Most out of Your On-Line Presence While Staying within the Ethics Rules

ONLINE ONLY: 

What is a Webinar? A webinar is a highly convenient way to attend a live program online, without leaving your home or office.

Please Note: Registrants must have Java (www.java.com) installed and running on their computer in order to participate in the webinar. 
  
NJ CLE: Please note-this program is presented as an alternative verifiable learning format and has been approved for 1.2 credits (50 minute credit hour) including 1.2 ethics and professionalism credits. 
PA CLE: 1.0 ethics credit pending ($4 check payable to NJICLE) 
NY CLE: (Non-Transitional): 1.0 ethics credit 
 
Please note: In order to receive credits, you must be logged in promptly and remain active throughout the program.
  
NJ CLE information: This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 1.2 hours of total CLE credit.
4. YouTube Video of the Week:
Defenses to Traffic Tickets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZF__2ISK3k 

5. Next Charity Running Races

9/30/12           Jersey Shore Half Marathon & Lighthouse                            5k      Sandy Hook 9am
10/6/12            Wilmington DE Rockford Park 5k
10/7/12             Newark DE Clover 5k 1pm
10/7/12             Deal   5k Deal hot dogs & free beer
10/13/12           Rat Race Saturday, 10:30am   A hash style of running or walking 1 - 4 miles over woodland trails/swamp & stream followed by a fantastic party of beer, buns, burgers, pizza pie, music and games for prizes.

10/14/12            East Brunswick 5k & 10k  
                           1pm RVRR well run event 
                          Road closed to traffic   www.ebrr.org 
6. Welcome - Fall Law Clerks!
The following people students are currently participating in Kenneth Vercammen's Fall Volunteer Internship Program....
Aneta Rybanska - Middlesex County College
Tonianne Dougherty - Montclair State University
Nicolette Waksmundzki - Rutgers University
Jill Lifschitz - Queens College
Kevin Brown - Rutgers University

For more information on our volunteer internship programs, visit:  http://www.njlaws.com/intern.html