NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R.1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION DOCKET NO. A-0764-14T2
MARK NEWTON, ANDREA NEWTON, QADIR NEWTON and QAWI NEWTON,
Plaintiffs-Appellants,
v.
CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY,
Defendant-Respondent,
and
MAYOR COREY BOOKER, WESTWARD COUNCILMAN RONALD RICE, JR., ANNETTE WILLIAMS NEWARK POLICE DEPT. DIRECTOR, SAMUEL DIMEO, CHIEF SHEILAH COLEY, CAPT. "DOE" CLARK, CAPT. SETEVEN YABLONSKY, LT. FELIX COMLON, LT. CHARLES ZISER, LT. STEVEN YURIK I.D. NO. 6480, LT. WILLIAM MEHALARIS I.D. NO. 7131, LT. CARLOS FIGUEROA I.D. NO. 6522, LT. DARRYL MARTIN I.D. NO.7462, LT. FREDDIE HILL, SGT. RAZOHN EURE, SGT. "ROE" LOPEZ, SGT. FRANK ROSSI I.D. NO. 6627, SGT. ANTHONY GIBSON I.D. NO 7121, SGT. JOAO CARVALHO I.D. NO. 9303, SGT. "DOE" WHITTAKER, SGT. "DOE" PEREIRA, SGT. SCOTT SAYRE, SGT. ELLEN MCMILLAN I.D. NO. 6529, SGT. AL TARIQ DUNSTON, MATTHEW MILTON I.D. NO. 7992, DET. KARIMA HANNIBAL I.D. NO. 9058, DET. MIGUEL SANABRIA, JR. I.D. NO. 8013, DET. "DOE" MARQUES, DET. "DOE" WEBER, DET. MARK OLMEDA I.D. NO. 8013, DET. MARK SUREZ, DET. GERARD PIACENZA, DET. LARRY COLLINS, DET. JOSE PEREZ, DET. ALOMA WRIGHT, P.O. TIMOTHY HART, P.O. MARIBEL SANTIAGO I.D. NO 9900, P.O. EDWIN GONZALEZ, P.O. DARELL GRAHAM, P.O. GEORGE MENDEZ I.D. NO. 6490, P.O. "DOE" BUMANLAG, P.O. CARLOS ORBE, P.O. "DOE" FIGUEROA, P.O. "DOE" MARQUES, P.O. "DOE" GONZALEZ, P.O. "DOE" ZAMORA, P.O. TREMAYNE PHILLIPS, I.D. NO. 9891, P.O. JOSEPH WATSON I.D. NO. 6497, P.O. WILLIE WINNS I.D. NO. 7282, P.O. ANDREE NELSON I.D. NO. 7266, P.O. "DOE" HANCOCK I.D. NO. 7593, P.O. "DOE" RICH, I.D. NO. 1382, P.O. "DOE" MURPHY, I.D. NO. 2310, THE NEWARK FIRE DEPT., CHIEF JAMES STEWART, DEPT. OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVS., DIV. OF CODE ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEES, AMOS CRUDUP, NORMAN DAIS, and CITY OF NEWARK, DIV. OF WATER,
Defendants. _________________________________________
Argued August 15, 2017 – Decided August 22, 2017
Before Judges Manahan and Gilson.
On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Essex County, Docket No. L- 6777-11.
Mark Newton, appellant pro se.
Steven F. Olivo, Assistant Corporation Counsel, argued the cause for respondent (Kenyatta K. Stewar, Acting Corporation Counsel, attorney; Mr. Olivo, of counsel and on the brief.
PER CURIAM
Plaintiffs Mark Newton, Andrea Newton, Qadir Newton, and Qawi
Newton (collectively plaintiffs) appeal from a July 25, 2014 Law
2 A-0764-14T2 Division order denying an application seeking restoration of their
complaint. We affirm.
We summarize the following facts and procedural history
relevant to our determination from the limited record. Plaintiffs
filed the complaint on August 16, 2011, in the Law Division. The
complaint was dismissed on March 2, 2012, by the Law Division's
Central Processing Unit as non-conforming. Plaintiffs filed a
subsequent complaint and Order to Show Cause (OTSC) on May 17,
2012, which was hand-delivered to defendant City of Newark (City).
The City appeared before the court on May 18, 2012, regarding
plaintiffs' complaint, specifically plaintiffs' conflict with
their neighbors.1 Consequently, the court reinstated the complaint
and set the OTSC returnable on May 31, 2012.
The City filed an answer to the complaint and OTSC on May 24,
2012. On June 13, 2012, the court convened a plenary hearing, at
which plaintiffs Mark Newton and Andrea Newton testified. 2 On
August 24, 2012, the court denied plaintiffs' OTSC, noting in its
statement of reasons that even if the allegations against defendant
Newark Police Department were proven, there would be no compensable
damages available to plaintiffs. When no further action was taken
1 Plaintiffs no longer reside at the property. 2 A transcript of the proceeding has not been provided to this court.
3 A-0764-14T2 after issuance of the August 24 order, the complaint was
administratively dismissed on November 3, 2012.
On November 23, 2012, plaintiffs moved to reinstate the
complaint without serving the motion on the City. The court
granted plaintiffs' motion on December 11, 2012. As plaintiffs
did not serve the City with the order, the City did not file a
responsive pleading to the reinstated complaint. This resulted
in an additional administrative dismissal on April 13, 2013.
On June 13, 2013, plaintiffs again moved to reinstate the
complaint. The court granted plaintiffs' motion on July 12, 2013.
In an accompanying letter to plaintiffs and the City, the court
stated that if plaintiffs continually failed to serve orders on
opposing parties or to file proof of service pursuant to Rule 4:4-
7, the complaint would be dismissed.
On October 22, 2013, plaintiffs filed a motion seeking both
reinstatement of the complaint and a judgment by default pursuant
to Rule 4:43-2. By letter dated November 7, 2013, the City
informed the court that they never received the motion papers.
The City's counsel submitted a certification in opposition to the
motion stating that the City was not properly served. On November
22, 2013, the court, finding improper service by plaintiffs on the
City, denied plaintiffs' motion.
4 A-0764-14T2 On June 23, 2014, plaintiffs again moved to reinstate the
complaint. On July 25, 2014, the court denied the motion. In a
letter to plaintiffs and the City, the court stated that it "denied
the motion because it is far from clear to the court that the
[City has] been properly served." This appeal followed.
Plaintiffs raise the following arguments on appeal:
POINT I
ALL DEFENDANTS THROUGH THEIR COUNSEL NMCC CONTUMACIOUSLY REFUSED TO FILE THEIR CIVIL CASE INFORMATION STATEMENT AND ANSWER WITH THE CLERK OF THE LAW DIVISION AND FOR THIS REASON THE ADMINISTRATIVE DISMISSALS ENTERED BY THE CLERK OF THE LAW DIVISION MUST BE VACATED AND THE MATTER RESTORED TO THE ACTIVE TRIAL CALENDAR.
[A.] The Law Division Judge James Rothschild Jr. Committed Plain And Reversible Error By Deliberately And [Purposely] Refusing To Transmit Defendants' Answer To The Clerk Of The Law Division Or Otherwise Directing His Staff To File Defendants' Answer With The Clerk Of The Law Division And For This Reason The Administrative Dismissals Entered By The Clerk Of The Law Division Must Be Vacated And The Matter Restored To The Active Trial Calendar.
POINT II
DESPITE PLAINTIFFS HAVING FILED A "CERTIFICATION" PURSUANT TO R. 4:4-7 IN JUNE 2013[, CLEARLY] DEMONSTRATING THAT SERVICE OF PLAINTIFFS' COMPLAINT HAD BEEN MADE UPON DEFENDANTS[,] THE CLERK OF THE LAW DIVISION
5 A-0764-14T2 CONTINUED ISSUING ORDERS THAT ADMINISTRATIVELY DISMISSED PLAINTIFFS' COMPLAINT WHICH CONDUCT FURTHER VIOLATED PLAINTIFFS' RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS OF LAW AND FOR THIS REASON AS A MATER OF LAW[,] THE ORDER ENTERED BY THE CLERK ADMINISTRATIVELY DISMISSING PLAINTIFFS' COMPLAINT AS WELL AS THE ORDER ENTERED BY THE LAW DIVISION REFUSING TO RESTORE PLAINTIFFS' COMPLAINT MUST BE REVERSED.
[A.] Thereafter The "Wholly Improper And Improvident Administrative Dismissal Of Plaintiffs' Complaint" In November 2013, The Clerk Of The Law Division Failed To Provide Plaintiffs With A Written Notice [Advising] Of The Dismissal Which Conduct Violated The Mandates Of R.
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R.1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION DOCKET NO. A-0764-14T2
MARK NEWTON, ANDREA NEWTON, QADIR NEWTON and QAWI NEWTON,
Plaintiffs-Appellants,
v.
CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY,
Defendant-Respondent,
and
MAYOR COREY BOOKER, WESTWARD COUNCILMAN RONALD RICE, JR., ANNETTE WILLIAMS NEWARK POLICE DEPT. DIRECTOR, SAMUEL DIMEO, CHIEF SHEILAH COLEY, CAPT. "DOE" CLARK, CAPT. SETEVEN YABLONSKY, LT. FELIX COMLON, LT. CHARLES ZISER, LT. STEVEN YURIK I.D. NO. 6480, LT. WILLIAM MEHALARIS I.D. NO. 7131, LT. CARLOS FIGUEROA I.D. NO. 6522, LT. DARRYL MARTIN I.D. NO.7462, LT. FREDDIE HILL, SGT. RAZOHN EURE, SGT. "ROE" LOPEZ, SGT. FRANK ROSSI I.D. NO. 6627, SGT. ANTHONY GIBSON I.D. NO 7121, SGT. JOAO CARVALHO I.D. NO. 9303, SGT. "DOE" WHITTAKER, SGT. "DOE" PEREIRA, SGT. SCOTT SAYRE, SGT. ELLEN MCMILLAN I.D. NO. 6529, SGT. AL TARIQ DUNSTON, MATTHEW MILTON I.D. NO. 7992, DET. KARIMA HANNIBAL I.D. NO. 9058, DET. MIGUEL SANABRIA, JR. I.D. NO. 8013, DET. "DOE" MARQUES, DET. "DOE" WEBER, DET. MARK OLMEDA I.D. NO. 8013, DET. MARK SUREZ, DET. GERARD PIACENZA, DET. LARRY COLLINS, DET. JOSE PEREZ, DET. ALOMA WRIGHT, P.O. TIMOTHY HART, P.O. MARIBEL SANTIAGO I.D. NO 9900, P.O. EDWIN GONZALEZ, P.O. DARELL GRAHAM, P.O. GEORGE MENDEZ I.D. NO. 6490, P.O. "DOE" BUMANLAG, P.O. CARLOS ORBE, P.O. "DOE" FIGUEROA, P.O. "DOE" MARQUES, P.O. "DOE" GONZALEZ, P.O. "DOE" ZAMORA, P.O. TREMAYNE PHILLIPS, I.D. NO. 9891, P.O. JOSEPH WATSON I.D. NO. 6497, P.O. WILLIE WINNS I.D. NO. 7282, P.O. ANDREE NELSON I.D. NO. 7266, P.O. "DOE" HANCOCK I.D. NO. 7593, P.O. "DOE" RICH, I.D. NO. 1382, P.O. "DOE" MURPHY, I.D. NO. 2310, THE NEWARK FIRE DEPT., CHIEF JAMES STEWART, DEPT. OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVS., DIV. OF CODE ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEES, AMOS CRUDUP, NORMAN DAIS, and CITY OF NEWARK, DIV. OF WATER,
Defendants. _________________________________________
Argued August 15, 2017 – Decided August 22, 2017
Before Judges Manahan and Gilson.
On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Essex County, Docket No. L- 6777-11.
Mark Newton, appellant pro se.
Steven F. Olivo, Assistant Corporation Counsel, argued the cause for respondent (Kenyatta K. Stewar, Acting Corporation Counsel, attorney; Mr. Olivo, of counsel and on the brief.
PER CURIAM
Plaintiffs Mark Newton, Andrea Newton, Qadir Newton, and Qawi
Newton (collectively plaintiffs) appeal from a July 25, 2014 Law
2 A-0764-14T2 Division order denying an application seeking restoration of their
complaint. We affirm.
We summarize the following facts and procedural history
relevant to our determination from the limited record. Plaintiffs
filed the complaint on August 16, 2011, in the Law Division. The
complaint was dismissed on March 2, 2012, by the Law Division's
Central Processing Unit as non-conforming. Plaintiffs filed a
subsequent complaint and Order to Show Cause (OTSC) on May 17,
2012, which was hand-delivered to defendant City of Newark (City).
The City appeared before the court on May 18, 2012, regarding
plaintiffs' complaint, specifically plaintiffs' conflict with
their neighbors.1 Consequently, the court reinstated the complaint
and set the OTSC returnable on May 31, 2012.
The City filed an answer to the complaint and OTSC on May 24,
2012. On June 13, 2012, the court convened a plenary hearing, at
which plaintiffs Mark Newton and Andrea Newton testified. 2 On
August 24, 2012, the court denied plaintiffs' OTSC, noting in its
statement of reasons that even if the allegations against defendant
Newark Police Department were proven, there would be no compensable
damages available to plaintiffs. When no further action was taken
1 Plaintiffs no longer reside at the property. 2 A transcript of the proceeding has not been provided to this court.
3 A-0764-14T2 after issuance of the August 24 order, the complaint was
administratively dismissed on November 3, 2012.
On November 23, 2012, plaintiffs moved to reinstate the
complaint without serving the motion on the City. The court
granted plaintiffs' motion on December 11, 2012. As plaintiffs
did not serve the City with the order, the City did not file a
responsive pleading to the reinstated complaint. This resulted
in an additional administrative dismissal on April 13, 2013.
On June 13, 2013, plaintiffs again moved to reinstate the
complaint. The court granted plaintiffs' motion on July 12, 2013.
In an accompanying letter to plaintiffs and the City, the court
stated that if plaintiffs continually failed to serve orders on
opposing parties or to file proof of service pursuant to Rule 4:4-
7, the complaint would be dismissed.
On October 22, 2013, plaintiffs filed a motion seeking both
reinstatement of the complaint and a judgment by default pursuant
to Rule 4:43-2. By letter dated November 7, 2013, the City
informed the court that they never received the motion papers.
The City's counsel submitted a certification in opposition to the
motion stating that the City was not properly served. On November
22, 2013, the court, finding improper service by plaintiffs on the
City, denied plaintiffs' motion.
4 A-0764-14T2 On June 23, 2014, plaintiffs again moved to reinstate the
complaint. On July 25, 2014, the court denied the motion. In a
letter to plaintiffs and the City, the court stated that it "denied
the motion because it is far from clear to the court that the
[City has] been properly served." This appeal followed.
Plaintiffs raise the following arguments on appeal:
POINT I
ALL DEFENDANTS THROUGH THEIR COUNSEL NMCC CONTUMACIOUSLY REFUSED TO FILE THEIR CIVIL CASE INFORMATION STATEMENT AND ANSWER WITH THE CLERK OF THE LAW DIVISION AND FOR THIS REASON THE ADMINISTRATIVE DISMISSALS ENTERED BY THE CLERK OF THE LAW DIVISION MUST BE VACATED AND THE MATTER RESTORED TO THE ACTIVE TRIAL CALENDAR.
[A.] The Law Division Judge James Rothschild Jr. Committed Plain And Reversible Error By Deliberately And [Purposely] Refusing To Transmit Defendants' Answer To The Clerk Of The Law Division Or Otherwise Directing His Staff To File Defendants' Answer With The Clerk Of The Law Division And For This Reason The Administrative Dismissals Entered By The Clerk Of The Law Division Must Be Vacated And The Matter Restored To The Active Trial Calendar.
POINT II
DESPITE PLAINTIFFS HAVING FILED A "CERTIFICATION" PURSUANT TO R. 4:4-7 IN JUNE 2013[, CLEARLY] DEMONSTRATING THAT SERVICE OF PLAINTIFFS' COMPLAINT HAD BEEN MADE UPON DEFENDANTS[,] THE CLERK OF THE LAW DIVISION
5 A-0764-14T2 CONTINUED ISSUING ORDERS THAT ADMINISTRATIVELY DISMISSED PLAINTIFFS' COMPLAINT WHICH CONDUCT FURTHER VIOLATED PLAINTIFFS' RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS OF LAW AND FOR THIS REASON AS A MATER OF LAW[,] THE ORDER ENTERED BY THE CLERK ADMINISTRATIVELY DISMISSING PLAINTIFFS' COMPLAINT AS WELL AS THE ORDER ENTERED BY THE LAW DIVISION REFUSING TO RESTORE PLAINTIFFS' COMPLAINT MUST BE REVERSED.
[A.] Thereafter The "Wholly Improper And Improvident Administrative Dismissal Of Plaintiffs' Complaint" In November 2013, The Clerk Of The Law Division Failed To Provide Plaintiffs With A Written Notice [Advising] Of The Dismissal Which Conduct Violated The Mandates Of R. 1:13-7(A) As Well As Plaintiffs' Rights To Due Process Of Law And For This Reason As A Matter Of Law[,] The Order Entered By The Law Division Refusing To Restore Plaintiffs' Complaint To The Active Trial Calendar Must Be Reversed.
POINT III
THE LAW DIVISION JUDGE JAMES ROTHSCHILD JR. COMMITTED PLAIN AND REVERSIBLE ERROR BY DENYING PLAINTIFFS' APPLICATION SEEKING THE ENTRY OF A DEFAULT REGARDING ALL DEFENDANTS AND REFUSING TO REINSTATE PLAINTIFFS' COMPLAINT "NUN[C] PRO TUNC" AS A DIRECT RESULT OF JUDGE ROTHSCHILD'S REFUSAL TO TRANSMIT DEFENDANTS ANSWER TO THE CLERK OF THE LAW DIVISION FOR FILING AND DEFENDANTS' COUNSELS' CONTUMACIOUS REFUSAL TO FILE THE CASE INFORMATION STATEMENT AND ANSWER DIRECTLY WITH THE DEPUTY CLERK OF THE LAW DIVISION IN ACCORDANCE WITH R. 1:5-6(A)(1).
6 A-0764-14T2 Having considered the record before us and in application of
our standard of review, we conclude that plaintiffs' arguments
lack sufficient merit as to require discussion in a written
opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E). We add only the following.
We review an order denying reinstatement of a complaint under
the abuse of discretion standard. Weber v. Mayan Palace Hotel &
Resorts, 397 N.J. Super. 257, 262 (App. Div. 2007). While the
"abuse of discretion standard defies precise definition," we may
find an abuse of discretion when a decision is "made without a
rational explanation, . . . rest[s] on an impermissible basis,"
or was "based upon a consideration of irrelevant or inappropriate
factors." Flagg v. Essex Cty. Prosecutor, 171 N.J. 561, 571 (2002)
(quoting Achacoso-Sanchez v. Immigration & Naturalization Serv.,
779 F.2d 1260, 1265 (7th Cir. 1985); State v. Baynes, 148 N.J.
434, 444 (1997)).
Rule 1:13-7(a) permits reinstatement of a complaint "on
motion for good cause shown." In Ghandi v. Cespedes, we explained:
Good cause is an amorphous term, that is, it is difficult of precise delineation. Its application requires the exercise of sound discretion in light of the facts and circumstances of the particular case considered in the context of the purposes of the Court Rule being applied. Rule 1:13-7(a) is an administrative rule designed to clear the docket of cases that cannot, for various reasons, be prosecuted to completion. Dismissals under the rule are without
7 A-0764-14T2 prejudice. R. 1:13-7(a). Accordingly, the right to reinstatement is ordinarily routinely and freely granted when plaintiff has cured the problem that led to the dismissal even if the application is made many months later.
[390 N.J. Super. 193, 196 (App. Div. 2007) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).]
Here, despite being presented with the opportunity on several
occasions to "cure the problem" that led to the administrative
dismissals of the complaint, plaintiffs engaged in a pattern of
obstinate refusal to abide by the notice requirements per Rule
1:6-2(a) and Rule 1:6-3(a)(c), and the service requirement of Rule
4:4-4. Further, plaintiffs chose to ignore the advisement provided
by the court that their failure to abide by the notice and service
requirements would continue to result in dismissal of the complaint
after its reinstatement.
Given the above, we conclude that the court not only did not
abuse its discretion, it exercised sound discretion in denying
reinstatement of the complaint.
Affirmed.
8 A-0764-14T2