NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ."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-0640-21
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
JAMES GENCARELLI,
Defendant-Appellant. _______________________
Submitted October 4, 2022 – Decided October 20, 2022
Before Judges Gilson and Gummer.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Mercer County, Docket No. L-1413-01.
James Gencarelli, appellant pro se.
Matthew J. Platkin, Attorney General, attorney for respondent (Melissa H. Raksa, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel; William E. Vaughan, Deputy Attorney General, on the brief).
PER CURIAM Defendant appeals an order granting the State's motion to revive a
judgment, arguing, among other things, that the motion judge should have
denied the motion based on a six-year statute of limitations instead of granting
it based on a twenty-year revival statute. Because the judge correctly applied
the law and made factual findings that were supported by the record evidence,
we affirm.
I.
On October 17, 1997, defendant executed a consent agreement dated
October 9, 1997, in which he agreed to pay $4,000 to the Commissioner of the
Department Banking and Insurance of the State of New Jersey to resolve
allegations he had violated provisions of the New Jersey Insurance Fraud
Prevention Act (Fraud Act), N.J.S.A. 17:33A-1 to -30. Under the terms of the
consent agreement, defendant could pay the amount due in monthly $100
payments after an initial payment of $400. The consent agreement contained
the following language:
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Consent Agreement shall be fully enforceable in the Superior Court of New Jersey. If James Gencarelli fails to comply with the terms of this Consent Agreement, either in whole or in part, the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance may, at his or her option, either enforce this Consent Agreement in the Superior Court of New Jersey, or initiate and pursue an action in the Superior
A-0640-21 2 Court for assessment of any and all civil penalties recoverable pursuant to N.J.S.A. 17:33A-1 et seq. in connection with, or as a result of, the matter described above.
Defendant admittedly failed to make the agreed-upon payments. As a
result of that failure, pursuant to the terms of the consent agreement, the State
had the option of filing either an action to enforce the consent agreement or an
action for an assessment of civil penalties recoverable under the Fraud Act. The
State chose the former option. On May 4, 2001, the State filed in Superior Court
a complaint seeking a judgment enforcing the consent agreement and requiring
defendant to pay the balance owed, plus attorney fees and costs. After the court
entered default against defendant for failing to appear, the court on October 11,
2001, granted the State's unopposed motion for entry of final judgment by
default and issued a final judgment against defendant in the amount of
$3,924.95. The judgment was recorded as a lien on November 9, 2001.
On September 10, 2021, the State moved to revive the judgment and
continue the lien pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:14-5, asking that the revived judgment
reflect the amount due of $5,073.35, which included unpaid principal and post-
judgment interest. In support of the motion, the State submitted the certification
of an administrative analyst employed by the Department of Banking and
Insurance (the Department), who certified the Department had obtained a final
A-0640-21 3 judgment against defendant on October 11, 2001, which was docketed as a
statewide lien with the Superior Court, and that Department records reflected
defendant owed the State $5,073.35 in unpaid principal and post-judgment
interest.
Defendant opposed the motion. In an unsworn memorandum, defendant
stated he had no memory of the alleged "infraction," signing any papers as to
the amount owed, or making any payments. He argued the October 1997 consent
agreement was a contract subject to a six-year statute of limitations under
N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1 and that the State had filed its "complaint" on September 10,
2021, past the six-year statute of limitations.
In an October 26, 2021 order and written decision, the judge granted the
motion, revived the judgment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:14-5, continued the lien
against defendant, and ordered the revived judgment to reflect "the current
amount due of $5,073.35 . . . ." The judge found the court had entered the final
judgment by default on October 11, 2001, and records of the Department
confirmed defendant owed a balance.
On appeal, defendant argues the motion judge erred in deciding the motion
based on N.J.S.A. 2A:14-5, the twenty-year revival statute, instead of N.J.S.A.
14-1, the six-year statute of limitations for contract claims. He also contends
A-0640-21 4 the judge's decision was arbitrary and capricious because the State caused a time
lag of twenty years, the parties' contractual agreement was "outside the purview
of the Judiciary of New Jersey," and the judge failed to observe the equitable
defense of laches, recognize defendant's arguments, apply the law to the facts of
the case, and consider controlling case law.
II.
We review legal questions, including the interpretation of statutes, de
novo. Timber Glen Phase III, Ltd. Liab. Co. v. Twp. of Hamilton, 441 N.J.
Super. 514, 521 (App. Div. 2015). We do not disturb a trial judge's factual
findings if they are "supported by adequate, substantial, and credible evidence."
N. Jersey Media Grp., Inc. v. State, Off. of Governor, 451 N.J. Super. 282, 295
(App. Div. 2017) (quoting Zaman v. Felton, 219 N.J. 199, 215 (2014)). Because
the motion judge correctly decided the motion based on the applicable law and
his factual findings were supported by the record evidence, we affirm.
In October 1997, the parties entered into a consent agreement. That
consent agreement, like all settlement agreements, is a contract. Savage v. Twp.
of Neptune, 472 N.J. Super. 291, 305 (App. Div. 2022). Generally, recovery on
a contractual claim is subject to a six-year statute of limitations. N.J.S.A.
2A:14-1; see also In re Estate of Balk, 445 N.J. Super. 395, 398 (App. Div.
A-0640-21 5 2016). However, a breach-of-contract claim by the State in a civil action is
controlled by the ten-year statute of limitations set forth in N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1.2.
See State Dep't of Env't Prot. v. Caldeira, 171 N.J. 404, 409 (2002) (finding
N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1.2 "provides a general ten-year limitations period for actions
brought by the State or its agencies").
Defendant admittedly failed to make the payments he had agreed to make
in the consent agreement. On May 4, 2001, pursuant to the terms of the
agreement, the State filed a complaint seeking enforcement of the consent
agreement. The State filed the complaint less than four years after the parties
had entered into the consent agreement. Thus, neither the six-year statute of
limitations under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1, on which defendant incorrectly relies, nor
the ten-year statute of limitations under N.J.S.A.
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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-0640-21
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
JAMES GENCARELLI,
Defendant-Appellant. _______________________
Submitted October 4, 2022 – Decided October 20, 2022
Before Judges Gilson and Gummer.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Mercer County, Docket No. L-1413-01.
James Gencarelli, appellant pro se.
Matthew J. Platkin, Attorney General, attorney for respondent (Melissa H. Raksa, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel; William E. Vaughan, Deputy Attorney General, on the brief).
PER CURIAM Defendant appeals an order granting the State's motion to revive a
judgment, arguing, among other things, that the motion judge should have
denied the motion based on a six-year statute of limitations instead of granting
it based on a twenty-year revival statute. Because the judge correctly applied
the law and made factual findings that were supported by the record evidence,
we affirm.
I.
On October 17, 1997, defendant executed a consent agreement dated
October 9, 1997, in which he agreed to pay $4,000 to the Commissioner of the
Department Banking and Insurance of the State of New Jersey to resolve
allegations he had violated provisions of the New Jersey Insurance Fraud
Prevention Act (Fraud Act), N.J.S.A. 17:33A-1 to -30. Under the terms of the
consent agreement, defendant could pay the amount due in monthly $100
payments after an initial payment of $400. The consent agreement contained
the following language:
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Consent Agreement shall be fully enforceable in the Superior Court of New Jersey. If James Gencarelli fails to comply with the terms of this Consent Agreement, either in whole or in part, the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance may, at his or her option, either enforce this Consent Agreement in the Superior Court of New Jersey, or initiate and pursue an action in the Superior
A-0640-21 2 Court for assessment of any and all civil penalties recoverable pursuant to N.J.S.A. 17:33A-1 et seq. in connection with, or as a result of, the matter described above.
Defendant admittedly failed to make the agreed-upon payments. As a
result of that failure, pursuant to the terms of the consent agreement, the State
had the option of filing either an action to enforce the consent agreement or an
action for an assessment of civil penalties recoverable under the Fraud Act. The
State chose the former option. On May 4, 2001, the State filed in Superior Court
a complaint seeking a judgment enforcing the consent agreement and requiring
defendant to pay the balance owed, plus attorney fees and costs. After the court
entered default against defendant for failing to appear, the court on October 11,
2001, granted the State's unopposed motion for entry of final judgment by
default and issued a final judgment against defendant in the amount of
$3,924.95. The judgment was recorded as a lien on November 9, 2001.
On September 10, 2021, the State moved to revive the judgment and
continue the lien pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:14-5, asking that the revived judgment
reflect the amount due of $5,073.35, which included unpaid principal and post-
judgment interest. In support of the motion, the State submitted the certification
of an administrative analyst employed by the Department of Banking and
Insurance (the Department), who certified the Department had obtained a final
A-0640-21 3 judgment against defendant on October 11, 2001, which was docketed as a
statewide lien with the Superior Court, and that Department records reflected
defendant owed the State $5,073.35 in unpaid principal and post-judgment
interest.
Defendant opposed the motion. In an unsworn memorandum, defendant
stated he had no memory of the alleged "infraction," signing any papers as to
the amount owed, or making any payments. He argued the October 1997 consent
agreement was a contract subject to a six-year statute of limitations under
N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1 and that the State had filed its "complaint" on September 10,
2021, past the six-year statute of limitations.
In an October 26, 2021 order and written decision, the judge granted the
motion, revived the judgment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:14-5, continued the lien
against defendant, and ordered the revived judgment to reflect "the current
amount due of $5,073.35 . . . ." The judge found the court had entered the final
judgment by default on October 11, 2001, and records of the Department
confirmed defendant owed a balance.
On appeal, defendant argues the motion judge erred in deciding the motion
based on N.J.S.A. 2A:14-5, the twenty-year revival statute, instead of N.J.S.A.
14-1, the six-year statute of limitations for contract claims. He also contends
A-0640-21 4 the judge's decision was arbitrary and capricious because the State caused a time
lag of twenty years, the parties' contractual agreement was "outside the purview
of the Judiciary of New Jersey," and the judge failed to observe the equitable
defense of laches, recognize defendant's arguments, apply the law to the facts of
the case, and consider controlling case law.
II.
We review legal questions, including the interpretation of statutes, de
novo. Timber Glen Phase III, Ltd. Liab. Co. v. Twp. of Hamilton, 441 N.J.
Super. 514, 521 (App. Div. 2015). We do not disturb a trial judge's factual
findings if they are "supported by adequate, substantial, and credible evidence."
N. Jersey Media Grp., Inc. v. State, Off. of Governor, 451 N.J. Super. 282, 295
(App. Div. 2017) (quoting Zaman v. Felton, 219 N.J. 199, 215 (2014)). Because
the motion judge correctly decided the motion based on the applicable law and
his factual findings were supported by the record evidence, we affirm.
In October 1997, the parties entered into a consent agreement. That
consent agreement, like all settlement agreements, is a contract. Savage v. Twp.
of Neptune, 472 N.J. Super. 291, 305 (App. Div. 2022). Generally, recovery on
a contractual claim is subject to a six-year statute of limitations. N.J.S.A.
2A:14-1; see also In re Estate of Balk, 445 N.J. Super. 395, 398 (App. Div.
A-0640-21 5 2016). However, a breach-of-contract claim by the State in a civil action is
controlled by the ten-year statute of limitations set forth in N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1.2.
See State Dep't of Env't Prot. v. Caldeira, 171 N.J. 404, 409 (2002) (finding
N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1.2 "provides a general ten-year limitations period for actions
brought by the State or its agencies").
Defendant admittedly failed to make the payments he had agreed to make
in the consent agreement. On May 4, 2001, pursuant to the terms of the
agreement, the State filed a complaint seeking enforcement of the consent
agreement. The State filed the complaint less than four years after the parties
had entered into the consent agreement. Thus, neither the six-year statute of
limitations under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1, on which defendant incorrectly relies, nor
the ten-year statute of limitations under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1.2 had run, and the
State timely filed the complaint within the applicable statute of limitations.
Because defendant had failed to answer the complaint and was in default,
the trial court granted the State's motion for entry of final judgment by default
and issued a final judgment on October 11, 2001. That judgment was
subsequently docketed as a statewide lien. A judgment operates for a period of
twenty years, see N.J.S.A. 2A:17-3, but, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:14-5, can be
revived within the initial twenty-year period and extended for an additional
A-0640-21 6 twenty years. Adamar of N.J., Inc. v. Mason, 399 N.J. Super. 63, 70 (App. Div.
2008); N.J.S.A. 2A:14-5 (explaining that "[a] judgment in any court of record
in this state may be revived by proper proceedings or an action at law may be
commenced thereon within 20 years next after the date thereof, but not
thereafter"). To revive a judgment, a party need prove only "(1) the judgment
is valid and subsisting; (2) it remains unpaid in full, or, if in part, the unpaid
balance; and (3) there is no outstanding impediment to its judicial enforcement,
e.g., a stay, a pending bankruptcy proceeding, an outstanding injunctive order,
or the like." Adamar, 399 N.J. Super. at 69 (quoting Kronstadt v. Kronstadt,
238 N.J. Super. 614, 618 (App. Div. 1990)).
The State moved to revive the judgment against defendant. A motion is a
"proper proceeding[]" to revive a judgment. Kronstadt, 238 N.J. Super. at 618
(quoting N.J.S.A. 2A:14-5). The State filed the motion on September 10, 2021,
which was within twenty years of the issuance of the October 11, 2001 judgment
the State sought to revive. Thus, the State's motion was timely. And the State
clearly met the standard for revival we articulated in Kronstadt.
We comment briefly on defendants' two remaining arguments, neither of
which he raised in opposition to the State's motion. Defendant contends the
parties' "contractual agreement" was "outside the purview of the Judiciary of
A-0640-21 7 New Jersey." That argument is belied by the express language of the consent
agreement, providing that the consent agreement "shall be fully enforceable in
the Superior Court of New Jersey." Defendant's laches argument is equally
unavailing; it is directly contrary to the clear statutory authority set forth in
N.J.S.A. 2A:14-5 permitting a party to extend a judgment beyond the initial
twenty-year period.
Affirmed.
A-0640-21 8