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NJ A1418
Bill
Status
Introduced
1/13/2026
Primary Sponsor
Ellen Park
Click for details
AI Summary
- Amends New Jersey law (P.L.1988, c.46) to explicitly include municipalities and municipal corporations as parties that can be held liable for frivolous litigation costs and attorney fees
- Allows prevailing parties in civil actions to recover reasonable litigation costs and attorney fees when a judge determines a municipality's complaint, counterclaim, cross-claim, or defense was frivolous
- Codifies the New Jersey Supreme Court's holding in Borough of Englewood Cliffs v. Trautner, 260 N.J. 410 (2025), which ruled municipalities can be sanctioned for frivolous litigation
- Changes terminology from "nonprevailing person" to "nonprevailing party" to clarify that entities, not just individuals, are subject to frivolous litigation penalties
Legislative Description
Specifies nonprevailing party in proceeding or judgment deemed frivolous by judge may include municipality or municipal corporation.
Judiciary
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
1/13/2026
Committee Referrals
Judiciary1/13/2026
Full Bill Text
No bill text available