NJ Laws Email Newsletter E286

Kenneth Vercammen, Attorney at Law

November 4, 2008

In This Issue
_______________
1. Negligence in Road Repairs Leads to $31M Verdict.

2. Commercial Vehicle could be searched during routine safety inspection. State v. Hewitt 400 NJ Super. 376 (Law Div. 2008).

3. Where crime involved employers car, no extreme hardship to avoid license suspension. State v. Carrero 399 NJ Super. 419 (Law Div. 2007).

4. PTI Rejection based on mental illness ok. State v. Hoffman 399 NJ Super. 207 (App. Div. 1999).

5. Fun Upcoming Running Race events.

6. Middlesex County Estate Planning Council - Speaker needed!

7. New Articles & Videos.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

njlaws.com LINKS
Main Website with 500 + articles and 1,000 + links
(732) 572-0500
Greetings Kenneth Vercammen,

1. Negligence in Road Repairs Leads to $31M Verdict.

A Camden County jury has taken a dim view of that countys negligence in repairing a 130-foot stretch of roadway long recognized as dangerous and awarded $31.3 million to a young man who, four years ago at age 18, crashed into an unsafe guardrail there, lost a leg and may yet lose an arm. Nicolas M. Anderson was forced to swerve off the pavement on Raritan Avenue in Waterford Township to avoid a vehicle that had strayed into his lane, but because the pavement dropped six inches to the shoulder - four inches more than the acceptable limit - his car hurtled straight into a guardrail that the county had known for 20 years had an unsafe end piece. The guardrail beam severed Andersons left leg; his right leg and left arm also were severely injured. At trial it was revealed the county did not have an inspection program for pavement edges and that its policy for replacing substandard guardrails was to wait until an accident occurred. Court officials speculated this award may be among the highest in a motor-vehicle accident case in state history. Anderson v. Camden County was tried before Superior Court Judge John A. Fratto.

NJ Lawyer Daily Briefing 10-22-08

2. Commercial Vehicle could be searched during routine safety inspection. State v. Hewitt 400 NJ Super. 376 (Law Div. 2008).

The troopers warrantless search of a commercial truck to confirm a suspected hidden compartment and identify its contents, made during a routine safety inspection, was a valid administrative search.

Source: 192 N.J.L.J. 570.
3. Where crime involved employers car, no extreme hardship to avoid license suspension. State v. Carrero 399 NJ Super. 419 (Law Div. 2007).

Loss of employment is not an "extreme hardship" entitling a defendant to relief from mandatory license suspension under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-16(a) where the loss is the result of his unauthorized, criminal use of his employers vehicle.

Source: 192 N.J.L.J. 134.
4. PTI Rejection based on mental illness ok. State v. Hoffman 399 NJ Super. 207 (App. Div. 1999).

In this appeal, the court reversed an order admitting the defendant into a Pretrial Intervention program over the prosecutors objection. The court concluded that the victims status as police officers does not eviscerate N.J.S.A. 2C:43 12(e)(4), which requires prosecutors to consider "[t]he victim to forego prosecution."

5. Fun Upcoming Running Race events. Selected by Kenneth Vercammen.

If you are attending any of these races, please call or email Ken V. Often we car pool or met at these events. If you can run, you can volunteer, or walk the course.

11/16 Swamp Devil 5k Basking Ridge 1pm

11/22 Manasquan Turkey Trot 5 mile Manasquan 11am party at taverns after race

11/28 Born to Run 5 mile Freehold Friday Free beer at Court Jester tavern 11am

11/30 Navesink Challenge 15k and 5k, Middletown, NJ 732-542-6090 Quality JSRC event with Race director Dave Z. Free food and discount beer at Outback

12/7 Arthritis 5k Metuchen

12/13 Arthritis 5k Bar A Lake Como/ Belmar

12/14 USATF-NJ 10 MILE CHAMPIONSHIP, 11am Mercer County Park, West Windsor, 973-334-890

12/14 Toys for Tots 5k Freehold 10am

Plus Nov 14 Opening night James Bond Movie Quantum of Solace

Does your company or group have a website that provides information on Elder Law, Estate Planning, Probate, or Financial Planning? We would be glad to add your website to our websites lists of helpful links.
Please E-mail us at: kenvnjlaws@verizon.net

6. Middlesex County Estate Planning Council - Speaker needed!

In several counties in New Jersey, estate planning professionals have set up Councils whereby those assisting seniors and taxpayers with their estate planning could meet on a quarterly basis to share ideas. We want professionals from the field of law, accounting, life insurance, long term care insurance, banking and financial planning a forum in which to share ideas and network. We will share ideas on providing advice, new laws, networking and marketing. Senior Citizen Coordinators and anyone who provides advice to seniors and the Elderly should also attend. We need a speaker for our Winter and Spring meetings. This will give the speaker the opportunity to network and gain new contacts. Would you like to learn techniques to improve and increase your estate planning business or better serve your clients? If interested, contact Kenneth Vercammen 732-572-0500. We will have an educational and interesting roundtable discussion which will focus on helping seniors and improving your business. We will also share ideas and discuss recent changes in the law. If interested, contact Kenneth Vercammen.

Speaker Duties:

1. Mail flyer to all professionals and companies using labels provided [Approx. 600 professionals].

2. Call at least 200 people to invite and request e-mail addresses. [Ken V will provide confidential phone list, to be returned after program].

3. Send to local media, in newspaper and cable TV. [Ken V to provide labels].

4. Assist with other publicity, such as sending flyers to their own contacts.

5. Prepare 15-20 minute presentation.

6. Provide return address envelopes to Ken V so elder law database can be revised.

7. Provide any email addresses obtained to Ken V 8. We recommend speaker do as much publicity as possible since this is their opportunity to market themselves

Ken Vercammen will provide:

1. Labels of approx. 600 financial planners, accountants, attorneys, senior citizen coordinators and other professionals.

2. Prepare a draft of flyer for speaker to revise.

3. Make Final draft of flyer for speaker to photocopy: Speaker permitted to print their own info or bio on back of meeting notice.

4. If requested Ken V can provide 600 envelopes for mailing, otherwise you use your own envelopes.

5. Ken V will organize meeting room at meetings at a restaurant in Edison area.

6. Provide Certificate of Appreciation for speaker.
7. New Articles & Videos.

Please check out our first videos on YouTube and our new articles.

NEW VIDEOS:

NEW ARTICLES:

FOR POTENTIAL CLIENTS TO CONTACT US DURING NON-BUSINESS HOURS, PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM.

Name:

Cell Phone:

E-Mail Address

If You Do Not Include a Complete E-Mail Address, Verizon will not Forward Your Contact Form to the Law Office.

Details of the Case

Agree

By typing " agree" into the box you are confirming that you wish to send your information to the Law Office of Kenneth Vercammen

Change Image

Write the characters in the image above

Kenneth Vercammen was the Middlesex County Bar Municipal Court Attorney of the Year

Receive free NJ Laws Email newsletter with current laws and cases	New Article of the Week
Meet with an experienced Attorney to handle your important legal needs. Please call the office to schedule a confidential "in Office" consultation. Attorneys are not permitted to provide legal advice by email.

Since 1985, KENNETH VERCAMMEN has worked as a personal injury attorney, working for injury victims and their families. By taking a hard-hitting, aggressive approach toward the insurance companies, KENNETH VERCAMMEN and our co-counsel have consistently obtained outstanding results for many injured clients over the years I am proud to have worked on cases in various capacities, small and large. While obviously prior results cannot guarantee the outcome of future cases, I can guarantee that you case will receive the same degree of dedication and hard work that went into each of these prior cases.

In direct contrast to the hard-hitting approach we take toward the insurance companies is the “soft” approach we take toward our clients. I am proud of my compassionate staff as I am of the outstanding financial results they have achieved. For many years, I have watched them treat our clients with patience, dignity and respect. I would have it no other way.

Many years ago, I attended a seminar sponsored by the American Bar Association on Law Practice Management. This was to help insure that each of our clients is always treated like a person -- not a file! We recognize that you are innocent victims and that you have placed your trust in us. Please understand that we understand what you are going through. Feel comforted that we are here to help you.

If you retain KENNETH VERCAMMEN to represent you, we will give you the same advice we give each of our clients -- concentrate on your life, you family and your health. We will take care of everything else. Leave all of the work and worry about your legal rights to us. Trust us. Believe in us. Have faith in us as your attorneys. Understand that we will always to do what we believe is best for you and your case. Helping you is our job. In fact, it is our only job -- guiding injury victims like you through one of the most difficult times of your lives, with care and concern -- while fighting aggressively to the limits of the law to obtain compensation and justice for each of you!

Print our Personal Injury Questionnaire on our Website, Fill it out and Fax back, so we can determine if we can help you obtain an injury settlement. We would welcome an opportunity to prove to you what we have proven to thousands of injured clients -- that you can feel comfortable and secure in the fact that KENNETH VERCAMMEN - Trial Attorney We Fight To Win.

When you have been injured in an accident or collision, you are worried about who is going to pay your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. The last thing you want is to be taken advantage of by an insurance company. If you don’t protect your rights, you may not be able to make a claim.

Insurance companies have attorneys and adjusters whose goal is to pay you as little as they can. You need a New Jersey personal injury lawyer to fight for you. I am dedicated to helping your recover as much money as possible under the law.

You need an attorney who will work hard to protect your rights, maximize your insurance settlement and minimize the hassles of dealing with the insurance companies. You need an experienced and aggressive New Jersey trial lawyer with PROVEN RESULTS who will fight for you. Having an experienced personal injury lawyer can make the difference between getting what you deserve and getting nothing.

Without the threat of a lawyer who is willing to go to trial and seek a big jury verdict, why would an insurance company pay you what your claim is really worth? Lawsuits can be expensive, and many people do not have the money to pursue their claim. In every case, I advance all costs associated with pursuing your case and I do not ask you for a penny until we recover from the other side.

I am an experienced aggressive trial lawyer and a 3rd degree Black Belt. I am not afraid to take your case to trial if that is what it takes to maximize the amount of money your recover for your personal injury. I offer one-on-one service, and I will not hand your case off to an inexperienced lawyer or a paralegal.

Reduce the stress of making a claim.

Personal injury accidents can turn your life upside down. Making a personal injury claim can be difficult and time consuming. Once I take your case, you can stop worrying about dealing with the insurance companies and focus on recovering from your injuries. I take care of all of the paperwork, phone calls, and negotiations, so you can get on with your life.

p.s. For those clients who are afraid or reluctant to go to Court, KENNETH VERCAMMEN also offers a special -- “For Settlement Only” -- program. This means that if we are unable to settle with the insurance company, we will not go any further -- unless you want us to. You have my personal assurance that there will be absolutely no pressure and no obligation.

We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis.

This means:
YOU DON’T OWE ME A LEGAL FEE UNLESS I RECOVER MONEY FOR YOU.

Call our office to schedule a "confidential" appointment 732-572-0500

Kenneth A. Vercammen is the Managing Attorney at Kenneth Vercammen & Associates in Edison, NJ. He is a New Jersey trial attorney has devoted a substantial portion of his professional time to the preparation and trial of litigated matters. He has appears in Courts throughout New Jersey each week on personal injury matters, Criminal /Municipal Court trials, and contested Probate hearings.

Mr. Vercammen has published over 125 legal articles in national and New Jersey publications on criminal, elder law, probate and litigation topics. He is a highly regarded lecturer on litigation issues for the American Bar Association, NJ ICLE, New Jersey State Bar Association and Middlesex County Bar Association. His articles have been published in noted publications included New Jersey Law Journal, ABA Law Practice Management Magazine, and New Jersey Lawyer. He is the Editor in Chief of the American Bar Association Tort and Insurance Committee Newsletter.

Admitted In NJ, US Supreme Court and Federal District Court.

Contact the Law Office of
Kenneth Vercammen & Associates, P.C.
at 732-572-0500
for an appointment.

The Law Office cannot provide legal advice or answer legal questions over the phone or by email. Please call the Law office and schedule a confidential "in office" consultation.

Directions to Ken Vercammen and Associates

Disclaimer This web site is purely a public resource of general New Jersey information (intended, but not promised or guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up-to-date). It is not intended be a source of legal advice, do not rely on information at this site or others in place of the advice of competent counsel. The Law Office of Kenneth Vercammen complies with the New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct. This web site is not sponsored or associated with any particular linked entity unless specifically stated. The existence of any particular link is simply intended to imply potential interest to the reader, inclusion of a link should not be construed as an endorsement.