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Click on any decision below to get the full opinion – October 20, 2026.
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NOT APPROVED FOR PUBLICATION |
New Jersey Appellate Division
Criminal – Trespassing
State of New Jersey vs. Sylvia Diane Wilson, et al. (Essex County and Statewide) – The defendants Sylvia Diane Wilson and Camryn Edwards appealed from a Law Division order finding them guilty of defiant trespass. The Appellate Division affirmed the lower court.
Criminal – Illegal Clam Harvesting
State of New Jersey vs. Paul J. Ritter, et al. (Monmouth County and Statewide) – Following a trial de novo in the Law Division, the defendants Paul J. Ritter and Robert F. Ruddy appealed from their convictions for the prohibited taking of clams, N.J.S.A. 58:24-3. The Appellate Division affirmed the lower court.
Criminal – Post Conviction Relief
State of New Jersey vs. Keith I. Allen (Essex County and Statewide) – The defendant James P. Kozak appealed from the order denying his petition for post-conviction relief without an evidentiary hearing. The defendant contended plea counsel rendered ineffective assistance prior to the entry of his guilty plea by failing to review discovery, investigate, meaningfully discuss the case with him, and pressuring him to plead guilty by telling him he would receive a life sentence if he did not accept the plea offer. The Appellate Division affirmed the lower court.
State of New Jersey vs. Marvin Eure Jr. (Essex County and Statewide) – The defendant Marvin Eure Jr. appealed from an order denying his petition for post-conviction relief following an evidentiary hearing. The defendant is serving an 18-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to aggravated manslaughter. The Appellate Division affirmed the lower court.
State of New Jersey vs. James P. Kozak (Ocean County and Statewide) – The defendant James P. Kozak appealed from the order denying his petition for post-conviction relief without an evidentiary hearing. The defendant contended plea counsel rendered ineffective assistance prior to the entry of his guilty plea by failing to review discovery, investigate, meaningfully discuss the case with him, and pressuring him to plead guilty by telling him he would receive a life sentence if he did not accept the plea offer. The Appellate Division affirmed the lower court.
Landlord-Tenant – Rental Property Dispute
Franklin Castanos, et al. vs. Emad Ghaly, et al. (Hudson County and Statewide) – The defendant Emad Ghaly, self-represented, appealed from final judgment of $61,361.04 entered in favor of the plaintiffs in a landlord-tenant dispute involving a Bayonne rental property in Bayonne. The Appellate Division vacated the final judgment and remanded for further proceedings.
Real Estate – Foreclosure
Finance of America Reverse LLC vs. Kenneth Brown, et al. (Essex County and Statewide) – The defendant Kenneth Brown appealed from an order denying his motion for a stay of the sheriff's sale. The Appellate Division concluded the issues raised are moot and the appeal should be dismissed.
Family – Qualified Domestic Relations Order
Cathleen Storms vs. Edward Storms (Burlington County and Statewide) – The plaintiff Cathleen Storms appealed from an order denying her request to amend a qualified domestic relations order. The Appellate Division reversed and remanded for further proceedings.
Civil – Legal Malpractice
Varoujan Khorozian, et al. vs. Gerald H. Hanson, et al. (Essex County and Statewide) – The plaintiffs, Varoujan Khorozian, individually and on behalf of the Estate of Derek Khorozian, and Kyle Khorozian, appealed from an order dismissing their complaint with prejudice for failure to provide discovery to the defendants Hill Wallack LLP, Gerald H. Hanson, Esq., and Victoria J. Airgood, Esq., and denying the plaintiffs' application to
restore the complaint against the defendant Great Northern Insurance Company. The Appellate Division affirmed in part and remanded for proceedings.
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