UNION VICINAGE CIVIL DIVISION
2 Broad Street
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207
Telephone: 908-659-4810
All actions in the Superior Court except Criminal, Family Division and Probation are brought to the Civil and Special Civil Parts of the Law Division. Chancery Division - General Equity is responsible for actions in which the primary relief sought is equitable in nature. Chancery Division Probate Part handles all matters relating to estates, trusts and guardianship. Civil case types are diverse and include automobile negligence actions, personal injury actions, malpractice actions, employment, discrimination, name change, lemon law and other actions. Approximately 42,000 cases are filed in Union County Special Civil Part and 4,900 in Civil Law. The Presiding Judge calls the calendar of cases listed for trial each week at 9:00 am Monday. There are 7 judges, including the Assignment Judge and the Chancery – General Equity Judge, presently assigned to the Civil Division.
CIVIL DIVISION MANAGEMENT STAFF
| NAME | TITLE | LOCATION | PHONE NO. |
| Sandra Thaler-Gerber, Esq. | Civil Division Manager | 1 st Floor, Main Courthouse | 908-659-4810 |
| Anne R. Daurio | Administrative Specialist IV | 1 st Floor, Main Courthouse | 908-659-4814 |
| Lloyd Garner, Esq. | Assistant Civil Division Manager, Clerk of the Special Civil Part | 3 rd Floor – Tower | 908-659-4901 |
| Lillian Brenes | Administrative Specialist IV | 3 rd Floor – Tower | 908-659-4903 |
CIVIL DIVISION JUDGES AND SECRETARIES
JUDGE |
LOCATION |
SECRETARY |
PHONE NO. |
Karen M. Cassidy, A.J.S.C. |
1st Floor-Tower |
Laurie Lichtenstein |
908-659-4871 |
Kathryn Brock, J.S.C. |
1st Floor – Rotunda |
Doreen Walker |
908-659-4774 |
Lisa F. Chrystal, J.S.C. |
11th Floor – Tower |
Barbara Coyle |
908-659-4717 |
William A. Daniel, J.S.C. |
9th Floor – Tower |
Angie Dos Santos |
908-659-4725 |
Frederic S. Kessler, J.S.C. |
12th Floor – Tower |
Elizabeth McConkey |
908-659-4711 |
William L’E. Wertheimer, J.S.C. |
14th Floor – Tower |
Eileen Ryan |
908-659-4841 |
SUMMARY OF CIVIL DIVISION
- Civil Case Management
- Civil Assignment Office
- Complementary Dispute Resolution Office: Arbitration and Mediation
- Special Civil Part – District Court, Small Claims and Landlord/Tenant Actions
- Chancery Division – General Equity
Legal Assistance may be obtained from the Legal Hotline 1-888-LSNJ-LAW which provides legal referral and advice to low income people in civil matters subject to financial eligibility screening. In addition, assistance is also available through the Union County Bar Association for Legal referrals 908-353-4715 or Union County Legal Services, now known as Central Jersey Legal Services located at 60 Prince Street, Elizabeth, N.J. (908-354-4340) Any accommodation required under the Americans with Disabilities Act should be addressed with the appropriate section of the Division where the matter will be heard.
CIVIL CASE MANAGEMENT OFFICE:
Location: Main Courthouse
1st Floor, Room 107
2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207
Main Number: 908-659-4820
The responsibility of the Civil Case Management Office is to process all pleadings and paperwork pertaining to Civil Law cases where the monetary value exceeds $15,000.00. This process begins with the filing of the complaint and ends with post judgment activity. Documents are filed and the appropriate filing fee is collected and then processed through the Automated Case Management System.
Answers With Checks: 908-659-4829
Answers With Charges: 908-659-4829
Defaults/Judgments: 908-659-4817
Direct Filing: 908-659-4825
Lack Of Prosecution Dismissals R.1:13-7 908-659-4823
Name Changes 908-659-4820, 908-659-4824
Stipulations Of Dismissal 908-659-4810
Substitutions Of Attorney 908-659-4813
Transfers/Consolidations 908-659-4820
Writs Of Execution 908-659-4810
CIVIL ASSIGNMENT OFFICE:
Location: Main Courthouse
1st Floor, Room 105
2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207
Main Number: 908-659-4810
The Civil Assignment office is responsible for scheduling and assigning matters to the civil judiciary including trials, settlement conferences, case management conferences, Infant Friendly Hearings (cases involving minors) and proof hearings (entry of default judgment).
COMPLEMENTARY DISPUTE RESOLUTION OFFICE: ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION
Location: Albender Building, 2nd Floor
1143 East Jersey Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
(4 blocks from Main Courthouse)
Main Number 908-659-3270
Doris Tarquinio, Team Leader/Arbitration/Complementary Dispute Resolution Coordinator
The CDR unit offers litigants the ability to resolve differences through either arbitration or mediation. Arbitration is a mandatory non-binding process, in which a dispute is submitted to an experienced and knowledgeable neutral attorney or a retired judge with at least seven years experience in Civil Practice. The Union County Arbitrators are appointed by the Honorable Karen M. Cassidy, A.J.S.C. on recommendation of the Union County Bar Association Arbitration Advisory Committee. During the Arbitration hearing all witnesses are sworn in and the Arbitrator hears arguments, reviews evidence and renders a decision. The procedure is less formal, less complex than a trial and is held in a Court facility maintaining the same dignity as a trial. Automobile, personal injury, contract, and commercial disputes are placed into Arbitration unless removed by a formal motion. If a party is not satisfied with the Arbitrator's award, a demand for a Trial De Novo must be filed with the Arbitration office and served upon all parties within 30 days of the filing of the Arbitrator's award. Once a Trial De Novo request has been filed with the Court, the case is returned to the trial calendar on an expedited track. A party requesting a Trial De Novo must pay a Trial De Novo fee in the amount of $200.00 to the Treasurer State of New Jersey. If no Trial De Novo has been requested, the case will be dismissed 50 days after the filing of the arbitration award, unless either party files a motion for confirmation of the award, entry of judgment, or a consent order.
Arbitrators are compensated by the State of New Jersey and are paid on a per diem basis. The Complementary Dispute Resolution Office offers a presumptive mediation program for various civil case types. Mediation is a dispute resolution process in which an impartial third party known as a mediator, facilitates negotiations between the parties to assist in reaching a mutually acceptable settlement. The qualifications of a court-ordered mediator include at least five years of professional experience in the field of their expertise, as well as either an advanced degree or an undergraduate degree, coupled in both cases with mediation experience or mediator training. Mediation often occurs in the early part of litigation, with the anticipation of minimal legal expenses. Parties arrive at an acceptable settlement in an expeditious manner. When the case is not resolved at mediation, the case will be listed for trial after the discovery period has been concluded.
SPECIAL CIVIL PART:
Main Courthouse
3rd Floor - Tower
2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207
Main Number 908-659-4900
Civil Actions seeking relief where the amount in controversy is $15,000 or less are filed in Special Civil Part. Cases are resolved more quickly than in the Civil Part and are usually heard without a jury. Contested cases are mediated by law clerks and attorneys that volunteer to assist the court to help resolve contested cases. If amicable agreements cannot be reached on the scheduled date of trial, then the case immediately proceeds to trial that same day. If an Answer is not filed within the prescribed time, default is automatically entered by the clerk. In most cases, judgment can be entered by Affidavit or Certification of Proof. The Small Claims section is responsible for all actions where relief sought is $3,000 or less. However, actions for the return of a security deposit where the relief sought is up to $5,000 or less may proceed in the small claims section of the Special Civil Part Court. Special Civil Part processes all pleadings and paperwork from the inception of a complaint through post disposition proceedings. There is a daily calendar call in Special Civil Part at 9:00 a.m., except for motion Fridays.
SPECIAL CIVIL PART JUDGE AND MANAGEMENT STAFF
| NAME | TITLE | LOCATION | PHONE NO. |
| Frederic S. Kessler, J.S.C. | Presiding Judge, Special Civil Part | 3 rd Floor – Tower | 908-659-4890 |
| Lloyd Garner, Esq. | Clerk, Special Civil Part | 3 rd Floor – Tower | 908-659-4901 |
| Lillian Brenes | Administrative Specialist IV | 3 rd Floor - Tower | 908-659-4903 |
| Mari Slawinski | Team Leader – Prejudgment | 3 rd Floor - Tower | 908-659-4904 |
| Darlene Alfano | Team Leader – Trial | 3 rd Floor - Tower | 908-659-4906 |
| Tammie Wilson | Team Leader – Post Judgment | 3 rd Floor - Tower | 908-659-4917 |
Landlord/Tenant Actions:
Summary dispossess actions in the Special Civil Part are special proceedings to resolve landlord/tenant disputes. Most landlord/tenant cases are heard pursuant to the New Jersey Good Cause Eviction Act (2A:18-61.1). There is a daily landlord/tenant calendar call at 1:00 p.m., except for motion Fridays.
Fees: 908-659-3648; 908-659-4933; 908-659-4932
Answers: 908-659-49076/4915
Motions/Trials/Adjournments: 908-659-4908
Judgments: 908-659-4925
Executions/Garnishees: 908-659-4925/4926
Warrant For Removal: 908-659-4922
Warrants Of Satisfaction: 908-659-4923
Dismissals: 908-659-4901
New Filings: 908-659-4904
Special Civil Part Officers:
Richard C. Genabith
PO Box 317
Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
908-964-3311
Robert Solodare
P.O. Box 270
Chatham, NJ 07928
973-993-9779
UNION VICINAGE CHANCERY DIVISION – GENERAL EQUITY
Location: Main Courthouse
3rd Floor Rotunda
2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207
Main Number: 908-659-4880
John F. Malone, Presiding Judge, General Equity
Judicial Secretary: Patricia Klastava 908-659-4885
Court Clerk: Angela Jordan 908-659-4882
Case Management Secretary: Lorraine Felix 908-659-4880
Union County Chancery is a self-contained unit. The Chancery Court has direct filing and the staff is responsible for all aspects of a case from inception to judgment. The Court requires an original and one copy of all documents. The cases are equitable in nature. If the claim is ancillary, money damages may be involved. There are no juries.Example of Chancery Division Case Types Include:
Injunctive Relief: Temporary Restraining Order.
Strikes: Temporary Restraining Order.
Picketing: Temporary Restraining Order.
Quiet Title: Remove names on title search.
Accounting: To establish assets/liabilities of business or trust funds.
Cancel Mortgage: Paid mortgage not recorded and business firm cannot be located.
Partition: Two or more persons own real estate and cannot agree on terms of usage.
Restrictive Covenant: To stop former employee from competing against employer when an agreement was signed not to compete.
Specific Performance: Compels enforcement of contract.
Dissolution: Splitting of partnership.