MUNICIPAL COURT PROSECUTIONS
The Municipal Prosecutors handle all criminal offenses and traffic violations including those offenses downgraded by the Prosecutor's Office. The matters also include crimes committed at Newark Airport that involve Port Authority Officers. The Prosecutors handle matters in the Municipal Court Parts, including Part 1 (Conflicts Court) which hears cases involving City employees; Part 2 (Arraignment Court); Part 3 (Traffic and DWI); Part 5 (Criminal and Domestic Violence); Part 6 (Traffic); Part 7 (Housing); and Part 20 (Criminal). The prosecutors also handle court sessions that occur in the evening that consist of Part 3 (Traffic and DWI), Part 6 (Traffic), and Part 20 (Criminal). The Municipal Court also has Saturday and Sunday sessions.

CIVIL LITIGATION
The Litigation Section handles the defense of the City in civil matters. The practice includes all aspects of litigation, such as, for example, filing answers to complaints, discovery, motion practice, trials and appeals. The primary subject areas include: (1) Title 59 claims against public entities (Tort Claims Act) including cases involving negligence, dangerous conditions, slip and falls, wrongful death. This section also defends the City against alleged constitutional violations under Federal Law, such as claims brought under Section 1983.

REAL ESTATE
The Real Estate Section handles closings resulting from auctions that are generated by Property Management, or that result from redevelopment plans initiated by the Department of Development. The section also handles tax certificates for liens that are purchased by the City, foreclosures that result from nonpayment of taxes, evictions initiated by the Office of Property Management for City owned property acquired through foreclosure, condemnation actions initiated by Department of Transportation or other City agencies that acquire property for public purposes, and bankruptcies for Chapter 13 filings to ensure the City recovers taxes, water and sewerage charges.

TAX
The mission of the Tax Appeal and Tax Abatement section is to investigate, defend and resolve those appeals taken by property owners to reduce property taxes and to process tax abatement applications and cancellation for submission to the Municipal Council. This section also participates in licensing proceedings and other tax related matters.

CONTRACTS & LEGISLATION
The Contracts and Legislation Section handles a variety of contract related matters that include: (1) a review of all City contracts and resolutions to determine whether such documents meet legality requirements; (2) rendering legal opinions for the Administration and its Departments; (3) legal analysis of proposed responses to Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) requests and drafting of appropriate responses thereto; (4) handling Orders to Show Cause concerning OPRA matters; (5) negotiating licensing agreements; (6) legal research and analysis of various initiatives (e.g., Abandoned Property Act, Relocation Plan); and (7) legal oversight of American Disabilities Act Agreement with the Department of Justice.

LABOR RELATIONS AND PERSONNEL
The Labor Relations and Personnel Section handles all of the labor related legal work for the City. The docket of the Labor Section consists primarily of the following subject matters: (1) disciplinary matters for all city employees; (2) grievance hearings; (3) arbitration matters; (4) appeals to the Office of Administrative Law; (5) counseling services to all City Departments; and (6) labor litigation matters in both state and federal court.

WORKER'S COMPENSATION
The Workers Compensation section handles the defense of all workers' compensation claims filed against the City by its employees. This section processes all work-related claims whether by accident, occupational illness, disease or condition. Processing of these reports includes investigation of the merits of the accident or occupational conditions, securing and processing of medical reports and bills and ensuring that the City is being charged properly for services rendered.

VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCACY PROGRAM
The Victim Witness Advocacy program assists individuals who have been victims of crime. The mission of the program is to provide services to victims of crime whose complaints originate out of the Newark Municipal Court and to further enhance and advocate for victim's rights through community collaboration and awareness. The office provides counseling, referrals, notifications of court appearances, transportation to and from court, and assistance to victims in applying for restitution and compensation.

 

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