Joyce A. Popwell v Law Offices of Broome and Horn, 363 N.J. Super. 404 (App. Div. 2002)
NJ: Underlying Negligence Action for a Slip and Fall
Student Contributor: Candice L. Deaner
Facts: Plaintiff’s attorney failed to file for a trial de novo in the time frame set out by R. 4:21A-6(b)(1), after the court appointed arbitrator found that plaintiff had no cause of action for negligence against the underlying defendant. A trial de novo filing would have preserved plaintiff’s claim and would not have subjected it to dismissal. Defendants made a cross motion to dismiss, alleging that Plaintiff’s failure to submit an affidavit of merit as required by statute is enough to grant summary judgment and dismiss the complaint
Issue: Whether the Plaintiff’s failure to submit an affidavit of merit is enough to grant summary judgment in favor of the Defendants and dismiss the complaint, or if the failure to submit the application for a trial de novo within the statutory time limit is per se legal malpractice, and thus requires no affidavit of merit.
Ruling: . The requirement of the filing of an affidavit of merit is not applicable in this matter because the malpractice plaintiff’s allegations do not require the testimony of an expert to determine the issue of negligence. The jury can exercise its own “common knowledge” is such cases.
Lesson: In some very clear cases, such as here with the violation of a statutory time limit, the lawyer’s failure constitutes per se legal malpractice and no expert’s affidavit of merit is necessary. An affidavit of merit is not required from an expert for this case because the jury can determine whether the Defendants should be held liable for the late filing of the application for a trial de novo by using common knowledge without the need for expert testimony.
Tagged with: Affidavit/Certificate of Merit, New Jersey, Torts/Personal Injury
Posted in: Affidavit/Certificate of Merit, New Jersey, Torts/Personal Injury