Middlesex County Bar Ass'n v. Parkin
Middlesex County Bar Ass'n v. Parkin
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Three discrete issues are before us on consolidated appeals: (1) Whether a separate workers’ compensation court must be
The first issue arose because of the shutdown of workers’ compensation courts in Middlesex and Somerset Counties. Workers’ compensation courts have been reopened in both counties. We are informed that workers’ compensation courts are now provided in all counties except Salem, Gloucester and Cape May. Workers’ compensation cases from those counties are assigned to courts in adjoining counties. The Attorney General argues for a dismissal on the ground of mootness. We reject that argument because there has been a pattern of shutdowns of workers’ compensation courts in various counties and the issue of the construction of N.J.S.A. 34:15-53 is, thus, likely to recur, In re Conroy, 190 N.J.Super. 453, 454-460 (App.Div. 1983), rev’d on other grounds 98 N.J. 321 (1985).
N.J.S.A. 34:15-53 provides in pertinent part:
The [workers’ compensation] petition shall be heard either in the county in which the injury occurred or in which the petitioner or respondent resides, or in which the respondent’s place of business is located, or in which the respondent may be served with process.
The State argues that the last cited criterion provides the Division with unfettered power to schedule hearings in any vicinage because a respondent is theoretically subject to process anywhere in the State. We reject this reading of the statute which effectively renders the statutory language nugatory.
Literally, the statute mandates a hearing in each county of the state, if there is a coincidence of all the criteria for venue in one county only. One county may be the place of residence of both parties, the place where the injury occurred, the place of
Prior to the reorganization of what was then the Department of Labor and Industry in 1972, the Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation was appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate pursuant to N.J.S.A. 34:1A-12. The 1972 reorganization plan, which was transmitted by the Governor and approved by the Legislature, N.J.S.A. 52:14C-1 et seq., transferred to the Commissioner of Labor and Industry the authority to appoint all Division Directors in the department “to serve at his pleasure.” It provided that all statutes inconsistent with any of its provisions “are superseded to the extent of such inconsistencies.”
In 1982 the Legislature approved another reorganization plan, N.J.S.A. 34:1A-1, prepared by the Governor for the Department of Labor, formerly Department of Labor and Industry. Although that plan specifically states that the 1972 reorganization plan is “hereby abolished,” it does not deal with the method of appointment of Division Directors, and it provides generally for the continuation of the divisions and other agencies within the department “as provided in the 1972 Plan.”
The Governor and the Legislature did not intend a legislative void with no provision for appointment of Division Directors. The method of appointment by the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation, was “superseded” by the 1972 law because incon
Finally, plaintiffs seek reversal of the denial of their application for a hearing before defendant Serraino, Commissioner of Labor, on their charges of misconduct in office by defendants Parkin and Napier. The charges are serious: interference with the independent decision-making of one Judge of Compensation and reprisals against him and against two other Judges of Compensation, who opposed holding workers’ compensation trials in Middlesex County during a period of asbestos removal from the court building.
We agree with the Attorney General’s argument that plaintiffs lack standing to institute an administrative proceeding to remove or sanction defendants Parkin and Napier. The proceedings by N.J. Const. (1947), Art. V, § IV, par. 5, N.J.S.A. 34:1A-3(b), and N.J.A. C. 12:235-3.13 et seq., for the removal of the Director or any Judge of Compensation vest authority in and may be instituted only by the Governor, the Commissioner
Here, however, Commissioner Serraino has altered the posture of the case by his consistent representations that he is willing to “investigate” plaintiffs’ claims on the condition that he is provided “with the identity of the specific individuals making allegations and a detailed description from each of them of the specific allegations sought to be raised by them.”
By that standard an investigation of the charges against defendants Parkin and Napier is clearly warranted. Indeed, the complaint filed by plaintiffs is supported by detailed certifications as to the incidents in question. It is hard to imagine what more information Serraino needs in order to prompt him to institute the promised investigation into allegations which strike at the very heart of the principle of judicial independence. Given sufficient information, he has pledged to do what he should have done from the beginning. He has authorized the Attorney General to carry that pledge to us, to the plaintiffs and to the members of the public whose interest in the integrity of the Workers’ Compensation Court is paramount. We have reviewed plaintiffs’ allegations of wrongdoing and find that they are clear and well documented as are the identities of the complainants. The Commissioner’s promise to investigate should now be carried out. We so order and direct that the results of that investigation be communicated to plaintiffs.
In sum, we hold that N.J.S.A. 34:15-53 mandates a right to a workers’ compensation hearing in each county under the circumstance that all the criteria for venue fit that county only; but N.J.S.A. 34:15-53 does not mandate that a permanent workers’ compensation court be established in each county. We affirm the validity of defendant Parkin’s appointment and holding of office as Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation. We affirm defendant Serraino’s denial of plaintiffs’ application for a hearing on charges of misconduct in office against defendants Parkin and Napier but order Serraino to carry out an investigation of the charges.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- MIDDLESEX COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION, A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, SOMERSET COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION, A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, JULIUS J. FEINSON, ESQ., PATRICK R. CAULFIELD, ESQ., ROBERT N. GOLDEN, ESQ., EDWARD H. HERMAN, ESQ., MURRAY WEINGARTNER, ESQ., JACK WYSOKER, ESQ., RICHARD H. THIELE, ESQ., ROBERT J. YOUNG, ESQ., RICHARD GALE, ESQ., RAYMOND WENSTRON, ESQ., LESTER S. GOLDBLATT, ESQ., GERALD M. ZASHIN, P.A., JANIS L. TURNER, ESQ., AND RICHARD E. BOARDMAN, ANDREW MICHTA, ELDA WARD, FRANK BANDERECK, RAYMOND SICKLER, RICHARD CLESS AND ROSE REGLIEC, WIDOW OF MICHAEL REGLIEC v. HARRY G. PARKIN, DIRECTOR OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION, ALFRED J. NAPIER, JUDGE OF COMPENSATION, CHIEF, HON. CHARLES SERRAINO, COMMISSIONER OF DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, HON. THOMAS H. KEAN, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, SEN. JOHN RUSSO, PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, STATE OF NEW JERSEY, THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, W. CARY EDWARDS, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Published