Pub. L. 115-97, informally known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Act") was recently signed into law. The Act makes numerous far-reaching changes to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended, the “Code”). The changes affecting individuals are generally effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026.
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was signed into law. The impact of the Act will be immediate and far-reaching on all sectors of the economy.
In July, we updated you on the controversial New Jersey Tax Court decision AHS Hospital Corp. d/b/a Morristown Memorial Hospital v. Town of Morristown, which revoked the tax-exempt status of the nonprofit hospital. On January 19, 2016, Governor Chris Christie pocket vetoed an attempt at legislative intervention. Many are now speculating that the state may be in for a wave of litigation.
The New Jersey Supreme Court is currently considering the scope of the Charitable Immunity Act and its application to hospitals and medical facilities offering charity services. At issue in the case is the applicability of two statutes under the Charitable Immunity Act: N.J.S.A. 2A:53A-7 and -8. Under Section 7, nonprofit entities organized exclusively for religious, charitable, educational, or hospital purposes cannot be held liable for negligence where the person injured is a beneficiary of these services.
In an unpublished decision issued on June 11, 2014, the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division affirmed the ruling of a chancery judge which had restrained an attempt by a local union to arbitrate the non-renewal of a custodial employee.
In a case decided this summer the Supreme Court changed the way in which real property is valued when part of a property is taken for a public purpose.
Finally, the New Jersey Supreme Court has reevaluated the requirements for qualifications necessary for an expert witness to offer an opinion against a fellow physician.
Governor Christie made the overhaul of the Council on Affordable Housing (“COAH”) one of his top campaign priorities in 2009. Once elected, he formed a task force to evaluate COAH’s effectiveness.