Mr. and Mrs. J.E. v. State of New Jersey, Department of Human…

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that placement disputes involving developmentally disabled individuals are contested matters under the Administrative Procedure Act and therefore must be heard before the Office of Administrative Law with a trial-type hearing. The Court also ruled that the Division of Developmental Disabilities bears the initial burden of proving that a placement is appropriate. The Appellate Division judgment was reversed and the case remanded for further proceedings.