Nancy McKeown-brand, Plaintiff-Appellant v. Trump Castle Hotel & Casino, Defendant-Respondent

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that N.J.S.A. 2A:15-59.1 is a valid statute when applied to parties and does not extend to attorney fee awards, and that plaintiff did not act in bad faith. Accordingly, the Court reversed the Appellate Division’s judgment affirming the contempt award and counsel‑fee sanction. The decision also addressed separation‑of‑powers and due‑process concerns, concluding the statute does not infringe the Court’s exclusive authority over attorney discipline.