PTGB Law Legal Blog

On September 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) launched Project Firewall, signaling a commitment to “maximize H-1B program compliance.” An H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant classification granted to people who wish to perform certain specialty occupations in the United States. Under Project Firewall, the Secretary of Labor will “personally certify the initiation of investigations for the first time in the department’s history.”  USDOL intends to conduct investigations to ensure that “employers prioritize qualified Americans when hiring workers.”

On September 3, 2025, Governor Murphy signed a new law that prohibits employers from requiring employees to attend meetings or communications about political or religious matters. “Political matters” are defined very broadly to include electioneering and an employee’s decision to join or support a political party, civic group, community organization, fraternal association or labor union. The law bars mandatory meetings on religious topics; however, religious organizations may still require employees to attend meetings about their own beliefs or practices. 

23andMe, the company that has used at-home DNA testing kits to help an estimated 15 million people learn more about their ancestry, now claims they can sell the private information of their customers to third parties.

With the World Cup on the horizon and tourism expected to surge across the region, many New Jersey residents are considering turning extra rooms or apartments into short-term rentals. But before you list your space on Airbnb, it’s important to understand that some cities, especially popular destinations like Jersey City and Newark, have strict regulations in place for short-term rentals (STRs).

On January 20, 2025, an Executive Order (Order #14168) was issued directing the federal government to recognize only two sexes: male and female. How does this affect your workplace? It has lead to major shifts in how the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission handles claims of gender identity discrimination. 

Discovery is a key part of the litigation process where all parties share important information, documents, evidence and testimony with one another. This process helps make the issues and relevant facts transparent to all parties, allowing them to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the various issues and claims at play in a case. The most common discovery tools used to request and gather information from other parties include: written questions (interrogatories), requests for production of documents (document demands), asking the other side to admit certain facts (requests for admission), and interviews under oath (depositions).

Two New York laws – one pertaining to pregnant employees, one to employees who are nursing – have been enacted, marking a significant change in the rights and protections afforded to pregnant employees and parents in the workplace. Signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul, these laws reflect the state’s commitment to supporting employees both during and after pregnancy and represent a notable change for New York employers and employees alike.

Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) has become intertwined with business operations and management in rapid and breathtaking new ways.  However, with such rapid growth and adoption comes new legal pitfalls for businesses.  New Jersey has just issued a clear warning to New Jersey businesses: your AI can get you sued for discrimination.  

In today’s celebrity-driven media world, defamation lawsuits are a common occurrence, particularly when public figures feel their reputations have been unfairly damaged by the press. Recently, Justin Baldoni, the director and co-star of It Ends With Us, filed a high-profile libel lawsuit against the New York Times, seeking $250 million in damages. The lawsuit centers on an article that reported on allegations of misconduct made by Blake Lively, Baldoni’s co-star. This case presents a unique opportunity to examine the legal standards for libel, especially when it involves public figures.

The New York Clean Slate Act took effect on November 16, 2024. The goal of the Clean Slate Act is to “curb discrimination” of formerly incarcerated individuals and minimize barriers to employment for those individuals “by sealing from public access the conviction records of individuals for certain state convictions.” This sealing would occur after an individual has “satisfied their sentence and the required period of time has passed,” so long as that individual has “remained a law-abiding citizen.”

For employers looking to hire, a recent New Jersey law is mandating an important change on transparency requirements. On November 18, 2024, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation into law requiring most covered businesses to disclose wage or salary information and a description of benefits in job postings.

In New Jersey divorce proceedings, the Case Information Statement (CIS) is a central and crucial document that provides a detailed snapshot of the financial situation of the parties.  Once a divorce complaint is filed, both parties must complete and submit the CIS to help the court understand key aspects of their finances. While completing the CIS can be time-consuming, it is essential to provide accurate and comprehensive information, as it will directly impact the outcome of your divorce and determine how the court will view your case. Below we will guide you through these key sections of the New Jersey link to sample form.

When the interests of homeowners and developers come into conflict, do New Jersey courts typically favor one over the other? While the state’s legislature has passed laws that put restraints on developers, the courts have found reasons over time to loosen those restraints. One recent decision from the NJ Appellate Division provides an example.

As the makeup of the family changes, so too does the law.  In a recent decision by the New Jersey Appellate Division, L.N. v. B.R, A-1141-23 (07/08.24),the Appellate Division reinstated grandparents’ claim that their granddaughter’s father was not entitled to custody or must share custody because the grandparents had become the “psychological parents” of their granddaughter. The child’s mother unexpectedly died during childbirth.    

When you step into an Uber, did you know you are likely giving up your right to go to court if your uber driver injures you in a car accident? So says a recent decision by the Appellate Division of New Jersey.

In today’s political climate, it is very common for people to express their opinions on social media. These conversations no longer take place only at the water cooler. More often, individuals are expressing themselves on social media, either with an original post or with a “like” or other support for another’s political post. But if you supervise others, or own the company, the risk of doing so, even from your personal account, cannot be understated.

If you have children or have reached your 30’s or 40’s, you have probably heard a million times that you need three important legal documents: A will (and maybe a trust), a healthcare directive, and power of attorney. Yet, most people do not have these documents for reasons as different as people are. But the number ONE reason for having these documents is this: YOU choose who controls you and your money when you are sick or dead. Otherwise a court may have to choose after an expensive court process?

In Padilla v. Young, (A-43-22), the Supreme Court of New Jersey, in a 4-3 decision, tossed away centuries of common law and decades of New Jersey decisional law. From now on, a business owner has the duty to keep the public sidewalks that border all of its business property free from defects and hazards that could endanger pedestrians – even if the business property is a vacant lot.