S 885 New Jersey Senate · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Establishes protections from abusive and controlling litigation for victims of domestic violence.

S 885 protects domestic violence victims from being harassed through abusive legal tactics by defining "abusive and controlling litigation" as lawsuits filed in bad faith to delay, harm, or maintain contact with a victim. It directly affects victims of domestic violence who face lawsuits initiated by their abusers in court. The bill gives courts power to dismiss such cases, award attorney fees, and block future lawsuits against the victim if the court finds the abuser met three criteria: a prior domestic violence act, bad-faith litigation, and claims without legal or factual support. The law also creates a rebuttable presumption of abuse if the abuser has a recent history of similar conduct in court.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2024
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 9, 2024 Last action Jan 9, 2024
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Jan 9, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

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