Legal Publications Authored By Paul DePetris
DePetris, New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act & Forms
(New Jersey Law Journal Books, 2007)
A handbook of over 900 pages that explains the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act in detail along with its related Administrative Regulations and many of the cases that have interpreted the Consumer Fraud Act. The book and its annual supplements are available for order through its publisher, Incisive Media. For further details, go to http://www.lawcatalog.com/.
DePetris, Learned Professionals, Licensed Semiprofessionals and the Consumer Fraud Act: The Origins of the Licensed Professionals’ Doctrine
(New Jersey Lawyer Magazine, Oct. 2008)
A question commonly asked is “when a person who bears a license granted by the State of New Jersey commits consumer fraud, are they liable under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act?” The answer is that, in some instances, they are exposed to consumer fraud liability. New Jersey courts crafted a “licensed professionals’ doctrine” under which learned professionals and licensed semiprofessionals often escape liability for consumer fraud. The subject of the article is the scope of the “licensed professionals’ doctrine.” While it is tempting to label the doctrine the “learned professionals” doctrine, to do so would omit licensed semiprofessionals, a category of persons whose conduct is often covered by the doctrine. Further, all of the parties subject to the doctrine are licensed and all of them are either professionals or semiprofessionals and thus, "licensed professional" applies to the entire category of persons covered by the term. At one time, all professionals and semiprofessionals arguably were within the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act’s grasp for any instance of consumer fraud. Since 1976, a line of cases sought to exclude learned professionals from the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act’s scope -- physicians, dentists, lawyers, accountants, engineers and the like. The article discusses when a licensed professional is or is not subject to the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.
Liability For Consumer Fraud In Real Estate Transactions
(New Jersey Law Journal, March 18, 2009).
The New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, N.J.S.A. 56:8-1, et seq. (CFA), is frequently pled in real estate disputes. This article explores the CFA's application to parties involved in those transactions -- residential landlords, nonprofessional sellers of real estate, banks selling real estate, professionals licensed outside the real estate industry, real estate appraisers, real estate brokers & their employees, builder-developers & builder-vendors.
Legal Seminars
Mr. DePetris has given lectures to attorneys on the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act through the New Jersey Law Journal and the Mercer County Bar Association’s Extreme Continuing Legal Education Program.
Mr. DePetris is available to give seminars to businesses, civic groups and social organizations about consumer and commercial law. If you are interested in having Mr. DePetris speak to your business, group or organization call the Firm at 609-714-2020 or send the Firm an email at consumerlaw@newjerseylemon.com.
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