New Jersey Office of the Attorney General
Recent News About New Jersey Office of the Attorney General
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New Jersey inspects Halloween pop-up stores for compliance with consumer protection laws
The Division of Consumer Affairs in New Jersey has conducted compliance inspections of temporary Halloween "pop-up" stores to ensure they adhere to laws protecting consumers from fraud and deception. As Halloween approaches, these pop-up stores appear in rented spaces, offering costumes, decorations, candy, and more.
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New Jersey officials warn against charity scams amid hurricane relief efforts
As the southeastern United States deals with the aftermath of two devastating hurricanes, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs have issued a warning to New Jersey residents about potential charity scams targeting those wishing to donate to relief efforts.
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Grand jury clears officer in fatal Secaucus motorcycle crash
A state grand jury in New Jersey has decided not to bring criminal charges against Hudson County Sheriff's Officer Andrew Conti, Jr. following a fatal vehicle collision involving Reymis Geronimo-Segura on August 16, 2023. The decision came after an investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), which was conducted according to the Independent Prosecutor Directive of 2019.
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Marriott reaches $52M settlement over data breaches impacting millions
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs have announced a $52 million settlement with Marriott International, Inc., involving a coalition of 50 Attorneys General. This settlement resolves investigations into two significant data breaches, with New Jersey receiving over $1.3 million from the agreement.
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New Jersey AG files lawsuit against TikTok over youth safety concerns
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, along with the Division of Consumer Affairs, has initiated legal action against TikTok, alleging the platform engages in practices harmful to New Jersey's youth. The complaint was filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey and accuses TikTok of violating the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act by engaging in deceptive business practices.
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Jersey City joins New Jersey's ARRIVE Together program for better crisis response
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has announced that Jersey City will join the ARRIVE Together program, an initiative aimed at improving responses to mental health emergencies. This makes Jersey City the second municipality in Hudson County, alongside Bayonne, to participate in the program. The partnership involves the Jersey City Division of Police and Jersey City Medical Center.
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Ex-caseworker indicted for alleged child abuse faces multiple charges
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), and the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) have announced the indictment of Trent L. Collier, a former caseworker for the New Jersey Department of Children and Family Services’ Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP). Collier, 58, who previously resided in Newark, New Jersey, and now lives in Savannah, Georgia, faces charges related to alleged sexual abuse involving two minors.
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New Jersey officials issue guidance on identifying political deepfakes ahead of 2024 election
With the 2024 presidential election on the horizon, New Jersey officials are taking steps to combat misinformation through deepfakes. Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, in her role as Secretary of State, and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin have issued guidance aimed at helping residents identify and avoid spreading manipulated media designed to mislead voters.
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Attorney General Platkin leads multistate effort supporting healthcare access expansion for Dreamers
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin is spearheading a coalition of 18 jurisdictions to support a federal initiative aimed at expanding health insurance access for individuals under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. DACA, established in 2012, allows certain young immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children and have resided continuously since 2007 to avoid deportation temporarily.
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Grand jury decides not to charge NJ State Troopers over custody death
A state grand jury has decided not to file criminal charges against New Jersey State Police (NJSP) troopers involved in the death of Daniel King, 30, of Millville, New Jersey. King died following an encounter with NJSP troopers on July 9, 2023.
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NJ revokes registration of agent for risky investments harming elderly clients
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced that the Bureau of Securities has revoked the registrations of a New Jersey broker-dealer agent/investment adviser representative for recommending unsuitable, high-risk investments to elderly clients. These actions were not in their best interest, benefitted him financially, and resulted in financial losses for them.
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Jersey City receives grant for community crisis response team pilot program
Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced that an organization in Jersey City has been selected to receive grant funds for the creation of a Community Crisis Response Team (CCRT) Pilot Program. Eligible municipalities and community-based organizations competed for grants of up to $2 million per municipality. The Anti-Violence Coalition of Hudson County, based in Jersey City, joins other recipients such as the Newark Community Street Team, Reimagining Justice Inc./Paterson Healing Collective’s Paterson Compassionate Care Collaborative Project, the...
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Former Wildwood mayor pleads guilty over state health benefits fraud
Former Wildwood Mayor Peter J. Byron has pleaded guilty to charges related to fraudulently participating in the State Health Benefits Program and failing to disclose outside employment and income. This announcement was made by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA).
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New statewide campaign launched against rising trend of hate crimes
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has introduced a new statewide initiative titled "No Hate in the Garden State" to address and raise awareness about bias incidents and crimes targeting individuals based on race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.
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Complaint filed against Virtua Health over alleged discrimination against pregnant patients
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) have filed a complaint in Superior Court against Virtua Health, Inc. (Virtua) and its network of hospitals in Voorhees, Mount Holly, and Camden, New Jersey. The complaint alleges that Virtua has discriminated against pregnant patients based on pregnancy and sex, violating the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD). It also claims that Virtua violated patients' privacy rights and state law by not obtaining informed consent before mandatory drug testing.
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Paterson receives funding for youth boxing programs
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and New Jersey State Athletic Control Board (SACB) Commissioner Larry Hazzard, Sr. have announced that two Paterson boxing clubs will receive grant funding to run amateur boxing programs for youth in the city.
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AG Platkin announces fines for unlicensed moving companies
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs have announced that 23 unlicensed movers were issued Notices of Violation (NOVs) and assessed civil penalties totaling $125,000 following Operation Safe Move. This undercover operation targeted movers conducting business without the required licenses.
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14.5 million available for New Jersey community-based violence intervention grants
Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin have announced that $14.5 million will be available through a competitive grant process to support Community-Based Violence Intervention (CBVI) Programs across New Jersey. This funding cycle will commence in 2025.
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Attorney General announces reforms following investigations into New Jersey State Police
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has announced a series of recommended reforms for the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) following two separate investigations into the organization. The recommendations, which have been accepted by NJSP Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan, aim to address issues identified in the reports and additional reforms suggested by the Attorney General's Office.
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Attorney general announces updated leadership team
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced updates to his executive leadership team in the Department of Law and Public Safety. Angela Cai has been named Executive Assistant Attorney General, Daniela Nogueira as Chief Counsel, and Miae Park as Interim Chief of Staff.