Legal Question in Business Law in New Jersey

I was a casting director and did business in NY but I am being sued by an actor

I was a Casting Director at a NY agency. I am being sued my a former actor I hired who is claiming that I would only hire her if I she gave me cash and gifts. Can she sue me in NJ if all my business and any dealings with her would have taken place in NY? Also she is alleging that I was involved in racketeering all during a period of time that I no longer had been employed at that company?

Please help.


Asked on 6/01/05, 10:08 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Stephen Loeb Law Office of Stephen R. Loeb

Re: I was a casting director and did business in NY but I am being sued by an ac

Jurisdiction is a tricky issue that lends itself to no easy yes or no answer. But I'll give it a shot. Generally speaking, if you have no contact to New Jersey, and no business relating to New Jersey and no presence in New Jersey then you cannot be sued there.

Should you like to discuss this or any other legal matter, you can e-mail me for more information about low cost face-to-face, on-line, or a telephone consultation with a lawyer in our office.

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Answered on 6/02/05, 5:44 am
Walter LeVine Walter D. LeVine, Esq.

Re: I was a casting director and did business in NY but I am being sued by an ac

I agree with Steve in general, but more facts are needed to provide a better answer. Were there any written agreements between you and the Plaintiff? If so, were there any provisions about litigation and the jurisdiction for law suits? Do you have any offices in NJ? Where to the parties to the litigation live? In general, if there are no contacts to NJ, suit must be brought where the Defendant resides or maintains a place of business. If suit has been brought in NJ and NJ has no jurisdiction over you, you could make a limited appearance in the NJ court to contest jurisdiction. Entering a limited appearance does not subject you to nor confers jurisdiction over you in NJ. You must do something to contest the jurisdiction or the court will presume you consent to it and you could find yourself having to defend in NJ or face a possible default judgment.

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Answered on 6/02/05, 7:53 am


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