DeCotiis

The Suburban Trend reports about another client for the DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole, LLP green practice. The project could save the Township between $14,000 and $24,000 each year.

 You can read about the Green Practice's work here.

The Princeton International Academy School (PIACS) hired the law firm of DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole, LLP to file a groundbreaking suit that alleges that three local school districts spent public funds in order to deny the charter school the right to open its doors. The lawsuit has attracted attention throughout the state. You can read about the case here.

In a recent letter to the editor in the Herald News, Passaic County Improvement Authority Chairman Dennis Marco wrote in support of the County's renewable energy program. The program takes a regionalized approach to reducing energy costs by allowing municipalities and other local government units to enter into power purchase agreements (PPA) with private energy providers. The only expenditures municipalities end up paying in a PPA is for the low-cost energy provided by solar panels.

In the letter, Chairman Marco lauds the law firm of DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole for "their extensive experience and successes in other counties utilizing… Continue

A complaint to a Medical Board can happen for a variety of reasons and is more serious than many licensed medical professionals realize. If not addressed immediately and properly, a minor complaint can lead to a formal hearing and, eventually, possible loss of a medical license. Fortunately, members of DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole's health care practice are available to help.

In June and July 2011, Susan Fruchtman, a partner at the firm and a member of its health care practice, helped two doctors fend off serious allegations at their starting point with well-documented arguments sent to the State Board of… Continue

William "Pat" Schuber, an of-counsel attorney at DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole, was sworn in yesterday as a Commissioner at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Schuber, a former Bergen County Executive, state Assemblyman and Mayor of Bogota, NJ, is a contributor to DeCotiis' bipartisan and industry-leading regulatory and government affairs practice. Our firm wishes Pat Schuber the best of luck in his new position.

You can read more about Schuber's role at the Port Authority in the Star-Ledger or by clicking here

The DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole green practice was hired as special counsel by the Salem County Improvement Authority (SCIA). The green practice  will help the SCIA set-up a solar power purchase agreement which could potentially save the County $550,000 in energy costs each year.

You can read nore about the SCIA solar project in Today’s Sunbeam by clicking here

Recently, the Lakeland Regional High School Board of Education agreed to participate in the Passaic County Improvement Authority's renewable energy program. Ryan Scerbo, a partner at DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole, explained that this project could provide up to 25% of the high school's energy use.

The county's program, which saves public entities money on energy costs without any expenditures for solar panel installation, is one being replicated throughout the state to reduce costs and invest in clean energy. In fact, DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole's Green Practice Group's County-wide Renewable Energy Program Model has been adopted by nine counties to date.  To learn… Continue

On Monday, July 18, 2011, DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole partners Judy Verrone and Ryan J. Scerbo were published in the NJ Law Journal.  In their article, “Turning toward the Sun,” Verrone and Scerbo outline how law firms can help municipalities and counties procure solar-power purchase agreements (solar PPA). A solar PPA can allow a local unit of government to save on energy costs without paying for the purchase and installation of solar panels.

 You can read more on DeCotiis’ industry-leading green practice here. (Subscription required).

A recent article in Suburban Trends detailed how DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole’s industry-leading green practice can help the Borough of Ringwood Park save money on its energy costs. At a recent Borough Council meeting, Ryan Scerbo, a member of the DeCotiis green practice, detailed how solar-power purchase agreements can help the municipality save money on their energy costs without making expenditures for solar equipment or installation. After the detailed presentation, the Borough Council joined municipalities and counties across the state and approved a resolution to move the project forward.

You can read more on DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole’s involvement in… Continue

In the June 20th issue of the New Jersey Law Journal, DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole was listed as a top 40 law firm. The firm was ranked as the 23rd largest firm in the state and was noted as a leader among New Jersey law firms.

After years of recession, the New Jersey Law Journal noted signs of a “healthy recovery” among the many of the Top 40 law firms. In fact, several firms posted their best years since the Law Journal began tracking firm profits four years ago. The New Jersey Law Journal  went on to note that DeCotiis… Continue

The DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole green practice helped yet another county improvement authority save on its energy costs. In this instance, the green practice helped the Union County Improvement Authority with the procurement and financing of a plan to install 44 solar projects among 16 local municipalities or other government entities. Each facility which participates may realize a 52 percent reduction in energy costs according to an estimate by the Union County Renewable Energy Program.

You can read more about the program in MyCentralJersey.com’s article below.

UNION COUNTY — The county Improvement Authority on Monday announced that the Renewable Energy… Continue

Aberdeen Township, New Jersey announced that DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole will help prepare a request for proposal and power purchase agreement (PPA) to allow solar developers to design, construct, operate and maintain a 557,000-KWh solar installation on municipal property. The project, which will be completed without any municipal expenditure, will generate significant cost savings for the municipality by supplying 70% of the electricity demand at the five municipal sites including the municipal complex and police office.

 To read more about DeCotiis’ Green Practice and the project in Aberdeeen, please see the press release below.

ABERDEEN TOWNSHIP NEARS ISSUANCE OF REQUEST… Continue

Doug Doyle, a partner at DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, & Cole, was a guest on News 12’s Power and Politics on Sunday, May 1. Doyle was invited to speak about the results of New Jersey’s school board elections, and in particular, the outcome for the fourteen municipalities that opted to put a public referendum on the ballot to exceed the state-mandated two-percent property tax cap. Click on the video below to hear Doug’s analysis of the school board elections and how it will impact New Jersey moving forward.

Louis N. Rainone, a partner at DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole and co-chair of the firm’s municipal practice, offered analysis on the results of the April 27 public referendums on property taxes. Earlier in the week, Rainone offered a prediction on the elections which largely proved to be true.

You can read Louis Rainone’s analysis below.

Nearly all of N.J. ballot questions to increase local spending defeated

Friday, April 29, 2011

BY MEGAN DEMARCO
State House Bureau
STATE HOUSE BUREAU

For almost a year, politicians on both sides of the aisle have touted the passage of a 2 percent property tax… Continue

Building Futures, a publication of the New Jersey Education Facilities Authority (NJEFA), published an article by DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole partners Ryan J. Scerbo and William R. Mayer titled “Solar Renewable Energy Opportunities for New Jersey Colleges and Universities.” To date, the green practice has negotiated more than 100 power purchase agreements that save energy and capital for private and public entities and benefit our environment. In the article, Scerbo and Mayer outline the benefits of utilizing solar renewable energy and financing opportunities and tax breaks to make these projects more affordable.

Scerbo and Mayer’s article can be found… Continue

NJBIZ recently highlighted DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole’s green practice. In particular, the DeCotiis green practice recently helped put together a power purchase agreement to potentially save Atlantic City more than $450,000 in energy costs. To date, the green practice has negotiated more than 100 power purchase agreements that save public and private entities money and invest in clean and renewable forms of energy.

You can read the NJBIZ article below:

Solar installation will save Atlantic City $450K over 15 years

April 27, 2011

By Martin C. Daks
NJBIZ

Atlantic City expects to save more than $450,000 in energy costs during… Continue

Louis N. Rainone, a partner at DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole and co-chair of the firm’s municipal practice, was quoted in the article “Voters in 14 N.J. towns to decide whether local governments should exceed property tax cap” in the Wednesday, April 27 edition of The Star Ledger. For the first time in the state’s history, municipal officials must ask voters if it is appropriate to exceed the state-mandated property tax cap.  Rainone, who has represented towns across the state, drew on his experience to weigh in on how the electorate will respond to these public referendums.

You can read… Continue

The law firm of DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole has always been proud of its New Jersey roots. The DeCotiis family in particular, credits a large part of their success to the education and professional network provided by the Seton Hall University School of Law. In fact, Bob DeCotiis '69, Mike DeCotiis '91, and Joe DeCotiis '94 are all proud graduates of the Seton Hall University School of Law.

Joseph DeCotiis took the time to sit down with Seton Hall's Community of Generosity and explain how Seton Hall Law gave his family the tools, knowledge and relationships to help grow DeCotiis,… Continue

Edward J. Boccher, a partner at DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole, authored an article titled “Base Affordable-Housing on Need and Supreme Court Directives” published in the April 11, 2011 edition of the New Jersey Law Journal. Prior to joining the firm in 2004, Boccher, a member of the firm’s Real Estate, Municipal Law, and Redevelopment practice groups, served as NJ Deputy Attorney General where he was the first attorney to represent the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH). Boccher leveraged his experience representing COAH and practicing municipal and land use law to outline how meeting affordable housing needs on a regional basis… Continue

Congratulations to DeCotiis Attorneys Louis N. Rainone, Victoria A. Flynn and Steven C. Mannion for their win on behalf of Edison Township officials

MyCentralJersey.com: Court upholds Edison chief's suspension until administrative hearing on April 15

Louis N. Rainone, the labor attorney for Edison Township successfully argues on Monday as, from left, Raquel S. Lord, Edison Police Chief Tom Bryan, and Vito A. Gagliardi Jr., watch on. Bryan's March 22 suspension was upheld by Judge Travis L. Frances in Superior Court. He may waive his right to an administrative hearing on April 15 and return to Superior Court to have the… Continue

NJ.com: by Deborah P. Scanlon, Chairman, Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders

March 28, 2011

When disaster strikes, Union County residents can be relied on to respond, and many are reaching out to help in the aftermath of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami. The tragedy also compels us to take stock of our emergency preparedness here at home.

The twin natural disasters in Japan have been compounded immensely by a man-made factor, the damage to a nuclear power plant. While Union County does not host nuclear energy, we are home to an infrastructure that can add significant complications to disaster response.… Continue

Bloomberg News: By Peter Waldman
Aetna Inc. (AET) is suing six New Jersey doctors over medical bills it calls “unconscionable,” including $56,980 for a bedside consultation and $59,490 for an ultrasound that typically costs $74.

The lawsuits could help determine what pricing limits insurers can impose on ”out-of-network” physicians who don’t have contracts with health plans that spell out how much a service or procedure can cost.

One defendant billed $30,000 for a Caesarean birth, and another raised his fee for seeing a critically ill patient in a hospital to $9,000 in 2008 from $500 the year before, the insurer… Continue

Friday, March 25, 2011

BY MARY JO LAYTON AND LINDY WASHBURN
The Record
STAFF WRITERS
One of the nation's largest insurers has sued six North Jersey physicians over bills it considers "unlawful and excessive," including $56,980 for a 25-minute bedside consultation.
In one case, Aetna Inc. claims it paid a Ridgewood neurosurgery practice $3.9 million more than it was entitled to receive. It also alleges the practice billed a patient $116,000, even after the insurer had provided payment in full.
In another case, Aetna claims a cardiologist at Hackensack University Medical Center increased his charges more than sixfold for catheterizations,… Continue

Click the play button to view the March 24, 2011 edition of My9/WWOR TV’s 11 O’clock News which featured Doug Doyle, Senior Partner with DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole discussing the one-year anniversary of the federal health care law.

Monday, March 7, 2011

It’s been nearly eight years since the Salvation Army Corps in Hackensack has had a real home of its own, but its new leadership is revitalizing the charity’s efforts to find a new headquarters in the city.
But while Hackensack officials praise the group’s work, they also worry about seeing yet another parcel of land taken off the tax rolls.
The Salvation Army has been operating out of a small space in the Second Reformed Church of Hackensack on Union Street since early 2004. A few months before that, in August 2003, a portion of the… Continue