Premises Liability Complaint - New Jersey

Before filing: Complete the separate New Jersey Civil Case Information Statement (Civil CIS) and submit it with this initial Law Division complaint. Complete the form's required case, party, and attorney information and signature.

PREMISES LIABILITY COMPLAINT — NEW JERSEY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Caption
2. Parties
3. Jurisdiction and Venue
4. Factual Allegations
5. Duty of Care — Visitor Status
6. First Cause of Action — Negligence (Premises Liability)
7. Second Cause of Action — Failure to Warn / Inspect
8. Third Cause of Action — Negligent Maintenance
9. Damages
10. Jury Demand
11. Prayer for Relief
12. Certification in Lieu of Oath
13. State-Specific Notes
14. Sources and References

1. CAPTION

SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY

LAW DIVISION — [COUNTY NAME] COUNTY

2. PARTIES

1. Plaintiff [PLAINTIFF FULL NAME] ("Plaintiff") is an individual residing in [CITY/TOWN], [COUNTY] County, New Jersey.

2. Defendant [DEFENDANT FULL NAME] ("Defendant") is [an individual residing in / a corporation organized under the laws of / a limited liability company formed under the laws of] [STATE], and at all relevant times was the [owner / lessee / occupier / manager] of the real property located at [PROPERTY ADDRESS], [CITY/TOWN], [COUNTY] County, New Jersey (the "Premises"). Defendant may be served with process at [ADDRESS FOR SERVICE].

3.

3. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

4. This Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to N.J. Const. art. VI, § 3, ¶ 2 and N.J.S.A. 2A:13-2.

5. Venue is proper in [COUNTY] County pursuant to R. 4:3-2 because [the cause of action arose in this county / Defendant resides in this county].

4. FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

6. At all relevant times, Defendant [owned / leased / occupied / managed / controlled] the Premises located at [PROPERTY ADDRESS], [CITY/TOWN], New Jersey [ZIP CODE].

7. On or about [DATE OF INCIDENT], Plaintiff was [lawfully present on / entering / exiting] the Premises for the purpose of [PURPOSE OF VISIT].

8. At the time of the incident, there existed on the Premises a dangerous condition, specifically: [DESCRIBE DANGEROUS CONDITION IN DETAIL].

9. Defendant had [actual / constructive] knowledge of the dangerous condition because:

☐ Defendant created the dangerous condition.

☐ Defendant had actual knowledge of the condition through [DESCRIBE].

☐ The condition existed for a sufficient period of time that Defendant, in the exercise of reasonable care, should have discovered it.

☐ The condition was part of a recurring hazard known to Defendant.

10. As a direct result of the dangerous condition, Plaintiff [DESCRIBE INCIDENT] and sustained serious injuries.

5. DUTY OF CARE — VISITOR STATUS

11. At the time of the incident, Plaintiff was [an invitee / a licensee / a social guest] on the Premises.

If Invitee (Business Visitor):

12. Plaintiff entered the Premises for a business purpose connected with Defendant's commercial activity. Defendant owed Plaintiff the highest duty of care: to exercise reasonable care to guard against dangerous conditions that Defendant knew about or should have discovered through reasonable inspection. Hopkins v. Fox & Lazo Realtors, 132 N.J. 426, 434 (1993).

If Licensee (Social Guest):

12. Plaintiff entered the Premises with Defendant's permission. Defendant owed Plaintiff a duty to warn of known dangerous conditions that might not be obvious to Plaintiff. Berger v. Shapiro, 30 N.J. 89 (1959).

6. FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION — NEGLIGENCE (PREMISES LIABILITY)

(Against [DEFENDANT NAME])

13. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 12 above.

14. Defendant owed Plaintiff the duties described above.

15. Defendant breached these duties by [failing to maintain / failing to inspect / failing to repair / failing to warn].

16. Defendant's breach was a proximate cause of Plaintiff's injuries and damages.

7. SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION — FAILURE TO WARN / INSPECT

(Against [DEFENDANT NAME])

17. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference all preceding paragraphs.

18. Defendant knew or, through the exercise of reasonable inspection, should have known of the dangerous condition.

19. Defendant failed to warn Plaintiff or conduct reasonable inspections.

20. Defendant's failure was a proximate cause of Plaintiff's injuries.

8. THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION — NEGLIGENT MAINTENANCE

(Against [DEFENDANT NAME])

21. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference all preceding paragraphs.

22. Defendant had a duty to properly maintain the Premises.

23. Defendant negligently failed to perform required maintenance, specifically [DESCRIBE].

24. Defendant's negligent maintenance was a proximate cause of Plaintiff's injuries.

9. DAMAGES

25. As a proximate result of Defendant's negligence, Plaintiff has suffered the following damages:

a. Medical Expenses: Past and future reasonable and necessary medical expenses.

b. Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: Past and future loss of wages and earning capacity.

c. Physical Pain and Suffering: Past and future physical pain and suffering.

d. Mental Anguish: Past and future mental anguish and emotional distress.

e. Physical Impairment: Past and future physical impairment and disability.

f. Disfigurement: Past and future disfigurement.

g. Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Past and future loss of enjoyment of life.

Optional separate count — Spouse's per quod claim

[DELETE THIS COUNT UNLESS A SPOUSE IS NAMED AS CO-PLAINTIFF AND FACTS SUPPORT THE CLAIM.]

25A. Co-Plaintiff [SPOUSE NAME] is the spouse of Plaintiff [INJURED PLAINTIFF NAME]. As a result of Defendant's alleged negligence and the injured Plaintiff's resulting injuries, Co-Plaintiff has lost [DESCRIBE SERVICES, SOCIETY, AND CONSORTIUM]. Co-Plaintiff seeks damages for this separate per quod claim according to proof.

10. JURY DEMAND

26. Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury on all issues triable by jury.

11. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendant as follows:

1. Compensatory damages in an amount to be determined at trial, including any separately pleaded per quod damages of a named spouse co-plaintiff;
2. Pre-judgment and post-judgment interest;
3. Costs of suit;
4. Such other and further relief as the Court deems just and equitable.

Respectfully submitted,

[LAW FIRM NAME]

By: ________________________________________
[ATTORNEY NAME], NJ Bar ID No. [NUMBER]
[ADDRESS LINE 1]
[ADDRESS LINE 2]
[CITY/TOWN], New Jersey [ZIP CODE]
Telephone: [PHONE]
Facsimile: [FAX]
Email: [EMAIL]
Attorney for Plaintiff [PLAINTIFF NAME]

12. CERTIFICATION IN LIEU OF OATH

I, [PLAINTIFF FULL NAME], certify that the foregoing statements made by me are true. I am aware that if any of the foregoing statements made by me are willfully false, I am subject to punishment.

Rule 4:5-1(b)(2) certification: I certify that this matter [IS NOT / IS] the subject of another pending court action or arbitration, and that another action or arbitration [IS NOT / IS] contemplated. Details of any such matter, including court or forum, parties, docket number, and status: [NONE / DETAILS]. I know of [NO OTHER PERSON / THE FOLLOWING PERSONS] who should be joined: [NONE / NAMES AND REASONS]. I will file and serve an amended certification if these facts change.

________________________________________
[PLAINTIFF FULL NAME]

Date: [__/__/____]

13. STATE-SPECIFIC NOTES

Duty analysis. The fact-sensitive balancing approach of Hopkins v. Fox & Lazo Realtors, 132 N.J. 426, 439 (1993), considers the relationship of the parties, the nature of the attendant risk, the opportunity and ability to exercise care, and the public interest in the proposed solution. Shields v. Ramslee Motors, 240 N.J. 479 (2020), applies that framework in a landlord-tenant premises case. Do not limit the factors to commercial property; evaluate control of the relevant area and the facts of the particular claim.

Modified Comparative Negligence (51% Bar). Under N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1, plaintiff's recovery is barred if plaintiff is more than 50% at fault. If 50% or less at fault, damages are reduced proportionally.

Two-Year Statute of Limitations. N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2 generally requires filing within two years after the cause of action accrues; accrual and any discovery-rule issue are fact-sensitive.

Government Claims. N.J.S.A. 59:8-8 generally requires claim presentation within 90 days after accrual, a six-month waiting period after receipt, and suit within two years. For a dangerous condition of public property, N.J.S.A. 59:4-2 requires a dangerous condition, proximate cause, foreseeable risk, creation by a public employee or actual/constructive notice, and palpably unreasonable action or inaction.

Commercial Sidewalk and Snow/Ice Duty. Commercial property owners have a duty to maintain abutting public sidewalks. Pareja v. Princeton International Properties, 246 N.J. 546 (2021), ordinarily postpones snow/ice removal until an ongoing storm concludes, subject to unusual circumstances such as increasing the risk or leaving a pre-existing hazard; Mirza v. Filmore Corp., 92 N.J. 390 (1983), governs reasonable post-storm action. Residential, mixed-use, vacant-commercial, and unusually large properties require careful classification under Luchejko v. City of Hoboken, 207 N.J. 191 (2011), Padilla v. Young Il An, 257 N.J. 540 (2024), and Arce Calyeca v. Jung, No. A-1889-24 (App. Div. June 3, 2026). Creation or exacerbation remains a separate issue.

Res Ipsa Loquitur. New Jersey allows the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur in premises cases where the circumstances permit negligence to be inferred. Jerista v. Murray, 185 N.J. 175 (2005).

Claim-Specific Damage Rules. Evaluate public-entity limitations, immunities, and any other claim-specific statutory restrictions before alleging that damages are uncapped.

14. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1 et seq. — Comparative Negligence Act
• N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2 — Two-year statute of limitations
• N.J.S.A. 59:1-1 et seq. — New Jersey Tort Claims Act
• Hopkins v. Fox & Lazo Realtors, 132 N.J. 426 (1993)
• Parks v. Rogers, 176 N.J. 491 (2003)
• Rowe v. Mazel Thirty LLC, 209 N.J. 35 (2012)
• Townsend v. Pierre, 221 N.J. 36 (2015)
• Jerista v. Murray, 185 N.J. 175 (2005)