
Scott A. Sears
Associate
Overview
Areas of Focus
Practice
News & Insights
03.31.2026
Client Advisories
New Jersey Appellate Court Provides Guidance for Establishing Independent Contractor Relationship
In a legal landscape where it seems almost impossible to properly classify and compensate a worker as an independent contractor, the New Jersey Appellate Division recently provided guidance for employers attempting to avoid employee misclassification. On March 26, 2026, the court in Sanger v. Next Level Business Services, Inc. affirmed the dismissal of a worker’s New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) claims, ruling that she was an independent contractor and therefore not protected by the statute.
03.23.2026
Client Advisories
New Jersey Supreme Court Issues Major Decision Expanding Employer Liability in Unpaid Wage Claims, Emphasizing Importance of Strict Recordkeeping
The New Jersey Supreme Court issued a major decision on March 19, 2026, which impacts any employer defending against unpaid wage and overtime claims. In a ruling that underscores the critical importance of employer recordkeeping, the Court in Lopez v. Marmic LLC, 2026 WL 771528 (N.J. Mar. 19, 2026), set a rigorous standard that makes it significantly more difficult for businesses to defeat employee wage claims when accurate time records are missing. Instead of requiring employees to prove their claim for unpaid wages, the Court found it sufficient for an employee to approximate their claim with a “rebuttable presumption” that the employee’s claim for unpaid hours are accurate.
12.12.2025
Speaking Engagements & Seminars
Annual Labor & Employment Seminar
Join Archer’s Labor & Employment Group for our Annual Labor & Employment Seminar. Stay up to date on the major state and federal laws impacting labor and employment practices.