meritless claim (New Jersey) · Go Syfert
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meritless claim in New Jersey

22 New Jersey opinions name it 1 courts 2017–2026 14 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by New Jersey courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (8)

CaseFollowedCited
State v. Webstergreen
nj · 2006 · cited in 7 New Jersey opinions naming this issue, 2020–2025
2 sentences

2025State v. Webster, 187 N.J. 254, 256 (2006).

2021State v. Webster, 187 N.J. 254, 256 (2006).

77
DeBrango v. Summit Bancorpgreen
njsuperctappdiv · 2000 · cited in 5 New Jersey opinions naming this issue, 2017–2024
2 sentences

2024Super. at 152 (citing DeBrango v. Summit Bancorp, 328 N.J.

2019DeBrango , 328 N.J.

35
Bove v. Akpharma Inc.green
njsuperctappdiv · 2019 · cited in 4 New Jersey opinions naming this issue, 2020–2025
2 sentences

2025We note "litigation may become frivolous, and therefore sanctionable, by continued litigation over a meritless claim, even if the initial pleading was not frivolous or brought in bad faith." Bove, 460 N.J.

2025Moreover, we note "litigation may become frivolous, and therefore sanctionable, by continued litigation over a meritless claim, even if the initial pleading was not frivolous or brought in bad faith." Bove v. AkPharma Inc., 460 N.J.

24
State v. Worlockgreen
nj · 1990 · cited in 3 New Jersey opinions naming this issue, 2022–2025
2 sentences

2025See O'Neil, 219 N.J. at 613 ; State v. Worlock, 117 N.J. 596, 625 (1990).

2024See O'Neal, 190 N.J. at 619 ; Worlock, 117 N.J. at 625 .

23
State v. O'NEALgreen
nj · 2007 · cited in 2 New Jersey opinions naming this issue, 2024–2025
2 sentences

2025See State v. O'Neal, 190 N.J. 601, 619 (2007) (stating it is not IAC to pursue a meritless claim).

2024See O'Neal, 190 N.J. at 619 ; Worlock, 117 N.J. at 625 .

22
State v. Davisgreen
njsuperctappdiv · 2003 · cited in 2 New Jersey opinions naming this issue, 2024–2026
2 sentences

2026After reinforcing that the State was obligated to prove the defendant's identification beyond a reasonable doubt, we further opined "[a] jury is at liberty to reject a meritless defense, but trial courts are not at liberty to withhold an instruction[]." Id. at 561-62 .

2024Further, "[a] jury is at liberty to reject a meritless defense, but trial courts are not at liberty to withhold an instruction, particularly when that instruction addresses the sole basis for defendant's claim of innocence and it goes to an essential element of the State's case." Id. at 561-62 .

12
State v. Naquan O'neil (072072)green
nj · 2014 · cited in 1 New Jersey opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025See O'Neil, 219 N.J. at 613 ; State v. Worlock, 117 N.J. 596, 625 (1990).

11
Iannone v. McHalegreen
njsuperctappdiv · 1990 · cited in 1 New Jersey opinions naming this issue, 2019–2019
1 sentence

2019Super. at 390 (quoting Iannone v. McHale, 245 N.J.

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in New Jersey. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (2)

CaseCitedYears
State v. Cotto green
nj · 2005
1 sentence

2024In Cotto, the trial court failed to mention "identification" in its jury instructions, despite misidentification being an issue and a defense in the defendant's trial on robbery, burglary, and related charges. 182 N.J. at 322 , 326- 27.

12024–2024
United Hearts, LLC v. Zahabian green
njsuperctappdiv · 2009
1 sentence

2019Thus, even if litigation is A-3374-16T2 34 not frivolous when the complaint is filed, it may become so if a party continues to prosecute a meritless claim because the "requisite bad faith or knowledge of lack of well-groundedness may arise during the conduct of the litigation." United Hearts, 407 N.J.

12019–2019

Statutes the citing opinions construe

NJ § N.J. Stat. § 2A:15-59.1 (8) NJ § N.J. Stat. § 2C:39-4 (7) NJ § N.J. Stat. § 2C:43-7.2 (7) NJ § N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-3 (4) NJ § N.J. Stat. § 2C:39-5 (4)

Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.

Where else courts name it

PA 1151 (1979–2026) FL 67 (2000–2024) IA 49 (2004–2025) IL 43 (1991–2025) CA 31 (1985–2025) NJ 22 (2017–2026) MI 18 (2012–2025) NY 15 (1983–2025) MO 14 (1992–2025) OH 13 (1992–2025) GA 12 (1990–2026) TX 11 (1987–2020) IN 11 (1991–2020) AL 11 (1986–2026) NC 7 (2008–2024) UT 6 (1989–2012) NE 6 (2006–2026) WI 6 (2018–2026) MA 5 (2005–2026) MN 5 (1968–2010) VA 5 (2021–2026) NV 4 (2018–2020) AZ 4 (1988–2015) OK 3 (2020–2021) HI 3 (2023–2024) DC 3 (2014–2018) WA 3 (2009–2018) KS 3 (2021–2022) SC 2 (2023–2024) CO 2 (1992–2013) CT 2 (2001–2006) ME 2 (1979–2012) NM 2 (1997–2018) TN 2 (1991–2010)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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