GOVERNMENT
NJ Attorney General Fields Questions at Business Forum
By Diane C . Walsh Editor , COMMERCE
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J . Platkin made himself available to answer questions from the business community recently during a special virtual meeting moderated by CIANJ President Anthony Russo .
Platkin became the state ’ s highest ranking law enforcement officer early last year . He had previously served as chief counsel to Gov . Phil Murphy . A Stanford Law School graduate , Platkin had also been a partner at Lowenstein Sandler , working in the firm ’ s white-collar crime and business litigation practice groups , before accepting the governor ’ s appointment .
As attorney general , Platkin , who grew up in Morris County and now lives in Montclair with his family , heads the state Department of Law and Public Safety . It employs 8,000 people and encompasses 18 divisions , including the State Police and Consumers Affairs , which oversees the licensing requirements of 51 professions . There are more than 500 lawyers employed by the department . Platkin explained to the meeting participants that in what ’ s unique to New Jersey , his attorneys provide counsel to all state agencies , effectively making it the state ’ s largest law firm .
The New Jersey Warehouse and Movers Association , the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association , as well as the NJCPA , the association of accountants , who are all affiliated with CIANJ , took the opportunity with Platkin to press him on their members ’ hot topics .
Tracy Denora , executive director of the movers ’ association , asked Platkin ’ s assistance for better enforcement of a new law that targets rogue movers who scam the public . The association helped draft the law and Murphy signed it in 2019 . The Public Movers Act gives local police the right to check movers ’ credentials and issue summonses , if warranted . Any fines imposed are also shared with the local authorities .
The state Division of Consumers Affairs conducted “ only four stings ” on illicit movers since 2012 , netting $ 283,000 in fines , according to Denora , who said it is “ heartbreaking ” that fraudsters are victimizing the public and tarnishing the reputations of legitimate movers .
Jason Washburn , a general manager at Two Men & A Truck , told the attorney general that rogue movers have been operating under his company ’ s name and on several occasions extorted money from customers by refusing to unload their property unless they paid more than they agreed previously . “ It ’ s a huge negative impact on our business and our reputation ,” he said .
Platkin promised to follow-up with the local prosecutor ’ s office on the incidents Washburn presented . The attorney general also said the new laws are being enforced and the latest reports show consumer affairs collected $ 75,000 in penalties . “ If we can do more .” Platkin said he was willing to discuss the situation further with the movers ’ association after the virtual session .
Another new law being drafted by the state Department of Environmental Protection instigated the landscapers ’ association and others working in the environmental industry to question the attorney general . At issue is the license for handling contaminated soil . Under the procedure , all principles in a firm would have to undergo extensive criminal background checks .
Tom Uzzo , the president of Whitestone Associates , Inc ., which does extensive site remediation work , explained his firm is employee-owned and under the new regulations all 100 of them would have to submit to the background investigation . The landscapers ’ association also complained the new regulations were overreaching . Tracy Straka , an executive at Creamer Environmental , wanted to know what the consequences are . “ Do we lose our license ? Do we fire the employee ?” she asked .
While Platkin said he could not discuss specific applications , he urged the participants to be as candid and detailed as possible when making their applications . “ Our goal is not to jam people up in the licensing process ,” he said .
He noted the regulation has not been finalized and there is still opportunity to bring comments to the DEP .
Jeff Kaszerman of the NJCPA urged Platkin to use funds collected by the licensing boards for a more efficient consumer affairs division . Platkin acknowledged there was a “ significant backlog ” in licensing and disciplinary actions due to the pandemic and staffing issues . But he said additional hires have been made and Gov . Murphy budgeted more funds for the division . “ I think we ’ re moving in the direction you will like ,” he said .
Catching rogue movers and questions over new licensing requirements for moving contaminated soil were among the topics the business community brought to Attorney General Matthew J . Platkin .
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