T h e Of f i c i a l Pu b l i c a t i o n o f t h e Ne w Je r s e y L a n d Ti t l e A s s o c i a t i o n
W I N T E R
S a n d y ’s Ti t l e W a v e s
2 0 1 3
by Lawrence C. Bell, Esq.
The effects of Hurricane Sandy will not soon
be forgotten. Youngsters living at the shore will
grow up with a different attitude than some of
the older folks who felt that warnings of danger
were often exaggerated. Sandy was different.
No one in New Jersey had ever seen anything
like it. It was the largest Atlantic hurricane in
recorded history with winds spanning 1,100
miles. While New Jersey and New York were
particularly hard hit, it affected 24 states, left millions without power
and caused damages estimated at over $63 billion dollars.
Most of us woke up in the dark on Tuesday morning, October 30th,
thinking about the fragility of our electrical infrastructure but for those
living anywhere near the shore, people woke up to a nightmare. The
devastation and destruction was severe. Superstorm Sandy’s storm
surge wreaked havoc and decimated both quaint and famous beaches
and landmarks. The New Jersey coastline was redefined. Sandy was a
prophetic name for this storm, as there was sand everywhere! Everywhere
that is except on New Jersey’s beaches. It has been estimated that New
Jersey beaches are 30-40 feet narrower after the storm with some places,
Sandy’s Title Waves cont. on page 2
IN THIS ISSUE
Sandy’s Title Waves................................................................................................................................. Cover
The Race is On.............................................................................................................................................. 5
Ask the Expert................................................................................................................................................ 8
An Agent’s Perspective There’s a Lawyer in the Record Room........................................................................ 9
Welcome to Charm City!............................................................................................................................. 10
2013 Convention Registration .................................................................................................................... 12
Postal Power: Where are the Deeds?............................................................................................................ 14
Who Are You? Who, Who. Who, Who ...Do You Really Want to Know?....................................................... 16
Advocate on the Move and In The News...................................................................................................... 17
2012 ALTA Convention................................................................................................................................ 19
Dates to Remember..................................................................................................................................... 21
Discover what your
want you to know.
DTS Title Plant
money.
They complete county searches themselves - at their convenience. Courts closed? No problem.
Working off hours? No problem. They get instant results and one uniform way to view indices and
include all copies.
Why aren’t you using it too?
County Searches
Complete over 95% of present owner searches via DTS, right from the office.
Get what you need, when you need it.
www.signatureinfo.com
800-792-8888
Contact us for a free demo and get the DTS edge.
Visit our web site for details about our free monthly DTS webinars
Home of Charles Jones® and Data Trace® NJ/PA products and services
Sandy’s Title Waves cont. from cover
like the shore town of Mantoloking, losing over 150 feet of beach.
“What does all of this mean for the title industry?” was one of the
questions that has been on all of our minds.
We deal with questions concerning property ownership every day.
Some, like the evaluation of a deed chain, are relatively simple. We all
know that the State of New Jersey owns all lands that are now or were
formerly flowed by the tide. Has Sandy changed the ownership lines
of properties that were physically rearranged by the storm? Guidance
on this issue has been provided by the New Jersey Supreme Court in
its decision in the matter of the City of Long Branch v. Jui Yung Liu 203
N.J. 464 (2010).
Jui Yung and Elizabeth Liu owned commercial property at 115
Ocean Avenue in Long Branch. Jimmy’s Famous Boardwalk Hotdogs
was one of a number of businesses operated by the Lius from their
beachfront location. In 1996 the City adopted a redevelopment plan
for its beachfront areas. As part of the project, Long Branch sought to
acquire beachfront property through the power of eminent domain.
The value of the land being taken from Mr.& Mrs. Lui was in dispute.
Long Branch offered $900,000. The Lui’s appraiser said it was worth
$2,855,000. They argued that their ownership extended to the mean
high water line of the Atlantic Ocean. Since a beach replenishment
project undertaken by the local, State and Federal governments added
an additional 225 feet of dry land seaward of the mean high water
mark described in their deed, they asserted a right to receive payment
for the value of the additional lands. This fact pattern gave the Court
the opportunity to review New Jersey law applicable to ownership
rights in tidally flowed lands.
The Court started with a legal principle dating back to ancient times
that the State holds ownership, dominion and sovereignty over
tidally flowed lands, in trust for the people. Known as the public trust
doctrine, it allowed for the use of water for navigation and fishing, as
well as access to the shore. In Roman times, fishermen were allowed
to dry their nets on the seashore under this doctrine. The public trust
doctrine was later expanded to include recreational uses and now
applies to limited use of an upland owner’s dry sand when reasonably
necessary for public enjoyment of the ocean. It is clear that the
boundary line between private ownership of dry beach and public
ownership of tidally flowed lands is the mean high water line, but that
line is not fixed and stationary. The location of the mean high water
line fluctuates over time through the processes of accretion, erosion
and avulsion.
Accretion is the gradual accumulation of sand, sediment or other
deposits extending the shoreline so slowly that the change can
only be seen over time. Erosion is the opposite of accretion. It is
the gradual and imperceptible reduction of dry land on the beach.
Under common law, accretion increases the size of an oceanfront
W I N T E R
2 0 1 3
property and erosion decreases the size of owned land. Referred to as
the principle of natural justice, an owner of lands abutting the sea is
obliged to accept the alteration of his or her boundary by the changes
to which the shore is subject. Avulsion is another story.
Avulsion is a rapid, sudden and easily perceived loss or addition to
land by the action of water or otherwise. New Jersey case law defines
violent shifts of land incident to floods, storms or channel breakthroughs
as examples of avulsion and holds that this type of sudden gain or loss
of shoreline does not result in any shifting of property lines. The law
does not make a distinction as to whether an avulsion is due to natural
forces or manmade efforts. The decision in Long Branch v. Liu cites
to several cases in stating: “We have long recognized that a sudden
shoreline change known as avulsion (as distinct from accretion, or
gradual change in configuration) ‘has no effect on boundary,’ and that
this ‘is the received rule of law of nations on this point, as laid down
by all the writers of authority.’” The Court went on to hold that the
pumping of sand to replenish a beach is an avulsion that has no effect
on the Liu property boundary. The New Jersey Land Title Association,
by the way, participated as amicus curiae in this case.
So the answer is that Hurricane Sandy may have moved a lot of sand,
but the damage Sandy did didn’t change any property boundaries.
It may be that we need to order new or up-dated surveys before
providing survey coverage, but our title industry need not be
concerned that ownership rights have been affected by the finding of
a different coastline.
Rebuilding the damage will be a task that continues for years. There are
some who argue that we should learn from Sandy and not rebuild so
close to the shore. While the subject matter of shoreline development
is excluded from title policy coverage, affected property owners need
Sandy’s Title Waves cont. on page 3
2
Sandy’s Title Waves from page 2
not say “May I” to rebuild a previously existing building, structure,
bulkhead, dock or pier.
in their own way. It was the same in the title industry with people
pulling together and helping each other deal with adversity.
The Coastal Area Facilities Review Act (CAFRA) governs development
of all lands within 150 feet of tidal water, beaches and dunes. It is
administered by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection who
issue CAFRA permits when development is approved, or a Waterfront
Development Permit for anything constructed in tidal waters. Under
CAFRA, any legally existing building or structure that was damaged or
destroyed by Hurricane Sandy can be rebuilt without a CAFRA permit
so long as the structure is not enlarged beyond its existing footprint.
The same holds true for legally existing bulkheads, docks and piers,
provided they are replaced in the same location and are not enlarged.
While normal local building permits and approvals will certainly be
required, affected property owners have every right to rebuild their
homes and businesses as and where existed.
We heard a lot of title stories, but none involving any failures to close
transactions that were ready to go. Stories of candle-light kitchen table
closings; agents with electricity opening their offices and lending their
conference rooms to competitors and law firms without electricity; the
sharing of searches and back titles; with virtually everyone covering
for and cooperating with everyone else to safely get the deals closed.
That is Sandy’s Title Waves silver lining.t
The devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy has been well
documented with graphic images and videos spread before us in the
news and on the internet, Facebook and YouTube. One thing that is
striking, besides all of the damage, is the volume of volunteers. Images
of people helping people. Jersey strong. There were a lot of heros
during Sandy and in her aftermath, everyone pitching in and helping
LAWRENCE C. BELL is Vice President, Senior Underwriter
and Regional Underwriting Counsel, Northeast/Mid-Atlantic
Region, for Stewart Title Guaranty Company. The opinions and
views expressed herein are solely those of the author and not
his employer or the NJLTA. The subject matter of riparian lands,
both ownership and regulation thereof, is complex and has
many moving parts. Appropriate water rights exceptions must
always be taken and appropriate procedures followed before
insuring. Please speak with your title underwriter regarding
their requirements and for guidance and advice.
T h e Of f i c i a l Pu b l i c a t i o n o f t h e Ne w Je r s e y L a n d Ti t l e A s s o c i a t i o n
3
The Race is On –
Expediting the Rebuilding Process in the Wake of Hurricane Sandy
by Jeffrey G. Otteau
Super Sandy caused widespread damage
across the Tri-State region which will
continue to be felt for years to come. In
terms of damages from the storm, the hard
data still lacks enough detail at this stage to
quantify localized effects with any certainty.
As time goes and more information becomes
available, a clearer understanding of the
effects on the state’s real estate markets and
economy will emerge. And so for now, I
offer my initial assessment on the aftereffects of Sandy.
Real Estate Effects – Sandy will create wide ranging effects on
the real estate market, most of which will be negative. Here’s a
quick rundown:
• Existing Home Sales – the residential real estate market in
the Shore Areas saw a decline in home sale closing during
the month of November on a magnitude of $50-Million
which has dire consequences for the real estate industry.
Much of this will be temporary, as home sale closings are
pushed back into later months. But many of those pending
deals have been lost permanently. The effects outside the
impacted Shore areas will however be short-lived. For the
rest of the state, the housing recovery that began in 2011
will continue in the New Year.
• New Home Construction – the increase in construction
activity due to rebuilding in the Shore area will create
additional headwinds for the new construction market. This
is because demand for construction materials and labor
will create upward inflationary pressures on prices at a time
when housing prices are quite low. One of the reasons why
new home building has been sluggish in New Jersey is that
today’s lower home prices challenge the profitability of
new home construction. To the extent that prices for labor
and materials go higher due to the rebuilding efforts, the
recovery of the state’s homebuilding industry will be pushed
back further on the calendar.
• Investor Activity – Look for investor activity to increase
sharply in the shore area. Based upon the $250,000 cap
on flood insurance (excluding personal property) coupled
with many homes having no flood insurance at all, many
homeowners will be unable to afford the reconstruction
process. Knowing this, investors will be aggressively looking
for opportunities to “cash out” these property owners and
implement a “repair & sell” or “repair & rent” strategy.
Expect that investors will be going door to door searching
for these opportunities.
• Property Taxes – Governor Christie has already said that
property taxes will go up in towns that need extensive
rebuilding. This is because the cost of infrastructure repair
is typically passed through to residents in the form of higher
property taxes. While some of these costs will likely be
covered by federal aid, it won’t be enough to completely
avoid higher taxes at the municipal level. Also, reduced
assessment values on properties that suffered damage will
transfer a portion of the tax burden to homes that were
not damaged. Given that higher local property taxes are a
disincentive to real estate sales, the effects here may be long
term.
• Mortgage Delinquencies & Foreclosures – one of the reasons
why the recovery in the New Jersey real estate market
has been slower than in other places is that foreclosure
moratoriums were applied more strictly here. Recently,
there has been some improvement in this area as the rate
of foreclosure filings has increased. This progress is likely to
be reversed in shore areas however as economic hardship
coupled with loan forbearance policies at the federal level
will cause the shadow inventory to grow again.
• Critical Rental Housing Shortages – the damages to existing
residential property has caused a sharp increase in demand
for temporary rental housing. This is occurring at a time
when the rental market is already undersupplied and rents
are rising. This increase in demand resulting from Sandy will
further tighten the available rental supply, push rents higher,
and create financial hardship for lower income households
unable to afford those rising market rents.
• Seasonal Rental Properties in Short Supply – The available
pool of seasonal rentals has been significantly reduced,
particularly on the barrier islands. This means fewer seasonal
renters this summer which translates into fewer patrons and
customers for shore area businesses. Properties that came
through undamaged will command a premium this summer
due to scarcity issues which will push those rents higher.
• Mortgage Lending – Already, mortgage lenders are requiring
that all properties under a prior loan application be
reappraised to assess damages. Some of this reassessment
will extend beyond the property’s lot lines to quantify the
damages to roads, beaches and surrounding properties. As
a result, an already difficult mortgage approval process will
get even more tenuous. This should however pass with time,
as infrastructure improvements are completed in the local
area.
• Flood Insurance – The National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP) insures 5.6 million US property owners against losses
from flooding. The NFIP has $1.25 trillion of coverage in
force, of which just under half is in seaside areas such as
the Jersey Shore. In New Jersey, there are approximately
250,000 policyholders including residences and businesses.
At the moment, the NFIP has access to about $4 billion,
plus a $20.8 billion credit line with the U.S. Treasury — of
which it has already borrowed $18 billion. It is therefore
likely that the loss coverage from Sandy will exceed its
current borrowing capacity. Recent events will renew the
discussion amongst lawmakers as to whether this program
should continue in the future, but that decision won’t occur
T h e Of f i c i a l Pu b l i c a t i o n o f t h e Ne w Je r s e y L a n d Ti t l e A s s o c i a t i o n
5
W I N T E R
until 2017 when the current program expires. So for now,
the federal government will need to borrow additional
funds from the Treasury to pay for damages as it did when it
borrowed $17-Billion for Hurricane Katrina.
• Waterfront Property – History suggests that because the allure
of the ocean, rivers and lakes is so great, and that memories
are sufficiently short, long term effects on waterfront
property values will be negligible. That is however subject
to variation depending on circumstance. For example,
properties that experienced damage from flooding are likely
to experience short-term stigma. This is because the required
disclosure of these events to potential purchasers is likely
to dampen interest in that property due to concerns about
unseen damage, mold and the potential for recurrence. With
the passing of time however, and assuming another directhit-hurricane event does not occur anytime soon, these
effects will diminish. At the same time, waterfront properties
that did not experience flooding damage have the potential
to carve-out a price premium. Already, we have seen asking
prices for such properties being raised in anticipation of this
advantage. While the wisdom of such a marketing strategy is
suspect, it is likely that unaffected properties will be viewed
more favorably by the market.
Rebuilding The Damage – The first wave of reconstruction
will focus on infrastructure repairs to rebuild and restore
utility systems, bridges, roads, beaches and boardwalks. This
infrastructure work has already begun as shore area governments
rush to complete as much work as possible before the summer
tourism season begins. Clearly, spending in this area will remain
elevated for the next several years. However, a portion of these
costs are likely to get passed through to local taxpayers to the
extent that federal and state aid is less than actual infrastructure
repair costs. Therefore, the net effects of this infrastructure
spending on the economy are unknown at this point.
Rebuilding of homes and businesses will begin much later due
to the complex maze of insurance and regulatory procedures
that are necessary. According to Eqecat, a catastrophe risk
modeling firm, damages to insured property totaled $50—
Billion, of which 55% was to residences. They further estimate
that 34% of total property losses occurred in New York, 30% in
New Jersey, 20% in Pennsylvania and the remainder in other
states. More recently, the governor of New York estimated state
costs to be $32.8 billion, while Governor Christie’s office has
calculated state costs to be $29.5 billion. Both of these figures
however include a component for the money to be spent to
protect against future storms. Using the Eqecat figures, New
Jersey’s share of insured property damages works out to be
$8.25-Billion ($30-Billion X 55% X 30%).
Using those figures, we can expect home rebuilding
expenditures in the range of $8.25-Billion, give or take.
Some of those rebuilding expenditures will exceed actual
damages as homes are expanded beyond their prior size. Also,
given the $250,000 limit on flood insurance coverage, some
6
2 0 1 3
homeowners will need to reach into their own pockets to pay
for the rebuilding, especially on larger more expensive homes.
But it is also likely that some homes will never be rebuilt due
to their being uninsured or because of changes in zoning and
building codes affecting reconstruction.
These reconstruction activities will have a positive economic
effect on the local, regional and state economy attributable
to job creation in the construction industry and construction
material expenditures. Also benefiting from the rebuilding efforts
will be ancillary service professionals including the insurance
adjusters, attorneys, planners, architects and engineers. Given
the likelihood that the rebuilding will span several years, it is
likely that the $8.25 Billion cost will be spread across 2 years at
an amount equivalent to $4.1 Billion annually.
The Larger Economic Context – One of the first effects in New
Jersey was for initial unemployment claims to spike 275% over
a 2-week period in mid-November. During those 2 weeks,
claims in New Jersey increased from an average pace of 12,000
per week over the past 4 years to 45,000 per week.
To understand other economic effects, storm damage was
heavily concentrated in the shore areas. New Jersey’s 4 coastal
counties of Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May account
for 60% of the state’s $30-Billion tourism industry, or about
$18-Billion annually. In a larger context, that $18-Billion
equates to about 4% of the state’s entire economy.
Based upon these figures, the larger question is to what extent
the Shore tourism economy will be affected while the rebuilding
is underway. Clearly, there will be less reason to visit the shore
this coming summer prior to the rebuilding being completed.
While the reconstruction of roads, bridges and boardwalks
has already begun, other areas will take years before getting
back to normal. Beach erosion has reduced the physical size
of beaches, meaning they have less capacity to hold summer
tourists and will be more crowded this summer. Also, shore
area businesses including amusements, arcades, ice cream
stands, restaurants and bars have suffered catastrophic losses to
both their physical real estate and their balance sheets. Many
will not survive those economic challenges and full recovery
will take years. And so the more compelling question is to what
extent consumers will be willing to spend $3.50 per gallon to
drive to a place that will be offering something less than it did
before. How many of us have spent a night in a shore motel
or decided at the last moment on a ‘day trip’ for some beach
time and a seafood dinner? Or more to the point, how many
of us will decide against this until the rich fabric of the shore
experience has been restored.
Conclusion - All of this tells us that expediting the rebuilding
process must be a priority. This is because the net effect of
Sandy will be largely determined by the magnitude of shortterm contraction in the shore economy. Mathematically, the
projected $4-Billion in reconstruction spending over the next 2
The Race Is On cont. on page 8
NEW!
Work from any browser, nothing to install
Integrated with underwriters to assign CSL & Policies
TITLEDESKTOP™ AccuTitle, LLC •
W I N T E R
The Race Is On cont. from page 6
2 0 1 3
Ask the Expert
years equates to 23% of the $18-Billion shore tourism economy.
This suggests that a theoretical 23% in the shore tourism
economy over the next 2 years could be offset by projected
economic boost from home rebuilding. Admittedly, this is an
oversimplified equation that does not account for many factors
like the loss of tax revenues, year-round housing demand,
migration patterns, seasonal rentals, toll road revenues, local
based employment, and so on. Still, the long term effect of
Sandy will largely be determined by how quickly the Shore
tourism economy gets back on its feet. In other words, the race
is on!t
JEFFREY G. OTTEAU, President
As President of Otteau Valuation Group Mr. Otteau manages
all facets of the firm’s business including serving as General
Manager of www.otteau.com which is an information provider
on real estate trends. Mr. Otteau has provided testimony as
an expert witness at the municipal, county and state levels,
authored several texts on property valuation techniques
and has lectured throughout North America. His practice is
concentrated in providing valuation and advisory services to
financial institutions, governmental entities, developers, and
investors. Widely respected for his knowledge and insight
into real estate trends, Mr. Otteau is frequently quoted in the
Wall Street Journal and New York Times; has made television
appearances on CNBC, Bloomberg and NBC; has been
recognized by NJBIZ’s as one of the Most Influential People in
the Real Estate Industry for the past 2 years.
Dear Expert:
We are insuring a conveyance out of an Intestate Estate. Juan
Hernandez purchased the property in 1999 individually.
His wife Rosalita, lived with him for three years and then
returned to Guatemala. They have been estranged ever since.
John died in 2011 without leaving a Will. He left 2 daughters
and the estranged wife. Rosalita and one of the daughters,
Carmelita have renounced their right to Administration. Letters
of Administration were issued to the remaining daughter,
Mindalita. Is it necessary to have the wife Rosalita (who is still
in Guatemala) sign a deed to extinguish any possible possessory
interests acquired under NJSA 3B:28-3? Or can I simply rely
upon the Administrators Deed.
Ayudeme, Por favor
Sincerely,
South of the Border
Dear M. Border:
I assume, since you did not make any affirmative statement to
the contrary, that the land in question was the residence of the
late Juan. If so, the following would apply. The renunciation of
the right to have Letters of Administration issued would neither
terminate the spouse’s principal matrimonial possessory interest
nor her intestate share of the estate. The possessory interest,
however, can be released by abandonment. Since Rosalita
has returned to Guatemala, it may be assumed that she has
abandoned this right. If, and only if, the proposed conveyance
is to a bona fide purchaser, I would be willing to insure without
further documentation. If, on the other hand, the purchaser is
not a “bfp”, please get back to me as there would be numerous
other problems.
As usual, my opinion may not be shared by your underwriters
so you should consult with them and follow their instructions.
Cordially,
Your Expert
8
A n A g e n t ’s P e r s p e c t i v e - T h e r e ’s a L a w y e r i n t h e R e c o r d R o o m
b y G e o r g e A . S t i c k e l , E s q . , C . T. P.
How many of you remember the days when the title agent’s
involvement in the real estate transaction was limited to countersigning a title binder? The agent was usually a title searcher who
prepared an abstract for his attorney client. The attorney would then
read the search himself and his secretary would type the preliminary
binder (on a form supplied by the agent’s underwriter) showing the
vesting of title and the title exceptions. The binder would then need to
be signed by the agent on behalf of the underwriter.
As a young title searcher, working beside my Dad in the Morris County
Clerk’s Office in the 1960’s and 1970’s I recall seeing many attorneys
walk into the Record Room (in those days it was called the Searcher’s
Vault and was an actual vault with a huge, heavy, combination-
locked door which needed to be opened each morning, just like a
bank vault). Some attorneys still did their own title searching, but
most were there to have a title binder signed by their title agent. It was
very unusual in those days for a title agent to have his own office, or
if they had an office, they still spent most of their time in the Record
Room.
I remember the hush that would come over the Vault when an attorney
entered. It was as though we were being visited by a dignitary and the
“buzz” would circulate that attorney “so and so” was in our midst. I
was aware of the respect the searchers exhibited toward the attorneys
and knew, somehow, the attorneys were considered “special”. It truly
seemed a privilege to be an attorney.
T h e Of f i c i a l Pu b l i c a t i o n o f t h e Ne w Je r s e y L a n d Ti t l e A s s o c i a t i o n
9
W I N T E R
There were a few attorneys in the Record Room who were “regulars”.
Jacob (Jake) Korn was one of the few title agents also an attorney.
We all respected Jake for his expertise. And, of course there was the
fact that Jake would host the title searchers’ party at the pool in his
backyard every summer. Some title searchers were known to drink
a little (no!) and after a few years Jake recognized the high liability
involved and the parties stopped. We respected Jake even more as a
lawyer after that decision.
Henry W. Pilch descended from a long line of Morris County attorneys
and he was often seen searching in the Record Room. Pilch drove a
vintage red sports car. We searchers assumed the Pilch family was
wealthy (searchers assumed all lawyers were wealthy) and we could
not understand why Henry did not better maintain the auto. Henry
often drove year-round with the top down because he refused to pay
to have the convertible mechanism fixed. He proudly explained
how he solved the problem of his driver’s seat falling backwards by
wedging a sawed-off broom stick under the back of the seat. I vividly
recall seeing Henry drive out of the parking lot, top down, when the
broom handle must have come loose. Henry fell backwards into the
rear seat as his sports car careened out of control down the hill on
Court Street. Henry quickly recovered, saving himself, the car and
nearby pedestrians.
Arthur G. Baker was an older lawyer and
quite the character. He was affectionately
nicknamed Arthur G. (for Jesus) Baker
because he often spontaneously quoted
Biblical scripture. Although no longer
actively practicing law, Art was not averse
to accepting a case which caught his
fancy. I still remember the dog bite case
where Art defended one of the searcher’s
dogs. Art encouraged us all to bring our
dogs to the municipal court the night of
the hearing so that our pooches could
serve as character witnesses or, as Art
called them, “Amicus Curiae” (friends
of the court). The morning of the trial
Art bound into the Vault yelling “Amicus
Curiae” at the top of his lungs as a rallying
cry to remind us to show up at the hearing
with our pets. That night there was so
much commotion with dogs and their
owners (one searcher even brought a pet
goat) that the judge dismissed the case just
to clear his courtroom. When asked why
he did not seem pleased with his victory,
Attorney Baker responded, “How can I be
10
2 0 1 3
satisfied? The dog still has a record.”
Soon after I passed the Bar I had some legal business in the Morris
County Court House. I decided to visit my Dad in the Record
Room. As the new young attorney, dressed in a three-piece suit, I half
expected a hush to come over the Vault upon my arrival with a buzz
circulating that “Attorney Stickel” was in the searchers’ midst. But no,
it was only, “Hi, Al, how are you doing?” or “You look good in that
suit” or “You here to help your Dad?” I was not considered a dignitary.
I was not special. I was just one of the searchers. And, truth be told, I
wouldn’t have it any other way.t
GEORGE A. STICKEL, ESQ., CTP, is a Third Generation, 40
year veteran of the title industry. He is President of Stickel Title
Agency in Pennington, New Jersey. George is Second VicePresident of the NJLTA Board of Governors and a contributing
writer to The Advocate. George wishes to thank Danny May,
whose fond tribute to “Mickey” Fasano in the December 2010
issue of The Advocate inspired him to express some of his own
affectionate remembrances from his days in the Record Room.
Welcome to Charm City!
various aquarium exhibits.
Hope you’re feeling lucky! We
have a Casino Night planned
with proceeds to benefit
TIPAC. Blackjack, roulette
and craps tables will surround
the aquarium for your gaming
pleasure. The fun doesn’t have
to end though. If you desire
even more adventure, a short
water taxi ride will take you to
the Fells Point neighborhood
where over a 100 bars and
restaurants are yours to explore.
There is live music every night
of the week so bring your
dancing shoes!
The next morning we will have our general session with the
Board of Governors and Agency Section meetings. An ALTA
representative will be on hand to offer current industry insights.
We will enjoy a comprehensive and fun continuing education
program focused on ethics. The afternoon is open for you to
explore the city. The Science Museum, Camden Yards and Fort
McHenry are all within easy reach.
On Sunday June 9, 2013 the NJLTA will open its 91st Annual
- Convention in Baltimore’s beautiful Inner Harbor. This is
a new venue for the association with much to see and do!
The Rennaisance Harbor Place will be our home base. This
luxurious 586 room hotel boasts contemporary and elegant
rooms that offer an ideal place to unwind after a day in the
city. The convention committee had the opportunity to check
out the site this fall and all noted the great location and first
rate meeting spaces and lounge areas. President Michael
Huddleston reported that the gym was first rate following his
“early morning workout”.
Lovely as the hotel is, the city beckons! Our kick off event will
be held at the Baltimore Aquarium. This spectacular venue will
play host for our opening cocktail reception and Casino Night.
Early arrivals will be treated to exclusive access to the aquarium
exhibits. Then it’s onward to our private floor for dinner and
cocktails with a tremendous view of the city and access to
Our Gala Banquet will truly be something special! We have
reserved space at the Baltimore World Trade Center. Perched on
the 23rd floor, we will have sweeping views of the city, harbor
and bay. Weather permitting we will have cocktails on the patio
before dinner and a sumptuous meal high above the city. Of
course we will have the installation of new NJLTA officers and
dancing as well.
Tuesday morning we have breakfast and our second continuing
education program focused on the CFPB and settlement related
issues. This is a “must see” event hitting on the most critical
areas of change facing everyone involved in the real estate
settlement process. We will conclude with a photo montage
wrap up.
We hope you will join us for what we will be a fun and
informative meeting. Because Baltimore is such a popular
destination we encourage you to book your room and register
as early as possible. As an enticement there is a $25.00
discount for everyone if you register for the Convention before
April 1, 2013.
We look forward to seeing you.
Andrew J. Pitman
Convention Chairman
T h e Of f i c i a l Pu b l i c a t i o n o f t h e Ne w Je r s e y L a n d Ti t l e A s s o c i a t i o n
11
REGISTRATION FORM NJLTA 91st Annual Convention Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel 202 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland Sunday, June 9, 2013 through Tuesday, June 11, 2013 Primary Registrant Full Name: ___________________________________________________________________________ Name to Appear on Badge: ______________________________________________________________ Organization: _________________________________________________________________________ Street Address: _______________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip Code: __________________________________________________________________ Phone: _________________________ E-­‐Mail Address: __________________________________ Spouse / Guest Full Name: ___________________________________________________________________________ Name to Appear on Badge: ______________________________________________________________ Gala Dinner Selection Primary Registrant: Black Angus Filet Mignon, Diablo _____ Tournedos of Lemon & Basil Chicken _____ Seafood Imperial – Shrimp, Crabmeat Rockfish Served in a Shell _____ Spouse / Guest: Black Angus Filet Mignon, Diablo _____ Tournedos of Lemon & Basil Chicken _____ Seafood Imperial – Shrimp, Crabmeat Rockfish Served in a Shell _____ 12
Registration Fees* Delegate / Agency / Affiliate Member (After April 1 -­‐ $325.00) Non-­‐Member (After April 1 -­‐ $425.00) Spouse / Guest (Non-­‐Industry) (After April 1 -­‐ $225.00) Subtotal Total Enclosed _____ @ $300.00 ___________ _____ @ $400.00 ___________ _____ @ $200.00 ___________ ___________ ___________ * Your Registration Fee includes two (2) dinners, two (2) breakfasts, entertainment, four (4) continuing education credits, taxes, gratuities, and much much more! To reserve your room contact Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel directly at 410-­‐547-­‐1200. Rooms are $199.00 per night plus taxes, fees, and parking. Be sure to mention you are with the New Jersey Land Title Association to receive this special rate. PLEASE NOTE: Room rate cannot be guaranteed after May 10, 2013. Please make your check payable to: New Jersey Land Title Association (Sorry – credit cards cannot be accepted at this time) Mail to: Stewart Title Guaranty Company Attn: Andrew Pitman 1055 Parsippany Boulevard Parsippany, New Jersey 07054 QUESTIONS: Please contact Andrew Pitman at [email protected] To receive your early bird registration discount, please mail your Registration Form and Fee no later than April 1, 2013 All Registrations must be received by May 24, 2013 13
W I N T E R
Postal Power: Where are the Deeds?
2 0 1 3
b y J o s e p h A . G r a b a s & J o h n C . Te n n e s o n
The early morning fog lifted slowly from the river, as it often
does in the spring. The dockyards and wharves came alive
with activity as the great steamships, wallowing in the gentle
roll of the incoming tide, were consumed by stevedores, like a
crumb being overwhelmed by ants. As they emerged from their
homes, the German speaking residents were surprised to see a
steady flow of American Doughboys descending steadily upon
the waterfront to take possession.
President Woodrow Wilson had
just declared war against Germany
on April 6, 1917, there was
surprise and fear within the city
known locally as Little Bremen.
22nd Infantry transferred the crews of the Hamburg-American
and North German Lloyd lines to Ellis Island, where they were
interned.
The New York Times reported that
instead of waking up to an area
cluttered with huge piles of beer
kegs, it was suddenly alive with
khaki clad soldiers. The kegs were
removed and the Superintendents
of the yards were forced to empty
their homes in preparation for
use as officers’ quarters. Military
authority reigned supreme over
civil authority along “that part
of the shore occupied by the big Hamburg American Line
and North German Lloyd piers.” The area seized was “the
waterfront of the City extending from the foot of Fourth Street to
the Northerly boundary of Newark Street and from the Easterly
side of River Street to the river. The NY Times Reporters could
remain in Manhattan sitting on the docks at 11th Street or at the
top of the iconic The New York Times Tower (One Times Square
where America has watched the ball drop on New Year’s Eve
since 1908) and merely gaze across the Hudson River, watching
while the City of Hoboken came under martial law.
Under an Act of Congress dated March 28, 1918 (Public No. 169
- 65th Congress) President Wilson was specifically empowered
“to acquire the title to the docks, piers, warehouses, wharves
and terminal equipment and facilities on the Hudson River now
owed by the Hamburg American Line Terminal and Navigation
Company, a corporation of the State of New Jersey…Upon
the taking over of said property by the President…the title to
all such property so taken over shall immediately vest in the
United States…” Not until more than a year after the first troops
seized the Hoboken waterfront did President Wilson, Under
Executive Order No. 1464, signed June 28, 1918, authorize the
fee acquisition of the Hoboken waterfront. Another year would
pass and the war would end before a “confirmatory conveyance”
was recorded in the Hudson County Clerk’s Office on May 2,
1919 memorializing the transfer. A just compensation was paid
in the amount of $2,314,877.00 in return for the deed from the
Hamburg American Line corporation.
In addition to the seizure of the real property, thirty one
steamships had been confiscated including the passenger
liners Vaterland and Kaiser Wilhem II. The Vaterland was
commissioned and renamed the Leviathan by President Wilson
on September 6, 1917. She would eventually carry over 119,000
American soldiers to Europe before the armistice was signed on
November 11, 1918. The Kaiser Wilhelm II was commissioned
in late August 1917 and renamed the Agamemnon. Both
Leviathan and Agamemnon served until after the end of the
war bringing troops home from Europe.
The Germans so dominated the landscape of Hoboken at
this time that German was, in fact, the dominant language
throughout the city. The German population of Hoboken was
so great that the school system, prior to World War I, utilized a
bilingual program with all students studying both English and
German. One of the reasons for the large German influx into
Hoboken was the Hamburg-America Line. In its early years, the
Hamburg America Line was the exclusive steamship passenger
line connecting North American with most European ports.
In October of 1917, the United States Congress enacted the
Trading with the Enemy Act, which was created to restrict trade
with countries hostile to the United States. It in effect, gave
the President the power to oversee or restrict any and all trade
between the United States and its enemies in time of war and
to seize enemy assets. The Government had taken the piers
not only for the purpose of safety, but also to prepare them
for use during the War. On April 6, 1917, the First Battalion,
14
Postal Powers cont. on page 15
Postal Powers cont. from page 14
Fast forward to 1931, a small portion of the waterfront acreage
is selected as the location for a US Post Office. There was no
subdivision deed recorded. (Today it is known as the Frank
Sinatra Post Office)(The US Postal Office was created in 1775
by the venerable Benjamin Franklin and under the Postal
Clause of Article One of the US Constitution it became the US
Post Office Department, with the Postmaster General being a
cabinet position and the last person in the US Presidential line
of succession.) Forty Years later, after a contentious Postal Strike,
President Richard M. Nixon signed the Postal Reorganization
Act which eliminated the USPOD, the cabinet position and
created the current US Postal Service, an independent agency
of the US Government. In so doing, Postal properties and assets
were transferred from the United States of America to the USPS.
In 1971 there were 42,287 Post offices in the United States.
Experience and conventional wisdom as a title searcher
and insurer would lead one to believe that a Deed would
be recorded from the United States of America to the US
Postal Service, for each and every parcel of real property, in
the appropriate State/County/Municipal Recorders Office
throughout the nation, to provide constructive notice under
local laws that the premises had been transferred and vested
into the newly created government agency (USPS). Instead, the
subsequently notorious Attorney General John Mitchell issued
an Opinion Letter on March 25, 1971 allowing for Interagency
Transfer Agreements to be used between the GSA and the
USPS. Mitchell stated that “the proposed transfer agreements
are both authorized and will vest the new Postal Service with
power . . . to hold, maintain, sell, lease, or otherwise dispose
of such property or any interest therein . . .” Mitchell relied
chiefly upon language in Gibbs v. United States, 150 F.2d 504,
508 (4th Cir. 1945) that disregards various State statutes and
historic customs for the recording of deeds to memorialize land
transfers. These transfer agreements can be found in Federal
Register, Vol. 36, No. 173, Part II, September 4, 1971 and can
be requested directly from the USPS, the National Archives or
found online.
This Federal preemption of State real property law results in
a break in the chain of title; A deed into the United States of
America in 1919 for a large tract of land/waterfront and then
a deed out of the US Postal Service sometime in the future
for a small corner of a much bigger block. A conveyance that
might easily remain unfound due to the implementation of
“computerized indexes” and sheer volume of deeds; seriously
who wants to run The United States of America for 100 years!
This unfortunately is not an isolated occurrence. In 1941, the US
Navy established a large Naval Base on the Raritan Bay which
would become known as Earle Naval Weapons Depot; since
it was again a time of war, the Federal government had to act
swiftly through the use of Eminent Domain. The US acquired
lands through direct conveyances, Declaration of Takings and
Final Judgments in Condemnation. (They physically seized
the land long before any of these were recorded) Due to the
haste employed, there are numerous breaks in the chains of
title recorded in the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office. In many
cases the ONLY muniments of title found related thereto, are
the Lis Pendens filed in the Condemnation actions; no final
deed. (Several years ago it was proposed that all “expired” Lis
Pendens (over 5 years old) be removed from the records and
destroyed. Quick and knowledgeable action by the NJLTA
halted this process and saved those important title muniments
and historic documents)
In the case of Federal Tax Liens, the Internal Revenue Service
can choose to employ a “secret” Levy, Distraint & Seizure Sale
pursuant to U.S.C. 26 §6331 et seq, wherein no Lis Pendens or
other notice of the sale is recorded. The deed of sale comes from
the United States of America or possibly the IRS. A less than
diligent recording clerk might fail to index the document under
the Debtor’s name, as it is not usually displayed prominently
in the granting clause of these unconventional conveyancing
documents. Once again the result is a break in the chain of title.
When presented with a conveyance into or out of any
Governmental Agency, local or federal, special attention needs
to be employed by the title examiner. There are specific statutes
and regulations concerning government land transactions,
which usually require particular types of notice, resolutions
and adherence to statutory provisions. In the matter of Postal
conveyances, a prudent title examiner should require proof
that the proposed conveyance is made in accordance with 39
U.S.C. sec. 401(5) or other applicable statutes or regulations
authorizing same. Do not underestimate the power of the
federal government to acquire property and convey it without
using conventional or customary forms of constructive notice,
especially in times of war. As the author has previously noted,
often times we must look outside of the County Land Records
to find the answers to complex title issues.t
T h e Of f i c i a l Pu b l i c a t i o n o f t h e Ne w Je r s e y L a n d Ti t l e A s s o c i a t i o n
15
W I N T E R
Who Are You? Who, Who. Who, Who ...Do You Really Want to Know?
When asked; “What is title insurance?” one of the examples
of coverage can be answered by answering a question with a
question; “Do you really know if the person sitting on the other
side of the closing table from you is the seller?” Or as a closing
agent at a refinance, “Do you really know that the people signing
the mortgage documents are who they say there are?” Well, you
better make sure before you take that acknowledgment or sign
that notarization.
As the closing agent or notary, one of the main roles is to verify
the signer’s identity. This certifies that the signature can be
trusted. Remember the signer must always personally appear
before the notary, with proper and satisfactory identification. A
Notary should check an ID to look for any signs of tampering
and to make sure the information on the ID matches the signer’s
information on the document.
Any spelling or printing errors in the text on an identification
document is a warning sign of possible tampering. While there
are usually slight variations between signatures, a significantly
different style of writing is a red flag that the person before
you may be falsifying their identity. If a photo on an ID seems
unusually thick, so much that it sticks out from or distorts the
surface of the card, it’s likely that someone has pasted a second
photo on top of the original picture. Check if the description
on the photo matches the picture. Look for the expiration date
if the ID has one and if it has expired ask for an alternative. If
there is a birth date on the ID, do the math; if it doesn’t work
with the appearance of the signer, something may be wrong.
Match the face with the picture. Hair color, hair style, even eye
color can be different from the picture and the person sitting
with you. Look at the shape of the face; look for a detail like,
ears level with eyes.
If the Notary suspects the ID has been altered, ask the signer
to provide a second form of ID to help verify the information
is accurate. Social Security cards and credit cards make good
secondary forms of IDs. It is very unlikely that someone using
a fake driver’s license will also have a fake credit card or Social
Security card.
Many foreign IDs are written in other languages and characters
which you might not be able to read. If you cannot verify
the identity of the signer, you should refuse to perform the
notarization and refer the signer to a Notary who speaks their
language, or to the signer’s consulate. If you suspect fraud, halt
the notarization.
In an article posted on the National Notary Association webpage
( http://www.nationalnotary.org ) dated December 6, 2012;
“Risk Of Identity Scams In Mortgage Fraud Declining” Ann
Fulmer, Vice President of Interthinx Industry Relations, a
national risk mitigation company focusing on mortgage fraud
and regulatory compliance, stressed the important but not
16
2 0 1 3
by David E. Penque
widely recognized role Notaries play in preventing identity
fraud. “The Notary’s most important tool for stopping identity
theft is their own power of observation” Fulmer said.
Fulmer advised Notaries to become very familiar with their
state’s security measures and carefully check licenses presented
by borrowers to make sure the security elements are present. A
Notary with detailed and current knowledge of what the genuine
article looks like will have a greatly improved advantage in
spotting a fake. “Notaries are one of the last lines of defense
against mortgage fraud,” said Fulmer. “By following proper
procedures, Notaries can help stem the tide of identity fraud
Another handy tool is an identification reference manual,
such as the I.D. Checking Guide International Edition: http://
idcheckingguide.com or Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance:
I.D. Checking Guide: http://cvsa.stores.yahoo.net/ichgul.htm
or Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), ID Checking Guide
http://www.arccorp.com/solutions/id-checking-guide-others.
jsp. These reference guides can help you spot a fraudulent ID
and confirm the original.
Remember you are the last in the line of defenses to stop
fraudulent signing. Be diligent, be aware, be careful, be ready,
be knowledgeable and have the tools that you need.t
Advocate on the Move and In The News
Hurricane, a/k/a ‘Superstorm’ Sandy, as it has become known, has left much destruction in its path. Individuals and businesses are still
piecing their lives back to some type of normal. With that in mind, below are a number of links focused on helping the victims, as well
as links providing YOU ways to help the victims of this historic storm:
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Tax-Relief-for-Victims-of-Hurricane-Sandy-in-New-Jersey
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/sandy-relief-+Hurricane Sandy
http://www.fema.gov/hurricane-sandy
http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/1/2462
http://www.redcross.org/hurricane-sandy
Please take some time to review the above links which were designed to
offer much needed assistance to those in need during the recovery and
the rebuilding phases of post-Hurricane Sandy.
• Welcome new member! LAND TRANSFER SERVICES, LLC.
• Congratulations to Fortune Title Agency, Inc. in Roseland – as the company has been approved as a title agent in Pennsylvania.
• Best wishes to Amy Holder, former NJLTA President, on her new position. Amy is now Director, Eastern Region Market Development for RedVision.
•
Joseph A. Grabas CTP, Director of the Grabas Institute for Continuing Education was recently nominated by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to be a member of the prestigious Tideland Resource Council.
Congratulations, Joe!t
T h e Of f i c i a l Pu b l i c a t i o n o f t h e Ne w Je r s e y L a n d Ti t l e A s s o c i a t i o n
17
Chief among the topics discussed at the 2012 ALTA Annual
Convention were the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s
proposed closing forms and the effect of third party agent
“vetting” companies on the title industry.
More information on ALTA’s Best Practices will be available very
soon.
Other speakers included keynote speaker Gov. Frank Keating,
former Governor of Oklahoma and current CEO of the American
Over 700 attendees including underwriters, agents and vendors
met for four days at the beautiful Broadmoor Resort in Colorado
Springs, CO to hear speakers address these topics and much
more. This near record turnout is an especially noteworthy
achievement in the current economy.
ALTA CEO Michele Korsmo, President Chris Abbinante and
President-Elect Frank Pellegrini began the roll-out of ALTA’s Best
Practices for agencies and underwriters. This is a major effort
in meeting the increased expectations of lenders on the title
insurance industry. These Best Practices will be the core of the
industry’s response to the perceived need for increased agency
verification by lenders. The best news is that many agents are
already following most if not all the suggested practices. The
biggest difference will be formalizing these policies so that our
underwriters can certify to lenders that they are being followed.
T h e Of f i c i a l Pu b l i c a t i o n o f t h e Ne w Je r s e y L a n d Ti t l e A s s o c i a t i o n
19
W I N T E R
2 0 1 3
View of the Rockies from the Broadmoor Resort, Colorado Springs, CO
Banking Association, who outlined the regulatory challenges to
the real estate industry.
Attendees also heard presentations from political commentator
Ron Brownstein and Fannie Mae Chief Economist Doug
Duncan giving a view of the political, regulatory and economic
landscape. Mr. Duncan may be familiar to many New Jersey
Agents from both prior ALTA and NJLTA appearances.
Seminars providing both CE and CLE credits were available
with topics including the CFPB proposed closing forms, a
proposed model agency contract, negotiating E&O policies,
new technology and 1031 Exchanges among the choices.
The conference closed with the election of Frank Pellegrini of
20
Prairie Title in Illinois as president for 2012 - 2013. Mr. Pellegrini
has served in many capacities at the ALTA in the past including
Chair of the Agent & Abstractor Committee. In an address to the
conference, he reflected on our challenges, quoting an Italian
saying, that “though we cannot change the wind, we can adjust
our sails.” Mr. Pellegrini is a personal friend of the author and
we can certainly trust him at our helm.
Next year’s conference will be held at the famous Breakers
Resort in Palm Beach, FL, October 9 - 12, 2013. Don’t miss it as
the next several years promise dramatic changes and the ALTA
Annual Convention is one of the best opportunities to prepare
for them.t
Dates to Remember
January 2013
20th
6th – 7th
•
• ALTA Research Abstracter/Agency Committee Meeting
Hotel El Con Vento
San Juan, Puerto Rico
13th – 15th
• ALTA Title Agents Executive Conference
Mokara Hotel
San Antonio, Texas
16th
•
Continuing Education Class – “Ethics”
New Jersey Land Title Institute
Clarion Hotel
Toms River, New Jersey
16th
•
Board of Governors Meeting
New Jersey Land Title Association
NJLTA – 100 Willowbrook Road
Freehold, New Jersey
23rd
• NJLTA Agency Section Meeting & FREE CE/CLE Seminar
East Windsor Conference Center – Holiday Inn
East Windsor, New Jersey
23rd
Board of Governors Meeting
New Jersey Land Title Association
NJLTA – 100 Willowbrook Road
Freehold, New Jersey
27th
•
NJLTA Agency Section Meeting & FREE CE/CLE Seminar
East Windsor Conference Center – Holiday Inn
East Windsor, New Jersey
Freehold, New Jersey
MAY 2013
6th – 8th
• ALTA Federal Conference
Renaissance Hotel
Washington, DC
15th
•
Board of Governors Meeting
New Jersey Land Title Association
NJLTA – 100 Willowbrook Road
Freehold, New Jersey
22nd
• NJLTA Agency Section Meeting
East Windsor Conference Center – Holiday Inn
East Windsor, New Jersey
• ALTA Membership Committee Meeting
JUNE 2013
MARCH 2013
9th – 11th
13th – 15th
•
• ALTA Business Strategies Conference
Oklahoma City Renaissance
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Annual Meeting and Convention
New Jersey Land Title Association
Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel
Baltimore, Maryland
T h e Of f i c i a l Pu b l i c a t i o n o f t h e Ne w Je r s e y L a n d Ti t l e A s s o c i a t i o n
21
New Jersey Land Title
Association Officers
Michael Huddleston, CTP, President
732-846-0600
[email protected]
The Official Publication of the
Ne w Je r s e y L a n d Ti t l e A s s o c i a t i o n
Andrew Pitman, First Vice President
973-257-5690
[email protected]
George A. Stickel, CTP,
Second Vice President
609-737-9377
[email protected]
Monmouth Executive Center
100 Willowbrook Road, Building I
Freehold, New Jersey 07728
Lisa J. Aubrey, Secretary/Treasurer
732-984-9261
[email protected]
Edward C. Eastman, Jr., Exec. Director
732-683-9660
[email protected]
Agency Section Management Board
Alfred D. Santoro, Jr., CTP, Chair
Esquire Title Services, LLC
973-560-0636
[email protected]
Cynthia Ward, Vice Chair
Trident Abstract Title Agency, LLC
732-431-3134
[email protected]
Anthony Floria-Callori, Esq., Secretary
Prestige Title Agency
973-239-0101
[email protected]
Joseph A. Grabas, CTP
Investors Title Agency
732-985-9600
[email protected]
George W. Watson, Jr.
Royal Title Services, Inc.
973-327-0000
[email protected]
Marilyn Henshaw
Progressive Title Agency
973-455-1166
[email protected]
William Slover, Esq.
Province Line Title Agency
609-818-0078
[email protected]
Editorial Board
Joe Grabas, Editor-in-Chief
732-985-9600
[email protected]
N o t a M e m b e r o f t h e N J LTA ?
Send in your application, visit http://njlta.org/mastjoin.htm
Larry Bell, Front Page
973-257-5690
[email protected]
Maureen Crowley-Unsinn, Calendar
732-545-1003
[email protected]
Richard L. Eland, Legislative
609-375-2344
[email protected]
Amy Holder, Advertising
973.854.9572
[email protected]
Nancy Koch, Human Interest
973-541-2400, ext. 12404
[email protected]
Linda Martin, Blurbs & Blogs/People
in the News
800-792-8888
[email protected]
Reach out to over 1,000 industry members!
Inquire with Amy Holder at [email protected].
Heather Paich, Photos & Graphics
732-985-9600
[email protected]
David Penque, ALTA/Industry News
201-791-4200
[email protected]
Policy
Andrew Pitman
973-257-5690
[email protected]
The views and opinions expressed by the authors of the published articles are those of the authors and NOT his /
her employer. Consult your underwirter for specific guidelines. NJLTA makes no endorsement of advertisers, nor
takes responsibility for the content of the advertisements.