Legal Memorandum: Summary Decision in an Administrative Proceeding

Issue: What is the legal standard for summary decision in an administrative proceeding in New Jersey?

It is well established that the court should grant summary decision “if the papers and discovery which have been filed, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact challenged and that the moving party is entitled to prevail as a matter of law.”  N.J.A.C. 1:1-12.5(a).  “When the evidence ‘is so one-sided that one party must prevail as a matter of law,’ the trial court should not hesitate to grant summary judgment.”  Brill v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 142 N.J. 520, 540 (1995) (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 252, 106 S. Ct. 2505, 2512, 91 L. Ed. 2d 202, 214 (1986)). 

[…]