Skip to Content

July – December 2013 Archives

Cynthia Richards authored an article in the Fall 2013 issue of New Jersey Defense magazine, published by the New Jersey Defense Association. The article is entitled "The Appellate Division Continues to Uphold the Workers' Compensation Notice Provision Codified in N.J.S.A. 34:15-17".

* * * * * * * * * * *

William Goodwin and William Rudnik are both Certified Matrimonial Law Attorneys. This designation is granted to attorneys who have 1) been members in good-standing of the NJ bar for over 5 years, 2) fulfilled ongoing continuing legal education requirements, 3) demonstrated a substantial level of experience in matrimonial law, 4) been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges, and 5) taken and passed a written examination in matrimonial law.

On Dec. 18, William Rudnik volunteered to serve with other experienced family law attorneys on the Hunterdon County Court's Early Settlement Panel Blitz, to help resolve old family law cases and clear up backlog in the court system.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Dec. 17, family law attorney William Rudnik co-moderated the third meeting in an ongoing series of men's discussion groups focusing on divorce. The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce. The session took place at Hunterdon Prevention Resources in Flemington. Men interested in participating in future groups can contact Mr. Rudnik at 908-735-5161.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Dec. 16, Mark Chazin attended the annual meeting of the Somerset County Business Partnership, where he presented the organization's financial report to about 500 leaders of the Somerset County business community. Also at that meeting, the 2013 Economic Vitality Awards were presented to three area organizations. Mr. Chazin has been a member of the SCBP Board of Directors and the Finance Committee for about 25 years.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Gebhardt & Kiefer was pleased to sponsor a float in the Clinton Guild Christmas Parade on Dec. 6, 2013.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Dec. 6, Mark Chazin attended a meeting of the Raritan Valley Community College Accounting & Financial Services Advisory Committee. This volunteer committee provides input on the school's accounting and finance programs and curriculum in relation to the needs of the business community. Mr. Chazin also serves on the RVCC Foundation's Estate Planning Advisory Committee.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Nov. 26, John Manfreda presented a program entitled "Estate Planning After the Recent US Supreme Court Decision Legalizing Same Sex Marriages" in the North County Branch of the Hunterdon County Library.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Mark Chazin attended the first meeting of the Estate Planning Advisory Committee of the Raritan Valley Community College Foundation on Nov. 12. This committee comprises a small group of attorneys, accountants and financial planners who are assisting the College in its planned giving program. Mr. Chazin also serves on the College's Accounting Advisory Committee, and has been a member of that committee for a number of years. He received a Service Award from the College in 2005.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Nov. 11, William Goodwin presented a session entitled "Third Parties and Psychological Parenthood" to the NJ State Bar Association Family Law Section. Mr. Goodwin and Diana Fredericks also attended a session entitled "Hot Tips in Family Law - Rules are Made to be Broken: Exceptions, Dissents and Loopholes".

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Nov. 7, Mark Chazin and Diana Fredericks represented Gebhardt & Kiefer at the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce's 2013 Annual Awards Breakfast. The event honors Hunterdon business leaders who exemplify the ideal in business practices & achievement. Gebhardt & Kiefer was a sponsor of the event.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

John Manfreda, who serves as president of the Greater Middlesex Somerset Estate Planning Council, led a presentation at the Council's Nov. 6 meeting entitled "Romance to Ruin: Estate Planning Issues Before, During and After Divorce". Besides Mr. Manfreda, several other Gebhardt & Kiefer attorneys attended the program, including Mark Chazin, whose practice focuses on estate planning and administration, as well as William Rudnik and Diana Fredericks, whose practices concentrate on matrimonial and family law.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Deborah Rosenthal presented a seminar on Oct. 30 to public employees from Egg Harbor City, Port Republic and Buena Vista. Topics included preventing harassment and discrimination, the implications of the American with Disabilities' Act, Municipal Ethics, and the Family Medical Leave Act under State and Federal Law.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The next meeting of a men's discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on November 19, 2013 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Hunterdon Prevention Resources, located at 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd, Suite 410 in Flemington. The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce. This is a unique opportunity for participants to hear from other men, and to provide their own perspectives to other men who are dealing with these issues. The program will be moderated by family law attorney William Rudnik and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC. Future meetings will include other local professional moderators. Food and beverages will be provided. Any questions should be directed to William Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or Brudnik@gklegal.com. Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Gebhardt & Kiefer was pleased to be a sponsor of the NORWESCAP 11th Annual Culinary Celebration on Nov. 4. NORWESCAP's mission is to improve the lives of low income individuals and families in need in Northwest New Jersey. The organization offers, refers or collaborates with others to provide programs and education that help foster self-sufficiency in the areas of economic and employment building, nutrition and healthy living, child and family development, housing, community information and outreach, volunteer services, and emergency services.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

On the Gebhardt & Kiefer Family Law Blog, Diana Fredericks shares information about "Cohabitation in 2013 - Four Important Points from Reese v. Weis".

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Mark Chazin was a co-presenter with Rabbi Eli Kornfeld at a "Life in The Balance" course on Tuesday, Oct. 29. The course was part of a 6-session series about medical and related ethical issues. This particular session was entitled "The Will to Live: Living Wills, Health-Care Proxies, and End-of-Life Care". This course was held at the Chabad Center in Clinton, NJ, and is part of a series of courses given at the same time at Chabad Centers around the world. Mr. Chazin has also been a co-presenter for prior sessions that have dealt with legally related ethical issues.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

William Goodwin participated in a 15k race on Oct. 27 to benefit the Lord Stirling School of Basking Ridge. The school provides educational instruction and assistance to at-risk children.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Mark Chazin attended the monthly Board meeting of the Jewish Federation of Hunterdon, Somerset & Warren Counties on Oct. 22. The Board discussed the increased humanitarian needs of the people and agencies that the Federation supports, and proposals for raising more funds to support these needs. There was also a report of the very successful event hosted by the Federation Women's Division on October 15th at the Raritan Valley Country Club, which raised funds for two organizations that aid autistic persons: The Jerry Davis Center sponsored by ARC of Somerset County, and the Aleh Negev Center in Israel. Mr. Chazin has served on the Board of the Federation for the past 10 years. He is also the past President of the Federation, and currently serves on the Executive Committee and the Allocations Committee.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Oct. 15, family law attorney William Rudnik co-moderated the second in an ongoing series of men's discussion groups focusing on divorce, with 18 participants in attendance. The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce. The session took place at Hunterdon Prevention Resources in Flemington.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Mark Chazin attended the quarterly Board meeting of the Somerset County Business Partnership on Oct. 17. The Board discussed the Business Partnership's 2014 Program of Work and its new Platform for Success model, designed to provide value to its members in different constituencies. Mr. Chazin has served on the Board of the Business Partnership and the Board of its predecessor organization, the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, for the past 25 years. He is also a prior Chairman of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, and he currently serves on the Finance Committee.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Oct. 17, Diana Fredericks attended the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce's Women In Business Alliance. Ms. Fredericks also participated in several family law seminars in Sept. and Oct. that closely aligned with her area of practice, including "Family Law Update: 2013", "Family Court Rules Update", and "Advanced Evidence Issues for Family Lawyers", and "Rules Are Made To Be Broken: Exceptions, Dissents and Loopholes".

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Oct. 31, John Manfreda will present a program entitled “Legal and Tax Aspects of Estate Planning After the U.S. vs. Windsor Case” in the North County Branch of the Hunterdon County Library at 7 PM.  In addition to discussing estate and gift tax planning concepts that will be of great assistance to families, he will also discuss estate and gift tax planning for same-sex couples in the wake of the recent U.S. Supreme Court case that invalidated certain sections of the DOMA law, which was passed under the Clinton administration.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Oct. 17, John Manfreda will serve as the keynote speaker at the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Greater Sussex Estate Planning Council.  Mr. Manfreda’s presentation will include highlights of the 2012 Tax Act, along with related planning suggestions.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Diana Fredericks attended the Young Professionals of Hunterdon County networking meeting on Oct. 1.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Deborah Rosenthal presented a series of seminars in September to public employees in Mansfield Township, the Town of Phillipsburg, the County of Sussex, and various Sussex municipalities.  Her topics included preventing harassment and discrimination, the implications of the American with Disabilities’ Act, Municipal Ethics and the Family Medical Leave Act under State and Federal Law.  Ms. Rosenthal also presented a seminar on harassment and discrimination to a private employer in Frenchtown.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Gebhardt & Kiefer was pleased to be a sponsor of Kingwood Township Community Day on Sept. 21, 2013.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

On the Gebhardt & Kiefer Family Law Blog, Diana Fredericks shares information about "Online Co-Parenting Classes".

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Recently, William Goodwin successfully completed a 24-day custody trial in Hunterdon County, preventing a mother from moving two young children to another jurisdiction over the objection of their father (Mr. Goodwin's client). The case involved testimony of numerous witnesses including psychological and vocational experts.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The next meeting of a men's discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on October 15th from 6:30-8:00 pm at Hunterdon Prevention Resources, 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd., Suite 410, Flemington. The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce. The discussion will be co-moderated by family law attorney William Rudnik.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Gebhardt & Kiefer was pleased to be a bronze sponsor of the 2013 Lebanon Township "Day in the Park" on Sept. 14.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Diana Fredericks was installed as the Hunterdon County Bar Association's treasurer for 2013-2014 at the organization's Installation Dinner on Sept. 11, 2013.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The first meeting of a men's discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on September 10th from 6:30 pm until 8 pm at the Family Success Center, located at 3 East Main Street in Flemington. The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce. This is a unique opportunity to hear from other men, and to provide your own perspective to other men who are dealing with these issues. The program will be moderated by local family law attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C. and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC. Future meetings will include other local professional moderators. Food and beverages will be provided. Any questions should be directed to William Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or Brudnik@gklegal.com. Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Diana Fredericks attended the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce's "Summer Social" networking event on Aug. 14.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Deborah Rosenthal conducted a seminar on July 31 for Kingwood Township officials and employees, as well as members of various boards and commissions, regarding municipal ethics. Topics included the criminal and civil laws governing these types of individuals, and guidance regarding avoidance of conflicts of interest.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

On July 26, William Rudnik will serve on the discussion panel for SAFE in Hunterdon's education forum, "Let's Talk About It, Hunterdon County". The forum is designed to improve local responses to the co-occurrence of child abuse/neglect and domestic violence. It is open to all community members, from parents to teachers, human resource professionals to small business owners, prosecutors to family court judges, law enforcement to advocates, social workers to counselors, faith-based leaders to elected officials, and people touched by domestic violence who want to learn more about the issues and do more to improve responses and support for children involved in abuse, neglect and domestic violence. The forum will run from 9 AM - 2:30 PM at the County Complex on Route 12.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Gebhardt & Kiefer was pleased to be a sponsor of the 17th Annual Black Potatoe Music Festival in Clinton from July 10 - 14, 2013.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *