2C:35B-15. Stay of Action Pending Criminal Action

On motion by a governmental agency involved in an investigation or prosecution involving a controlled dangerous substance, an action brought under this act shall be stayed until the completion of any underlying criminal investigation or prosecution.

2C:35B-14. Cause of Action, Accrual; Statute of Limitations

14. a. A cause of action accrues under this act when a person has reason to know of the harm from use of a controlled dangerous substance that is the basis for the cause of action and has reason to know that the use of a controlled dangerous substance is the cause of the harm.

b.Except as provided in subsection a. of this section, a claim under this act shall not be brought more than one year after the defendant distributes, dispenses, or possesses with intent to distribute, the controlled dangerous substance or more than one year after the defendant is convicted of a crime involving controlled dangerous substances, whichever is the later.

2C:35B-13. Ex Parte Prejudgment Attachment Order

A plaintiff under this act may request an ex parte prejudgment attachment order from the court against all assets of a defendant sufficient to satisfy a potential award. Any claim of the State authorized pursuant to chapter 35A and 64 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes shall have priority over an order issued pursuant to this section.

2C:35B-12. Proof of Liability; Prima Facie Evidence

a. Proof of liability in an action brought under this act shall be shown by clear and convincing evidence.

b.A person against whom recovery is sought who has been convicted of a violation of N.J.S.2C:35-5, Manufacturing, Distributing or Dispensing, or an equivalent offense under federal law or the law of any other state, is estopped from denying illegal participation in the market for controlled dangerous substances. If such conviction was based upon the same type of controlled dangerous substance as that used by the individual user, the conviction also constitutes prima facie evidence of the persons participation in the marketing of controlled dangerous substance user pursuant to this act.

c.The absence of a criminal conviction for a violation of N.J.S.2C:35-5 or an equivalent offense under federal law or the law of any other state does not bar recovery by a plaintiff bringing suit pursuant to subsection b. of section 5 of this act.

2C:35B-11. Right of Action for Contribution

A person subject to liability under this act has a right of action for contribution against another person subject to liability under this act. Contribution may be enforced either in the original action or by a separate action brought for that purpose. A plaintiff may seek recovery in accordance with this act and other laws against a person whom a defendant has asserted a right of contribution.

2C:35B-10. Comparative Responsibility Governing Action

a. An action by an individual user of a controlled dangerous substance is governed by the principles of comparative responsibility. Comparative responsibility attributed to an individual user does not bar the users recovery but diminishes the award of damages proportionately, according to the measure of responsibility attributed to the user. The burden of proving comparative responsibility is on the defendant, who shall prove comparative responsibility by clear and convincing evidence. b.Comparative responsibility shall not be attributed to a plaintiff who is not an individual user of a controlled substance, unless that plaintiff knowingly gave the individual user money for the purchase of the controlled dangerous substance.

2C:35B-9. Joint Actions

a. Two or more persons may join in one action under this act as plaintiffs if their respective actions have at least one market for controlled dangerous substances in common and if any portion of the period of use of a controlled dangerous substance overlaps with the period of use of a controlled dangerous substance for every other plaintiff.

b.Two or more persons may be joined in one action under this act as defendants if those persons are liable to at least one plaintiff.

2C:35B-8. Damage Table

A person whose participation in the marketing of controlled dangerous substances is grounds for liability pursuant to this act shall be rebuttably presumed to be liable for damages incurred by the plaintiff in the following percentages:

a.For a level 1 offense, 25 percent of the damages;

b.For a level 2 offense, 50 percent of the damages;

c.For a level 3 offense, 75 percent of the damages; and

d.For a level 4 offense, 100 percent of the damages.

2C:35B-7. No Third Party Damage Payments; Assignment

7. a. A third party shall not pay damages awarded under this act, or provide a defense or money for a defense, on behalf of an insured under a contract of insurance or indemnification.

b.A cause of action authorized pursuant to this act may not be assigned, either expressly, by subrogation, or by any other means, directly or indirectly, to any public or publicly funded agency or institution.

2C:35B-6. Controlled Dangerous Substance Individual User;

6. a. An individual user of a controlled dangerous substance may bring an action for damages caused by the use of a controlled dangerous substance only if all of the following conditions are met: (1)The individual personally discloses to narcotics enforcement authorities all of the information known to the individual regarding all that individuals sources of controlled dangerous substances. (2)The individual has not used a controlled dangerous substance within the 30 days before filing the action. (3)The individual continues to remain free of the use of an illegal controlled substance throughout the pendency of the action. b.An individual user entitled to bring an action under this section may seek damages only from a person who transported, imported into this State, distributed, dispensed, sold, possessed with intent to distribute, or offered to distribute, in violation of any of the provisions of chapter 35 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, the controlled dangerous substance actually used by the individual user of a controlled dangerous substance. c.An individual user entitled to bring an action under this section may recover only the following damages: (1)Economic damages, including, but not limited to, the cost of treatment, rehabilitation and medical expenses, loss of economic or educational potential, loss of productivity, absenteeism , accidents or injury, and any other pecuniary loss proximately caused by the persons use of a controlled dangerous substance. (2)Reasonable attorney fees. (3)Costs of suit, including, but not limited to, reasonable expenses for expert testimony.