Terms Used In New Jersey Statutes 2A:53A-14

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • person: includes corporations, companies, associations, societies, firms, partnerships and joint stock companies as well as individuals, unless restricted by the context to an individual as distinguished from a corporate entity or specifically restricted to one or some of the above enumerated synonyms and, when used to designate the owner of property which may be the subject of an offense, includes this State, the United States, any other State of the United States as defined infra and any foreign country or government lawfully owning or possessing property within this State. See New Jersey Statutes 1:1-2
The Legislature finds that malicious acts of vandalism by youths are increasing at an alarming rate; that such acts are frequently attributable to lack of care, custody and control exercised by the parent; that parents should have some responsibility for the conduct of their children; that while there is a reluctance to charge a child with juvenile delinquency there should be some legal deterrent to juvenile acts of vandalism and to parental neglect of child supervision. The Legislature therefore finds it desirable to establish a civil procedure for the recovery of damages for such acts from the neglectful parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the child who caused such damage.

L.1965, c. 111, s. 1, eff. June 15, 1965.