Terms Used In New Jersey Statutes 1:1-24

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
Where any such statute contains a reference to any summary proceeding founded upon a cause of action of an equitable nature to be begun by petition the reference shall be given effect, on and after September fifteenth, one thousand nine hundred and forty-eight, as though it were to a similar proceeding to be begun by complaint.

L.1948, c. 375, p. 1545, s. 3.