Mercerville Office of Administrative Law Attorney
What Happens if I File a Municipal Appeal to the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control?
Charges filed against liquor licenses or appeals of Municipal ABC Board decisions often require formal hearings before the Office of Administrative Law. These hearings take place before an Administrative Law Judge and are subject to the rules and regulations under the New Jersey Administrative Code. For licensee that are located in Central Jersey, your matter will be heard at the Mercerville Office of Administrative Law.
If you have been charged with serving an Intoxicated Patron, having an Undisclosed Interest, Failing to Maintain Books of Accounting or Lewd Behavior on your premises, contact the ABC attorneys here at Proetta, Oliver & Fay. We can assist you with your Notice of Charges from the Division of ABC or represent you before your local Municipal ABC Board. Call (732) 858-5857 today and speak with an experienced liquor law attorney.
What is the Office of Administrative Law?
The Mercerville Office of Administrative Law is located at 9 Quakerbridge Plaza, Mercerville (Hamilton Twp.), New Jersey 08619. Matters transmitted to the Office of Administrative Law in Mercerville will either be set down for a formal hearing or a preliminary settlement conference (to see if your matter may be resolved without the necessity of a hearing). These hearings will be heard by an Administrative Law Judge. The rules for procedures and protocols at the Office of Administrative Law can be found at N.J.A.C. 1:1-1 et seq. Both parties will present testimony and evidence for the administrative law judge to consider. Once the parties have presented their case, the judge will issue an initial decision. ABC cases typically involve license suspensions, therefore the judge decision will discuss whether or not a suspension should be issued and for how long.
In most cases, at the conclusion of the hearing the Administrative Law Judge prepares an initial decision that is sent to the Director Of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The initial decision may be affirmed, modified, or rejected by the agency head within forty-five days of receipt of the initial decision. These time frames can be extended for good cause. Any change or modification to the initial decision must be explained in writing by the agency head and must specify in clear and sufficient detail the reason for the change or modification and the factual basis in the record for such change. If the agency head does not issue a final decision within forty-five days, unless the time frame has been extended, the initial decision becomes the final decision.
For representation in your matter, call (732) 858-5857.
