SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY

APPELLATE DIVISION

DOCKET NO. A-4301-16T2

VINCENT J. D'ELIA, ESQ.,

and D'ELIA & MCCARTHY,

Plaintiffs-Appellants,

v.

KELLY LAW, PC, and

CHARLES P. KELLY, ESQ.,

Defendants-Respondents.

____________________________

Submitted October 4, 2018 – Decided May 30, 2019

Before Judges O'Connor and DeAlmeida.

On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey, Law 

Division, Hudson County, Docket No. L-4917-16.

D'Elia & McCarthy Law Offices, appellant pro se

(Vincent J. D'Elia, on the brief).

Kelly Law, PC, respondent pro se (Charles P. Kelly, of 

counsel and on the brief; Bradley Latino, on the brief).

PER CURIAM

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE

APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION

This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the 

internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.
2

A-4301-16T2

Plaintiffs Vincent J. D'Elia, Esq., and D'Elia & McCarthy (D'Elia) appeal 

from an April 13, 2017 order dismissing their complaint against defendants 

Kelly Law, PC and Charles P. Kelly, Esq. (Kelly) on the ground D'Elia failed to 

state a claim upon which relief can be granted, see Rule 4:6-2(e). We affirm.

A

When considering an application for relief under Rule 4:6-2(e), a court is 

required to search "the complaint in depth and with liberality to ascertain 

whether the fundament of a cause of action may be gleaned even from an obscure 

statement of claim, opportunity being given to amend if necessary." Printing 

Mart-Morristown v. Sharp Elecs. Corp., 116 N.J. 739, 746 (1989) (quoting Di

Cristofaro v. Laurel Grove Mem'l Park, 43 N.J. Super. 244, 252 (App. Div. 

1957)). In so doing, a court must "assume the facts as asserted by [a] plaintiff 

are true and give [the plaintiff] the benefit of all inferences that may be drawn 

in [plaintiff's] favor." Velantzas v. Colgate-Palmolive Co., 109 N.J. 189, 192 

(1988). "Obviously, if the complaint states no basis for relief and discovery 

would not provide one, dismissal is the appropriate remedy." Banco Popular N. 

Am. v. Gandi, 184 N.J. 161, 166 (2005).

Rule 4:6-2(e) specifically provides that only the pleading sought to be 

struck may be considered by the court to determine if it fails to state a claim 
3

A-4301-16T2

upon which relief can be granted. If matters outside of the pleading are 

presented to and not excluded by the court, the motion is to be treated as one for 

summary judgment and disposed of as required by Rule 4:46. See R. 4:6-2(e). 

However, a motion to dismiss under Rule 4:6-2(e) is not converted into a motion 

for summary judgment if a party submits and a court reviews a document that is 

specifically referenced in the complaint. See Pressler & Verniero, Current N.J. 

Court Rules, cmt. 4.1.2 on R. 4:6-2 (2019) (citing N.J. Sports Prods., Inc. v. 

Bobby Bostick Promotions, LLC, 405 N.J. Super. 173, 178-79 (Ch. Div. 2007)).

In light of the requirement that only the pleading sought to be struck may 

be considered by the court to determine if it fails to state a claim upon which

relief can be granted, we summarize the pertinent allegations in D'Elia's 

complaint. In addition, we reference certain portions of some of the documents 

mentioned in the complaint. 

B

Allegations in Complaint

Anthony Verdoni entered into an employment agreement with the HeyDay 

Corporation (HeyDay) on January 30, 2008. Verdoni commenced working for 

HeyDay on or about the latter date. On April 23, 2009, HeyDay terminated 
4

A-4301-16T2

Verdoni, who then retained plaintiff Anthony J. D'Elia, Esq.1sometime in 2009 

to take action against HeyDay for breaching the employment agreement.

With the exception of certain kinds of disputes that are not applicable here, 

a provision in the employment agreement requires all disputes be resolved by 

arbitration. That provision states:

8. Arbitration of Disputes. Except for 

disputes arising under Sections 5 (Non-Competition) 

and 7 (Confidential Information) which shall be 

resolved through direct court access in accordance with 

Section 6, all other disputes arising out of or concerning 

the interpretation or application of the Agreement, 

including, without being limited to, any claims that the 

application of the Agreement or the termination of the 

employment relationship established by this Agreement 

violates any federal, state or local law, regulation or 

ordinance shall be resolved as follows:

In the event any dispute between the parties 

concerning this Agreement cannot be resolved through 

discussion between the parties, either party may, thirty 

(30) calendar days after initiation of such discussion, 

refer the issue to arbitration under the then-existing 

rules of the American Arbitration Association 

("AAA").

The arbitration shall be held . . . in Media, . . . 

Pennsylvania. . . . The award shall be final and binding 

and not subject to judicial review. It shall, however, be 

enforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction.

 

1

 The complaint states that plaintiff D’Elia & McCarthy is an "inactive" law 

firm. 
5

A-4301-16T2

Of significance is a provision in the agreement that governs choice of law. That 

provision provides in relevant part:

11. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed 

and construed according to the laws of the State of 

Delaware without regard to its laws which may direct 

the application of the laws of a different jurisdiction.

In August 2012, Verdoni discharged D'Elia and instead retained Kelly to 

represent him. In September 2012, Kelly filed a demand for arbitration on 

Verdoni's behalf with the American Arbitration Association. Thereafter, 

Heyday asserted Verdoni's claims were time-barred. HeyDay and Verdoni 

agreed the arbitrator would decide the question of whether Verdoni's claims 

were barred by the statute of limitations. After both parties submitted briefs on 

this issue, the arbitrator found that, under Delaware law, a three-year statute of 

limitations applied. The arbitrator dismissed Verdoni's claims on the ground he 

failed to demand arbitration before the three-year statute of limitations expired.

In June 2013, Verdoni filed a complaint alleging D'Elia committed legal 

malpractice for failing to demand arbitration within the three-year statute of 

limitations. Approximately three weeks later, with Verdoni's consent and on his 

behalf, D'Elia filed a petition in the United States District Court for the District 
6

A-4301-16T2

of New Jersey seeking vacatur of the arbitrator's decision to dismiss Verdoni's 

claims.

In addition to other arguments, Verdoni maintained that, in the absence of 

an express provision in an agreement to the contrary, Pennsylvania law on 

choice of law and the statute of limitations governed the employment agreement. 

Therefore, because Pennsylvania law allows a party four years to demand 

arbitration after being terminated by an employer, Verdoni's demand for 

arbitration was timely.

In November 2016, the federal district court issued a decision denying 

Verdoni's request for relief and dismissed his petition. The court stated in 

pertinent part:

[T]he arbitrator has the authority to determine whether 

the claims were timely filed, and the argument that the 

Agreement did not articulate a statute of limitations 

appears to lack merit when one reads the entire 

Agreement. The Agreement applies to "all other 

disputes arising out of or concerning the interpretation 

in the agreement[,]"[] as well as to "any claims." 

Obviously that language confers broad scope of 

authority on [the arbitrator] in determining the issues.

Verdoni's attorney also argues that Pennsylvania 

law applies rather than Delaware [law]. However, the 

Agreement reads that "this Agreement shall be 

governed and construed according to the laws of 

Delaware without regard to its laws which may direct 

the application of the laws of another state." That 
7

A-4301-16T2

language clearly indicates that Delaware law applies, 

and that is the law which [the arbitrator] applied in his 

decision. . . . As such, the motion to vacate the award is 

denied and the petition is dismissed. 

In December 2016, D'Elia filed his complaint in the within matter. The 

complaint states D'Elia is bringing this action pursuant to the Joint Tortfeasors 

Contribution Law, N.J.S.A. 2A:53A-3. D'Elia seeks contribution from Kelly in 

the event D'Elia is found liable and must pay damages to Verdoni. D'Elia claims 

defendants committed malpractice when before the arbitrator because they did 

not "properly brief" the arbitrator on the statute of limitations issue and, thus, 

failed to "obtain a proper ruling on the applicable statute of limitations."

Therefore, "the contribution [D'Elia] seeks from Kelly is 100% of any award in 

favor of [Verdoni] in the malpractice action, based upon the fact that Kelly's 

actions were 100% the proximate cause of any compensable injury to 

Verdoni[.]"

C

Kelly filed a motion to dismiss D'Elia's complaint for failure to state a 

claim upon which relief can be granted pursuant to Rule 4:6-2(e). The trial court 

granted Kelly's motion and dismissed the complaint, finding D'Elia did not have 

a claim for contribution against defendants because D'Elia's alleged acts of legal 

malpractice were committed before defendants'.
8

A-4301-16T2

D'Elia appeals, asserting a host of arguments. After considering them in 

light of the record and applicable legal principles, we conclude they are without 

sufficient merit to warrant discussion in a written opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E). 

Nevertheless, we make the following observations.

Enacted in 1952, the Joint Tortfeasors Contribution Law, N.J.S.A. 

2A:53A-1 to -5, is inapplicable in these circumstances. D'Elia would be entitled 

to contribution from defendants only if D'Elia and defendants were joint 

tortfeasors. "'[J]oint tortfeasors' means two or more persons jointly or severally 

liable in tort for the same injury . . . ." N.J.S.A. 2A:53A-1 (emphasis added); 

see also Finderne Mgmt. Co. v. Barrett, 355 N.J. Super. 197, 208 (App. Div. 

2002). 

Joint tortfeasors must share "joint liability and not joint, common or 

concurrent negligence." Farren v. New Jersey Tpk. Auth., 31 N.J. Super. 356, 

362 (App. Div. 1954) (quoting Guerriero v. U-Drive-It Co. of New Jersey, 22 

N.J. Super 588, 603 (Law Div. 1952)). The liability must be common and arise 

at the same time plaintiff's cause of action accrued. "It is common liability at 

the time of the accrual of plaintiff's cause of action which is the Sine qua non of 

defendant's contribution right." Cherry Hill Manor Assocs. v. Faugno, 182 N.J. 
9

A-4301-16T2

64, 72 (2004) (quoting Markey v. Skog, 129 N.J. Super. 192, 200 (Law Div. 

1974)).

Therefore, joint liability can only stem from a single injury. Id. at 73. As 

such, "separate acts of malpractice cannot constitute the 'joint liability' required 

for the imposition of contribution liability under the [Joint Tortfeasors 

Contribution Law]." Id. at 73. Determination of whether the liability is for the 

same injury requires consideration of the pleadings. Finderne, 355 N.J. Super. 

at 208. "Where the pleadings show separate torts, severable as to time and 

breaching different duties, rather than a joint tort, dismissal of the third-party 

action is appropriate." Ibid.

Here, the acts of malpractice D'Elia claims Kelly committed were separate 

from and occurred after those D'Elia allegedly committed. Kelly's alleged act 

of malpractice was a "separate tort[], severable as to time and breaching [a] 

different dut[y]." Ibid. D'Elia's and Kelly's liability are not common and did 

not arise at the same time Verdoni's cause of action against D'Elia accrued. 

D'Elia and Kelly are not liable for the same injury and are not joint tortfeasors. 

Accordingly, the trial court appropriately dismissed D'Elia's complaint on the 

ground it failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted pursuant to 

Rule 4:6-2(e).
10 A-4301-16T2

We are mindful that, at the outset of its decision, the trial court stated it 

was treating the motion as if it were one for summary judgment, because Kelly 

had appended "multiple documents that are beyond the four corners of the 

pleadings." However, it is apparent the trial court did not – or need to – rely 

upon any document other than the complaint and the documents referenced in 

such pleading to arrive at its decision.

Moreover, a Rule 4:6-2(e) motion to dismiss should be granted if the 

complaint fails to articulate a legally sufficient basis entitling the plaintiff to 

relief. See Camden Cty. Energy Recovery Assocs. v. New Jersey Dep't of Envtl. 

Prot., 320 N.J. Super. 59, 64 (App. Div. 1999), aff'd o.b., 170 N.J. 246 (2001).

As previously observed, "if the complaint states no basis for relief and discovery 

would not provide one, dismissal is the appropriate remedy." Banco Popular, 

184 N.J. at 166. We are satisfied the court decided the motion to dismiss in 

accordance with Rule 4:6-2(e). 

Affirmed.