JACQUES CHARLOT VS. STEPHANIE DEJESUS (SC-1252-18, UNION COUNTY AND STATEWIDE)

**What Happened:** Jacques Charlot was a tenant who rented property from landlord Stephanie DeJesus. When Charlot moved out, DeJesus failed to return his security deposit within the time required by New Jersey law and did not provide a detailed list of what deductions were taken from the deposit. **What the Court Decided:** The New Jersey appeals court ruled in favor of Charlot, upholding a lower court's decision. The court found that DeJesus violated New Jersey's Security Deposit Act by not returning the deposit on time and failing to provide itemized deductions. As a penalty, Charlot was awarded double his original security deposit amount ($3,450) plus additional court costs, totaling $3,492. **Why This Matters for Workers:** While this case involves landlord-tenant law rather than employment, it demonstrates how state consumer protection laws can provide strong remedies when businesses fail to follow required procedures with people's money. Many states have similar laws protecting workers' wages, deposits, and benefits. Workers should know their rights regarding timely payment and detailed explanations when money is withheld, whether by landlords or employers.