Luis Perez v. Zagami, LLC (071358)

This appeal involves the private right of action authorized under the New Jersey Civil Rights Act (Act or CRA), N.J.S.A. 10:6-1 to -2. Specifically, we are called on to determine whether the Legislature intended that the Act permit a private right of action to be brought against a person who is not acting under “color of law.” N.J.S.A. 10:6-2(e). For the reasons that follow, we hold that, although the Act bestows such authority on the Attorney General, a private CRA cause of action only may be pursued against persons acting under color of law.

I

A

The backdrop to the question of law before us…