{"data":{"id":"us-nj/n.j.-stat.-34-11-59","jurisdiction":"us-nj","citation":"N.J. Stat. § 34:11-59","heading":"Claim docketed;  summons;  service","body":"An employee may file a written claim for wages against an employer in the wage collection division of the department which shall be entered in a book to be called the wage collection docket.\nUpon the filing of claim, the department shall issue a summons returnable between the hours of nine o'clock in the forenoon and three o'clock in the afternoon, both inclusive, which shall also specify a certain time and place for the appearance of the defendant, not less than five nor more than fifteen days from the date of such process, which summons shall be served at least five  days before the time of appearance mentioned therein, by reading the same to  the defendant and delivering to him a copy thereof if he shall be found and if  not found by leaving a copy thereof in his house or with some other person of  his family over the age of fourteen years.  Such persons being served with  summons and complaint shall be informed of the contents thereof and the person  serving the summons shall indorse thereon a return of the time and manner he  executed the same, and sign his name thereon.  At the time and place specified  in the summons, the commissioner shall inquire in a summary way into the merits of the employee's claim and defenses of the defendant, if any.","path":["TITLE 34 LABOR AND WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION"],"source_url":"https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/statutes/STATUTES-TEXT.zip","current_through":"P.L.2025, c.405, and J.R.22","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T17:54:13Z","sha256":"07c1a744c689a76f36d06d7b5094544b0b15b6f7fc304e7e6919c0b36545917c","source_id":"us-nj","stale":true,"prev":"us-nj/n.j.-stat.-34-11-58.6","next":"us-nj/n.j.-stat.-34-11-60"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}