In Zamel v. Port of New York Authority, 56 N.J. 1, 6, 264 A.2d 201 (1970), the plaintiffs had failed to comply with the notice of claim requirement. Id. at 5, 264 A.2d 201. The plaintiffs had, however, informally communicated to the defendant all the information required in a formal notice of claim. Id. at 6-7, 264 A.2d 201. The Court applied the doctrine of substantial compliance, finding "nothing whatever in the pertinent statutory history or terminology to indicate that the Legislature ever meant to exclude the highly just doctrine of substantial compliance. . . ." Id. at 6, 264 A.2d 201. Because the defendants were not prejudiced by the plaintiffs' failure to comply strictly and the defendants had the relevant information, the Court ruled the plaintiffs were in substantial compliance with the notice of claim requirement. Id. at 6-7, 264 A.2d 201.