Our Areas of Expertise
Negligence
Negligence is the failure to act with the care a reasonable and prudent person would employ under the circumstances. The word negligence is used to refer to cases involving all manner and types of accidents, such as falls and car accidents. Representing you in a negligence case would involve an initial interview, a gathering of all related documents, such as police or accident reports and hospital and physicians' records and reports. A lawsuit may have to be initiated. We would be carefully handling every step of the process. After the suit has been started, we begin the discovery process, which involves answering and demanding answers to written questions, testimony under oath by all concerned, obtaining additional required documents and consulting expert witnesses. As the case progresses, there would be an arbitration hearing at the courthouse, where a highly experienced negligence lawyer would evaluate your case. The Court would also schedule a settlement conference, and if the case is not settled it will be set down for a trial. We will appear in Court with you for as many days as necessary to properly present your case.
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Medical Malpractice
Medical Malpractice occurs when a physician causes injury to a patient because of an action or failure to act that does not follow the recognized standard of care. Representing you in a medical malpractice case would involve an initial interview, possibly with our medical consultant in attendance, a gathering of all related documents, such as hospital records and incident reports, physician records, films and reports. A physician to serve as an expert would be retained and an expert report prepared. Every effort will be made to settle your case. A lawsuit may have to be started. We would be carefully handling every step of the process. After the suit has been started, we begin the discovery process, which involves answering and demanding answers to written questions, testimony under oath by all concerned, obtaining additional required documents and consulting expert witnesses. After the period of discovery has ended the case would be scheduled for trial.
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Family Law
The field of family law concerns personal interrelationships between an individual person and their families or significant partners. It includes such areas as divorce, separation agreements, domestic violence and adoptions. We would represent you in all Court proceedings required, both protecting you and advocating your positions. If the matter concerns a divorce, we would prepare your Complaint for filing. After the suit has been started, we would begin the discovery process. That would involve answering and demanding answers to written questions, obtaining necessary documents, retaining expert witnesses as required and testimony under oath by all concerned. We would make every effort to properly settle your case or try the case if required.
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Workers' Compensation
New Jersey has a law that requires that all employers have insurance for employees injured on the job. In order to receive payments for time out of work or an award for a temporary or permanent injury, no proof of fault on the part of anyone is required. We can represent you in obtaining those funds by filing a claim petition for such compensation. We will obtain the necessary medical records and reports and appear as your advocate in Workers' Compensation Court.
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Criminal Law
We represent the accused in connection with all types of alleged offenses from homicide to speeding tickets. This includes drug offenses, sex offenses, juvenile offenses, bail reductions, white-collar crime, shoplifting, driving while intoxicated or driving with a suspended license. We will be available to protect your rights every step of the way.
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Defective Products
This field of law is known as product liability. A manufacturer or seller of a product may be held liable for money damages if a product is unreasonably dangerous when used as intended, due to a defect in design or manufacturing and that product causes physical injury or damage. Representing you in a product liability case would involve an initial interview, a gathering of all related documents, such as police or accident reports and hospital and physicians' records and reports. A lawsuit may have to be initiated. We would be carefully handling every step of the process. After the suit has been started, we begin the discovery process, which involves answering and demanding answers to written questions, testimony under oath by all concerned, obtaining additional required documents and consulting expert witnesses to establish the product is defective. The Court would schedule a settlement conference, and if the case is not settled it will be set down for a trial. We will appear in Court with you for as many days as necessary to properly present your case.
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Appellate Cases
If your case has already been heard in a trial Court and you are not satisfied with the result, there may be a basis to appeal that decision to a higher Court. We can represent you in that process. After an initial interview, we would obtain the transcripts of all the earlier Court proceedings. We would perform all the necessary legal research to prepare and file the required briefs. If a Court appearance is granted, we would argue the merits of your case before the Court.
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Wrongful Termination
New Jersey adopted the so called "at-will employment rule" many years ago. This means that an employer may fire an employee for almost any reason. Fortunately, this harsh rule has been modified by the Legislature and the Courts. First, an employer may not fire an employee on the basis of the employee's race, color, religion, ethnic background, gender, sexual preference or age. To do so would constitute unlawful discriminatory conduct. Secondly, any termination of an employee must not violate public policy. Cases of this type handled by this office include situations where an employee is injured on the job and files a Workers' Compensation claim and the employer retaliates by firing them. Such action violates public policy and the terminated employee may recover damages. Another example is "whistle blowing," where an employee reports illegal activity by their employer and is thereafter fired for that reason.
Representing you in a wrongful termination case would involve an initial interview and a gathering of all related documents, such as incident reports and personnel files. A lawsuit may have to be initiated. We would be carefully handling every step of the process. After the suit has been started, we begin the discovery process, which involves answering and demanding answers to written questions, testimony under oath by all concerned, obtaining additional required documents and consulting expert witnesses. The Court would schedule a settlement conference, and if the case is not settled it will be set down for a trial. We will appear in Court with you for as many days as necessary to properly present your case.
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Real Estate/Land Use
We represent individuals, business entities, and financial institutions in all manner and types of commercial and residential real estate transactions, land-use issues and the sale and purchase of businesses. Our extensive real estate experience includes contract negotiations for land and home acquisition; structuring of ownership and development entities; financing of commercial real estate projects; and mortgage transactions. We also have considerable experience in drafting and negotiating commercial and residential leases, as well as obtaining necessary permits and approvals, and representing clients before regulatory agencies and municipal planning/zoning boards.
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Wills/Estates/Trusts
Our attorneys are experienced in all estate planning matters, including, but not limited to, the drafting of Wills, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, and Inter-Vivos and Testamentary Trusts. Additionally, we handle matters relating to the distribution of an individual's property during their lifetime, or upon death, considering the decedent's Will, insurance, property and trusts so as to maximize the benefit of all applicable laws, while at the same time carrying out the individual's wishes. We also assist clients with the administration of estates and guide them through probate and the distribution process as well as representing clients in estate litigation matters and Will contests.
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Commercial Litigation
Business disputes may require the Court's assistance before a final resolution can be achieved. In these cases we may be representing a sole proprietor or a corporate business client. Over the years we have been presented with countless different types of clients and issues in a business setting. After carefully reviewing the issue with the client, if settlement negotiations are unsuccessful, arbitration will be considered, and if necessary, a lawsuit may be instituted on behalf of the client.
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Insurance Claims
Insurance companies will often incorrectly deny a claim. By way of example, it could be on a commercial, homeowner's, motor vehicle or health insurance policy. In order to compel payment, a lawsuit may be initiated on your behalf.
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