Our litigation department effectively addresses complex, as well as routine, claims. The Department is well versed in handling all aspects of the litigation process. Each matter is approached with an eye towards achieving results in the most economic manner. Our attorneys have diverse experience in specialized areas such as Commercial Litigation, Trusts and Estates Litigation, Insurance Defense, Personal Injury and First Amendment Litigation.
Our firm represents large and small business, including real estate developers, construction companies, and major banks in connection with workouts and defaulted loans, and all phases and nature of complex commercial litigation prosecution and defense.
Headed by Robert M. Jacobs, our attorneys regularly represent beneficiaries, trusts and estates in Trust and Estate litigation, administration, and related claims. This sensitive body of law requires a diligent, attentive approach and understanding that can only be developed through experience, and the diligent study of current legal developments and trends.
From premises liability claims, title insurance claims, automobile injury claims to more complex discrimination and products liability claims, the Insurance Defense Practice Group provides an aggressive, yet cost effective approach towards litigation. The Group is headed by Carolyn Geraci Frome, a member of the firm with nearly twenty-five years experience in representing major airlines and their insurers, as well as automobile insurance carriers.
The group is adept at utilizing motion practice to dismiss baseless claims and has successfully argued a number of those summary judgment motions in the State and Federal courts, at both the trial and appellate levels. Noteworthy summary judgment motions include the dismissal of discrimination claims in a peanut allergy case and the dismissal of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) claims based upon the Warsaw/Montreal Convention.
Our firm has handled many New Jersey matters for major publishers, such as Time, Inc. In addition to defending libel actions, the firm has handled other types of First Amendment litigation, including invasion of privacy, court closure, reporter's privilege, right to know/Open Public Meetings Act, and news rack suits. Our notable cases include: the Myron Farber/Dr. X case, in which a reporter from the New York Times was jailed because he refused to testify in a highly publicized murder trial in Bergen County; Schiavone v. Fortune, in which the United States Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of a libel suit brought by then Secretary of Labor Raymond Donovan's construction firm; The Record v. City of Clifton, in which the court not only invalidated restrictive news rack ordinances, but awarded our client $100,000 in costs and counsel fees; Turf Lawnmower Repair, Inc. v. Bergen Record Corporation, in which the New Jersey Supreme Court extended the actual malice privilege to articles alleging conduct violating the consumer fraud statute.