John J. Ratkowitz
Partner
I am a Trial Lawyer focusing on medical malpractice and complex tort litigation. I have repeatedly been selected as a Super Lawyer in the area of medical malpractice litigation. I am a Lifetime Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. I am on the Editorial Board of Medical Malpractice Law and Strategy and I publish extensively in the areas of medical malpractice, complex tort litigation and patient safety. Types of cases I have litigated include:
- Confidential settlement while on trial on behalf of a 28-year-old man who suffered peroneal nerve damage due to swelling inside a cast following knee surgery.
- $3.9 million dollar settlement at trial on behalf of two ironworkers injured when they were thrown to railroad tracks after general contractor failed to follow its own safety procedures. (November 2009).
- Confidential medical malpractice settlement at trial in case filed on behalf of 14 year-old resident of Livingston, New Jersey who received negligent orthopedic surgery of the left elbow. (October 2009).
- Confidential medical malpractice settlement on behalf Cedar Grove, New Jersey, resident injured by negligent spinal surgery. (February 2009).
- Confidential medical malpractice settlement on behalf of stroke victim who lost vision as a result of drop of blood pressure during spinal surgery. (September 2008).
- $1 million medical malpractice settlement on behalf of infant suffering traumatic birth injury as a result of inadequate response to ominous fetal monitoring strips. (September 2008).
- $300,000 settlement on behalf of 20-Year-Old Somerset, New Jersey, resident injured in an automobile accident. (September 2008).
- $375,000 settlement during trial on behalf of a 17-year-old girl sexually assaulted at high school. (June 2008).
- Confidential medical malpractice settlement during trial on behalf of resident of Monroe Township, New Jersey whose doctor negligently failed to diagnose bacterial endocarditis. (February 2008).
- $850,000 settlement on behalf of Sayreville, New Jersey, resident requiring spinal surgery following automobile accident. (December 2007).
- $2.6 million jury verdict on behalf of resident of West Caldwell, New Jersey, man requiring lumbar disc surgery following automobile accident. (January 2007).
- Confidential medical malpractice settlement on behalf of estate of pediatrician who died following negligent failure to diagnose breast cancer (Co-counsel to Amos Gern) (August 2005).
- $210,000 settlement on behalf of Monmouth County, New Jersey woman sustaining trimalleolar fracture of the left ankle. (April 2005).
- Confidential medical malpractice settlement on behalf of a New Providence, New Jersey resident who lost vision following heart surgery. (Co-counsel to Amos Gern) (April 2005).
- $145,000 medical malpractice settlement on behalf of a Jersey City, New Jersey woman who underwent negligent cosmetic surgery. (December 2008).
- $600,000 medical malpractice settlement following two days of trial on behalf of resident of New Egypt, New Jersey who suffered vision loss following negligent retinal surgery. (Co-counsel to Amos Gern)(June 2003).
- $675,000 settlement on behalf of ironworker suffering multiple spinal fractures. (Co-counsel to Amos Gern) (October 2001).
- $1.2 million medical malpractice verdict following negligent stenting procedure. (Co-counsel to Amos Gern) (June 2001).
- $450,000 settlement for New York resident requiring spinal surgery following automobile accident. (June 2001).
- $486,348.95 settlement for Oxford Township, New Jersey man requiring spinal surgery following automobile accident. (March 2001).
- $20.5 million dollar medical malpractice verdict for patient blinded in one eye following negligent retinal surgery. (Co-counsel to Amos Gern) (March 2000).
- September 1994 through September 1995. Law Clerk, Superior Court of New Jersey, Hudson County.
Areas of Practice
- Trials
- Medical Malpractice
- Complex Torts
- Personal Injury/Negligence
- Construction Accident Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey, 1996
- U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1996
Education
- Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey
- J.D. - 1995
- Honors: Inns of Court
- Rutgers College
- B.A. - 1992
Published Works
- "To Err is Human, But This is Something Else,", Medical Malpractice Law & Strategy, January 2011, Vol. 28, No. 4., January , 2011
- "The Relevance of ‘Never Events’ in Medical Malpractice Litigation.", Medical Malpractice Law & Strategy, Vol. 27, No. 12, August , 2010
- "The Consequences of Truth: Compulsory Medical Error Reporting in New Jersey,", Medical Malpractice Law and Strategy, Volume 26, Number 9, 2009
- "Winning the Morality Play in the Battle of the Experts,", Medical Malpractice Law & Strategy, Vol. 27, No. 6, 2010
- "Medical Malpractice: Winning the Expert Shell Game - When is an Adverse Inference Charge Proper?", 185 N.J.L.J. 1057, 2006
- "Medical Malpractice: Making The Most of Pre-Trial Discovery,", 181 New Jersey Law Journal, 524, 2005
- "Discovery in Medical Malpractice Cases: A Critical Analysis of the Self-Critical Analysis Approach," (Amos Gern), 156 New Jersey Law Journal, 169, 236, 1999
- "Bogged Down by Botta?," , 11 New Jersey Lawyer 227 (2002), 2002
Classes/Seminars
- "Proving Damages: Successful Strategies from Winning Cases.", New Jersey Association of Justice - Four Concurrent Seminars, Edison, New Jersey, 2010
- "Deposition Preparation and Winning Cases in Discovery,", New Jersey Association for Justice Annual Convention, April 23, 2009
- "Bogged Down by Botta?," (Amos Gern), 11 New Jersey Lawyer 227, 2002
- Presenter, "Treating the HIV Positive Patient in New Jersey: An Analysis of the Physician's Duty of Confidentiality, Liability for Failure to Warn, and the Requirement to Provide Medical Care," (Amos Gern), University of Medicine and Dentistry/The New Jersey Medical School
Honors and Awards
- New Jersey Super Lawyers, January 1, 2010 - January 1, 2012
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Lifetime Membership, January 1, 2010 - Present
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Lifetime Membership, January 1, 2010 - Present
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Essex County Bar Association, Member
- New Jersey State Bar Association, Member
- American Association of Justice, 1996 - Present
- New Jersey State Bar Association, Medical Malpractice Subcommittee, 2002 - Present
Past Employment Positions
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Hudson County, Law Clerk, 1994 - 1995
Ancillary Businesses
- Board of Directors, Arts Unbound. 542/544 Freeman Street, Orange, NJ 07050. Arts Unbound is a non-profit organization dedicated to the artistic achievement of youth, adults and senior citizens with disabilities. They provide professional classes in the visual arts and exhibitions in their gallery and throughout the state of NJ.
- Board of Editors, Medical Malpractice Law and Strategy. 1617 JFK Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19103. Medical Malpractice Law and Strategy is a monthly periodical which publishes scholarly articles and keeps lawyers and physicians current on judicial, legislative and medical developments that can impact the area of medical malpractice.
