StarrGern.com: Legal News

Nine from Starr Gern Recognized as Top Lawyers by Peers

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Starr, Gern partners Ira M. Starr, Amos Gern, Ronald L. Davison, Jonathan J. Lerner, Nicholas Stevens, Jeffrey A. Rizika and John J. Ratkowitz were all selected as Super Lawyers by their peers in New Jersey, as reported by New Jersey Monthly Magazine. Additionally, associate James A. Meszaros was named a Rising Star. Ira Starr and partner Edwin S. Rubin were also designated as AV-Preeminent by Lexis Martindale Hubbell.

Starr Gern Expands Taxation and Estate Planning Practice

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Starr Gern adds three attorneys, Harvey R. Poe, Amy M. Van Fossen and Jeffrey R. Pittard, specializing in Federal and State Taxation, Criminal and Civil Tax Litigation, Estate Planning and Business Counseling.

Starr Gern Lawyers Conduct NJAPM Advanced Mediation Training Seminar

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Partner Nick Stevens organized and moderated the Annual Advanced Mediation Training Course for the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators (NJAPM), of which he is a Board Member. Partner Jonathan J. Lerner presented a lecture entitled Case Management: Overcoming Resistance in Court Ordered Mediation.

Former Superior Court Judge Donald S. Goldman Joins Starr Gern

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Former Judge of the Superior Court, Donald S. Goldman, has joined the SGDR Alternative Dispute Resolution practice group as an arbitrator and mediator. Judge Goldman will also provide the firm with legal counsel in complex litigation matters.

Complex Torts Group Has Major Successes

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Amos Gern and John Ratkowitz obtained $3.9 Million for two steelworkers injured in a construction site accident, after a two-week trial. They recently obtained over $1.4 Million in an orthopedic malpractice case resolved after jury selection. Both cases were tried in Essex County Superior Court.

Commercial Litigation Group Resolves Major Lanham Act, RICO and Unfair Competition Case in Federal Court

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Ronald L. Davison and Barbara Drasheff recently settled a significant lawsuit on behalf of a distributor of electronic devices claiming that a competitor had been selling products with counterfeit Underwriters Laboratories labels and which were non-compliant with UL standards.

Starr Gern Successfully Resolves Litigation Over Ownership of $9 Million Morristown Apartment Complex

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Stephen R. Urbinato and Jonathan J. Lerner successfully resolved an ownership dispute involving a 75 unit apartment complex located in Morristown, New Jersey via suit for specific performance in Morris County Superior Court.

Starr Gern Litigation Group Undertakes Federal Fraud Case Against Nationwide Franchisor

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Ronald L. Davison and Richard T. Welch brought suit in federal court against a nationwide franchisor claiming that it fraudulently induced a commercial landlord to approve the assginment of a shopping center lease to a shell entity which subsequently defaulted.

Stephen Urbinato Presents Seminar on the Organization and Sale of Business

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Stephen Urbinato recently presented a seminar entitled Organization and Sale of Business at Seton Hall University School of Law on behalf of the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education.

Estate Wins Significant Recovery in Conversion Case

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Jonathan J. Lerner and Edwin S. Rubin obtained recovery of approximately $350,000 worth of United Parcel Service stock claimed by the Estate of a deceased Bayonne man to have been converted by his son. The case settled during a trial before Maurice J. Gallipoli, J.S.C. Assignment Judge, Hudson County Superior Court.

Ronald L. Davison Serves as Volunteer Mediator of Estate Litigation Cases

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Appointed by the Probate Part of the Chancery Division, Ronald L. Davison has been serving on a pro bono basis as a mediator of contested will and estate litigation matters.

Successful Mediation of 7-Party Construction Dispute

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Court-appointed mediator Jonathan J. Lerner brought to an amicable resolution the litigation of a multi-party dispute involving new home construction in a Monmouth County development.

Lingerie Manufacturer Wins Dismissal in Non-Conforming Goods Case

Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Barbara Drasheff won a dismissal on behalf of a New Jersey lingerie manufacturer and designer against a claim for non-payment of goods by successfully raising a defense of accord and satisfaction during a trial before Barbara A. Curran, J.S.C. in Hudson County Superior Court.

Litigation Group Wins Dismissal after Trial for Commercial Property Owner

Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

NJ Lawyers Richard T. Welch and Nicholas Stevens obtained a dismissal after trial of a claim for specific performance in United States District Court before Katharine S. Hayden, USDJ.

Stephen Urbinato Elected to Board of Trustees of Transactional Inn of Court

Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Stephen Urbinato was recently elected to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Transactional Inn of Court of Morris and Essex. The Transactional Inn is an organization dedicated to teaching and mentoring attorneys in the area of business transactions.

To Deflect Discrimination and Harassment Claims Businesses Must Effectively Deal With Employee Complaints

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

When dealing with claims of discrimination or harassment, businesses must implement policies and procedures which educate employees, obtain critical information and take decisive action.

Nicholas Stevens Elected Vice Chair of the Community Health Law Project

Sun, 03 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Nicholas Stevens was recently elected Vice Chairperson of the Community Health Law Project, which provides legal and advocacy services, training, education, and related activities to persons with disabilities and to organizations representing their interests, with an emphasis on those most vulnerable and needy.

Pursuing a Claim Against a Stock Broker

Sat, 02 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Ira Starr, Chair of Starr Gern's Securities Litigation Department, discusses how potential claims against stock brokers are evaluated and handled by the firm.

Ronald L. Davison Settles Protracted Suit against Contractors, Building Facility Managers and Others

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Ronald L. Davison successfully settled a protracted, multi-party litigation in which the plaintiff corporation claimed a far-reaching conspiracy involving its facilities manager and various contractors and other employees to award contracts to contractors in return for kick-backs and overpayments to employees.

Seven from Starr Gern Recognized as Top Lawyers by Peers

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Ira M. Starr, Amos Gern, Ronald L. Davison, Nicholas Stevens, and Jeffrey A. Rizika were all selected as Super Lawyers by their peers in New Jersey. Additionally, associates Kellianne E. Greenwood and James A. Meszaros were named Rising Stars. Finally, Ira Starr was also honored as a selection in New York Magazine's "Best Lawyers" edition.

John Ratkowitz Appointed to the Board of Directors of Arts Unbound

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

On January 8, 2009 attorney John Ratkowitz was appointed to the Board of Directors of Arts Unbound, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the artistic achievement of youth, adults and senior citizens with disabilities.

The Strange Defense of Reverse Engineerability in Trade Secrets Cases, and Gaps in the Law of Unfair Competition

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Written by Jonathan J. Lerner, Nicholas Stevens, and Richard T. Welch. This article was initially published in the New Jersey Lawyer, February 2008.

Major Corporate Restructuring

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Ira M. Starr recently completed the restructuring and succession planning for three corporate clients in the manufacturing, distribution and food service industries with annual sales of $40 Million.

Oil Distributor Victorious in Shareholder Dispute

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Jonathan J. Lerner recently obtained a judgment on behalf of a Union, New Jersey oil distributor in a shareholder dispute. The Essex County Superior Court awarded significant monetary compensation and ordered the transfer of stock to the oppressed minority shareholder.

Truck Brokerage Case Results in Significant Settlement

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Edwin S. Rubin successfully negotiated a settlement for a client in the truck brokerage business during the course of a significant litigation under the Carmack Amendment, 49 U.S.C. 1470, involving perishable food product destroyed in a tractor-trailer accident.

Environmental Consulting Firm Achieves Substantial Victory in Public Bidding Dispute

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The Starr, Gern, Davison & Rubin commercial litigation department achieved a substantial settlement in a public contract bidding dispute and unfair competition case involving major environmental consulting firms.

Planning for the Generational Succession

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Nearly half of all family businesses are sold or liquidated after the retirement or death of their founders. Published in New Jersey Lawyer Magazine, June 2006.

Stephen Urbinato Elected to Board of Directors of Business Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Stephen Urbinato has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Business Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He has also served as the Chairman of the Section’s Family and Small Business Committee since 2004.

Settlement of Class Action case against Telecommunications Company

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Ronald L. Davison and John Ratkowitz settled a significant class action case brought against a New Jersey telecommunications provider in New Jersey Superior Court, Union County.

Successful Defense of Breach of Contract and Fraud Action Arising out of Aborted Business Sale

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Ronald L. Davison and John Ratkowitz won a no-cause verdict in State Superior Court of a multi-million dollar suit claiming breach of contract and fraud arising out of an aborted sale of a business.

Ronald L. Davison Completes Service as Local School Board President

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Ronald L. Davison recently completed 14 years of service as a member of the West Essex Regional Schools Board of Education, including several years as president.

Starr Gern Wins Oppressed Minority Shareholder Claim against Major Service Provider to the Pharmaceutical Industry

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Ronald L. Davison successfully represented a major service provider to the pharmaceutical industry in the defense of an oppressed minority shareholder claim. The case was settled with the company purchasing the shares of the disgruntled minority shareholder and former president of the company.