Verdicts & Settlements Disclaimer: These verdicts and settlements are actual cases. More details are available from the firm. Each case is different. The facts, the law, the age of the injured person, the severity of the injury, the makeup of the jury, the rulings of the judge, are some of the factors that make each case different. The cases listed here are not a guarantee that if you have a similar claim, you will get a similar verdict or settlement. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
On December 10, 2015, five roofing construction workers fell from a collapsed ladder-jack scaffold which was more than 20 feet above an asphalt parking lot at the Brookdale Apartments in Hackensack, New Jersey.
In the first accident, our client sustained multiple fractures to her cervical vertebrae, and fractured ribs, toes, and sternum, when she was cut-off by a “phantom” vehicle, causing her to lose control and run off the highway.
On October 21, 2016, our client, a retired theatre teacher and volunteer director, exited the Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy located on MLK, Jr. Blvd in Elizabeth, after attending a school play.
On February 18, 2019, while still in her driveway, our client noticed an oil truck making a delivery to a home at the end of her street, backing toward its dead-end location.
Ana Rita Ferreira, Henry Cistrelli, and Amos Gern, were able recover a $500,000 policy-limit settlement for a 62-year old roofer who was hired by a roofing general contractor, for traumatic injuries sustained when he fell 10 feet from a residential property and landed on concrete steps and a railing below.
An Ocean County suit was settled by Amos Gern and Ana Rita Ferreira, just before trial, for $350,000 for the child and $150,000 for the mother, Toms River residents. During the delivery, the Ob-Gyn determined that the mother was “exhausted” from 45 minutes of labor, and that forceps assistance was needed to deliver the infant.
Ana Rita Ferreira and Amos Gern secured a $300,000 settlement for our 53-year old homemaker/ transcriptionist, who was rear-ended in a motor vehicle accident in Cedar Grove.
Our client sustained the following injuries:Right (dominant) shoulder torn rotator cuff and labrum, requiring surgery, resulting in adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with major depression and anxiety.
In this accident, our client sustained a concussion, and multiple spinal injuries.
Our client, a New Providence advertising executive, was rear-ended by a driver, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs, on Rt. 287 S. in Hanover Tsp.
Our client had extensive treatment for lower back herniated discs, severe neck herniations, related neurological injuries, and psychological issues.
Our 48-year old long-time bus driver required a left shoulder arthroscopy with rotator cuff repair, subacromial decompression, comprehensive bursectomy, acromioplasty and distal clavicle excision.
Our client started with chiropractic treatment, but was soon found to have more serious injuries.
Following emergency treatment at Overlook Hospital, our client received extensive chiropractic and physical therapy treatment.
The stairs, with broken spindles and a loose banister, at this rented property, had been the subject of repeated complaints by our client’s mother.
Our client had immediate chiropractic and physical therapy care, followed by positive MRI findings in the cervical and lumbar spines.
Due to the unusual configuration of the roadway in Jersey City, in which the tractor-trailer negligently turned left from a local roadway and collided with our client’s vehicle while Plaintiff was stopped just before the crosswalk, it became necessary to hire an accident reconstruction expert.
Our 63-year old client fell on clear ice in a commercial parking lot, on March 16, 2018, re-injuring a shoulder which had undergone major reconstruction, in a reverse total shoulder operation only one month before.
Our client was a passenger in a car driven by her mother, which crossed into the opposite lane of traffic, causing this accident.
Although testimony disputed the degree of impact, and the aftermath of the collision, plaintiff was able to establish full liability against the NJM insured car for his injuries.
Unfortunately, the vehicle which caused this accident was insured for only $15,000.
Our clients were installing a heavy HVAC condenser (250 lbs.) at a commercial building, which required that it be raised to a 10 foot high roof using a lift device, routinely rented from an equipment company.
The decedent, 49 at his death on October 17, 2017, was a computer programmer in its IT department.
We previously reported a $100,000 settlement with the commercial vehicle, and our efforts to seek further coverage from the client’s personal UIM/BI carrier Progressive.
Our client, an administrative assistant at a local hospital, was a passenger in a commercial vehicle who sustained an injury to her right shoulder which required surgical correction, specifically a right shoulder arthroscopy with superior labral anterior and posterior(SLAP) repair.
Starr Gern’s Workers Compensation and Personal Injury group resolved a complex litigation at a Mediation, for our client who fell from a deck that collapsed at a local condo complex.
Our client was injured when the operator of his rig crashed into another tractor-trailer.
Our firm secured an initial settlement of $15,000 from the negligent driver, who had a minimal policy with Nationwide Insurance.
Following the accident March 3, 2020, which caused significant damage to his car, our client sought immediate care with a chiropractor, who sent him for MRI studies of the neck and back.
Ana Rita Ferreira and Amos Gern achieved a $105,000 settlement on behalf of a Sussex County father who went to watch his son play a basketball game at a public middle school, and fell from the bleachers which were not properly extended.
John Brost and Amos Gern settled the claims of a married couple injured in a 2016 multi-vehicle accident on Route 287 North in Hanover Township for a total of $288,000, on the eve of April 19, 2021 trial.
Ana Rita Ferreira and Amos Gern settled a suit against a Family Dollar Store location in Clifton for a 46-year old dental hygienist, for $100,000.
Mayra Suazo-Aquino and Amos Gern settled an Essex County lawsuit for a retired 74-year old veterinary physician who was descending an interior stairway leading to a rear/side door exit in his leased home.
Ana Rita Ferreira settled a BI suit with undisputed liability, with two insurance companies, shortly before mandatory arbitration, and de bene esse depositions were scheduled for our elderly client, a clinical psychologist.
Ana Rita Ferreira and Amos Gern settled a claim in the sum of $250,000 with State Farm Insurance, for traumatic cardiac/neurological injuries sustained during a June 2020 car accident in Little Falls, NJ, resulting in permanent neurological injuries to a 50-year old woman.
Our client fell 30 feet from a collapsing scaffold sustaining a traumatic brain injury with complete left eye and partial right eye blindness.
Stewart J. Miller settled a consolidated lawsuit for our 43-year old nursing assistant client, for a combined sum of $110,000, for two accidents, June 2017 and October 2018, following court-mandated arbitration.
John Brost settled a personal injury claim arising from a rear-end motor vehicle accident for a 57-year old stay-at-home mother and her teenage daughter from Fairfield, NJ, for a combined total of $180,000.
Amos Gern and Ana Rita Ferreira recently settled a motor vehicle accident lawsuit in which a 68 year old pediatric dentist was struck from behind causing him to sustain neck and left hand injuries.
Amos Gern and Mayra Suazo-Aquino recently recovered $390,000 in a hotly-contested Morris County lawsuit, which we co-counseled with another colleague, for a 49 year-old former NJ State Trooper from Mountain Lakes.
Amos Gern and David Wendel recently settled a difficult medical malpractice case in Essex County for $200,000, for a 66-year old former North Arlington resident, now residing in Florida.
Amos Gern and David Wendel have settled a claim for an 11-year old Hunterdon County girl, who was struck while crossing a local county road in Lebanon Township.
Recent settlements and professional news in the first quarter of 2020, achieved by Starr Gern’s personal injury group
Starr, Gern partner Ronald L. Davison recently prevailed in a suit challenging a gift under a will to a “family foundation” which was never formed by the testator before he died. As a result the family of the decedent will share a substantially increased portion of the multi-million dollar estate. In the Matter of the Estate of Md. Belal Hussain, 2016 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS ----- (Ch. Div. 2016)
Partner Nicholas Stevens and Associate Lisa Besson Geraghty were awarded $550,000 for commissions and legal fees on behalf of a former investment banker with BB&T Securities after an arbitration hearing before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Starr, Gern partner Ronald L. Davison obtained a dismissal of a fraudulent transfer action against a real estate limited partnership and its managing member in Joemax Realty, Inc. v. Stonewall of Saddle River, LP, in the Law Division in Union County. The firm is representing the defendants in connection with the plaintiff’s pending appeal in the Appellate Division.
Chair of Starr Gern Tax Department Harvey R. Poe and Associate Jeffrey R. Pittard obtained Innocent Spouse Relief for client, fully relieving her of joint responsibility for over $3,000,000 in assessed taxes, penalties and interest.
Starr, Gern partners Ronald L. Davison and Stephen R. Urbinato achieved a settlement of lengthy and bitter litigations over control of a highly successful import and wholesale distribution business started by the siblings’ father as well as settlement of the estates of their parents, both of whom died during the litigation.
Following a trial in Federal District Court in Camden, Partner Ronald Davison successfully settled a complicated fraudulent transfer action against a national franchisor and a local franchisee.
Partners Stephen Urbinato and Ronald Davison settled a multi-million dollar estate litigation which had been pending in the Chancery Division in Essex County. Mr. Davison was serving as the court-appointed administrator of the estate, and Mr. Urbinato was counsel.
Chair of Starr Gern Tax Department Harvey R. Poe and Associate Jeffrey R. Pittard settled a United States Tax Court case, in which the Internal Revenue Service sought to assess approximately $35,600,000 in income tax and penalties, for less than $100,000.
Partners Amos Gern and John Ratkowitz successfully resolve case on behalf of 49 year old Lafayette, New Jersey woman injured while volunteering at Newton Memorial Hospital.
Partner Jonathan J. Lerner won dismissal of all claims brought by the Office of Attorney Ethics charging that the respondents engaged in fraudulent or dishonest conduct and that they failed to notify the grievant of receipt of funds from a third party. After a trial before the Passaic County District Ethics Committee, the complainant's appeal to the Disciplinary Review Board of the Supreme Court of New Jersey was dismissed in its entirety in January 2012.
Partner Nick Stevens defended and secured dismissal of an employment and non-competition law suit in Kansas State Court, brought against an international logistics and packaging systems manufacturing firm and its newly hired executive. The plaintiff alleged violations by its former employee of contractual confidentiality, non-competition, employee non-solicitation, and customer non-solicitation provisions, as well as aiding and abetting and tortious interference, seeking injunctive relief and damages in its home state.
Jeffrey A. Rizika settled a motor vehicle accident claim on behalf of a 46 year old Irvington, New Jersey mother of 6 who was injured in a motor vehicle accident in Tarrytown, NY when her vehicle was struck by a car that was exiting a driveway while she drove past. Her injuries required complex surgery consisting of an anterior cervical microdiscectomy at C6-7, partial corpectomies at C6 and C7 for spinal cord decompression, and a interbody fusion with plate and screw fixation.
Partner John Ratkowitz reached a 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.
Partner Jonathan Lerner won an $250,000 arbitration award on behalf of an insurance broker following a hearing before the American Arbitration Association. The claim involved a joint venture to sell insurance products. The arbitrator found that the respondent had committed fraud and conversion of joint venture assets.
Partner Jeffrey A. Rizika resolved a motor vehicle accident claim on behalf of a 32-year-old Irvington, New Jersey man injured in automobile accident who underwent multiple epidural steroid injections/nerve blocks in his neck and back and a one level Percutaneous Discectomy surgery on his neck. The case was settled for $25,000 with the other driver, which was his policy limit, pre suit, and for $75,000, which was the maximum amount available in underinsured motorist benefits from his insurance policy, for a total settlement of $100.000.
Partner Jonathan J. Lerner and associate Richard T. Welch won a claim to enforce a construction lien on behalf of a demolition company and defeated a substantial counterclaim for the cost of the disposal of allegedly hazardous materials for which the property owner sought in excess of $250,000. The matter was arbitrated before the AAA.
Nick Stevens and Larry Cole defended and secured a voluntary dismissal by the National Labor Relations Board, Region 29, of a labor charge against an association of New York private employers for alleged failure to pay increases in benefits contributions.
On April 26, 2011, Jeffrey A. Rizika and John Brost settled a motor vehicle accident claim on behalf of a 55-year-old widow from Pine Brook, New Jersey, who was injured in a motor vehicle accident in October 2006, which prevented her from returning to work as a part time L.P.N. The case was settled for $100,000, which was the maximum amount available from the drivers insurance policy, 3 weeks before trial.
Jeffrey A. Rizika settled a motor vehicle accident claim on behalf of a 46-year-old Avenel man who was injured when the vehicle he was driving was violently struck on his drivers side by a car that ran through a red light on Route 1 South in Woodbridge, New Jersey, who underwent one level Percutaneous Discectomy surgery on his neck.
On February 25, 2011, Partner Jeffrey A. Rizika settled a motor vehicle accident claim on behalf of a 21 year old college student from Rutherford who was injured when she was struck by a commercial box truck that was backing out of a parking spot. The student underwent a one level lumbar discectomy and annuloplasty surgery on her back. As a result of the injuries sustained in this accident, she missed a number of days from school, including a final examination. The case was settled for $100,000, which was the maximum amount available from the drivers insurance policy, on the eve of trial.
Partner Jeffrey A. Rizika successfully resolved a claim on behalf of a resident of Wayne, New Jersey requiring hand surgery after an automobile accident.
On February 3, 2010, Partner Jeffrey A. Rizika settled a claim on behalf of a woman who was a passenger in a vehicle that was struck by a car who ultimately required spinal surgery for 2 extruded herniated discs in her neck.
Partner Jeffrey A. Rizika successfully resolved a lawsuit on the eve of trial for a 49-year-old resident of Wayne, New Jersey, who was injured in a rear-end collision.
Jeffrey Rizika successfully resolved a claim on behalf of a 38-year-old man who sustained multiple fractures after being struck by an automobile while operating a bicycle.
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.
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.
After a two week trial in Newark, New Jersey, Partners John Ratkowitz and Amos Gern obtained $3.9 million dollars on behalf of two residents of Essex County, New Jersey, who were injured while working on a construction site.
Partners John Ratkowitz and Amos Gern successfully resolved at trial a case filed on behalf of a 14 year-old boy who injured his left elbow in a fall and then received negligent orthopedic surgery .
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 assignment of a shopping center lease to a shell entity which subsequently defaulted.
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.
Jeffrey A. Rizika successfully resolved a claim prior to filing suit for $290,000 on behalf of a 37-year-old Sussex County woman who underwent a posterior lumbar interbody fusion at the L5-S1 level of the spine. The case was settled after both parties agreed to submit the matter to Mediation before retired Judge Marguerite Simon.
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.
Attorneys Amos Gern and Jeffrey Grabelle resolved a claim for $300,000, on behalf of a resident of North Caldwell, New Jersey who underwent spinal surgery following an automobile accident.
Jeffrey Rizika and John Brost successfully resolved a claim for a total of $250,000 prior to trial on behalf of a 24 year-old woman who sustained various neck, back, wrist, jaw, and psychological injuries when she was involved in a motor vehicle accident. The claim was subject to the verbal threshold.
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.
Amos Gern, Jonathan Lerner, and John Brost successfully resolved a claim for a total of $195,000 on behalf of a 40 year-old woman who sustained a dislocated trimalleolar fracture of her left ankle which she sustained when she slipped and fell on ice outside of her apartment building.
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.
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.
Amos Gern and John Brost successfully resolved a claim for a total of $100,000 on behalf of a 66 year-old woman who sustained a massive tear of her rotator cuff when she was involved in a rear-end motor vehicle accident.
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.
Attorney Jeffrey A. Rizika resolved an automobile accident claim for the entire available $100,000 shortly after filing lawsuit.
Attorney Jeffrey Rizika was able to resolve a claim for the entire $100,000 insurance policy liability limits available to a resident of Lyndhurst, New Jersey, suffering multiple orthopedic injuries.
Attorney John Ratkowitz was able to resolve a medical malpractice litigation following discovery and prior to the exchange of expert reports on behalf of a resident of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, who was injured as a result of negligent spinal surgery.
Attorney Jeffrey E. Grabelle resolved a claim on behalf of a women suffering multiple orthopedic injuries for the full $100,000 insurance coverage available on the defendant's automobile insurance policy, and then secured an additional $105,000 settlement on the plaintiff's own Underinsured Motorist Coverage.
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.
Amos Gern and James Meszaros successfully resolved a claim, for a total of $187,500, on behalf of a 39 year-old woman who fractured an ankle and sustained an injury to her neck, when she was involved in a head-on collision.
Attorney Jeffrey E. Grabelle resolved a products liability case against the manufacturer of defective footwear after a broken heel led to an ankle fracture and lower back injuries.
Attorney Jeffrey E. Grabelle was able to resolve a claim on behalf of a an 86-year-old woman who suffered multiple injuries when she was struck by a car while crossing the street in a crosswalk for the defendant's entire insurance policy liability limits.
Attorney John Ratkowitz reached a confidential settlement on behalf of a 38-year-old Ocean County, New Jersey, resident who suffered a stroke resulting in a partial loss of vision while undergoing spinal surgery.
On September 24, 2008, The Honorable Mark Sullivan, Jr., approved the $1 million settlement of a medical malpractice case brought on behalf a seven-year-old Lakewood, New Jersey, girl suffering from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and spastic quadriparesis as a result of birth trauma. The case was litigated by Attorney John Ratkowitz. Mr. Ratkowitz was assisted by Amos Gern, Esq.
Attorney John Ratkowitz settled a claim on behalf of a Somerset, New Jersey, resident who sustained severe leg injuries in an automobile accident caused by a defendant who fell asleep at the wheel while driving.
Attorneys Amos Gern and James Meszaros successfully resolved an automobile accident claim, for $100,000, the entire available insurance policy limits on behalf of a 56-year-old paralegal who tore her right rotator cuff, and sustained injury to her neck.
John Ratkowitz, with the assistance of Amos Gern, obtained a reported Appellate Division decision which held that when an insurance company inappropriately denies a first party Uninsured Motorist claim, an aggrieved policy holder has a right to sue the carrier for bad faith for consequential losses, and under the right circumstances, punitive damages.
Attorney Jeffrey Grabelle was able to obtain an award of Permanent Total Disability Benefits on behalf of a Monmouth County, New Jersey worker who required spinal surgery.
On December 10, 2015, five roofing construction workers fell from a collapsed ladder-jack scaffold which was more than 20 feet above an asphalt parking lot at the Brookdale Apartments in Hackensack, New Jersey.
In the first accident, our client sustained multiple fractures to her cervical vertebrae, and fractured ribs, toes, and sternum, when she was cut-off by a “phantom” vehicle, causing her to lose control and run off the highway.
On October 21, 2016, our client, a retired theatre teacher and volunteer director, exited the Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy located on MLK, Jr. Blvd in Elizabeth, after attending a school play.
On February 18, 2019, while still in her driveway, our client noticed an oil truck making a delivery to a home at the end of her street, backing toward its dead-end location.
Ana Rita Ferreira, Henry Cistrelli, and Amos Gern, were able recover a $500,000 policy-limit settlement for a 62-year old roofer who was hired by a roofing general contractor, for traumatic injuries sustained when he fell 10 feet from a residential property and landed on concrete steps and a railing below.
An Ocean County suit was settled by Amos Gern and Ana Rita Ferreira, just before trial, for $350,000 for the child and $150,000 for the mother, Toms River residents. During the delivery, the Ob-Gyn determined that the mother was “exhausted” from 45 minutes of labor, and that forceps assistance was needed to deliver the infant.
Ana Rita Ferreira and Amos Gern secured a $300,000 settlement for our 53-year old homemaker/ transcriptionist, who was rear-ended in a motor vehicle accident in Cedar Grove.
Our client sustained the following injuries:Right (dominant) shoulder torn rotator cuff and labrum, requiring surgery, resulting in adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with major depression and anxiety.
In this accident, our client sustained a concussion, and multiple spinal injuries.
Our client, a New Providence advertising executive, was rear-ended by a driver, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs, on Rt. 287 S. in Hanover Tsp.
Our client had extensive treatment for lower back herniated discs, severe neck herniations, related neurological injuries, and psychological issues.
Our 48-year old long-time bus driver required a left shoulder arthroscopy with rotator cuff repair, subacromial decompression, comprehensive bursectomy, acromioplasty and distal clavicle excision.
Our client started with chiropractic treatment, but was soon found to have more serious injuries.
Following emergency treatment at Overlook Hospital, our client received extensive chiropractic and physical therapy treatment.
The stairs, with broken spindles and a loose banister, at this rented property, had been the subject of repeated complaints by our client’s mother.
Our client had immediate chiropractic and physical therapy care, followed by positive MRI findings in the cervical and lumbar spines.
Due to the unusual configuration of the roadway in Jersey City, in which the tractor-trailer negligently turned left from a local roadway and collided with our client’s vehicle while Plaintiff was stopped just before the crosswalk, it became necessary to hire an accident reconstruction expert.
Our 63-year old client fell on clear ice in a commercial parking lot, on March 16, 2018, re-injuring a shoulder which had undergone major reconstruction, in a reverse total shoulder operation only one month before.
Our client was a passenger in a car driven by her mother, which crossed into the opposite lane of traffic, causing this accident.
Although testimony disputed the degree of impact, and the aftermath of the collision, plaintiff was able to establish full liability against the NJM insured car for his injuries.
Unfortunately, the vehicle which caused this accident was insured for only $15,000.
Our clients were installing a heavy HVAC condenser (250 lbs.) at a commercial building, which required that it be raised to a 10 foot high roof using a lift device, routinely rented from an equipment company.
The decedent, 49 at his death on October 17, 2017, was a computer programmer in its IT department.
We previously reported a $100,000 settlement with the commercial vehicle, and our efforts to seek further coverage from the client’s personal UIM/BI carrier Progressive.
Our client, an administrative assistant at a local hospital, was a passenger in a commercial vehicle who sustained an injury to her right shoulder which required surgical correction, specifically a right shoulder arthroscopy with superior labral anterior and posterior(SLAP) repair.
Starr Gern’s Workers Compensation and Personal Injury group resolved a complex litigation at a Mediation, for our client who fell from a deck that collapsed at a local condo complex.
Our client was injured when the operator of his rig crashed into another tractor-trailer.
Our firm secured an initial settlement of $15,000 from the negligent driver, who had a minimal policy with Nationwide Insurance.
Following the accident March 3, 2020, which caused significant damage to his car, our client sought immediate care with a chiropractor, who sent him for MRI studies of the neck and back.
Ana Rita Ferreira and Amos Gern achieved a $105,000 settlement on behalf of a Sussex County father who went to watch his son play a basketball game at a public middle school, and fell from the bleachers which were not properly extended.
John Brost and Amos Gern settled the claims of a married couple injured in a 2016 multi-vehicle accident on Route 287 North in Hanover Township for a total of $288,000, on the eve of April 19, 2021 trial.
Ana Rita Ferreira and Amos Gern settled a suit against a Family Dollar Store location in Clifton for a 46-year old dental hygienist, for $100,000.
Mayra Suazo-Aquino and Amos Gern settled an Essex County lawsuit for a retired 74-year old veterinary physician who was descending an interior stairway leading to a rear/side door exit in his leased home.
Ana Rita Ferreira settled a BI suit with undisputed liability, with two insurance companies, shortly before mandatory arbitration, and de bene esse depositions were scheduled for our elderly client, a clinical psychologist.
Ana Rita Ferreira and Amos Gern settled a claim in the sum of $250,000 with State Farm Insurance, for traumatic cardiac/neurological injuries sustained during a June 2020 car accident in Little Falls, NJ, resulting in permanent neurological injuries to a 50-year old woman.
Our client fell 30 feet from a collapsing scaffold sustaining a traumatic brain injury with complete left eye and partial right eye blindness.
Stewart J. Miller settled a consolidated lawsuit for our 43-year old nursing assistant client, for a combined sum of $110,000, for two accidents, June 2017 and October 2018, following court-mandated arbitration.
John Brost settled a personal injury claim arising from a rear-end motor vehicle accident for a 57-year old stay-at-home mother and her teenage daughter from Fairfield, NJ, for a combined total of $180,000.
Amos Gern and Ana Rita Ferreira recently settled a motor vehicle accident lawsuit in which a 68 year old pediatric dentist was struck from behind causing him to sustain neck and left hand injuries.
Amos Gern and Mayra Suazo-Aquino recently recovered $390,000 in a hotly-contested Morris County lawsuit, which we co-counseled with another colleague, for a 49 year-old former NJ State Trooper from Mountain Lakes.
Amos Gern and David Wendel recently settled a difficult medical malpractice case in Essex County for $200,000, for a 66-year old former North Arlington resident, now residing in Florida.
Amos Gern and David Wendel have settled a claim for an 11-year old Hunterdon County girl, who was struck while crossing a local county road in Lebanon Township.
Recent settlements and professional news in the first quarter of 2020, achieved by Starr Gern’s personal injury group
Starr, Gern partner Ronald L. Davison recently prevailed in a suit challenging a gift under a will to a “family foundation” which was never formed by the testator before he died. As a result the family of the decedent will share a substantially increased portion of the multi-million dollar estate. In the Matter of the Estate of Md. Belal Hussain, 2016 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS ----- (Ch. Div. 2016)
Partner Nicholas Stevens and Associate Lisa Besson Geraghty were awarded $550,000 for commissions and legal fees on behalf of a former investment banker with BB&T Securities after an arbitration hearing before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Starr, Gern partner Ronald L. Davison obtained a dismissal of a fraudulent transfer action against a real estate limited partnership and its managing member in Joemax Realty, Inc. v. Stonewall of Saddle River, LP, in the Law Division in Union County. The firm is representing the defendants in connection with the plaintiff’s pending appeal in the Appellate Division.
Chair of Starr Gern Tax Department Harvey R. Poe and Associate Jeffrey R. Pittard obtained Innocent Spouse Relief for client, fully relieving her of joint responsibility for over $3,000,000 in assessed taxes, penalties and interest.
Starr, Gern partners Ronald L. Davison and Stephen R. Urbinato achieved a settlement of lengthy and bitter litigations over control of a highly successful import and wholesale distribution business started by the siblings’ father as well as settlement of the estates of their parents, both of whom died during the litigation.
Following a trial in Federal District Court in Camden, Partner Ronald Davison successfully settled a complicated fraudulent transfer action against a national franchisor and a local franchisee.
Partners Stephen Urbinato and Ronald Davison settled a multi-million dollar estate litigation which had been pending in the Chancery Division in Essex County. Mr. Davison was serving as the court-appointed administrator of the estate, and Mr. Urbinato was counsel.
Chair of Starr Gern Tax Department Harvey R. Poe and Associate Jeffrey R. Pittard settled a United States Tax Court case, in which the Internal Revenue Service sought to assess approximately $35,600,000 in income tax and penalties, for less than $100,000.
Partners Amos Gern and John Ratkowitz successfully resolve case on behalf of 49 year old Lafayette, New Jersey woman injured while volunteering at Newton Memorial Hospital.
Partner Jonathan J. Lerner won dismissal of all claims brought by the Office of Attorney Ethics charging that the respondents engaged in fraudulent or dishonest conduct and that they failed to notify the grievant of receipt of funds from a third party. After a trial before the Passaic County District Ethics Committee, the complainant's appeal to the Disciplinary Review Board of the Supreme Court of New Jersey was dismissed in its entirety in January 2012.
Partner Nick Stevens defended and secured dismissal of an employment and non-competition law suit in Kansas State Court, brought against an international logistics and packaging systems manufacturing firm and its newly hired executive. The plaintiff alleged violations by its former employee of contractual confidentiality, non-competition, employee non-solicitation, and customer non-solicitation provisions, as well as aiding and abetting and tortious interference, seeking injunctive relief and damages in its home state.
Jeffrey A. Rizika settled a motor vehicle accident claim on behalf of a 46 year old Irvington, New Jersey mother of 6 who was injured in a motor vehicle accident in Tarrytown, NY when her vehicle was struck by a car that was exiting a driveway while she drove past. Her injuries required complex surgery consisting of an anterior cervical microdiscectomy at C6-7, partial corpectomies at C6 and C7 for spinal cord decompression, and a interbody fusion with plate and screw fixation.
Partner John Ratkowitz reached a 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.
Partner Jonathan Lerner won an $250,000 arbitration award on behalf of an insurance broker following a hearing before the American Arbitration Association. The claim involved a joint venture to sell insurance products. The arbitrator found that the respondent had committed fraud and conversion of joint venture assets.
Partner Jeffrey A. Rizika resolved a motor vehicle accident claim on behalf of a 32-year-old Irvington, New Jersey man injured in automobile accident who underwent multiple epidural steroid injections/nerve blocks in his neck and back and a one level Percutaneous Discectomy surgery on his neck. The case was settled for $25,000 with the other driver, which was his policy limit, pre suit, and for $75,000, which was the maximum amount available in underinsured motorist benefits from his insurance policy, for a total settlement of $100.000.
Partner Jonathan J. Lerner and associate Richard T. Welch won a claim to enforce a construction lien on behalf of a demolition company and defeated a substantial counterclaim for the cost of the disposal of allegedly hazardous materials for which the property owner sought in excess of $250,000. The matter was arbitrated before the AAA.
Nick Stevens and Larry Cole defended and secured a voluntary dismissal by the National Labor Relations Board, Region 29, of a labor charge against an association of New York private employers for alleged failure to pay increases in benefits contributions.
On April 26, 2011, Jeffrey A. Rizika and John Brost settled a motor vehicle accident claim on behalf of a 55-year-old widow from Pine Brook, New Jersey, who was injured in a motor vehicle accident in October 2006, which prevented her from returning to work as a part time L.P.N. The case was settled for $100,000, which was the maximum amount available from the drivers insurance policy, 3 weeks before trial.
Jeffrey A. Rizika settled a motor vehicle accident claim on behalf of a 46-year-old Avenel man who was injured when the vehicle he was driving was violently struck on his drivers side by a car that ran through a red light on Route 1 South in Woodbridge, New Jersey, who underwent one level Percutaneous Discectomy surgery on his neck.
On February 25, 2011, Partner Jeffrey A. Rizika settled a motor vehicle accident claim on behalf of a 21 year old college student from Rutherford who was injured when she was struck by a commercial box truck that was backing out of a parking spot. The student underwent a one level lumbar discectomy and annuloplasty surgery on her back. As a result of the injuries sustained in this accident, she missed a number of days from school, including a final examination. The case was settled for $100,000, which was the maximum amount available from the drivers insurance policy, on the eve of trial.
Partner Jeffrey A. Rizika successfully resolved a claim on behalf of a resident of Wayne, New Jersey requiring hand surgery after an automobile accident.
On February 3, 2010, Partner Jeffrey A. Rizika settled a claim on behalf of a woman who was a passenger in a vehicle that was struck by a car who ultimately required spinal surgery for 2 extruded herniated discs in her neck.
Partner Jeffrey A. Rizika successfully resolved a lawsuit on the eve of trial for a 49-year-old resident of Wayne, New Jersey, who was injured in a rear-end collision.
Jeffrey Rizika successfully resolved a claim on behalf of a 38-year-old man who sustained multiple fractures after being struck by an automobile while operating a bicycle.
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.
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.
After a two week trial in Newark, New Jersey, Partners John Ratkowitz and Amos Gern obtained $3.9 million dollars on behalf of two residents of Essex County, New Jersey, who were injured while working on a construction site.
Partners John Ratkowitz and Amos Gern successfully resolved at trial a case filed on behalf of a 14 year-old boy who injured his left elbow in a fall and then received negligent orthopedic surgery .
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 assignment of a shopping center lease to a shell entity which subsequently defaulted.
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.
Jeffrey A. Rizika successfully resolved a claim prior to filing suit for $290,000 on behalf of a 37-year-old Sussex County woman who underwent a posterior lumbar interbody fusion at the L5-S1 level of the spine. The case was settled after both parties agreed to submit the matter to Mediation before retired Judge Marguerite Simon.
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.
Attorneys Amos Gern and Jeffrey Grabelle resolved a claim for $300,000, on behalf of a resident of North Caldwell, New Jersey who underwent spinal surgery following an automobile accident.
Jeffrey Rizika and John Brost successfully resolved a claim for a total of $250,000 prior to trial on behalf of a 24 year-old woman who sustained various neck, back, wrist, jaw, and psychological injuries when she was involved in a motor vehicle accident. The claim was subject to the verbal threshold.
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.
Amos Gern, Jonathan Lerner, and John Brost successfully resolved a claim for a total of $195,000 on behalf of a 40 year-old woman who sustained a dislocated trimalleolar fracture of her left ankle which she sustained when she slipped and fell on ice outside of her apartment building.
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.
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.
Amos Gern and John Brost successfully resolved a claim for a total of $100,000 on behalf of a 66 year-old woman who sustained a massive tear of her rotator cuff when she was involved in a rear-end motor vehicle accident.
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.
Attorney Jeffrey A. Rizika resolved an automobile accident claim for the entire available $100,000 shortly after filing lawsuit.
Attorney Jeffrey Rizika was able to resolve a claim for the entire $100,000 insurance policy liability limits available to a resident of Lyndhurst, New Jersey, suffering multiple orthopedic injuries.
Attorney John Ratkowitz was able to resolve a medical malpractice litigation following discovery and prior to the exchange of expert reports on behalf of a resident of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, who was injured as a result of negligent spinal surgery.
Attorney Jeffrey E. Grabelle resolved a claim on behalf of a women suffering multiple orthopedic injuries for the full $100,000 insurance coverage available on the defendant's automobile insurance policy, and then secured an additional $105,000 settlement on the plaintiff's own Underinsured Motorist Coverage.
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.
Amos Gern and James Meszaros successfully resolved a claim, for a total of $187,500, on behalf of a 39 year-old woman who fractured an ankle and sustained an injury to her neck, when she was involved in a head-on collision.
Attorney Jeffrey E. Grabelle resolved a products liability case against the manufacturer of defective footwear after a broken heel led to an ankle fracture and lower back injuries.
Attorney Jeffrey E. Grabelle was able to resolve a claim on behalf of a an 86-year-old woman who suffered multiple injuries when she was struck by a car while crossing the street in a crosswalk for the defendant's entire insurance policy liability limits.
Attorney John Ratkowitz reached a confidential settlement on behalf of a 38-year-old Ocean County, New Jersey, resident who suffered a stroke resulting in a partial loss of vision while undergoing spinal surgery.
On September 24, 2008, The Honorable Mark Sullivan, Jr., approved the $1 million settlement of a medical malpractice case brought on behalf a seven-year-old Lakewood, New Jersey, girl suffering from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and spastic quadriparesis as a result of birth trauma. The case was litigated by Attorney John Ratkowitz. Mr. Ratkowitz was assisted by Amos Gern, Esq.
Attorney John Ratkowitz settled a claim on behalf of a Somerset, New Jersey, resident who sustained severe leg injuries in an automobile accident caused by a defendant who fell asleep at the wheel while driving.
Attorneys Amos Gern and James Meszaros successfully resolved an automobile accident claim, for $100,000, the entire available insurance policy limits on behalf of a 56-year-old paralegal who tore her right rotator cuff, and sustained injury to her neck.
John Ratkowitz, with the assistance of Amos Gern, obtained a reported Appellate Division decision which held that when an insurance company inappropriately denies a first party Uninsured Motorist claim, an aggrieved policy holder has a right to sue the carrier for bad faith for consequential losses, and under the right circumstances, punitive damages.
Attorney Jeffrey Grabelle was able to obtain an award of Permanent Total Disability Benefits on behalf of a Monmouth County, New Jersey worker who required spinal surgery.
