We help many New Jersey residents with legal advice and support for some very complex, unusual and difficult cases. The following lists examples of just some of the recoveries recently obtained on our clients' behalf:

Personal Injury & Accident

• Nancy Arnwine, the plaintiff and driver of a Verizon van, suffered fractures of both femurs and several of her ribs were broken when a tri-axle dump truck crossed the center line. She was out of work for ten months, after which she was able to return to her job as a Verizon technician.

  The accident occurred because the defendant, Richard R. Snyder, lost control of the dump truck he was driving when it was cut off by another vehicle that fled the scene. Ms. Arnwine settled all of her claims for a total of $650,000, $550,000 of which came from Mr. Snyder. 

• A 47 year old man received $95,000 in a settlement to compensate him for a serious fracture to his right wrist suffered in an auto accident. Although the fracture required surgery, the man made a good recovery from his injury. Settlement was reached in only two years, which is a fairly speedy settlement in the context of litigation for personal injury.

• A passenger in a SUV suffered a broken neck and other injuries when the vehicle rolled over because of the negligence of the driver and because of the failure of a tire on the SUV. The passenger was rendered a quadriplegic as a result of the accident, was hospitalized for a period of time and later died as a result of his injuries. His estate settled with the driver and tire manufacturer for $2 million.

• A 49 year old sheet metal worker suffered a construction accident on a work site in Plainsboro, NJ while lifting a 200 pound piece of duct work. The accident and injury was caused by the combined negligence of the general contractor and various subcontractors who failed to ensure a safe work place. Our client suffered neck and shoulder injuries and lost wages as a result of the construction accident. The case settled before trial at mediation for $175,000.00. The plaintiff was represented by partner attorney Tom Smith, who concentrates his practice in the area of accident and injury law. He can be reached at tsmith@pralaw.com
   
• Attorney Edward Slaughter, Jr., who specializes in accident and injury cases, recently settled a case on behalf of the widow of Celestino Marshall who was killed in a one-vehicle tractor-trailer accident that occurred on the George Washington Bridge for $1.3 million.

  Mr. Marshall was driving a tractor-trailer that ran into an open manhole, struck a sidewall and burst into flames.  Mr. Marshall was killed as a result of a fire that consumed the cab.  The suit alleged that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had failed to maintain the manhole cover properly and that as a result, it became dislodged.  It was also alleged that the tractor was not crashworthy and that its design defects caused it to burn and prevented Mr. Marshall from escaping from the cab.

  Among other experts, Mr. Slaughter retained the services of a nationally known metallurgist to explain how years of wear had made the cover vulnerable to coming loose and that welds that had been applied to hold it in place failed.

• A 37 year-old construction worker suffered an accident on a work site in East Amwell, NJ when the floor upon which his ladder was resting gave way and he fell to the floor below. He suffered an achilles tendon rupture and reconstruction. The plaintiff was able to return to work in his current employ after approximately two years out.

  The defendant subcontractor carpenter had installed the temporary floor improperly. The plaintiff was employed by the general contractor who does maintain overall safety for the site and should have inspected the work done by its sub. Despite the workers' compensation bar (not allowing the plaintiff to collect from his employer in a third party matter), the plaintiff still resolved the case favorably. The case settled before trial for $600,000.00.

  The plaintiff was represented by attorney Sherri Warfel who concentrates her practice in the area of accident and injury law. She can be reached at swarfel@pralaw.com.  

• Trudy Balsamel was recently awarded $800,000 after being rear-ended by a dump truck owned by Stony Brook Sewer Authority. Since the accident Ms. Balsamel has been unable to return to her job as Vice President of Communications for Robertshaw Communication and has undergone three leg surgeries as well a lumbar surgery. Jed Kadish, a partner who specializes in Personal Injury matters including auto, construction and product liability accident cases, represented her in the suit.
• Cynthia Vena received $1,675,000 after having an accident at Tessara's Restaurant, which is operated by Koray, LLC, on January 11, 2008. On that date she suffered a fall on the restaurant premises and suffered a severe head injury. She was taken to Capital Health Systems - Fuld Campus by EMS service. She had suffered a skull fracture, a brain contusion, and bleeding into her brain space. Because her condition was severe she had to have an operation on her head and brain. She later underwent additional surgery to place a shunt into her head because of fluid buildup in her brain space. She had a total of four surgeries.

  She underwent rehabilitation at both The Kessler Institute and St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center.

  The case was settled by Attorney Edward Slaughter, who specializes in accident and injury cases.

Workers' Compensation & Disability

• The widow of a delivery driver for a local company was recently awarded $250,000 in widow’s benefits in a Workers’ Compensation case. The settlement was entered when it was proven that the husband died as a result of exposure to diesel fumes while working in the garage at his place of employment as well as during the time that he was driving his truck. The plaintiff was represented by partner attorney Bruce P.Miller who concentrates his practice in the area of workers’ compensation and disability law. He can be reached at bmiller@pralaw.com. For further information, please contact our Workers' Compensation & Disability Attorneys

Medical Malpractice & Negligence

• A case against multiple doctors who failed to recognize and appreciate post bariatric surgery complications in a young mother of a five year girl, which complications led to the mother's death, was settled on behalf of the child for $800,000. Annuity contracts were arranged payable over the life of the child so that the little girl has a lifetime income, the ability to obtain an education and the opportunity to make her own life choices.
   
• After a two week trial, PR&A partner Rob Adinolfi, obtained a $3.5 million jury verdict in Gloucester County for a 48 year old man in a medical malpractice action. The plaintiff, a trash collector, suffered a knee injury and was operated on by his orthopedic surgeon. After surgery, the plaintiff developed a staph infection in his knee. The jury determined that the doctor failed to treat the infection, which resulted in bone deterioration that required extensive surgery. As a result of his injuries, the plaintiff walks in a full leg immobilizer and faces possible amputation of his lower leg. Attorney Rob Adinolfi practices in the areas of medical malpractice and negligence. His email address is radinolfi@pralaw.com
   
• Shareholder, Robert J. Adinolfi, recently obtained a 3.25 million verdict for a man who was served while visibly intoxicated and thereafter caused a motor vehicle accident due to his drunkedness, thereby rendering the plaintiff blind and a parapeligic. After deliberating for several days, the jury rendered a unanimous verdict after it was established that the plaintiff, who had been drinking with the driver all day, was injured due to the negligent service of alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person. No offer was made to settle, and Mr. Adinolfi tried the case to conclusion, obtaining another multi-million dollar verdict for an injured victim.
   
• In a suit filed against several surgeons, a physical therapist, a physician’s assistant and a hospital, Andrew Rockman and Peter Gordon recently achieved a settlement after several key depositions were completed.

  The claim was brought on behalf of a fifty-two year old woman who developed complications following back surgery. After having a decompressive laminectomy and fusion the patient developed a pooling of blood on her spinal column. It was alleged that the various healthcare providers failed to recognize the signs of blood collection and pressure on the spinal column; increasing post-operative pain, numbness and episodes of urinary incontinence. As a result a time window was lost where a corrective procedure could been performed to relieve the pressure that was causing the patient pain and ongoing damage.

  This surgical complication also known as cauda equina syndrome left the patient with significant and permanent injuries including constant pain in the area of the top of her buttocks, a lack of sensation from her waist to her toes and incontinence of bowel and bladder necessitating self-catherization.

  The settlement of $1,000,000 was achieved at a relatively early stage in litigation with an expectable delay of several years before the claims could be resolved by way of trial. Mr. Rockman and Mr. Gordon were pleased to achieve settlement so quickly enabling the client to use and benefit from the settlement funds without having to wait for a trial to be reached.

Labor & Employment

• In late January 2008, a labor union's inflatable rat marched its way to the New Jersey Supreme Court. On behalf of Wayne DeAngelo, a senior official with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 269, Pellettieri, Rabstein & Altman filed appeal papers in the New Jersey Supreme Court after Mr. DeAngelo was cited in Lawrence Township for violating a sign ordinance when IBEW 269's inflatable rat balloon was displayed during a labor protest. At the core of the case is the argument that the sign ordinance violated Mr. DeAngelo's constitutionally protected fundamental right of free speech.
    
  Mr. DeAngelo's counsel, Andrew Watson, a senior associate with the firm said: "Unions have a long history and tradition of peacefully and effectively expressing themselves and we want to ensure that their communication is not stifled merely because they chose to use the rat balloon to convey their message of solidarity, unity and loyalty." Mr. Watson and PR&A partner Ira C. Miller represent IBEW Local 269 and other unions as part of the labor law department at PR&A"

   

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