November 9, 2004 – The Princeton & Mt. Holly law firm of Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman and the Nutley law firm of Ball Livingston announced today a cooperation agreement focused primarily on New Jersey personal injury and workers’ compensation claims, but covering lawyers for all legal services statewide.
Very few New Jersey law firms represent unions, despite the presence of more than half a million union members in the state who often work in jobs most prone to workers’ compensation or personal injury claims. Union members have shown a preference for dealing with pro-union professionals, including lawyers, when aware of the connection and reasonably convenient. So the two firms who’s lawyers represent dozens of unions and locals have joined forces to serve members individual legal needs, as well, offering perhaps the first and largest such New Jersey statewide coverage.
The agreement names three Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman lawyers, partners Bruce P. Miller, Esq., Edward Slaughter Jr., Esq., and Thomas R. Smith, Esq., “Of Counsel” for Ball Livingston and two Ball Livingston lawyers, partners Craig H. Livingston, Esq. and Lynne P. Kramer, Esq. “Of Counsel” for Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman.
“The driving force behind this agreement is geographic convenience for union members,” explains attorney Thomas R. Smith, Esq., a Clifton native now living in Hamilton Township and a partner with 17 years of experience in personal injury, workers’ compensation & disability, and criminal & municipal law at Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman. “Union members don’t always live or work near their union’s law firm – and some union locals don’t even have a New Jersey law firm – but union members want to use a union lawyer for everything. Now they can.”
“Now we can both service our client unions’ members, and any union’s members, statewide with the convenience of offices in North, Central and South Jersey and the added depth of Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman’s personal injury lawyers and other departments,” declares attorney Craig H. Livingston, Esq., partner and co-founder of Ball Livingston. “We have instantly become a statewide New Jersey law firm with this new relationship.”
“It works both ways,” agrees attorney Edward Slaughter, Jr., Esq., partner and chairman of the personal injury department at Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman. “We strengthen our statewide New Jersey presence and strengthen each core practice area in our accident and injury services. We also associate ourselves with some of the most respected working people’s lawyers in the country.”
“Both firms have long histories as New Jersey lawyers representing labor unions and serving union members on employment issues, workers’ compensation and personal injury claims,” adds attorney Bruce P. Miller, Esq. partner and chairman of the workers’ compensation & disability law and criminal law departments at Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman. “Pellettieri also brings strong practices in Family Law; Wills, Trusts, Estates & Tax Law; Real Estate & Land Use; Commercial, Insurance & Contract Litigation, and Criminal & Municipal Law.”
According to attorney Ira C. Miller, Esq., partner and chairman of the labor & employment law department at Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman, “It’s another way to better serve our unions. This firm has represented labor unions and injured workers since 1929. Currently, we represent New Jersey locals and trades councils for more than 25 unions, including the Auto Workers, Carpenters, Communications Workers, Construction Workers, Electrical Workers, Insulation & Asbestos Workers, Ironworkers, Plumbers & Pipe Fitters, Printers & Graphic Crafts Workers, Service Employees, Sheet Metal Workers, State, County & Municipal Employees, Steelworkers, and Teamsters.”
Ball Livingston partners Craig Livingston, Esq. and Lynne Kramer, Esq. have represented labor unions and injured workers since 1969. “Currently, we represent locals and trades councils for more than 20 unions, including: Chemical Workers, Electrical Workers, Machinists, Machine Assembly Workers, and Paper Workers,” says Ms. Kramer. “And we are adding more locals in more states and counties.”
For further information, please contact Steven Reichenstein at Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman at 609-520-0900 or Craig Livingston, Esq., at Ball Livingston at 973-661-4545.
