News
Shelly Finkelstein’s successful motion to sanction opposing counsel for violating a confidentiality order was the subject of an article in the New Jersey Law Journal of May 13, 2013 at page 8. As reported in the article, Shelly’s response to the decision of the Federal Court was “no comment.” “Lawyer Sanctioned for Bringing Outsider Into Closed Deposition”
Damian Conforti is a Barrister of the C. Willard Heckel Inn of Court. The C. Willard Heckel Inn of Court was founded in 1990 to further civility and excellence in the practice of law in New Jersey in both the state and federal courts. The Inn’s core focus is on criminal and related civil practice in both the federal and state court systems, although many of its programs involve issues of broader appeal to the bar. The Inn brings together highly experienced and distinguished justices, judges, trial attorneys, members of the bar, and Rutgers law students to enhance their skills and focus on emerging and important issues facing the bar and bench. It is sponsored by Rutgers School of Law–Newark.
Congratulations to Henry J. Catenacci, J. Barry Cocoziello, and Robert L. Podvey, for their selection as "Super Lawyers" for 2013. Bob was named in the field of business/corporate law, Barry in the area of business litigation and Hank in the area of insurance litigation. Congratulations also to Michael Bevacqua, who was named a "Rising Star" in the field of business litigation for 2013, to Damian Conforti, who was named a "Rising Star" in the fields of criminal and civil defense, and Nancy Del Pizzo, who was named a “Rising Star” in business litigation.
Nancy A. Del Pizzo was a participant in “Cycle for Survival” in Summit, NJ on Sunday, February 24. “Cycle for Survival” is a high-energy indoor team cycling event that provides a tangible way to beat rare cancers. Many rare cancers are drastically underfunded, leaving patients with limited treatment options. “Cycle for Survival” is organized under the auspices of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a leading center for cancer research and treatment.
New York Supreme Court Dismisses Legal Malpractice Claim
In a decision handed down by the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Nassau, on November 30, 2012, Judge Michele Woodard dismissed in its entirety a legal malpractice claim against a client of the firm sued for legal malpractice. Wendy B. Shepps, Of Counsel to Podvey Meanor, represented the defendant attorney in this matter. In dismissing the action pre-answer, the Court held that our client was not an acquiring firm nor a successor firm to the other attorney sued in the action. The action was dismissed on the grounds of lack of attorney-client relationship.
Peter J. Mitchell has joined the firm as an associate in the litigation department. He received his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 2010 and his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 2006. After graduating law school, Peter clerked for the Honorable Alfonse J. Cifelli, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 5, Essex County. Peter has also worked as an Assistant State Attorney in Broward County, FL, where he conducted a number of jury and bench trials. His practice is focused on Complex and Commercial Litigation and Insurance Coverage Claims and Subrogation. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York, and Florida.
Dampening Expectations on Flooding Claims
Attorney H. Richard Chattman was interviewed by NJBIZ reporter Beth Fitzgerald for an article about insurance claims in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Richard’s law practice is focused on insurance coverage claims and subrogation. See full article for details.
Giving Thanks: On the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday we are more thankful this year than usual. There is nothing like a natural disaster to remind us all of our blessings. Superstorm Sandy touched us all in various ways and in varying degrees. As we give thanks this year for all of our clients, friends and business partners, our thoughts and prayers go out to those who are still suffering from the aftermath of Sandy.
Nancy A. Del Pizzo has joined the firm as an Associate in the litigation department. She received her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2005. She received undergraduate degrees from the University of Florida and William Paterson University, the latter where she received her B.A. in 1986. Her practice is focused on Complex Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property law. Before entering the practice of law she was the owner of a communications consulting business serving the health, medicine and fitness industries. She is a long-time member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.
Sheldon M. Finkelstein and Aaron H. Gould have co-authored the 2013 update to the New Jersey Federal Civil Practice Handbook’s chapter on RICO. Shelly was the author of the original RICO chapter in 1993 and has been responsible for annual updates since its inception.
Robert L. Podvey has been chosen for inclusion in the 2013 edition of Best Lawyers in America. Selection to this list is based on confidential peer review surveys of lawyers throughout the United States. The 2012 list is based on more than 3.1 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by their legal peers. Bob has been included in the Best Lawyers in America for 14 consecutive years.
An article co-authored by H. Richard Chattman and Aaron H. Gould entitled “Revisiting Pickett v. Lloyds: A Survey, Assessment, and Practice Pointers Regarding New Jersey First-Party Insurance Bad Faith Law”, was published in the August, 2012 edition of New Jersey Lawyer Magazine. If you have any questions, issues or disputes related to insurance law please contact the authors.
Wendy B. Shepps has joined the firm as Of Counsel in the litigation department. She received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 1997 and her B.A. from Binghamton University in 1994. Her practice is focused primarily on the defense of professionals in professional liability matters. Julia Portnoy has joined the firm as an associate in the litigation department. She received her J.D from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2009 and her B.S. degree from Brooklyn College in 1999. Her practice is focused on commercial litigation.
Aaron Gould was interviewed for an article published in Litigation News, a publication of the ABA Section on Litigation. The article: “Predictive Coding Portends Change in Discovery Practice” (July 12, 2012), deals with the use of predictive coding in large-scale complex litigation. Two recent court decisions (DaSilva Moore v. Publicus Groupe SA and Global Aerospace Inc. v. Landow Aviation, L.P.) shed new light on the elusive concept of predictive coding.
Sheldon M. Finkelstein was appointed to serve as Co-Chair of the American Bar Association Litigation Section’s Book Publishing Board for the 2012-2013 bar year.
The May 2012 edition of New York Magazine features a list of the Top New York Area Law Firms. Podvey, Meanor, Catenacci, Hildner, Cocoziello & Chattman, P.C. is included in the list. Selection to this list is based on confidential peer review ratings by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell indicating that 25% or more of the firm’s lawyers are rated AV (“Preeminent”). This rating indicates the rated lawyer has been deemed by his or her peers to have demonstrated the highest level of ethical standards and legal ability. The attorneys in our firm so rated are: Robert L. Podvey, Henry J. Catenacci, Thomas V. Hildner, J. Barry Cocoziello, H. Richard Chattman, Saul Zimmerman and Sheldon M. Finkelstein.
Michael F. Bevacqua, Jr. has been chosen for membership into The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 under 40 institute, which is comprised of the country’s top trial attorneys under the age of 40. Selection is based on a thorough multi-phase process which includes peer nominations and third-party research.
Damian Conforti is a Barrister of the C. Willard Heckel Inn of Court. The C. Willard Heckel Inn of Court was founded in 1990 to further civility and excellence in the practice of law in New Jersey in both the state and federal courts. The Inn’s core focus is on criminal and related civil practice in both the federal and state court systems, although many of its programs involve issues of broader appeal to the bar. The Inn brings together highly experienced and distinguished justices, judges, trial attorneys, members of the bar, and Rutgers law students to enhance their skills and focus on emerging and important issues facing the bar and bench. It is sponsored by Rutgers School of Law–Newark.
Congratulations to Henry J. Catenacci, J. Barry Cocoziello, and Robert L. Podvey, for their selection as "Super Lawyers" for 2013. Bob was named in the field of business/corporate law, Barry in the area of business litigation and Hank in the area of insurance litigation. Congratulations also to Michael Bevacqua, who was named a "Rising Star" in the field of business litigation for 2013, to Damian Conforti, who was named a "Rising Star" in the fields of criminal and civil defense, and Nancy Del Pizzo, who was named a “Rising Star” in business litigation.
Nancy A. Del Pizzo was a participant in “Cycle for Survival” in Summit, NJ on Sunday, February 24. “Cycle for Survival” is a high-energy indoor team cycling event that provides a tangible way to beat rare cancers. Many rare cancers are drastically underfunded, leaving patients with limited treatment options. “Cycle for Survival” is organized under the auspices of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a leading center for cancer research and treatment.
New York Supreme Court Dismisses Legal Malpractice Claim
In a decision handed down by the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Nassau, on November 30, 2012, Judge Michele Woodard dismissed in its entirety a legal malpractice claim against a client of the firm sued for legal malpractice. Wendy B. Shepps, Of Counsel to Podvey Meanor, represented the defendant attorney in this matter. In dismissing the action pre-answer, the Court held that our client was not an acquiring firm nor a successor firm to the other attorney sued in the action. The action was dismissed on the grounds of lack of attorney-client relationship.
Peter J. Mitchell has joined the firm as an associate in the litigation department. He received his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 2010 and his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 2006. After graduating law school, Peter clerked for the Honorable Alfonse J. Cifelli, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 5, Essex County. Peter has also worked as an Assistant State Attorney in Broward County, FL, where he conducted a number of jury and bench trials. His practice is focused on Complex and Commercial Litigation and Insurance Coverage Claims and Subrogation. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York, and Florida.
Dampening Expectations on Flooding Claims
Attorney H. Richard Chattman was interviewed by NJBIZ reporter Beth Fitzgerald for an article about insurance claims in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Richard’s law practice is focused on insurance coverage claims and subrogation. See full article for details.
Giving Thanks: On the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday we are more thankful this year than usual. There is nothing like a natural disaster to remind us all of our blessings. Superstorm Sandy touched us all in various ways and in varying degrees. As we give thanks this year for all of our clients, friends and business partners, our thoughts and prayers go out to those who are still suffering from the aftermath of Sandy.
Nancy A. Del Pizzo has joined the firm as an Associate in the litigation department. She received her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2005. She received undergraduate degrees from the University of Florida and William Paterson University, the latter where she received her B.A. in 1986. Her practice is focused on Complex Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property law. Before entering the practice of law she was the owner of a communications consulting business serving the health, medicine and fitness industries. She is a long-time member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.
Sheldon M. Finkelstein and Aaron H. Gould have co-authored the 2013 update to the New Jersey Federal Civil Practice Handbook’s chapter on RICO. Shelly was the author of the original RICO chapter in 1993 and has been responsible for annual updates since its inception.
Robert L. Podvey has been chosen for inclusion in the 2013 edition of Best Lawyers in America. Selection to this list is based on confidential peer review surveys of lawyers throughout the United States. The 2012 list is based on more than 3.1 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by their legal peers. Bob has been included in the Best Lawyers in America for 14 consecutive years.
An article co-authored by H. Richard Chattman and Aaron H. Gould entitled “Revisiting Pickett v. Lloyds: A Survey, Assessment, and Practice Pointers Regarding New Jersey First-Party Insurance Bad Faith Law”, was published in the August, 2012 edition of New Jersey Lawyer Magazine. If you have any questions, issues or disputes related to insurance law please contact the authors.
Wendy B. Shepps has joined the firm as Of Counsel in the litigation department. She received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 1997 and her B.A. from Binghamton University in 1994. Her practice is focused primarily on the defense of professionals in professional liability matters. Julia Portnoy has joined the firm as an associate in the litigation department. She received her J.D from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2009 and her B.S. degree from Brooklyn College in 1999. Her practice is focused on commercial litigation.
Aaron Gould was interviewed for an article published in Litigation News, a publication of the ABA Section on Litigation. The article: “Predictive Coding Portends Change in Discovery Practice” (July 12, 2012), deals with the use of predictive coding in large-scale complex litigation. Two recent court decisions (DaSilva Moore v. Publicus Groupe SA and Global Aerospace Inc. v. Landow Aviation, L.P.) shed new light on the elusive concept of predictive coding.
Sheldon M. Finkelstein was appointed to serve as Co-Chair of the American Bar Association Litigation Section’s Book Publishing Board for the 2012-2013 bar year.
The May 2012 edition of New York Magazine features a list of the Top New York Area Law Firms. Podvey, Meanor, Catenacci, Hildner, Cocoziello & Chattman, P.C. is included in the list. Selection to this list is based on confidential peer review ratings by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell indicating that 25% or more of the firm’s lawyers are rated AV (“Preeminent”). This rating indicates the rated lawyer has been deemed by his or her peers to have demonstrated the highest level of ethical standards and legal ability. The attorneys in our firm so rated are: Robert L. Podvey, Henry J. Catenacci, Thomas V. Hildner, J. Barry Cocoziello, H. Richard Chattman, Saul Zimmerman and Sheldon M. Finkelstein.
Michael F. Bevacqua, Jr. has been chosen for membership into The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 under 40 institute, which is comprised of the country’s top trial attorneys under the age of 40. Selection is based on a thorough multi-phase process which includes peer nominations and third-party research.
Podvey, Meanor, Catenacci, Hildner, Cocoziello & Chattman, P.C. | Counsellors at Law