Law Firm Overview

PRACTICE AREAS:

Civil litigation including administrative proceedings; school law, insurance law, elder law, construction litigation, criminal law, municipal and land use law, general practice including contracts, wills, business sales and real estate. Experience includes multiple criminal and civil jury trials in State and Federal courts, many years of municipal representation including general municipal work and affordable housing litigation as well as planning and zoning experience representing both applicants and Boards. Significant experience negotiating and litigating personal injury and property damage claims on behalf of diverse homeowners and businesses assigned by their insurance carrier. School Board representation has included appearances and litigation before administrative bodies to resolve contested special needs issues and diverse personnel and contract issues. Experience also includes successful representation of the committee formed to recall a School Board member, which may have been the first successful recall in the State of New Jersey.

PROFESSIONAL:

Designated one of New Jersey’s Super Lawyers (2004) and named Salem County Outstanding Legal Professional by the New Jersey State Bar Association in 2004. Admitted to the New Jersey State Bar and Federal Bar since 1976; member of the N.J. Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice from 1985-1989; past President of the Salem County Bar Association; former Salem County Representative to the N.J.S.B.A. Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee; and court-appointed arbitrator for Salem, Gloucester and Cumberland Counties.

EDUCATION:

Graduated Mt. Pleasant High School 1966; University of Delaware, Bachelor of Science 1970; University of Richmond School of Law 1975; awarded American Juris Prudence Award for Criminal Law, and authored Law Review comment, A Practitioner’s Guide to the Federal Rules of Evidence published fall of 1975.

Areas of Practice

• School Law
• Elder Law
• Estate and Probate
• Wills
• Real Estate
• Zoning and Planning
• Insurance Defense
• Municipal Court

Honors and Awards

• Super Lawyer, 2004
• Outstanding Legal Professional, 2004

Pro Bono Activities

• Habitat for Humanity, 1990 - Present
• Woodstown Presbyterian Church, 1980 - Present

Representative Clients

• Farmers Mutual Fire Ins. Co.
• Woodstown Borough
• LAC Township
• Quinton School Board

Representative Cases

• Salem Group v. Oliver, 128 N.J. 1 (Supreme. 1992)
• NJDEP v. T.E. Warren Inc., 270 NJS 546 (A.D. 1994)

References

• T.E. Warren Inc.
• ECRECON
• Laux Lakeview Park
• The Wagon Wheel Restaurant

West Practice Categories

Administrative Law, Regulatory Enforcement, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, Bad Faith Insurance, Business & Commercial Law, Contracts, Joint Ventures, Warranties, Business Organizations, Formation & Business Planning, Limited Liability Companies, Non-profit & Tax-exempt Organizations, Partnerships, Eminent Domain, Search & Seizure Protections, Construction Law, Construction Contracts, Government Construction Contracts, Housing & Construction Defects, Criminal Law, Prosecution, Education Law, Public Schools, Special Education, Student Rights, Tenure, Employment Law -- Employer, Affirmative Action -- Employer, Americans with Disabilities Act -- Employer, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) -- Employer, Municipal Employment -- Employer, Elder Law, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney and Appointment, Wills, Government Contracts, State & Municipal Contracts, Health & Health Care Law, Insurance Defense, Commercial Insurance, Litigation & Appeals, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, Personal Injury -- Defense, Animal Bites -- Defense, Assault & Battery -- Defense, Defamation & Privacy -- Defense, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Defense, Premises Liability -- Defense, Property Damage -- Defense, Slip and Fall -- Defense, Wrongful Death -- Defense, Probate & Estate Administration, Estate Administration, Real Estate Law, Land Use & Zoning, Residential Real Estate, State, Local & Municipal Law, Municipal Corporations, Municipal Liability