Ron Levitt Runs Mock Trial Program

The New Jersey Vincent J. Apruzzese Mock Trial Competition, sponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation, held in March and April at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick saw an undefeated team from Torah Academy of Bergen County crowned as State Champion. The competition annually attracts the participation of more than 240 high schools and the involvement of 2500-3000 students. Students begin the process in the fall of the academic year by analyzing a legal problem written by the Bar Foundation’s Mock Trial Committee under the chairmanship of our own, Ronald S. Levitt. This year’s problem dealt with a civil trial for a personal injury case based on issues of “bullying.” Ron and the committee have already begun the creative process toward next year’s problem which will center around a criminal trial for a murder associated with a TV reality show. Anyone wishing additional information on the Mock Trial program should feel free to contact Ron.

Ken Rothschild Named ‘Super Lawyer’

Golden Rothschild is proud to announce that Ken Rothschild was selected as a New Jersey “Super Lawyer” in the field of insurance coverage by Law & Politics Magazine in conjunction with New Jersey Monthly. Each year, Law & Politics conducts polling, research and selection of Super Lawyers” in 13 states. The process is designed to identify lawyers in particular practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of lawyers in each state are named Super Lawyers and a total of 30 qualified this year in the Insurance Coverage specialty area. The selection process is complex and designed to create a balanced and objective result. Ballots are sent to nearly 5,000 active lawyers in New Jersey who have practiced 5 years or more. A blue ribbon panel of lawyers in each practice area reviews and scores the list of nominees and Law & politics meets and corresponds with hundreds of law firms in the state to identify the top lawyers in those fields. A research team evaluates prospective candidates on more than a dozen indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement as a supplement to the balloting. We take this opportunity to congratulate Ken on this achievement and applaud his recognition in the legal community.

Firm Highlights

On May 2, 2005, Brendan McDade joined the firm as an associate in the Workers Compensation Department. In addition to workers compensation, Brendan handles asbestos litigation matters for the firm. He has a background in general litigation, having served as in-house counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company for 10 years. prior to that, he clerked for the Honorable Joseph T. Ryan, J.S.C. (retired) in Hudson County Superior Court. Brendan is  1990 graduate of New York University where he majored in Classics and a 1994 graduate of Seton Hall University Law School. Brendan is admitted to bar of the State of New Jersey and is a member of the Hudson County Bar Association and a past member of the Hudson Inn of Court.

Congratulations to Cathy Shiels, who was married on May 4, 2005. Cathy and her husband, Philip Grohe, reside in Princeton, New Jersey. Best wishes to Cathy and Phil.

The firm is pleased to announce that on June 2, 2005, Ken Rothschild became a grandfather. Ken’s grandson, Benjamin Hamilton Rothschild, resides in Chicago with his parents, Matt and Julie. We congratulate Ken on this wonderful news and wish the family well. Ron Levitt recently returned from the New Jersey Defense Association 29th Annual Convention at the Hyatt Chesapeake Bay Resort in Maryland. Ron reported on and shared with the office significant information regarding the latest updates of New Jersey employment law, the application of federal preemption pursuant to Article VI of the Constitution, and the recent unfortunate and ill-conceived expansion of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. For further information on these topics feel free to contact Ron