New Associates Join the Ranks

In early September 2005, GRSLL&B welcomed Christopher M. Erb and H. Benjamin Sharlin, who joined the firm as associates in the Litigation Department. Both Chris and Ben handle Workers Compensation and Asbestos matters for the firm, in addition to general litigation work. On September 7, 2005, Christopher Erb joined the firm as an associate in the Litigation Department. In addition to Litigation, Chris handles Workers Compensation and Asbestos matters for the firm. Last year he clerked for the Honorable Nicholas J. Stroumtsos, Jr., J.S.C. in Middlesex County Superior Court. Chris is a 2001 graduate of Rutgers University where he majored in English with a concentration in Literary Theory and a 2004 graduate of Rutgers School of Law–Newark. Chris is admitted to the bar of the State of New Jersey.

On September 6, 2005, H. Benjamin Sharlin joined the firm s an associate in the Litigation Department. In addition to litigation, Ben handles worker’s compensation and asbestos litigation matters for the firm. Ben has a background in general litigation, having served as the law clerk to the Honorable Paulette Sapp-Peterson, Judge of the Superior Court in Mercer County, and having worked for the Office of Mercer County Counsel. Ben is a graduate of Hobart College and Widener University School of Law. He is admitted to the bar of the State of New Jersey and is a member of the Mercer County and New Jersey State Bar Associations

Firm Highlights

GRSLL&B employees opened their hearts to those who lost so much in the Hurricane Katrina disaster and raised approximately $4,000.00 in donations to the Salvation Army. The firm matched these generous gifts, for a total contribution of 8,030.00 to the Gulf Coast relief effort.

On October 12, 2005, David Blake and his wife, Joanne Blake welcomed the birth of their daughter, Mia Rose. The firm congratulates the Blake family on this wonderful news.

Audrey Shields attended a seminar in Phoenix, Arizona during the weekend of October 14-17 regarding Insurance Coverage in Construction Defect cases. The speakers consisted of several prestigious attorneys from around the
country who regularly practice in both state and Federal Courts. Each of the speakers addressed the position of the various jurisdictions regarding policy interpretation when there is a question of additional insureds, exclusions, and exceptions to exclusions which may void or invalidate coverage, particularly when there are contractors and subcontractors involved on the same project. Central questions discussed included whether there has been “property damage” and an “occurrence” in accordance with the terms if a policy when determining if an insurer has an obligation to provide a defense under a CGL policy.

On November 7-8, 2005, Chris Westrick attended the Mealey’s Construction Defect & Mold Litigation Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. The panels consisted of attorneys, engineers and other construction professionals from around the nation. The conference addressed the overall state of the construction litigation field and numerous specific areas of interest. Topics discussed included insurance coverage issues such as deductibles and self-insured retentions; the economic loss doctrine; expert witnesses in construction matters; product defect claims in the construction context; and the progression of mold litigation. Importantly, the practitioners noted the recent increase in mass residential construction such as high-rise condominiums, and its likely corresponding increase in construction litigation matters.