After college, Jim proudly served for three years in the U.S. Army as an artillery officer and helicopter pilot before attending law school. He practiced for several years with a criminal defense firm and, for the last 35 years of his career, specialized in litigating civil cases. Jim was lead counsel in numerous large and complex lawsuits, including both multi-district and class action cases, in a variety of state and federal trial courts, as well as in the context of private alternative dispute resolution. He also argued numerous cases before both state and federal appellate courts.
Jim’s experience as a litigator involved many interesting legal questions pertaining to treaties and international law, as well as the regulatory, tort, contract, and criminal law of the United States, numerous states, and many foreign jurisdictions. The subject matter of these cases often related to complex scientific and engineering issues arising in the context of mass disasters involving transportation accidents, fires, explosions, and other mishaps, as well as disputes pertaining to contractual intent and alleged bad faith or fraud.
Jim was a frequent lecturer at legal seminars, and his advice was sought by many clients on issues related to loss prevention, contractual protections, and litigation. He served as an instructor on legal subjects at the USC Aviation Safety Course. Jim was designated as an Outstanding Advocate by the Public Counsel Law Center Children’s Rights Project and was rated AV for many years by Martindale-Hubbell.
Jim is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of New Jersey, New York, and California, numerous appellate courts, and the United States Supreme Court.
