Methfessel & Werbel Congratulates Partner Paul Endler on Middlesex County Bar Association Civil Trial Practice Award

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Methfessel & Werbel is proud to announce that Partner Paul Endler has received the Civil Trial Practice Award from the Middlesex County Bar Association as first reported in the MCBA's February Newsletter.

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The 16th Annual Practice Area Awards Recognition will be held on March 18, 2021 at 3:00 PM via Zoom.  You can read the details and register for the event here.

Case Alert – New Jersey to Begin “Virtual” Civil Jury Trials in February

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Last week the New Jersey Supreme Court issued an Order implementing a two-phase approach to virtual civil jury trials during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic with Phase 1 beginning on or after February 1, 2021 and Phase 2 beginning on or after April 5 2021.more

Parties may opt-out in the first phase, being implemented in limited counties, but opt-outs will be precluded in phase 2 which will apply to all counties.  Read the full Case Alert here.

M&W Case Alert – U.S. District Court Grants M&W Motion To Dismiss Pandemic-Based Business Interruption Claim; State Court Dismisses A Similar Claim

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Judge Kugler of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey ruled in M&W’s favor by dismissing with prejudice a putative multi-district class action lawsuit seeking business interruption losses on account of executive orders closing non-essential businesses in the wake of COVID-19.more

Shortly thereafter we learned that Judge Polansky of Camden County Superior Court had dismissed a similar claim against a different insurer.  Both of these decisions are likely to be cited across the state as insurers seek release from litigation over business interruption claims prompted by pandemic-related closures and no allegation of physical loss or damage to insured property.  Read the full Case Alert here.

Returning to the Workplace

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An analysis of litigation trends and safety protocols in the midst of the worst public health crisis in over 100 years.more

Businesses across the country face unique challenges in formulating and implementing return-to-work strategies which protect them from liability as well as providing a safe and secure workplace for their employees.  Read the full analysis here.