Methfessel & Werbel

The Leading Insurance and Claims Attorneys

Methfessel & Werbel adds 5 new attorneys to Education, Civil Rights Team

Methfessel & Werbel is excited to welcome new partners Athina Lekas Cornell, Jennifer Osborne, and Jeff Merlino together with attorneys Paul Griggs and Beth Bolger, formerly of Cornell, Merlino and Osborne LLCmore

Effective July 1, 2024, Athina Cornell will chair the firm's Education Law Group, which will operate within the Employment/Civil Rights Group chaired by M&W partner Eric Harrison. Read the full announcement.

M&W Case Alert – Partner Eric Harrison Obtains Federal Judgment Against Plaintiff’s Counsel for Frivolous Litigation

Last week in F.V. and M.V. o/b/o B.V. v. Cherry Hill Board of Education, Civ. Action No. 21-18096, the Honorable Karen Williams, U.S.D.J., granted the motion of M&W’s civil rights team, led by partner Eric Harrison, to award sanctions of more than $71,000 against ...more

attorney Jamie Epstein for prosecuting frivolous litigation under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD). Click to view the Order. Read the full Case Alert.

Case Alert – NJ Supreme Court Modifies the “Going and Coming Rule” re Workers Comp

On November 21, 2023, the New Jersey Supreme Court clarified the “going and coming rule” applicable to workers compensation claims arising out of auto accidents while workers drive to and from work. When an employee uses a vehicle provided by his or her employer for business expressly authorized by the employer, an accident occurring during its use will trigger entitlement to workers compensation benefits.more

Both workers compensation carriers and auto liability insurers should be mindful of this decision, as an auto-based workers compensation claim potentially affects the availability of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage and raises the specter of a potential workers compensation lien on any liability claim arising out of the accident. Read the entire article.

M&W Case Alert – Lori Brown Sternback Brings Home a “No Cause” in Monmouth County

Recently, one of our veteran trial attorneys, Lori Brown Sternback, tried a premises liability case in Monmouth County relating to an accident that occurred in the State of Vermont.more

Lori helped the jury navigate the terrain of New Jersey tort law with the help of Vermont and national building codes to arrive at a defense verdict. Read the full Case Alert here.

Methfessel & Werbel Fall Highlights – 2023

M & W Fall Highlights include a District VIII Ethics Committee Chair appointee, NJICLE seminar presentations, an NJ Special Investigators Association presentation, an article publication and the NJLJ Insurance Defense Law Firm of the Year.more

Read the full article.

What's New

9/27/23	Methfessel & Werbel Fall Highlights – 2023
3/29/23	Methfessel & Werbel Winter/Spring Highlights – 2023
2/23/23	M&W Case Update – Winter 2023

Recent Articles

2024	Methfessel & Werbel adds 5 new attorneys to Education, Civil Rights Team
2024	M&W Case Alert – Partner Eric Harrison Obtains Federal Judgment Against Plaintiff’s Counsel for Frivolous Litigation
2023	M&W Case Alert – New Jersey Supreme Court Modifies the “Going and Coming Rule”