Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C. | Attorneys | Westfield, New Jersey

Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense

53 Cardinal Drive, Westfield, New Jersey 07090

Telephone: 908-233-6800
Fax: 908-233-5078
E-Mail: rdeluca@lindabury.com
Website: www.lindabury.com

Established: 1954

Practice Areas
About Us
Additional Locations
Client Information
Personnel
Insurance Law Podcasts

Practice Areas

General Practice
Insurance Law
General Liability
Employment Law
Employment Discrimination
Employment Practices Liability
Sexual Harassment
Wrongful Termination
Labor and Employment
Directors and Officers Liability
ERISA
Environmental Coverage
Environmental Law
Toxic Torts
Construction Law
Construction Litigation
Construction Defect
Subrogation
Architects and Engineers
Errors and Omissions
Agent and Brokers Errors and Omissions

Bad Faith
Punitive Damages
Coverage Issues
Opinions
Primary and Excess Insurance
Reinsurance
Fidelity
Surety
Health Care
Hospital Malpractice
Medical Malpractice
Professional Liability
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Asbestos Litigation
Insurance Defense
Automobile
Commercial Litigation
Product Liability
Mass Tort
Consumer Litigation

About Us

Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C. has been effectively handling insurance coverage and defense matters for over six decades. Over this time, we have provided representation for dozens of insurance carriers and self-insured entities in a wide variety of areas and on a full spectrum of matters.

Our attorneys have extensive experience in trial and appellate work as well as in arbitration and mediation proceedings and settlement negotiations. We have the ability to handle everything from complex multi-party cases to straightforward two-party disputes. We are often called upon to provide representation in complicated cases that present high exposure for our clients.

Our representation of insurance carriers has produced long-standing client relationships which have lasted for several decades. Our responsiveness, responsible staffing and record of delivering successful outcomes to our insurance clients make us a solid and reliable partner for insurance coverage and defense work.

INSURANCE COVERAGE
A diverse and active insurance coverage practice has been a large part of Lindabury since the firm was founded. Our attorneys regularly prepare coverage opinions and litigate coverage issues, including the prosecution and defense of actions for declaratory relief, breach of contract and bad faith. Our experience extends to many coverage lines, including Directors & Officers Liability, Professional Liability, Environmental Liability, ERISA and Fiduciary Liability, and Employment Practices Liability.

EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES LIABILITY AND LABOR LAW
Lindabury attorneys provide comprehensive representation in the area of Employment Practices Liability. Our attorneys are routinely called upon to represent employers in matters involving discrimination and equal opportunity, employment and termination issues, work environment and safety, health and benefits, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), federal and state compensation issues and whistleblower issues. In addition to providing advice and counsel for litigation, and representing employers in dispute resolution proceedings, our attorneys actively provide preventive education and counsel to help employers manage their risk.

ERISA AND FIDUCIARY LIABILITY
Lindabury's fiduciary attorneys have extensive experience as counsel to trustees of both single and multiemployer ("Taft Hartley") benefit plans. We are approved counsel for all fiduciary liability insurance claims with The Travelers Companies and, in this capacity, represent the insurer with respect to coverage and claims made against their insureds for alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. We routinely lecture nationally to trade associations and employee benefit groups and advise on matters involving ERISA compliance, fiduciary responsibility, legal standards for plan design, participation, benefit accrual, vesting, and funding as well as other implementation and administration issues impacting the tax qualified status of such plans. We also defend plan fiduciaries in connection with claims brought by plan participants and beneficiaries, and with claims, investigations, and enforcement actions brought by the U.S. Department of Labor, Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS LIABILITY
Lindabury has extensive experience in all aspects of Directors and Officers Liability Insurance. Over the years we have provided representation that includes preparing coverage opinions, monitoring pending claims, evaluating liability exposures, assisting in the negotiation of settlements, and, as appropriate, litigating and arbitrating coverage issues and defending the insured.

PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY
Lindabury attorneys have represented numerous insureds in professional liability cases filed in New Jersey state and federal courts. These cases have involved a variety of professionals, including insurance agents/brokers, accountants, architects and engineers, attorneys and healthcare providers in both malpractice and non-malpractice matters. Because of the personal nature of this practice area, and the professional reputations that are often at stake, our attorneys are sensitive to the needs of the individual insureds with the goal of mitigating the potentially significant exposures in these matters.

CONSTRUCTION LIABILITY
Construction Law attorneys at Lindabury provide the full scope of legal services to businesses and other organizations in the construction industry. We have extensive experience defending owners and contractors in New Jersey state and federal lawsuits and mediation and arbitration proceedings involving claims of defective design and workmanship. Lindabury attorneys also have extensive experience representing sureties in the resolution of construction claims and in providing advice to insurance carriers on construction defect coverage issues.

ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY
Lindabury represents corporate clients in connection with all aspects of environmental law including regulatory compliance counseling with respect to state and federal statutes, transactions, litigation, and white collar criminal defense. The firm's environmental attorneys possess extensive experience before state and federal administrative agencies and have successfully handled substantial administrative enforcement hearings. Our attorneys routinely handle complex corporate transactions and are experienced in the assessment and development of brownfields. Lindabury's attorneys also routinely handle toxic tort matters and environmental insurance coverage litigation in both state and federal courts.

PRODUCTS LIABILITY
Lindabury's product liability practice is focused on the representation of automotive manufacturers and machine, tool, and electronics manufacturers and distributors. Lindabury attorneys have also represented manufacturers of prescription and over-the-counter medication in high exposure pharmaceutical product liability lawsuits and industrial equipment and chemical manufacturers and suppliers in toxic and mass tort litigation. We routinely defend manufacturers, distributors, and dealers against major product liability claims in New Jersey state and federal courts and regulatory tribunals.

Additional Locations

Summit, New Jersey
469 Morris Avenue
Summit, New Jersey 07901

Telephone: 908-273-1212
Fax: 908-273-8922

Red Bank, New Jersey
331 Newman Springs Road
Suite 225
Red Bank, New Jersey 07701

Telephone: 732-741-7777
Fax: 732-758-1879

New York, New York
200 Liberty Street
27th Floor
New York, New York 10281

Telephone: 212-742-3390
Fax: 212-269-5016

Newtown, Pennsylvania
41 University Drive
Suite 400
Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940

Telephone: 267-757-8716

Client Information

Insurance Clients

Hartford Financial Products
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
Illinois National Insurance Company
The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania
Lexington Insurance Company
Lexington Insurance Company/AIG
National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA
Stewart Title Guaranty Company
Transport Insurance Company
Travelers Insurance Companies

Non-Insurance Clients

BMW of North America, LLC
Matheson Tri-Gas

Nissan North America, Inc.
NOVAMEX

Personnel Information

Shareholders

Jay Lavroff

Westfield, NJ

E-Mail: jlavroff@lindabury.com

Practice Areas

Asbestos Litigation
Construction Defect
Declaratory Judgments
Environmental Coverage
Insurance Coverage
Excess and Surplus Lines
General Liability
Opinions
Product Liability
Property and Casualty
Toxic Torts

Admitted

New Jersey, 1985
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1985
U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 2000
U.S. Supreme Court, 2006

Additional Biographical Details:

Professional Lawyer of the Year, Union County Bar Association 2018

Education:

Boston College, B.A. (cum laude), 1982
Seton Hall University, J.D., 1985

Born: 1960

John H. Schmidt, Jr.

Westfield, NJ

E-Mail: jschmidt@lindabury.com

Practice Areas

Compensation
Employer Liability
Employment Practices Liability
Wrongful Termination
Employment Discrimination
Labor and Employment

Admitted

New Jersey, 1977
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1977
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1979
U.S. Supreme Court, 1985
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2005

Additional Biographical Details:

The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, 2007

Certifications:

Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney

Education:

Rutgers College, B.A., 1973
Seton Hall University, J.D. (cum laude), 1977

Born: 1952

James D. DeRose

Westfield, NJ

E-Mail: jderose@lindabury.com

Practice Areas

Automobile
Civil Litigation
Defense Litigation
Product Liability
Self-Insured Defense

Admitted

New Jersey, 1978
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
U.S. Claims Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1981
U.S. Supreme Court

Education:

Wagner College, B.A., 1969
The Catholic University of America, J.D., 1978

Born: 1946

Eric B. Levine

Westfield, NJ

E-Mail: elevine@lindabury.com

Practice Areas

Cybersecurity and Data Privacy
Cyber Liability
Declaratory Judgments
Coverage Issues
Commercial Litigation
Real Estate

Admitted

New Jersey, 1995
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1995
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2006

Education:

University of Massachusetts Amherst, B.B.A. (cum laude), 1992
Seton Hall University, J.D., 1995

Born: 1970

Greg K. Vitali

Westfield, NJ

E-Mail: gvitali@lindabury.com

Practice Areas

Construction Law
Commercial Litigation
Surety

Admitted

New Jersey, 1997
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1997
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2006

Education:

Franklin & Marshall College, B.A., 1994
Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 1997

Born: 1972

Partners

Steven Backfisch

Westfield, NJ

E-Mail: sbackfisch@lindabury.com

Practice Areas

Employment Law
Personal Injury
Product Liability

Admitted

New Jersey, 1980
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1980
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1983
U.S. Supreme Court, 1989

Additional Biographical Details:

Master, Brennan Vanderbilt Inn of Court (President, 1999-2000)

Education:

St. Bernard College, B.A. (summa cum laude), 1977
Seton Hall University, J.D. (cum laude), 1980

Born: 1955

Kathleen M. Connelly

Westfield, NJ

E-Mail: kconnelly@lindabury.com

Practice Areas

Employer Liability
Sexual Harassment
Special Investigations
Wrongful Termination
Employment Discrimination
Wage and Hour Law

Admitted

New Jersey, 1990
New York, 1991
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1990

Education:

Monmouth University, B.A. (cum laude), 1983
Rutgers University School of Law-Newark, J.D., 1990

Born: 1959

Rachel Nudel

Westfield, NJ

E-Mail: rnudel@lindabury.com

Practice Areas

Litigation

Admitted

New Jersey, 2005
New York, 2006
U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit

Memberships:

American and New York State Bar Associations

Education:

Fordham University, B.A., 2002
New York Law School, J.D., 2005

Steven Fox

Westfield, NJ

E-Mail: sfox@lindabury.com

Practice Areas

Business Law
Civil Tort
Civil Trial Practice
Complex Litigation
Employment
Employment Defense
Employment Discrimination
Employment Law
Employment Law (Management Side)
Employment Litigation
Employment Practices
Employment Practices Liability

Admitted

New Jersey, 1989
District of Columbia, 1996
New York, 1998

Education:

University of Kentucky, B.A., 1982
Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D., 1989

Of Counsel

Katherine Dupuis

Westfield, NJ

E-Mail: kdupuis@lindabury.com

Practice Areas

Arbitration
Mediation

Admitted

New Jersey, 1978

Additional Biographical Details:

Professional Lawyer of the Year, Union County Bar Association 2020

Education:

Chestnut Hill College, B.A., 1972
Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D., 1978

John M. Boyle

Westfield, NJ

E-Mail: jboyle@lindabury.com

Practice Areas

Alternative Dispute Resolution
Arbitration
Mediation

Admitted

New Jersey, 1954
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1954
U.S. Supreme Court, 1960

Additional Biographical Details:

Fellow, American Bar Association; Presiding Judge, Equity Part, Chancery Division, Superior Court of New Jersey (1989-2002); Law Div. (1984-1989); Founder, President of Richard T. Hughes Inn of Court