Michael A. Kaplan
Michael A. Kaplan is a former Vice President of ATLA-NJ (now known as New Jersey Association for Justice (NJAJ).
He has taught trial advocacy at Rutgers University
Law School in Camden, New Jersey from 1979
through 2004.
His primary practice involves the litigation
of Personal Injury matters with a specialization
in construction accidents, work place injuries,
products liability, motor vehicle accidents
and premises liability issues.
His recoveries include multiple million dollar
recoveries. For example:
- $11 million dollar recovery for the family
of a union carpenter who was killed while
driving to work.
- $6.1 million jury verdict for the traumatic amputation of a pedestrian's leg who was struck by a SUV. Both Mr. Kaplan and Mr. Jarve were involved in this trial in Camden County
- $2.1 million recovery for 8 year old boy
who sustained serious brain injury resulting
from actions of a drunk driver. Recovery
was from both the driver and the establishment
that served the alcoholic beverages.
- $1.625 million dollar recovery for a truck
driver struck by a pallet being hoisted by
an overhead crane.
- $1.25 million dollar jury verdict for an
operating engineer who developed thoracic
outlet syndrome as a result of a work place
injury.
- $1.2 million dollar recovery for injury
of a municipal worker involving hand injury
while operating a leaf blower.
- $1
million recovery for iron worker who sustained
serious neck and back injuries on construction
site as a result of falling concrete. Recovery
was from the general contractor and concrete
subcontractor for failing to comply with
OSHA requirements.
- $1 million dollar recovery against manufacturer
of an excavator where a municipal employee
fell while servicing the equipment and severely
injuring his back.
- $800 thousand dollar recovery for a union
iron worker who slipped and fell while attempting
to rig a steel joist while injuring his back
and arm. In addition to the recovery there
was a waiver of repayment of $400 thousand
dollars in Workers’ Compensation benefits.
- $750,000 award to 8 year
old passenger injured in an auto rear ended
by a dump truck. The child sustained
permanent facial and dental injuries.
- $700,000 recovery for waste treatment
employee exposed to toxic vapors inside plant
as a result of system designer’s failure
to provide proper ventilation.
- $610,000
recovery for insulation worker who sustained
back injury on a construction site where
general contractor and primary contractor
failed to comply with OSHA requirements.
Other Recent Cases Of Significance:
- $1.7 million recovery for a 17 year old
who was injured when the vehicle he was driving
rolled over. Suit was instituted against
the automobile manufacturer as well as the
county and adjacent property development
for failing to maintain the roadway.
- $1.35 million recovery for a carpenter
who fell off a roof while performing new
home construction without adequate fall protection
resulting in fractures of the spine. The
recovery came from the insurance company
for the general contractor, as well as substantial
personal contribution from the general contractor,
and Errors and Omissions carrier with another
contractor on the job.
- $900
thousand dollar recovery for the family of
a painter who was electrocuted while power
washing. Recovery was against the property
owner as well as against the manufacturer
of the hose the being used to power wash.
- $800
thousand dollar recovery for a union truck
driver who slipped while making a delivery
and injured his lower back.
- $600 thousand
dollars for a 16 year old boy who was involved
in a bicycle accident who had fractures of
the pelvis and a closed head injury.
In addition to his trial practice, he has
lectured extensively for ATLA-NJ, Pennsylvania
Trial Lawyers Association, Philadelphia Trial
Lawyers, the Camden County Bar Association
and the Practicing Law Institute.
He has been appointed by the American Arbitration
Association to its panel of arbitrators and
has been a court appointed arbitrator in several
counties in New Jersey.
Attorney Kaplan has also practiced in the
area of Criminal Law, Worker’s Compensation
and Union Labor Law.
When he is not practicing law, he enjoys baseball,
movies, classical music, football, golf, skiing
and ballet.
Position In The Firm:
Member
Litigation Percentage:
95% of Practice Devoted To Litigation.
Bar Admissions:
New Jersey,
1969
District of Columbia, 1978
District Court for the District of New Jersey, 1969
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 1974
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1975
United States Tax Court, 1977
Supreme Court of the United States, 1975
Education:
Georgetown University
Law Center, Washington, DC, 1969, Juris Doctrine
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan,
1966, B.A., Magna Cum Laude, Phi Kappa Phi
Professional Associations and Memberships:
American Bar Association
NJ Bar Association
Camden County Bar Association
American Trial Lawyers Association
Pro Bono Activities:
Supreme Court of New Jersey,
District IV Ethics Committee, 1997 - 2001
Camden County Bar, Pro Bono Legal Service
Committee
Camden County Bar Civil Practice Committee
Camden County Bar, Chair, Personal Injury
Law Committee
Camden Regional Legal Services, Board of
Directors
