Jeffrey L. O’Hara

Partner, Roseland Office

85 Livingston Avenue

Roseland, New Jersey 07068

Phone:  (973) 535-0500

johara@connellfoley.com

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Publications

Professional Activities

Representative Experience


Jeffrey L. O’Hara joined Connell Foley in 1993. As of January 2008, he has handled over 60 jury trials in a plethora of subject areas, with 48 verdicts. Mr. O'Hara previously supervised major claims investigation and general litigation efforts nationally for a publicly-traded power and energy company. Currently, he is the engagement partner for the National Counsel Program with a publicly-traded franchisor. Moreover, Mr. O’Hara serves as primary trial counsel in the New York-New Jersey region in a wide spectrum of general liability matters for one of the world's largest retailers. He received the Bullseye Barrister Award from Target Corporation for outstanding service in December 2007. Mr. O'Hara has managed litigation venued in federal and state courts throughout the United States.

 

In 1999, Mr. O’Hara was distinguished as a nominee for the New Jersey State Bar Association’s “Young Lawyer of the Year” award. The Supreme Court of New Jersey recertified Mr. O'Hara as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney in 2006—a recognition he has enjoyed since 1999. He has also been an Associate in the American Board of Trial Advocates since 2003. Moreover, he is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (2004 to present), a member of the Defense Research Institute's Trial Tactics Steering Committee (2003 to present), and he has been a Master in the Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. Inn of Court since 1996. In addition, Mr. O’Hara serves as Connell Foley’s primary contact with USLAW and was elected to its Board of Directors in 2006. In this regard, he received the O’Hagen Award for outstanding service in October, 2007. Finally, Mr. O'Hara serves as pro bono counsel to the Board of Directors for the September 11, 2001 Children's Fund, Inc., as well as a member of the legal committee for USA Triathlon.

 

During law school, Mr. O'Hara was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society and a member of Phi Kappa Phi and the honor chapter of Phi Delta Phi. Upon graduation, he served as a Law Clerk to Associate Justice Virginia Long, during her 1992-93 term on the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division.

 

 

Practice Areas:

Business Litigation
Product Liability and Tort Law
Professional Liability

 

Admitted to Practice:
State of New Jersey, 1992
State of Colorado, 1994

 

Education:

Mercer County College (A.A., 1986)

University of California at Davis (B.A.,
1988)

Widener University School of Law (J.D.,
cum laude, 1992)

 

Affiliations:

New Jersey State Bar Association,

Colorado State Bar Association

 

News:

Connell Foley Continues Its Support of The IADC Trial Academy (July 2008)

O'Hara to Participate in Panel Discussion on Education

O’Hara, Cromie and Randall Named to Leadership Posts at USLAW Network


 Publications

  • Co-Author of article with Justice Long in New Jersey Lawyer (December, 1993)

  • Co-Author, “Independent Tort Claims for Spoilation” in DRI—For The Defense (July, 2004)

  • Co-Author “The Duty of Corporate Counsel to Preserve Evidence” in Metropolitan Corporate Counsel (September, 2004)

  • Co-Author, Emergency Response Team Coordination in DRI—For the Defense (July, 2006)

Professional Activities

  • Featured Speaker, DRI program entitled “Complex Medicine for Trial Lawyers” (Miami, FL; November, 2003)

  • Co-Chair, DRI program entitled “Complex Medicine” (Santa Monica, CA; November, 2005)

Representative Experience

  • Melville v. US Bancorp Supreme Court of New York (Kings County) Demand - $2.5 million, Offer - $0, 5 days of trial (terms of post-liability verdict resolution confidential);

  • Olan v. Target Corp Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn) Demand - $1.2 million, Offer $100,000, 4 days of trial - no cause of action;

  • Marrero v. Target Corp. Supreme Court of New York (Bronx County) Demand - $5.6 million, Offer - $300,000, 13 days of trial – verdict of $1.3 million (terms of post-verdict resolution confidential);

  • Kone v. SYSCO Food Services of Metro New York Supreme Court of New York (Kings County) Demand - $250,000, Offer - $10,000, 3 days – case resolved during trial for $12,000;

  • Edison Salvage v. Garden State Paper Company Superior Court of New Jersey (Bergen County) Commercial dispute, Demand - $3.25 million, Offer - $260,000, 2 phase trial (1st phase 6 days, 2nd phase 2 days) – verdict of $295,000;

  • White v. Morcos Superior Court of New Jersey (Passaic County) Demand $2 million, Offer – 0, 14 days, directed verdict as to Morcos, $925,000 verdict as to other defendant;

  • Alfone v. Caputo Superior Court of New Jersey (Essex County) Demand - $1 million, Offer – 0, 4 days – no cause for action;

  • Jackson v. Jersey City Medical Center Superior Court of New Jersey (Hudson County) Demand - $75,000, Offer – 0, 5 days – no cause for action;

  • Mansfield v. Rutgers University Superior Court of New Jersey (Middlesex County) Demand - $100,000, Offer – 0, 3 days – no cause for action.