Author Archives: vlm

Thomas Vesper help to secure the third largest verdict in Atlantic County, NJ for a 16 year old boy with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. After a 24-day trial, on July 31, 2024, an Atlantic County Superior Court jury of 4 men and 4 women, presided over by the Hon. Danielle J. Walcoff, handed down a verdict of $37,548,096 to a 16 year old boy with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. The award was broken down as follows:

• (1) $ 3,455,923 for future lost earnings;
• (2) $ 5,481,023 for future life care expenses; and
• (3) $29,021,150 for disability, impairment, loss of enjoyment of life and pain & suffering

The plaintiff minor was born on June 10, 2008 at Shore Memorial Hospital. The plaintiff’s mother’s labor and delivery was augmented by the use of Pitocin, a synthetic medication that was known to increase the frequency, duration and intensity of uterine contractions. In fact the Pitocin manufacturer’s product warning cautioned medical professionals, such as OB/GYN doctors and labor and delivery nurses of the dangers of increasing the administration of this drug.

Plaintiff counsel claimed the on-call obstetrician and the two nurses monitoring the mother’s labor and delivery did not properly manage the Pitocin use, causing excessive uterine activity and excessive pressure on the fetal brain causing a stroke on the right side of the child’s brain. The jury found the doctor and the two nurses to be negligent and 100% responsible for the boy’s injuries – the two nurses were 80%, at fault and doctor 20% at fault for causing the brain damage.

Let’s look at swimming pool liability and what you can do to reduce it. If you have a pool in your backyard, it is great for entertaining guests and beating the heat, but it also increases your personal liability. When you have guests over and an accident happens in your pool, you could be at risk for a personal injury lawsuit.

To reduce your swimming pool liability, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Build a Fence. In most townships and counties, private swimming pools require a fence. If your township or county does not require, your pool should be enclosed with a fence, especially one that is difficult for children or others to climb.

A fence is necessary to reduce the risk of injury or accidental drowning. To protect your swimming pool liability your fence should also include:

Gates that automatically shut. A spring-loaded gate will close on its own, so you don’t have to worry about someone accidentally leaving it open allowing a small child to wander unattended into the pool area.

Latches that are childproof. When you install latches, place them on the inside of the fence near the top, so that children cannot gain access to them without an adult.

See-through panels. Most people install fences for privacy, but when you have a pool, being able to see your pool from the house or other parts of your property allows you to know if anyone is near the pool unattended.

Pool covers. Investing in a complete pool cover not only cuts down on maintenance but will help prevent accidental drownings. Install a pool cover that can be attached to the side of the pool deck, making it taut and impenetrable.

Train household members in CPR and basic first aid. All members of your household should be trained in CPR and basic first aid. Drowning is not the only risk associated with pools, there are also head injuries, scrapes, cuts and limb injuries due to pool drains.

Clean up and store pool toys when not in use. When your pool is not in use, it is important to put away all pool floats and toys, so that children are not tempted to use them.

Homeowner’s Insurance. Your homeowner’s insurance should include coverage for any potential accidents associated with the pool. A $1 million umbrella policy in addition to your homeowner policy is the recommended minimum.

At Westmoreland Vesper & Quattrone, we specialize in personal injury, wrongful death and commercial litigation. We have a long history of service to the local community dating back over 50 years. To date we have recovered well over $250,000,000 in compensation of damages for our clients and their families. For a free, confidential consultation, give us a call today at 609-645-1111.

Most people think that when amusement ride injuries occur, it is usually fatal or catastrophic, but that is not always the case. While the media gravitates toward those type of amusement park ride accidents because it makes for a good story, most ride injuries are non-fatal.

A 2014 study in the LA Times stated that dizziness, nausea and fainting were the most common ride injuries. These injuries account for almost 1 out of 5 amusement ride injuries. The study also pointed to the fact that injuries occur far more often on older amusement park rides than on newer ones. Generally, people suffer from head, neck and back injuries because of the motion of the rides like fast turns and drops. Injuries at amusement parks can be the result of roller coaster accidents, rides like Ferris wheels or swinging rides that malfunction, water rides and slides and wave pools.

Serious amusement ride injuries that can occur are:

• Deadly falls
• Traumatic brain injury
• Strokes and heart attacks
• Brain aneurysms
• Paralysis
• Drowning
• Lacerations
• Broken bones and torn ligaments

If you or a loved one has been injured on an amusement park ride, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss the extent of your injuries. Your attorney will work with you to determine all liable parties in order to get you the compensation that you deserve. Call today for a free and confidential consultation. We can help!

When should you seek legal counsel due to scarring and disfigurement? Scarring and Disfigurement issues due to accidents, animal bites, and corrective surgeries are more common than you would believe. It can be difficult to determine when it is necessary to contact a lawyer when faced with a scarring situation.

Scars are a visual reminder of what was probably a traumatic or life-altering experience and that alone can cause mental and emotional anguish for a lifetime. At Westmoreland Vesper and Quattrone, we are dedicated to helping you gain back your dignity and confidence after suffering the consequences of an unfortunate scarring event.

Should I seek law assistance for a scar?

Filing an injury lawsuit for a scarring incident is a necessary step for those who are struggling to continue their everyday lives due to scars or disfigurement. Typically, scarring cases that occur from accidents like burns, animal bites, or surgery issues are brought to our firm in hopes of medical expenses being rectified.

Scar tissue comes in different forms and can be a painful problem for many victims. Reconstructive surgery can be costly and despite the effort of surgeons, some victims are unable to have their skin restored to its natural state. This can cause issues when attempting to obtain certain jobs and can certainly alter your way of living. When you contact us, we will help build your case to assure that you receive appropriate compensation to get back to your normal life.

Is my scar valid for a case?

If you’ve suffered an injury that resulted in a terrible scar contact Westmoreland Vesper and Quattrone for assistance with your injury and scarring or disfigurement case, as we are determined to bring you justice and peace of mind after what could have been a traumatic event.

Have You Had Recent Scarring and Disfigurement?
REQUEST FREE CONSULTATION

We are very excited to announce that our very own Dara Quattrone will be moderating MEDICINE FOR LAWYERS: A TO Z TRAUMA TREATMENT on Monday, June 28, 2021. This seminar is one of the programs being offered at the annual Boardwalk Seminar sponsored by the New Jersey Association for Justice.

This year marks the 40th Annual Boardwalk Seminar, which is attended by over 2,000 lawyers each year.

Dara has been working with the medical community to educate attorneys on cutting edge medical issues typically seen related to injury found in car accident, premises and other personal injury claims.

Dara has been working with the medical community to educate attorneys since the inception of this program in 2012.

The 2021 Boardwalk Seminar agenda will cover:

• Surgical Pain Alternatives
• Surgical Alternatives for Spinal Pain
• Spinal Cord Implants & Stimulators
• Modern Technology in Orthopedics
• Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery
• Robotics in Shoulder and Hips
• Latest in Spine Surgery
• Robotic Spine Surgery
• RSD Pain

The seminar is an annual event sponsored by the New Jersey Association for Justice. Boardwalk Seminar® 2021 will feature 28 programs presented in 102 separate webinars for trial attorneys and includes outstanding local and regional speakers along with top national speakers, delivered to your door as a virtual event. Social and multimedia features will be available right at your fingertips to engage with fellow attendees, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors.

Dara A. Quattrone is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney with extensive trial experience in personal injury claims including injuries related to auto crashes, dangerous conditions of property and professional negligence. She is a graduate of the National College of Trial Advocacy of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the Plaintiff Trial Academy of the New Jersey Trial Lawyers Association.

When you are involved in an auto accident, you are often upset, feeling a little scattered and it can be hard to think clearly. People often make mistakes when they have been involved in accident that could hurt your case. Here are the top 5 mistakes people make when involved in an accident:

1. NOT GETTING IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE.

If you are hurt in an auto accident, you need to seek medical care immediately. Insurance companies will often use it against you, often arguing that if you were injured, then you would have sought medical attention. If you are experiencing any pain after being involved in an auto accident, no matter how minor you think your pain is, go directly to an ER or urgent care center in order to document your injuries.

2. NOT GETTING FOLLOW UP MEDICAL TREATMENT.

After you have received initial medical attention for your injuries, insurance companies pay great attention to whether follow-up medical treatment is necessary, is performed and is consistent. Trauma specialists often advocate beginning therapeutic modalities promptly. When follow-up treatment is delayed or inconsistent, it can lead to difficulties in getting authorizations and can affect medical-legal issues in establishing causation. To avoid these issues, it is important to seek treatment with a trauma care specialist promptly.

3. ADOPTING A WAIT AND SEE APPROACH.

It is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible after being involved in an auto accident. In accident case, there may often be important evidence that needs to be preserved. Some claims require that notice of claim to the potential adverse party. If you wait, you can be sure that the insurance company is working to limit their exposure to pay you less.

4. TRUSTING THE INSURANCE COMPANY.

Insurance companies often want you to believe that they are on your side, but this is not always the case. You need to be cautious and be aware of quick cash offers which will not accurately reflect the full economic and non-economic value of your claim. Before you accept any cash offer to settle your injury claim, contact an experienced attorney first.

5. TALKING WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY BEFORE TALKING TO AN ATTORNEY.

After an being involved in an auto accident, you will need to contact your insurance company and property damage adjusters in order to report the claim and subsequently schedule an inspection of your vehicle. These are important and should not be avoided. But, there are a few things to consider before when talking to your insurance company before talking to an attorney. First, the insurance company may try to record a statement from you, which they may use against you to deny your claim. Or they may ask you to sign something that ends you claim altogether, which usually results in very low offers than which your are entitled.

If you or a family member has been injured, due to the negligence of others, please call us at (609) 645-1111 to learn more. We would be happy to arrange for a confidential free consultation.

We recently celebrated Tom Vesper’s, 50th year as a member of the Atlantic County Bar Association. It was a great honor to be among the many Honorable Judges, Lawyers, and Community Supporters.

Tom Vesper is being awarded the Gerald B. O’Connor Award at the New Jersey Association for Justice dinner on 2/23/23. The 2023 Gerald B. O’Connor Award will be presented to:

• Clarence A. Barry-Austin, Esq.;
• ​​​​Donald A. Caminiti, Esq.;
• Donald M. Lomurro, Esq.;
• Kathleen M. Reilly, Esq.; and
• Thomas J. Vesper, Esq.

The NJAJ Board of Governors created the Gerald B. O’Connor Award to honor the memory of Gerald B. O’Connor, who was an extraordinary trial lawyer who earned the respect of colleagues and adversaries alike for his brilliant skill and professionalism as well as his humanity. The award is presented to veteran current or former NJAJ members who, like Gerald B. O’Connor, have had a stellar legal career and:

1. Have exhibited skill as a trial attorney

2. Have exhibited creativity as a trial attorney

3. Have exhibited professionalism as a trial attorney

Congratulations to Tom on this great achievement!

WV&Q partners, Dara Quattrone and Tom Vesper will be speaking at the New Jersey Association for Justice Educational Foundation, Inc.’s Winter Seminar scheduled for Thursday, February 24, 2022, at The Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset, NJ. Dara, who is also the co-chair of the program along with Reno Ciccotta, will be delivering a message about a success story related to Cina (Auto) Spinal Injuries with Surgery cases and Thomas will be delivering a 45 minute speech about Wrongful Death cases.

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We would with our friends at RE/MAX Platinum Properties like to put out this handy guide to buying, selling and renting a home. Thanks RE/MAX for allowing us to share our knowledge on the legal process of buying and selling a home.

View The Guide