W. James Jakobowski has over seventeen years intensive trial experience in the civil and criminal courts of both New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Mr. Jakobowski recently broke new legal ground in a case of first impression decided by the Appellate Division, Bedell vs. St Joseph's Carptenter Society, 367 N.J. Super. 225 (2004). In that case, the plaintiff was seriously injured as the result of a trip and fall over a tree stump on the grassy strip between the cement sidewalk and curb in front of a commercial premises. The trial court dismissed the Complaint, and we appealed the matter to the Appellate Division. As a matter of first impression, the Appellate Division reversed the trial court and decided that the abutting commercial property owner was responsible for proper maintenance of the grassy strip between the sidewalk and the curb. The case was returned to the lower courts for trial. In another recent prominent case, the firm recovered over $4.5 million dollars in the Camden County Superior Court in a complex contract litigation involving the wrongful termination of a trash hauler's contract. It is believed to be one of the highest verdicts ever recovered in such a case. The case was tried to conclusion by Vincent P. Sarubbi, a former partner of the firm, who is now Camden County Prosecutor.

In addition to an extensive litigation practice, the firm also serves as counsel to several small to medium size businesses in the Southern New Jersey area.

Areas of Practice

• Estate Planning
• Family Law
• Insurance Law
• Personal Injury -- Defense
• Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
• Real Estate Law
• Workers' Compensation Law

Litigation Percentage

• 80% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

• New Jersey, 1987
• Pennsylvania, 1987
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1987
• U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1987
• U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1987

Education

• Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, Delaware, 1987
  J.D.
  
  
• University of Pennsylvania, 1973
  B.A.
  Major: History
  
  

Representative Cases

• Bedell vs. St. Joseph's Carpenter Society, 367 N.J. Super. 515 (Appellate Division 2004)

Representative Clients

• Commercial Hardware, Inc.
• Joe Canal's Discount Liquor Marts

References

• Equity Bank
• American Express

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Camden County Bar Association
  
  
• New Jersey Bar Association
  
  

Birth Information

• 1951, New York City, New York, United States of America