Benchmark Litigation

New Jersey

Review

Dispute resolution
Sills Cummis & Gross

Newark’s Sills Cummis & Gross enjoys a prestigious position as one of the Garden State’s frequent recipients of premium-level litigation. A client cheers the firm as "excellent generally, especially on communication of all facets of litigation. They are our only choice, we've had no reason to try others." A peer concedes, “I just don’t know of another firm their size in [New] Jersey that has that big and varied of a litigation bench.” Another client speaks specifically to the firm’s employment capacity: “We have had a variety of external challenges (non-competes, non-solicit, proactive legal protection topics) as well as internal HR-related topics that we have needed advice and guidance on. Sills Cummis’ responsiveness is unparalleled. Their attention to detail, deep understanding of the law and its implications on our business, and the level of trust that has been established is fantastic.”
     The employment litigator singled out by a client is Patricia Prezioso, who makes her debut in this edition. “She is incredibly responsive and caring, and I know that she is focused on taking care of my and my company's needs.  [She is] Always available and incredible to work with, and [she is] one of the most strategic people I have worked with.” Others making their debut in this edition include Thomas Della Croce, about whom a peer insists, “He is super ethical. He’s respected by the adversaries even though he beats them up!” Michael Carucci also makes his debut appearance as a future star. “He has had a hot year,” confirms a peer. “He works with [appellate specialist] Peter Verneiro all the time.” Carucci wrote the briefs for a case successfully argued by Jeffrey Greenbaum for the SPARC Group on behalf of Aeropostale in a major consumer-fraud case before the New Jersey Supreme Court. In March 2024, the Court reversed the Appellate Division’s broad-reaching decision that had found, for the first time, that a retailer violates the Consumer Fraud Act when it sells a product at a discount if it cannot prove it recently sold the product at the full original price. Plaintiffs, who never sought to return the goods, complained that they were defrauded when they purchased, among other items, a hoodie on a 60% off sale for $24.” A peer voices the observation, “That was some good lawyering, because if I was the judge, ehhh…I might have gone the other way!” Verneiro meanwhile represented a Catholic school within the Archdiocese of Newark in a case in a case concerning the school’s separation from a teacher who acknowledged that she had violated certain tenets of the Catholic Church. After the teacher filed an employment discrimination lawsuit, the trial court twice granted summary judgment in favor of the school, and the Appellate Division twice reversed. Verniero was then called in to argue before the New Jersey Supreme Court on behalf of the school in April 2023 and, in August, the Court ruled in favor of the school. A peer quips, “Many firms wouldn’t have the…I’ll just say ‘nerve’…to take on a case like that – there’s not a lot of ‘curb appeal’ to it! – but Peter was up for it, and it paid off for him.” Joseph Fiorenzo represented a neurosurgery practice in connection with the revocation of their clinical privileges by Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey. His oral argument was delivered in November 2023, and the New Jersey Supreme Court’s decision is pending.