TRIAL: Co-counsel on trial team generating the largest nursing home verdict in New Jersey history, Dwyer v. Harbor view – in the amount of $13,200,000..
After hearing 7 weeks of evidence and witnesses, the jury returned with the largest verdict in Hudson County history. Immediately following the verdict, numerous post-verdict filings were made by both the plaintiff and the defense. Over one year after the verdict, the trial judge determined that it had given improper instructions to the jury, as a consequence of the opinions expressed in the text of an unrelated decision released on a different case (that had not been released until nearly a year after this verdict). However, the content of the instructions at issue in Dwyer were agreed upon by Plaintiff, the defense and the Court itself. The Court ordered the parties to re-try the case. Soon, the case found its way before the Appellate Division (a higher-level court), with Plaintiff’s contention the trial court’s instructions were proper, were wholly in line with the as-yet unreleased and unrelated decision and were unassailable by virtue of the fact that they were acceded to by the defense.
For those reasons, Plaintiff’s filing with the Appellate Division demanded that the $13,200,00 verdict remain intact.
While that issue was pending in the appellate court, the case resolved confidentially for an undisclosed sum.
Dwyer remains the largest nursing home verdict in New Jersey history.
PUBLICATIONS: Cohen has published a myriad of articles on all aspects of long term care litigation.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: Nursing home/long term care depositions, Assisted living facilities, The interrelationship between assisted living facilities and nursing homes, Affidavit of Merit issues, When assisted living facilities can qualify as nursing homes under the applicable legal standards and numerous others.
Cohen has lectured extensively in 16 states and abroad as a national leading expert in Nursing Home
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
New Jersey
Since 1989
3rd Circuit
Since 1989
Professional Experience
Current
Cohen Abuse Analytics Law, LLC
Founder
Education
1989
Rutgers School of Law-Camden
J.D. | Law
1986
The George Washington University Law School
B.A. | Economics and Philosophy
Contacts
Cohen Abuse Analytics Law, LLC331 Newman Springs Rd, Building 1 4th Floor, Suite 143 Red Bank NJ 07701Telephone: (609) 815-0808Fax: (609) 858-7406
Richard R. Cohen, a Certified Civil Trial Attorney with Stark & Stark in Lawrenceville, N.J., sits down with Robert Ramsey to discuss the horrors possible when there is a locked ward for Alzheimer's patients in an ALF (Assisted Living Facility), as well as his opinion on why this happens, his approach to preparing a case, and the genesis of the "Resident's Rights" statutes that now guide his practice.
He can be reached at 609-895-7344 or at dcohen@stark-stark.com.
