Latest News, Wins & Articles

Workers’ Compensation Partner Joins Capehart Scatchard

Capehart Scatchard is pleased to announce that Jennifer A. Cottell, Esq. has recently joined its growing Workers’ Compensation Practice as a shareholder. Ms. Cottell, a Metuchen resident, focuses her practice in the representation of employers, self-insured companies, and insurance...
April 19, 2018
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Capehart Scatchard Attorneys Recognized As Super Lawyers

Capehart Scatchard is pleased to announce that the following shareholders have recently been named “Super Lawyers” as voted by their peers and facilitated by Law & Politics and New Jersey Monthly: Amy  Goldstein (Family Law) and Betsy Ramos (Business Litigation).  Fewer than 5% of...
April 10, 2018
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Capehart Scatchard Welcomes Primitivo J. Cruz to Trenton Office

Capehart Scatchard is pleased to announce that a new Shareholder, Primitivo J. Cruz, Esq., has joined the Regulatory and Governmental Affairs Department in its Trenton office. Mr. Cruz advises clients on employment, administrative/regulatory, and complex litigation matters.  His pr...
March 23, 2018
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Failure to Timely Serve Tort Claims Act Notice Upon Defendant Bars Claim

Plaintiff alleges that she was injured when she fell into an uncovered trench drain at Snyder High School, operated by the Jersey City Board of Education. The day after the accident she delivered a note to the school advising of the accident. In Hernandez v. Snyder High School, 2018 N...
February 28, 2018
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Love is in the Air, But Should It Be in the Workplace?

A question that I frequently receive in my practice is:  should a company implement any sort of dating policy for employees, or even go so far as to actually ban such relationships totally among its employees? As hard as it might be to believe, it was not long ago when such policie...
February 28, 2018
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Recent Win: Perkins v. County of Monmouth, MON-L-2916-17

Client: County of Monmouth Brief Attorney:  Jessica M. Anderson, Esq. Plaintiff suffered a broken collar bone, two fractured vertebrae, and required fifty stitches to his head when he dove into a piling at Whiting Beach.  Plaintiff claimed that the area was marked off by flags indic...
February 28, 2018
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Recent Win: Colgan v. County of Monmouth, Docket Number MON-L-1761-16

Client: County of Monmouth Brief Attorney:  Jessica M. Anderson, Esq. Plaintiff suffered an injury to his hand requiring open reduction and internal fixation surgery when he tripped on the lip of a sidewalk which abutted a gravel parking lot.  Plaintiff’s liability expert opined tha...
February 27, 2018
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Recent Win: Beiu v. Mall Chevrolet, Inc.

Client: The Defendant Employer, Mall Chevrolet, Inc. Trial Attorney:  Laura D. Ruccolo, Esq. The Plaintiff, who was an immigrant from Moldavia claimed that he was the victim if discrimination based on his national origin.  Plaintiff alleged that he followed his employer’s anti-discr...
February 20, 2018
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Recent Win: Porch v. McRech, Inc.

Client: Employer, McRech Inc. Trial Attorney:  Laura D. Ruccolo, Esq. The Plaintiff claimed that her co-workers were engaging in inappropriate conversations of a sexual nature and that created a hostile work environment. Plaintiff did not utilize the company’s anti-harassment policy...
February 20, 2018
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Capehart Scatchard Admits Four New Shareholders

Capehart Scatchard is pleased to announce that four attorneys were admitted as shareholders to the 141 year old law firm.  The new shareholders at Capehart Scatchard are: Karen E. Gibson – Workers’ Compensation Department John R. Hewlett – Litigation Department John W. Pszw...
January 29, 2018
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Due Diligence for Independent Practice: An Introductory Overview

There are many reasons why a physician would want to be in “independent practice” and equally as many why that might be difficult to achieve. Independence might mean being part of a physician-led network or it might mean operating a completely stand-alone practice. In either case, the...
December 27, 2017

A Rich History & Tradition

Capehart Scatchard, P.A.

Founded in 1876, Capehart Scatchard is one of the oldest law firms, and oldest businesses, in New Jersey. A full-service, diversified law firm of more than 90 attorneys practicing in offices throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware, Capehart Scatchard diligently serves the transaction and litigation needs of insurance companies, banks, large and small businesses, public entities, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, governments, entrepreneurs, and individuals.

Capehart Scatchard is steadfastly committed to providing clients with superior legal services in a prompt manner and at a reasonable cost, through a sound technical knowledge of the law, the skills needed to communicate clearly and frequently with clients, and, most importantly, a practical understanding of how to work efficiently, effectively, and determinedly.

Cost-efficiency harmonizes with positive results at Capehart Scatchard. The firm staffs client matters according to task, utilizing shareholders and associates when appropriate to deliver the best product and service in an economical, reliable, and sensible manner. Capehart Scatchard avoids needless paperwork and procedures, concentrating instead on charting smart, direct courses of actions, which lay solid case foundations.

More About Our Firm

Regional Reach

Office Locations

New Jersey

Mt. Laurel

8000 Midlantic Dr., Ste 300S
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054-5016
Phone: 856-234-6800
Fax: 856-235-2786

Trenton

142 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone: 609-394-2400
Fax: 609-394-3470

Holmdel

31 West Main Street
Holmdel, NJ 07733
Phone: 732-526-1128
Fax: 732-526-1129

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

1515 Market Street, Suite 1200
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: 215-825-8329
Fax: 215-825-2512

New York

New York City

55 Broadway, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10006
Phone: 646-600-7154
Fax: 646-600-7155

Elmira

1 West Church Street
Elmira, NY 14901
Phone: 607-428-8877
Fax: 607-428-8876

Experience That Runs Deep

Our Practices

Capehart Scatchard has a long-standing commitment to staffing client matters according to the task at hand. Every matter is assigned and supervised by a skillful attorney who is accountable to deliver the best work product and provide service in an effective and cost-efficient manner.

Litigation
Workers' Compensation
Real Estate & Land Use
Healthcare
Employment & Labor
Education
Business & Tax
Banking & Finance
Governmental Affairs
Public Finance
Family Law
Wills, Trusts & Estates

Experience You Value, People You Can Trust

Our People

Capehart Scatchard recognizes one of its greatest assets: its people. We have created the right mix of professionals at every level to make this philosophy work. Our lawyers bring impressive credentials from other firms or positions in government or business to join with Capehart lawyers who have established outstanding track records during their long careers with us. Our attorneys are supported by trained paralegals, secretaries, and administrative personnel working in a modern facility with state-of-the-art technology.

We strive to exceed our clients’ expectations. The relationship between client and attorney must be based upon respect, trust, and mutual confidence. We value clear, open communication in our constant effort to help our clients understand their legal matters and the services we can provide, tailoring our level of service to achieve the client’s objectives.

View Our Experienced Attorneys
Thomas J. Hastie Jr.
Phone: 856-914-2043
Thomas J. Hastie, Jr. joined Capehart Scatchard in December, 2011 to manage the firm’s public finance practice. He practices in the area of public finance law, project financing and redevelopment. In addition to his practice for governmental clients, Mr. Hastie is a counselor to the New Jersey League of Municipalities on economic development and redevelopment matters and served on the Executive Committee of the Northern New Jersey District Council of the Urban Land Institute. He is also a public member of the New Jersey Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission. Since 1998, Mr. Hastie was with the firm of McManimon and Scotland, L.L.C. Prior to entering the private practice of law in 1998, he was assistant counsel to the Senate Minority Office in Trenton, New Jersey.

Thomas J. Hastie Jr.

Shareholder

Ralph R. Smith, 3rd
Phone: 856-914-2079
Co-Chair Employment & Labor Practice. Mr. Smith practices in employment litigation and preventative employment practices, including counseling employers on the creation of employment policies, non-compete and trade secret agreements, and training employers to avoid employment-related litigation. He represents both companies and individuals in related complex commercial litigation before federal states courts and administrative agencies in labor and employment cases including race, gender, age, national origin, disability and workplace harassment and discrimination matters, wage-and-hour disputes, restrictive covenants, grievances, arbitration, drug testing, and employment related contract issues.

Ralph R. Smith, 3rd

Shareholder

Melissa L. Mignogna
Phone: 856-813-4134
Ms. Mignogna has broad experience in all aspects of family law, including divorce, prenuptial agreements, separation agreement, business and other asset valuations, custody and visitation, child support, alimony, DYFS cases, adoption, equitable distribution, annulments and domestic violence.

Melissa L. Mignogna

Shareholder

Karen E. Gibson
Phone: 856-840-4934
Ms. Gibson focuses her practice in the representation of employers, self-insured companies, and insurance carriers in workers’ compensation defense matters.

Karen E. Gibson

Shareholder

Michelle Yee
Ms. Yee focuses her practice in the representation of employers, self-insured companies, and insurance carriers in workers’ compensation defense matters. Prior to joining Capehart Scatchard, Michelle served as a Judicial Law Clerk to The Honorable Timika Lane and a Judicial Intern to The Honorable Arnold New, Complex Litigation Center, First Judicial District.

Michelle Yee

Associate