Firm News

Mt. Laurel, NJ – – Capehart Scatchard Shareholder, Lora V. Northen, Esq. recently spoke on “How to Settle Future Medicals and Comply with the Medicare Secondary Payer Act” at the National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network’s (“NWCDN”) Spring 2015 Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

Currently serving a two-year term as President of NWCDN, Ms. Northen participated in a panel discussion with three other attorneys from around the country discussing current issues impacting workers’ compensation from a Medical Secondary Payer standpoint.

In addition to her responsibilities as Co-Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Department, Ms. Northen, a Pennsauken resident, focuses her practice in the representation of employers, self-insured companies, and insurance carriers.  Certified as a trial attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey in Workers’ Compensation Law, Ms. Northen is a member of the New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Burlington County and Camden County Bar Associations.  Ms. Northen is also a Fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Attorneys for the American Bar Association.  She is a frequent speaker on workers’ compensation issues before a myriad of trade organizations.

Mt. Laurel, NJ – – Capehart Scatchard Shareholder Thomas J. Walls, Jr., Esq. recently addressed attendees at a conference sponsored by NovaCare in Burlington, New Jersey.  His presentation was entitled “The Industrial Athlete.”

Mr. Walls spoke on recent cases and trends in workers’ compensation.  Additionally, he addressed workers’ compensation case law in New Jersey on the premises rule and statute of limitations.

Mr. Walls, a Hamilton Township resident, is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Workers’ Compensation Law attorney. He focuses his practice in workers’ compensation matters defense matters and also has extensive experience in the litigation of personal injury matters.

Mt. Laurel, NJ – Robert J. Norcia was the recipient of the 16th Annual Blaine E. Capehart Legal Writing Award, presented at the law firm of Capehart Scatchard on May 19th.  The award recipient graduated from Rutgers School of Law in Camden on May 21, 2015.

The Mt. Laurel-based firm presented Mr. Norcia with a $2,500 award in recognition of his exemplary legal writing and research abilities.  The Firm offers this award to a graduating Rutgers – Camden law student on an annual basis in honor of the late Blaine E. Capehart.

Managing Shareholder Peter S. Bejsiuk opened the ceremony with a few introductory remarks before calling Bruce L. Harrison to the podium. Addressing the audience gathered for the presentation of the award to Mr. Norcia, Mr. Harrison, Co-Chair of the Mediation and Dispute Resolution Department, said that he wanted to share the original motivation for the award.  Specifically, Mr. Harrison indicated that there were three intersecting principles behind the award, those being celebrating, (1) the amazing career of Mr. Capehart; (2) his values, especially the importance he placed on excellence; (3) how the firm’s relationship with Rutgers is integral to preserving Mr. Capehart’s values, especially excellence.  On the last point, Mr. Harrison noted that 33 percent of the firm’s 90 lawyers are Rutgers graduates, and that Rutgers alums regularly demonstrate the maturity, work ethic and character Mr. Capehart so highly valued.

Capehart & Scatchard is pleased to announce that Gina Zippilli, Esq. was nominated and then selected as one of 50 attorneys that were designated as “New Leaders of the Bar” state-wide.  A seven-judge panel reviewed all nominations throughout New Jersey and narrowed their list down to reflect only those attorneys that exhibited the qualities and experience that make each of them a 2015 New Leader.

Gina is the first attorney from Capehart to be selected as a New Leader of the Bar.  She is a shareholder of the firm and practices in its Litigation Department.  Presently, her clients have retained her to provide a defense in personal injury, premises and tort defense liability cases.  However, her background is one of versatility, having litigated cases involving complex commercial disputes, legal malpractice and intellectual property retention.  Her client base is mainly devoted to national corporations as well as liability and property insurance carriers.

Gina is also well known for her litigation blog “Legally Speaking.”  It provides readers with informative and well-written summaries of relevant changes in case law and legislation pertaining to litigation defense.  On the lighter side, her blog is usually accompanied by a hand-drawn cartoon entitled  “falsely accused,” created and drawn by Gina, and is a spoof of situations all trial attorneys will recognize.

Gina is admitted in the State of New Jersey; the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; the United States District Court the District of New Jersey; the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.  She is also in the process of obtaining her law license in New York.

Gina attended and graduated from Rutgers School of Law in Camden, New Jersey, where she was the Case Law Editor of the Rutgers Law Review.  She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Rutgers University in Camden, NJ where she selected to join “Psi Chi,” the National Honors Society in Psychology.  Afterwards, she was selected as the Law Clerk to the Honorable Sylvia B. Pressler, Presiding Judge of Administration, New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division, from 2002-2003.

Gina is also a Certified Chaplin for Disaster Relief Counseling and received her training through Billy Graham Ministries.  In her earlier years, she was employed through the Moorestown, New Jersey public school system as a counselor teaching behavioral techniques to children with autism.

The selected New Leaders of the Bar will be profiled in a magazine article in July of this year, and will gather to be honored in person on September 17, 2015 at the Brooklake Country Club, 130 Brooklake Road, Florham Park, NJ.

Capehart Scatchard is pleased to announce that John R. Hewlett, Jr., Esq. has recently joined its Litigation Department as an associate in the Mt. Laurel office.

Mr. Hewlett, a Philadelphia resident, focuses his practice in general litigation throughout the courts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey with a concentration on tort defense matters.

Mr. Hewlett received his law degree from Widener University School of Law and his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Temple University, Fox School of Business.  He is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Mt. Laurel, NJ – – Capehart Scatchard is pleased to announce that Katheryn Eisenmann, Esq., an associate in Firm’s Labor and Employment Group, has recently been selected to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of South Jersey Young Professionals Association (“SJYPA”).   Eisenmann has also volunteered to co-chair a fundraiser to be held on June 4, 2015 for Catholic Partnerships Schools (“CPS”): a partnership of five elementary schools located in Camden, New Jersey that is committed to providing children (many of whom are impoverished) with the opportunity to achieve an excellent education and participate in otherwise unavailable extracurricular activities.  The two-part event features a happy hour at PBR Bar and Grill followed by a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park.

SJYPA is known as the premier group of young charitable men and women in South Jersey. A collection of community-minded professionals ages 21-45, SJYPA collaborates for the betterment of the community and is the largest, most influential organized group of charitable young professionals in South Jersey.  In February, the group hosted its annual Halo Ball and raised $50,000 for Camp No-Worries: a summer camp for children with cancer and their siblings to attend at no cost.  For that event, Eisenmann served as the Auction Co-Chair which substantially contributed to the overall funds donated to Camp No-Worries.

Ms. Eisenmann, a graduate of Rutgers Camden School of Law, focuses her practice in the representation of private and public sector employers in the areas of labor and employment and civil rights law matters, as well as litigation arising from these disputes.

Mt. Laurel, NJ – – Capehart Scatchard is pleased to announce that John W. Pszwaro, Esq. recently joined the Firm’s Workers’ Compensation Department in its Mt. Laurel office.

Mr. Pszwaro, a Collingswood resident, represents insurance carriers and employers in the defense of workers’ compensation claims at all stages of litigation.

Mr. Pszwaro received his law degree from Rutgers University Law School of Law in Camden and his B.A. degree in Spanish Literature and Culture from Stockton University.  Upon law school graduation, Mr. Pszwaro worked as a law clerk to the Honorable David W. Morgan, in the New Jersey Superior Court, Gloucester County Vicinage.

Mt. Laurel, NJ – – Workers’ Compensation Attorney and firm Shareholder, Michael L. Bileci, Esq.,   recently spoke at a seminar sponsored by Brown & Brown Public Risk Advisors of New Jersey.

Mr. Bileci spoke on the topics of “Recent Cases and Trends in Workers’ Compensation” and “Key Defenses in Workers’ Compensation.”  Mr. Bileci summarized recent Appellate Division and Division of Workers’ Compensation cases impacting workers’ compensation law in New Jersey.  Additionally, he addressed the defenses of fraud, statute of limitations issues, and the going and coming rule.

Mr. Bileci, a Woodbury resident, represents insurance carriers and employers in the defense of workers’ compensation claims at all stages of litigation.  He received his law degree from Widener University School of Law, cum laude and his B.A. degree from Saint Joseph’s University, cum laude.  He is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Mt. Laurel, NJ – – Capehart Scatchard Shareholder, John H. Geaney, Esq., recently spoke at the New Jersey Self Insurers’ Association Spring Conference held at Harrah’s Resort and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Mr. Geaney’s presentation was titled, “Guess the Defense.”   His talk featured the presentation of several scenarios covering all the defenses in workers’ compensation. The audience was then asked to guess the defense covered by the scenario and whether it was compensable or not.

Mt. Laurel, NJ – Capehart Scatchard is pleased to announce that Andrew C. Rimol has joined the firm as a member of the Government Affairs Department in the firm’s Trenton office.

A resident of Medford, New Jersey, Mr. Rimol focuses his practice on governmental, administrative/regulatory, and complex litigation matters.  He represents governmental and private entities, as well as individuals, with respect to laws governing employment, civil service and municipal matters.

Mr. Rimol received his law degree from Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware, graduating cum laude in 2007, and his B.S. degree in Criminological Studies from The College of New Jersey.  Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Rimol served as a law clerk to the Honorable Evan H.C. Crook, in the New Jersey Superior Court, Burlington County Vicinage, and is certified by the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts in Mediation and Conciliation.