In Your Time Of Need

Donald A. Caminiti

Contact Me:

Biography

The practice of representing victims of negligence hasn't changed dramatically over all these years. We're still trying to help grievously injured people get on their feet again. What has changed is there is now a concerted effort by the insurance industry to discredit the jury system. A lot of money has been spent by the wrongdoers lobby to promote the idea that a jury composed of ordinary citizens, a jury of one's peers, is somehow incapable of making a sound reasoned judgment.

Many people see attorneys in a courtroom and marvel at their presentation, their skills and oratory. But the fact is there is much, much preparation behind the courtroom drama. Someone once said there are no lions in the courtroom, just drudges back at the office. There are plenty of 12-hour days, and lots of pressure in preparing a case for trial.

I have worked on many difficult cases in which a dangerous manufacturer, a negligent doctor or a careless driver caused an injury. Some of those cases have taken years to resolve, but we've been able to do what's right and what's in the best interest of our client. Unfortunately, many of those cases are settled with confidentiality agreements, so we can't disclose the problem that caused the accident and injury in the first place. That is unfortunate. Society would be much better off if we abolished confidentiality agreements so that the wrongdoer's conduct could be exposed for all to see.

My work has garnered considerable recognition. Most recently, I ranked #3 in the 2020 edition of New Jersey Super Lawyers. I have ranked in the top-10 five times previously, as well as 7 inclusions to the top-100.

I enjoy what I do - working within our civil justice system to help obtain for my clients a fair and just resolution of their case.

Education

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey School of Law - Newark, Newark, New Jersey
- J.D. - 1976
Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey
- B.A. - 1973
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
- Major: History

Classes & Seminars

"Legal Responsibility During Gymnastic Lesson", Montclair State College Gymnastic Safety Workshop, 1980
"Legal Responsibility During Gymnastic Lesson", Montclair State College Gymnastic Safety Workshop, 1981
"Legal Responsibility During Gymnastic Lesson", Montclair State College Gymnastic Safety Workshop, 1983
"Basic Course in trial Advocacy", National College of Advocacy, 1983
"Legal Consideration: Review of Law in Evaluating Cases For Selection - Variations In Law Between New York and New Jersey", American College of Legal Medicine, 1984
"How To Win trip, Slip and Fall Cases", ATLA - New Jersey Seminar, 1989
"Social Host Liability", People's Law School, Bergen Community College, 1989
"Auto Insurance: A Problem we All Must Live With", 1989
"Emotional Distress - What Is It and When Is It Actionable", 1990
"Does Auto Insurance Get You Down?" An Analysis of New Jersey's Automobile Insurance Laws, 1991
"Political Action Committees", Cranio-Mandibular Society of New Jersey, 1991
"Rights & Limitations Under Today's Auto Insurance Laws in New Jersey", 1993
"Hot Tips hi Tort Law V", ATLA-New Jersey Seminar, 1994
"Civil Trial Preparation", Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1995
"Hot Tips in Tort Law, VIII", Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1996
"Litigating A Wrongful Death Case", Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1997
"Litigating Wrongful Death Cases", Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1999, 1999
Program Chair/Speaker, "How To Stay On Your Feet On The Premises Liability Case", ATLA-New Jersey Seminar, 2002
"Winning At Trial: Direct & Cross Examination Of Experts", ATLA-New Jersey Seminar, 2002
"Hot Tips in Tort Law", ATLA-New Jersey Seminar, 2003
"Structured Settlement", Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2003
"Cross Examination: Destroying Adverse Witnesses Using Microsoft Power Point", ATLA-New Jersey Boardwalk Seminar, 2003
"Litigating the Slip 'N' Fall Case", Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Moderator, 2003
"Premises Liability: Expert Witnesses - Nailing Down the Facts Early through Expert Witnesses", ATLA-New Jersey Boardwalk Seminar, 2004
Co Chair/Speaker, Five Concurrent Seminars Program - "Premises Liability", ATLA-New Jersey, 2004
"Opening Summation" "Direct Examination Of Plaintiffs' Expert", ATLA-New Jersey Trying The Auto Case, 2005
"Sexual Misconduct By A Physician", ATLA-New Jersey Boardwalk Seminar Hot Tips In Medical Malpractice, 2006
"Some Myths About Degenerative Disc Changes", ATLA-New Jersey Boardwalk Seminar Litigation at Sunrise Legal Medicine: Radiology, 2007
"Exposing Defense Medicine", ATLA-New Jersey Seminar, 2007
"Behind Enemy Lines: Armed Cross Examination", ATLA-New Jersey Seminar, 2007
"A Plaintiff Attorney's Perspective", Damage Prevention Conference and Expo, 2007
"Direct Examination Of Plaintiff s Expert", ATLA-New Jersey Seminar, Pines Manor, 2008
"Exposing Deceptive Defense Medicine: Polarizing the Case", NJAJ, 2009
"Techniques for Dealing with the Usual Suspects in NJ", NJAJ, 2009
"Your NJ DME Usual Suspects - Our Collective Experience", NJAJ, 2009
"Audience Participation Segment - Q and A", NJAJ, 2009
Trial Strategy, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1985 to 2010
Trial Strategy, New Jersey Association for Justice, 1985 to 2010
Master, Justice Morris Pashman Inn of Court, 1998 to Present
Moderator, "How To Stay On Your Feet In Slip 'N Fall Litigation", New Jersey Institute For Continuing Legal, 2009
"That Is A Lucid, Intelligent, Well Thought-Out Objection": Sustained Or Over-Ruled? Objections to Jury Charges, NJAJ Meadowlands Seminar 2009, Sheraton Meadowlands, 2009
"Understanding Chiropractics", New Jersey Institute For Continuing Legal Education, Panelist, 2009
Moderator, "How To Stay On Your Feet In Slip 'N Fall Litigation", New Jersey Institute For Continuing Legal Educations, 2009
NJAJ, Boardwalk Seminar Litigation At Sunrise, "Degenerative Disc Disease: Strategies to Neutralize this Potentially Frivolous Defense", 2010
Speaker, "ALM Annual Medical Malpractice Update", 2014
Cross Examination College: Speaker, "Cross of the Defense Radiologist", NJAJ Meadowlands Seminar, 2014
Litigation at Sunrise: Speaker, "BAD FAITH: Where are We Now?", NJAJ Meadowlands Seminar, 2014

Pro-Bono Activities

Executive Board Member, Tomorrow's Children's Fund, Hackensack University Medical, 1987 to Present

Past Positions

Hon. Theodore W. Trautwein Assignment Judge Bergen County Superior Court, Judicial Clerk, 1976 to 1977

Languages

Spanish

Ancillary Businesses

Honorable Discharge, United States Air Force, July 1966 - March 1970

Published Works

"Recreation & Sports Equipment", Chapter 71, (Co-Author), Products Liability Practice Guide, Matthew Bender, Vol. 4, 1988
"How to Prove Portee or Falzone Emotional Distress Cases", National Trial Lawyer, Volume 3, May 19, 1991
"Model Statement Of Procurement Policy For Public Housing authorities Operating hi New Jersey", (Co-Author), 1994

Fraternities or Sororities

Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Associations

American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2016 to Present
American Association for Justice, Prior Board Member, 2000 to 2006
American Association for Justice , Member, 1980 to Present
New Jersey Association for Justice, Board Member and Past President, 1980 to Present
Housing Authority of Bergen County, Co-Counsel, 1997 to Present
Township of River Vale, Assistant Counsel, 1977 to 1980
Housing Development Corporation of Bergen County, Counsel, 1978 to Present
Housing Authority of the Township of North Bergen, Counsel, 1980 to 1984
North Bergen Rent Leveling Board, Counsel, 1980 to Present
Attorney General of the State of New Jersey to represent the State of New Jersey in Tobacco Litigation, Special Counsel, 1996 to 1999
Borough of Paramus, Special Counsel, 2006 to Present
Borough of Paramus Affordable Housing Corporation, Counsel, 2006 to Present
American Bar Association, Member
New Jersey Bar Association, Member
District of Columbia Bar Association, Member
New York Bar Association, Member
Bergen County Bar Association, Member
ATLA, Sustaining Member, 1988
ATLA-New Jersey, Member, 1981 to Present
Board of Governors, American Association for Justice(formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America), Member, 2001 to 2007
Board of Governors, Association of Trial Lawyers of America New Jersey Chapter, Member, 1983 to Present
ATLA - New Jersey, President, 1994 to 1995
ATLA - New Jersey , President-Elect, 1993 to 1994
First Vice-President, ATLA-New Jersey , 1992 to 1993
ATLA-New Jersey , Second Vice-President, 1991 to 1992
ATLA-New Jersey , Third Vice-President, 1990 to 1991
ATLA, Education Committee, Chairman, 1989 to 1990
ATLA-New Jersey , Treasurer, 1986 to 1987
ATLA-New Jersey , Secretary, 1985 to 1986
Secretary, ATLA-New Jersey , 1989 to 1990
ATLA, Seminar Committee Chairman, 1984 to 1987
ATLA-New Jersey , Parliamentarian, 1984 to 1985
Trial Lawyers For Public Justice, Member, 1991 to Present
ATLA-New Jersey - PAC, Chairman, 2000 to 2001
Tomorrows Children's Fund Hackensack University Medical Center, Member, Executive Board, 1987 to Present
Service Award, Community Resource Counsel Bergen County, Recipient, 1995
ATLA-New Jersey , Third Vice-President, 1990 to 1991

Certified Legal Specialties

Certified Civil Trial Attorney, New Jersey Supreme Court
Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1989
Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates, 2000

Current Employment Position

Partner

Practice Areas

Civil Litigation - General Negligence 60%
Civil Litigation - Medical Malpractice 10%
Civil Litigation - Defective Products 10%
Civil Litigation - 1983 Defense 5%
Miscellaneous 15%
Class Actions -- Plaintiff
Criminal Law
Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff
Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
Premises Liability -- Plaintiff
Sexual Abuse -- Plaintiff
Traffic Violations
Wrongful Death -- Plaintiff
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Auto Dealer Fraud
Civil Rights
Legal Malpractice
Medical Malpractice
Nursing Home Abuse
Products Liability
Professional Malpractice
Sexual Harassment
Wills

Bar Admissions

New Jersey, 1976
New York, 1980
District of Columbia, 1978
U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1976
U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1990
U.S. Supreme Court, 1986

Honors

Phi Beta Kappa, 1973
Who's Who in America
Who's Who in America, 2000
Who's Who in America, 2004
Who's Who in America, 2007
Who's Who in America, 2008
Who's Who in America, 2009
Honored Member, Who's Who in America
Honored Member, Who's Who in America
Honored Member, Who's Who in America
Honored Member, Who's Who in America
Top 10 New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2005
Top 100 New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2006
Top 100 New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2007
Top 100 New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2008
Top 100 New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2009
Top 100 New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2010
Top 100 New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2011
Top 100 New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2012
Top 10 New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2013
Top 10 New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2015
Top 10 New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2014
Top 10 New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2016
Ten Leaders - Personal Injury & Trial Law of Northern New Jersey
Member, Outstanding Lawyers of America
Bergen County Bar Association, Lawyer Achievement Award, 2014
James J. McLaughlin Award. New Jersey State Bar Assoc., 2015
New Jersey Association for Justice, Gold Medal for Distinguished Service, 2016