LIQUOR LIABILITY DEFENSE

Liquor liability insurance carriers expect a trial attorney who will aggressively pursue all defenses during pretrial discovery, who is skilled at getting the most out of depositions of the fact witnesses and experts, who will tenaciously investigate all the holes in the plaintiff’s case, and who has the experience and skill to obtain a defense verdict, even in a case where there is enormous sympathy for the plaintiff and his family.

The insurance companies also expect and deserve frequent and sound reporting from their attorney concerning the developments in their cases so that they can make appropriate decisions regarding settlement, trial strategy and budgeting.

Thomas Heavey has successfully litigated numerous liquor liability or “dram shop” cases during his twenty-two-year legal career. He has a keen knowledge of the New Jersey liquor liability statutes and the evolving jurisprudence in this area of the law. Mr. Heavey has been retained by insurance carriers to represent their insured taverns and restaurants in liquor liability claims involving death or devastating personal injuries, where the verdict potential has been in the millions of dollars. In all cases to date, he has been able to obtain a successful result at trial or a reasonable settlement for the insurance company and its insured before trial.

Carriers who have retained Mr. Heavey appreciate not only his skill and success as a trial attorney; they value his frequent, succinct and honest claim reporting, and his analytical expertise in particular.

If you wish to discuss the defense of a liquor liability claim, please call Mr. Heavey at (732) 206-0200.