John C. Simons

Jack Simons is a highly accomplished trial attorney, partner, and member of the Executive Committee at Hoagland Longo, where he leads the defense of complex civil litigation and insurance coverage disputes. As a certified Civil Trial Attorney—a distinction held by less than 2% of attorneys in New Jersey—Jack has built a formidable reputation for winning high-stakes cases through strategic advocacy and relentless litigation skills. His ability to navigate intricate legal disputes and deliver exceptional results has made him an indispensable asset to clients facing high-exposure litigation.

For over 30 years, Jack has successfully taken hundreds of cases to verdict in the Superior Court of New Jersey, earning recognition as one of the state’s go-to trial lawyers. Clients and colleagues alike turn to Jack to "parachute in" when litigation has gone off track or when a case demands an exceptional closer. Whether handling a case from inception to verdict or stepping in to salvage a troubled defense, Jack’s ability to strategically dismantle opposing claims continues to set him apart as one of New Jersey’s most formidable trial attorneys. His track record includes securing defense verdicts in multimillion-dollar claims, navigating contractual and indemnification disputes, and neutralizing seasoned plaintiff’s attorneys in high-stakes litigation.

A leader in the legal community, Jack is a past president of both the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey and the Middlesex County Trial Lawyers Association. He is a Fellow of the American Bar Association, an AV-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, and consistently recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (since 2012) and New Jersey Super Lawyers (since 2005). His impact on the profession was further acknowledged when he was awarded the Hon. Herman L. Breitkopf “Trial Lawyer of the Year” in 2013.

Jack was also a lecturer at professional conferences, sharing his litigation expertise with peers at events hosted by the Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance, the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA), and other industry-leading organizations. His depth of knowledge, trial acumen, and strategic case management made him an indispensable advocate for clients facing complex, high-exposure disputes.

Areas of Focus

Civil Litigation & Trial Defense

• Veteran trial attorney with hundreds of cases taken to verdict in the Superior Court of New Jersey.
• Recognized as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney by the New Jersey Supreme Court, a distinction held by less than 2% of attorneys.
• Frequently parachutes into high-stakes cases when other attorneys have fallen short, delivering exceptional trial results.
• Expertise in handling multimillion-dollar claims, including catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and complex liability disputes.
• Proven ability to neutralize top-tier plaintiff’s attorneys and dismantle expert testimony through strategic cross-examination.

Construction Litigation & Catastrophic Worksite Injury Defense

• Defends general contractors, subcontractors, and construction companies in high-exposure worksite injury claims.
• Extensive experience in contractual indemnification, risk transfer, and insurance coverage disputes in the construction industry.
• Skilled at minimizing liability exposure and navigating complex defense strategies in multi-party litigation.

 Premises Liability & Property Damage Defense

• Represents property owners, management companies, retail establishments, and service providers in premises liability claims.
• Defense experience in slip-and-fall, negligent security, and property maintenance claims.
• Skilled in exposing fraudulent claims and challenging exaggerated injury allegations through medical and factual evidence.

 Automobile & Commercial Vehicle Liability Defense

• Defends individuals, businesses, fleet operators, and insurance carriers against personal injury and wrongful death claims.
• Expertise in cases involving traumatic brain injuries, orthopedic injuries, and disputed liability scenarios.
• Proven track record in challenging the severity and causation of alleged injuries, limiting damage exposure for clients.
• Successfully defends commercial trucking companies, auto repair shops, and corporate fleet operators in liability disputes.

 Insurance Coverage & Bad Faith Litigation

• Advises and defends insurance carriers in coverage disputes, bad faith claims, and complex policy interpretation matters.
• Skilled in analyzing policy language, exclusions, and indemnification agreements to limit carrier liability.
• Successfully challenges overreaching claims and ensures policy compliance in coverage determinations.

 Wrongful Death & High-Exposure Litigation Defense

• Defends companies, contractors, and insured parties in wrongful death claims arising from construction accidents, vehicle collisions, and workplace incidents.
• Strong courtroom advocacy skills in disproving causation and mitigating damages in fatal accident cases.
• Experienced in government contractor defense strategies and handling federal and state compliance issues in wrongful death and injury claims.

Representative Trial and Litigation Experience

Catastrophic Construction Worksite Injury – Defense Verdict

• Secured a defense verdict in a high-demand catastrophic worksite injury case, outmaneuvering a highly accomplished plaintiff’s attorney.
• Navigated contractual and indemnification complexities to protect the general contractor from liability.
• Achieved victory after a four-week trial, effectively countering high-stakes claims.

Premises Liability – Defense Verdict

• Defended a snow removal company in a $5M slip-and-fall lawsuit, securing a no-cause verdict in Union County.
• Successfully demonstrated that the company properly applied de-icing treatments and acted within contractual obligations.
• Presented medical evidence discrediting the plaintiff’s claims of permanent injury.

Automobile Liability – Complete Defense Verdict

• Defended against a claim that an automobile accident caused severe orthopedic and traumatic brain injuries.
• Jury unanimously found no negligence on the part of the defendant, awarding zero damages.

Automobile Liability – Major Defense Win

• Defended a client in Morris County against a $750,000 claim alleging severe cognitive and physical injuries.
• Successfully argued that the injuries were exaggerated, leading the jury to award only $14,000—a major defense victory.

Automobile Liability – Traumatic Brain Injury Defense Victory

• Defended a case in Ocean County, where the plaintiff alleged permanent brain injury and sought compensation for future cervical fusion surgery.
• The jury rejected all claims of permanent injury, returning a verdict in favor of the defense.

Property Damage – Insurance Coverage Defense

• Represented an insurance carrier in a dispute over Superstorm Sandy-related roof damage.
• Successfully defended against a $553,000 claim, convincing the jury in just 18 minutes that the damage was pre-existing and not covered under the policy.
• Secured dismissal of all "bad faith" claims against the insurer.

Utility Vehicle Liability – Defense Verdict

• Defended a Caterpillar tractor dealership in a case involving a UTV accident with a $3.5M pre-trial demand.
• Proved that the accident resulted from operator error, leading the jury to assign 90% fault to the plaintiff, resulting in no liability for the client.

Automobile Liability – Rear-End Collision Defense

• Represented an underinsured motorist carrier, defending against claims that a minor fender-bender caused severe orthopedic injuries.
• Successfully argued that the injuries were degenerative, leading to a unanimous no-cause verdict.

Wrongful Death – Directed Verdict

• Defended a general contractor in a wrongful death case involving a U.S. Postal Service employee.
• Secured a directed verdict, proving that the alleged design issues in the parking lot were not a proximate cause of the accident.
• Successfully argued that the client was entitled to the government contractor defense, leading to the complete dismissal of claims.

Automobile Liability – Negligent Hiring Defense

• Defended an auto repair shop whose mechanic rear-ended another vehicle while test-driving a customer’s car.
• Dismantled the plaintiff’s “expert” witness testimony, leading the court to dismiss negligent hiring and training claims.
• Secured a defense verdict, with the jury rejecting claims of permanent injury and lost wages.

Commercial Truck Liability – Identity Dispute Win

• Defended a junk car company accused of owning a truck that caused a severe accident.
• Proved that the truck did not belong to the company, using GPS and EZ Pass records to account for all vehicles.
• Undermined eyewitness credibility, leading the jury to unanimously clear Jack’s client of all responsibility.

 

Affiliations

• Middlesex County Trial Lawyers Association, Past President
• Trial Attorneys of New Jersey, Past President
• American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
• Middlesex County Bar Association
• Middlesex County Trial Lawyers Association
• New Jersey State Bar Association, Civil Trial Bar Section
• American Board of Trial Advocates, Northern New Jersey Chapter
• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)

Awards

• The Best Lawyers in America (2012-2025); "Lawyer of the Year" in Insurance Law (2015 and 2021)
• New Jersey Super Lawyers (2005-2011; 2015-Present)
• Middlesex County Trial Lawyers Association (2013)
• Rated AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell

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