Joseph V. Leone is a partner at Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas and a member of the firm's Executive Management Committee. His civil litigation practice includes all areas of general liability, premises liability, property and casualty, construction defect, product liability, trucking/transportation, and professional liability. An accomplished lawyer, he has successfully litigated as lead counsel complex and substantial cases throughout the State before the United District Court for the District of New Jersey, the Superior Court of New Jersey, and various local municipal courts. He also handles complex matters in alternative dispute resolution forums through mediation and arbitration.
Joe’s broad experience in complex litigation spanning over two decades enables him to provide a complete understanding of the legal and practical issues facing individuals and businesses and allows him to assist companies with their formation, risk management, preparation of contracts, contract negotiations, contract reviews and employment issues. He routinely defends businesses against claims of premise liability and commercial accidents for personal injuries, and regularly acts as corporate counsel for multiple types of businesses. Joe has also been the lead counsel in numerous construction defect and construction site accident cases involving issues of indemnification, insurance coverage, contract interpretation, liability and damages for developers, contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals.
As part of his work on behalf of a plumbing supply company, he obtained dismissal before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey of a $2.9 million claim for negligence, breach of contract, breach of implied warranty and violation of the New Jersey Product Liability Act. This was based upon the alleged sale of defective galvanized steel pipes used in a domestic hot water system for a residential high-rise development that failed due to microbiological influenced corrosion.
Joe also negotiated a favorable settlement on behalf of a building contractor for claims by a condominium association seeking $4 million in damages for construction defects alleged as the result of the negligent installation of a faulty roof on behalf of a roofing contractor.
Likewise, Joe successfully litigated and resolved two highly publicized multi-million-dollar lawsuits involving a planned $600 million development that failed to come to complete fruition. On behalf of the masonry contractor, Joe successfully settled the construction defect case brought by the homeowners’ association for alleged faulty workmanship and negligent installation of exterior building envelope components. In a separate case, he resolved the individual claims brought by homeowners from the same development as well as the cross-claims brought by the developer for breach of contract, defense, indemnification and contribution for nominal amounts on behalf of the same masonry contractor resulting in substantial savings to his clients in the face of a global demand of $12 million.
Joe is an AV Preeminent rated attorney by Martindale Hubbell, a designation awarded only to attorneys who demonstrate the highest level of professional excellence in general ethical standards and legal ability by their peers in their field of practice. He has also been selected by peer review for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America since 2023. In addition, he was named as one of the New Jersey Law Journal New Leaders of the Bar, one of only fifty attorneys chosen to represent a new wave of leadership for the legal profession in New Jersey.
At the firm, Joe is also the partner in charge of marketing and business development and a member of the Technology Committee and Fee Committee.
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Unpublished Decisions:
Affiliations
- Middlesex County Bar Association
- Middlesex County Bar Association, Former Trustee (2011-2013)
- Middlesex County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Committee, Former Co-Chair (2004-2008)
- Monmouth County Bar Association
- Eastern Monmouth County Chamber of Commerce
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), Fellow
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Professional Liability Defense Federation (PLDF)
- Trial Attorneys of New Jersey (TANJ), Trustee
- New Jersey Defense Association (NJDA), Premise Liability Committee
- Monmouth County Lawyers Basketball League
- Monmouth U.S.B.C. Youth Association, Former Trustee (2004-2007)
Awards
- Martindale-Hubbell, Rated AV Preeminent
- The Best Lawyers in America (2023-Present)
- New Jersey Super Lawyers (2022-Present)
- New Jersey Super Lawyers, "Rising Stars" list (2015-2017)
- New Jersey Law Journal, "New Leaders of the Bar" list (2014)
- American Lawyer Media, "Top Rated Lawyer" list in Construction Law (2012)
- The Italian Voice, Stivale D'Italia Award of Excellence (2014)
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Joseph V. LeoneRated by Super Lawyers
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A description of the selection process methodologies on which these accolades are based can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Super Lawyers® is published by Thomson Reuters. Best Lawyers in America® is published by Best Lawyers in partnership with U.S. News & World Report. Martindale-Hubbell® is published by Internet Brands, Inc. A description of their selection process can be found in the respective links above. The aforementioned organizations are private peer review organizations, not court-specific, public certification vehicles. No aspect of this advertisement has been submitted to or approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.