Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas is a premier law firm with a national reputation and recognition in the areas of Environmental and Toxic Tort law.
As Supervising Partner of the firm’s Environmental and Toxic Tort Department, Marc S. Gaffrey oversees an accomplished, committed team of attorneys dedicated to the efficient and ethical representation of our clients. The firm has the capability to manage and defend environmental matters throughout the United States and abroad. With decades of experience in the field of asbestos and toxic tort litigation involving more than 25,000 claims and over 40,000 plaintiffs, Hoagland Longo’s approach to the defense of our clients is disciplined, structured and results-oriented.
New Jersey
The firm is among the most prominent law firms in the handling litigation and trial of asbestos matters in the State of New Jersey. The defense bar trusts our team to conduct efficient and thorough direct and cross-examinations of plaintiffs during the integral deposition phase of litigation. As a result of our reputation, the firm is frequently designated to act as lead defense counsel for medical work ups. We a have tried dozens of cases to verdict, and have multiple trial teams available to our clients. Hoagland Longo attorneys are members of the asbestos advisory council l, and often speak at local, regional and national panels regarding current trends in NJ asbestos litigation.
New York
Hoagland Longo attorneys have extensive environmental and toxic tort law experience throughout New York State. Manufacturers, distributors, contractors, site owners, fabricators, assemblers, mining entities, general contractors, building management entities, among other professionals rely on our proven track record of success providing the best defense possible. As a result, our firm has taken numerous matters to trial in various jurisdictions throughout New York State. We take nothing for granted and leave no stone unturned in the vigorous representation of our clients. Every matter we handle on behalf of our clients is done so with the same amount of energy as if each were headed to trial.
Pennsylvania
For over 15 years, Hoagland Longo has been representing suppliers, manufacturers, and premises owners in Eastern PA (Philadelphia, Dauphin, Bucks and Northampton Counties). We routinely attend depositions, court calls, mediation and trial calls. In addition, we participated in the first talc/asbestos expert hearings, which resulted in the barring of the expert and a dismissal of the case.
National Counsel
Additionally, Hoagland Longo serves as National Coordinating Counsel for multiple clients in the area of asbestos litigation. Some of these relationships have lasted over two decades and have resulted in long-standing and valuable partnerships. Our national clients trust our talented team to effectively navigate the numerous jurisdictional and substantive legal issues they face in thousands of lawsuits across the United States. We are intimately knowledgeable of the science and legal approach needed to defend our national clients. In addition, as national counsel, the firm is responsible for selecting local counsel in jurisdictions around the country, proving training and support to ensure our national clients can benefit from the same disciplined, structured, and results-oriented defense strategy as we offer.
Leaders in the Industry
Through our defense experience and in working with nationally reputed experts and consultants, we have gained valuable knowledge and insight to effectively defend our clients. As a result, we are often requested to present at conferences attended by attorneys and other professionals from across the nation. We have spoken at toxic tort conferences sponsored by DRI, Mealeys, Harris Martin, Lorman, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, and the New Jersey Defense Association.
Client Relationships
To develop effective defense strategies, we work closely with clients to understand the history of their business during the time asbestos was on the market. In developing these close client relationships, we can effectively cross examine plaintiffs during depositions and at trial. Our defense strategies also include the retention and communication with experts in the medical and scientific fields. We are aggressive in our defense, but always have an eye toward the best interest of our clients, which may include successful negotiation of settlement.
Technology Innovation
Technology and asbestos litigation are constantly changing. By working closely with our IT department, we are able to use the most current technological advances to acquire and utilize information on asbestos litigation to our advantage. As a result, our firm developed a unique case management system that allows us to be at the forefront of data management. This is an important part of asbestos litigation, as thousands of claims are filed each year. We provide our clients with an analysis of the history of claims made against them, including historical data and analysis of an account that shows trends in asbestos litigation and the impact of the litigation on their business. Our office is also fully equipped to go paperless in a shared file system, which enables our clients to cut defense costs. This same data management technology allows us to compile a vast amount of information on medical research, scientific data, expert witness testimony, and data relative to experts who repeatedly appear for the plaintiff’s bar in asbestos litigation.
Trial Experience
Hoagland Longo has extensive experience in trying asbestos cases to verdict. Over the past 30 years, we have tried cases to verdict in New Jersey and New York:
- Cifuentes v. Kohler Co. – tried in 2019 in Nassau County, NY; resolved after seven weeks of trial
- Argento v. Whittaker Clark & Daniels 2016
- Fishbain v. Whittaker Clark & Daniels 2015
- Condon v. Wallwork Brothers- New Jersey 2015
- Wallace v. York International- NYCAL 2009
- Casale v. Johnson Controls- New York City Asbestos Litigation (NYCAL) 2007
- Hirsch v. R.T. Vanderbilt- New Jersey 2006
- Rhodes v. Universal Supply- New Jersey 2005
- Pecyno v. Thermo Electric-New Jersey 1998
- Jadlowski v. Janos Industrial Insulation- New Jersey 1992
- In Re Federal Powerhouse Litigation- Federal Court, Eastern District of New York 1991
- Oliviero v. Champlain Cable- New Jersey 1989
Representative Appellate and Supreme Court Matters
- Fishbain v. Colgate Palmolive Co., N.J. App. Doc. No. A-1786-15T2 (2019)
- Rowe v. Bell & Gossett, N.J. Supreme Court Docket No.081602(App. Doc. No. A-004350-14T2)-Oral Argued Amicus Curiae on Behalf of New Jersey Defense Association (NJDA)- March 28, 2019
- Whelan v. Johnson Controls, N.J. Appellate Court (App. Doc. No. A-003520-13T4)
- Hughes v. A.W. Chesterton, 101 A.3rd 1082 (2014)