Richard J. Williams, Jr.

RICHARD J. WILLIAMS, JR. is a 1993 graduate of the University of Scranton, where he obtained a B.S. in Political Science, magna cum laude, and an M.A. in History. Mr. Williams graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1996, where he obtained a Juris Doctorate, cum laude. He is admitted to the New Jersey Bar, the New York Bar, the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York, the U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Mr. Williams served as law clerk to The Honorable James J. Petrella, P.J.A.D. from 1996 through 1997, at which time he joined the Firm as an associate. While a student at Seton Hall University, School of Law he served as the Editor-In-Chief of the Seton Hall University School of Law Constitutional Law Journal, from 1995 through 1996, and as the research assistant to the Hon. Peter Rodino from 1994 to 1996.

Mr. Williams is a Civil Trial Attorney, Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.  He has extensive experience in civil litigation including class action litigation, premises liability, product liability, automobile defense, medical malpractice, insurance coverage and bad faith, contract and commercial litigation, employment litigation and workers’ compensation matters. Mr. Williams has experience at both the trial level, having tried many cases to verdict, and before the appellate courts, as well as several administrative courts such as the Division of Workers’ Compensation. He has also handled numerous matters before various federal courts, including the United States District Court and Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Williams has argued dozens of appeals before the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division and the New Jersey Supreme Court. Mr. Williams is a Past President of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey and coordinates the organization’s annual Back to Basics seminar given to attorneys preparing for the Supreme Court Civil Trial Certification examination for over 10 years before the expiration of his term as President of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey.

Mr. Williams’ litigation experience includes class action and mass tort matters.  He has served as national counsel for a pharmaceutical packaging company involving allegations of mislabeling of birth control pills.  He also served as national counsel for a baby mattress cover manufacturer in respect of wrongful death claims filed throughout the United States.  Mr. Williams was lead counsel in defending a national product liability class action suit pending before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Mr. Williams also serves as lead defense counsel in a large class action involving over 3,700 individuals alleging they were exposed to bloodborne pathogens at an ambulatory surgery center. He has also defended various other class action matters and has extensive experience with mass tort litigation.

Mr. Williams also has extensive experience with complex personal injury matters involving wrongful death and survivorship claims. For example, in Zambrano v. CSX Transportation, Inc., et als., Mr. Williams represented the plaintiff’s employer in respect of a third-party claim for contractual indemnification arising out of a catastrophic accident in which the plaintiff was run over by a freight train and killed. 

In addition to his litigation practices, Mr. Williams serves as a Practice Group Manager for the Litigation and Insurance Services Practice Group and is Co-Chair of the Firm's Hiring Committee.  Mr. Williams also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for a non-profit organization, the Excellent with Integrity Institute. 

  • In 2019, Mr. Williams was honored with the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law on behalf of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Listed in Best Lawyers® (2016-2024) a Woodward/White, Inc. business and partners with U.S. News & World Report, in the area of Litigation - Insurance.  He was also recognized as the 2019 2021 and 2024 "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation - Insurance in the Newark area. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Listed in Super Lawyers® Rising Stars (2006-2010), a Thomson Reuters business, in the areas of Civil Litigation: Defense, Appellate and Insurance Coverage. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances

  • Estate of D’Avila v. Hugo Neu Schnitzer East, 442 N.J. Super. 80 (App. Div. 2015)
  • Badiali v. New Jersey Manufactures Ins. Co., 220 N.J. 544 (2015)
  • Ellington v. CURE Auto Insurance, A-2470-16T4 (App. Div. July 17, 2017)
  • Rabinowtiz v. Reyman, A-2633-T3 (N.J. App. Div.), certif. denied, 223 N.J. 282 (2015)
  • V.K. ex rel. Pezzella v. New Jersey Manufacturers Ins. Co., A-4681-11T4/A-4682-11T4 (N.J. App. August 26, 2013)
  • Lau v. Lara, A-3864-T4 (N.J. App. Div. May 6, 2013)
  • International Schools Services v. Dep’t of Labor and Workforce Development, 408 N.J. Super. 198 (App. Div. 2009)
  • Cruz v. Central Jersey Landscaping, Inc., 195 N.J. 33 (2008)
  • Sroczynski v. Milek, 396 N.J. Super. 248 (App. Div. 2007), aff’d, 197 N.J. 36 (2008)
  • Scott v. Foodarama, 398 N.J. 441 (App. Div. 2008)
  • New Jersey Manufacturers Ins. Co. v. Delta Plastics, 380 N.J. Super. 532 (App. Div. 2005), aff’d, 188 N.J. 582 (2006)
  • Charles Beseler Co. v. O’Gorman & Young, 380 N.J. Super. 193 (App. Div. 2005), aff’d, 188 N.J. 582 (2006)
  • Primus v. Alfred Sanzari Enterprises, 363 N.J. Super. 538 (Law Div. 2003), rev’d, 372 N.J. Super. 392 (App. Div. 2004)
  • Fisher v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 363 N.J. Super. 457 (App. Div. 2003), certif. denied 179 N.J. 310 (2004)
  • Laidlow v. Hariton Machine Co, 170 N.J. 602 (2002)
  • Peck v. Newark Star Ledger, 344 N.J. Super. 169 (App. Div. 2001)
  • Kaplan v. Harleysville Ins. Co., A-5783-05T1, Mr. Williams represented Harleysville Insurance Company in respect of a claim for insurance coverage under a professional liability insurance policy. The underlying case involved a wrongful death claim by the family of a deceased 29-year-old truck driver who was killed in an accident involving his tanker truck. In the case of Horan v. Eaton Corp., Mr. Williams served as local counsel and co-trial counsel for Eaton Corp. in a complex product liability action in which the plaintiff suffered severe third degree burns over 50% of his body when an electrical switch gear exploded.  
  • Havens v. Viking Yacht Co., A-5446-05T3
  • Leonard v. Mid-State Sprinkler, Inc., A-4952-06T2
  • Singh v. Cream-O-Land Dairy, A-2468-06T5

RICHARD J. WILLIAMS, JR. is a 1993 graduate of the University of Scranton, where he obtained a B.S. in Political Science, magna cum laude, and an M.A. in History. Mr. Williams graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1996, where he obtained a Juris Doctorate, cum laude. He is admitted to the New Jersey Bar, the New York Bar, the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York, the U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Mr. Williams served as law clerk to The Honorable James J. Petrella, P.J.A.D. from 1996 through 1997, at which time he joined the Firm as an associate. While a student at Seton Hall University, School of Law he served as the Editor-In-Chief of the Seton Hall University School of Law Constitutional Law Journal, from 1995 through 1996, and as the research assistant to the Hon. Peter Rodino from 1994 to 1996.

Mr. Williams is a Civil Trial Attorney, Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.  He has extensive experience in civil litigation including class action litigation, premises liability, product liability, automobile defense, medical malpractice, insurance coverage and bad faith, contract and commercial litigation, employment litigation and workers’ compensation matters. Mr. Williams has experience at both the trial level, having tried many cases to verdict, and before the appellate courts, as well as several administrative courts such as the Division of Workers’ Compensation. He has also handled numerous matters before various federal courts, including the United States District Court and Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Williams has argued dozens of appeals before the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division and the New Jersey Supreme Court. Mr. Williams is a Past President of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey and coordinates the organization’s annual Back to Basics seminar given to attorneys preparing for the Supreme Court Civil Trial Certification examination for over 10 years before the expiration of his term as President of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey.

Mr. Williams’ litigation experience includes class action and mass tort matters.  He has served as national counsel for a pharmaceutical packaging company involving allegations of mislabeling of birth control pills.  He also served as national counsel for a baby mattress cover manufacturer in respect of wrongful death claims filed throughout the United States.  Mr. Williams was lead counsel in defending a national product liability class action suit pending before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Mr. Williams also serves as lead defense counsel in a large class action involving over 3,700 individuals alleging they were exposed to bloodborne pathogens at an ambulatory surgery center. He has also defended various other class action matters and has extensive experience with mass tort litigation.

Mr. Williams also has extensive experience with complex personal injury matters involving wrongful death and survivorship claims. For example, in Zambrano v. CSX Transportation, Inc., et als., Mr. Williams represented the plaintiff’s employer in respect of a third-party claim for contractual indemnification arising out of a catastrophic accident in which the plaintiff was run over by a freight train and killed. 

In addition to his litigation practices, Mr. Williams serves as a Practice Group Manager for the Litigation and Insurance Services Practice Group and is Co-Chair of the Firm's Hiring Committee.  Mr. Williams also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for a non-profit organization, the Excellent with Integrity Institute. 

  • In 2019, Mr. Williams was honored with the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law on behalf of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Listed in Best Lawyers® (2016-2024) a Woodward/White, Inc. business and partners with U.S. News & World Report, in the area of Litigation - Insurance.  He was also recognized as the 2019 2021 and 2024 "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation - Insurance in the Newark area. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Listed in Super Lawyers® Rising Stars (2006-2010), a Thomson Reuters business, in the areas of Civil Litigation: Defense, Appellate and Insurance Coverage. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances

  • Estate of D’Avila v. Hugo Neu Schnitzer East, 442 N.J. Super. 80 (App. Div. 2015)
  • Badiali v. New Jersey Manufactures Ins. Co., 220 N.J. 544 (2015)
  • Ellington v. CURE Auto Insurance, A-2470-16T4 (App. Div. July 17, 2017)
  • Rabinowtiz v. Reyman, A-2633-T3 (N.J. App. Div.), certif. denied, 223 N.J. 282 (2015)
  • V.K. ex rel. Pezzella v. New Jersey Manufacturers Ins. Co., A-4681-11T4/A-4682-11T4 (N.J. App. August 26, 2013)
  • Lau v. Lara, A-3864-T4 (N.J. App. Div. May 6, 2013)
  • International Schools Services v. Dep’t of Labor and Workforce Development, 408 N.J. Super. 198 (App. Div. 2009)
  • Cruz v. Central Jersey Landscaping, Inc., 195 N.J. 33 (2008)
  • Sroczynski v. Milek, 396 N.J. Super. 248 (App. Div. 2007), aff’d, 197 N.J. 36 (2008)
  • Scott v. Foodarama, 398 N.J. 441 (App. Div. 2008)
  • New Jersey Manufacturers Ins. Co. v. Delta Plastics, 380 N.J. Super. 532 (App. Div. 2005), aff’d, 188 N.J. 582 (2006)
  • Charles Beseler Co. v. O’Gorman & Young, 380 N.J. Super. 193 (App. Div. 2005), aff’d, 188 N.J. 582 (2006)
  • Primus v. Alfred Sanzari Enterprises, 363 N.J. Super. 538 (Law Div. 2003), rev’d, 372 N.J. Super. 392 (App. Div. 2004)
  • Fisher v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 363 N.J. Super. 457 (App. Div. 2003), certif. denied 179 N.J. 310 (2004)
  • Laidlow v. Hariton Machine Co, 170 N.J. 602 (2002)
  • Peck v. Newark Star Ledger, 344 N.J. Super. 169 (App. Div. 2001)
  • Kaplan v. Harleysville Ins. Co., A-5783-05T1, Mr. Williams represented Harleysville Insurance Company in respect of a claim for insurance coverage under a professional liability insurance policy. The underlying case involved a wrongful death claim by the family of a deceased 29-year-old truck driver who was killed in an accident involving his tanker truck. In the case of Horan v. Eaton Corp., Mr. Williams served as local counsel and co-trial counsel for Eaton Corp. in a complex product liability action in which the plaintiff suffered severe third degree burns over 50% of his body when an electrical switch gear exploded.  
  • Havens v. Viking Yacht Co., A-5446-05T3
  • Leonard v. Mid-State Sprinkler, Inc., A-4952-06T2
  • Singh v. Cream-O-Land Dairy, A-2468-06T5

Education

University of Scranton (B.S. magna cum laude)
University Of Scranton (M.A.)
Seton Hall Law School (J.D., cum laude 1996)

Admissions

State of New Jersey
State of New York
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
Supreme Court of the United States
U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit

Memberships

Trial Attorneys of New Jersey