Cynthia R. Richards

PRIMARY AREAS OF PRACTICE

Ms. Richards focuses on handling cases to trial or resolution in the area of general liability insurance defense with an emphasis on charitable immunity and Title 59 claims, as well as personal injury and construction negligence claims. Ms. Richards has been defense counsel on toxic tort and product liability claims and has handled Worker's Compensation cases for businesses, municipalities and claimants.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Ms. Richards is a Certified Civil Trial Attorney and has successfully litigated matters in the Superior and Appellate Courts. She received a successful verdict on a toxic tort matter involving personal injuries received by the inhalation of roofing tar by proving that the reaction was due to an allergy of the plaintiff and the substance was not toxic to the majority of the population. That matter had a 1.5 million dollar demand through to the time of the verdict.

Successful verdicts have also been received by Ms. Richards on behalf of trucking companies by proving that plaintiffs were malingering and exaggerating their injuries. In one notable case the plaintiff confessed on the stand to drinking alcohol prior to engaging in rowdy behavior and cursing a truck driver who had crossed a picket line. After the alcohol issue and the plaintiff's anger were exposed, the jury did not believe that he suffered an injury and found for the trucking company. Post-trial, Ms. Richards successfully argued that matter in the Appellate Division.

Ms. Richards has also successfully argued an Appellate Division case wherein the Appellate Division upheld the Charitable Immunity status of a community sports league. She has, on multiple occasions, successfully defended the Trenton Downtown Association on the basis of Title 59 immunities.

Ms. Richards has represented and performed services for CNA Insurance Companies, Guide One Insurance, Selective Insurance Company of America, Scottsdale Insurance Company, New Jersey Manufacturer's Insurance Company, American Empire Insurance, Gallagher Bassett, Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Allstate Insurance Company, Great American Insurance Company, Merchants Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and others.

EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Ms. Richards graduated from Rutgers College, Rutgers University with a degree in English. She received her Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University Law School in 1981. She is admitted to the New Jersey State Bar.

Before coming to Gebhardt & Kiefer, Ms. Richards had been defense counsel for CNA Insurance Companies for ten years and was a litigation attorney at another firm, which specializes in Insurance Defense.  Ms. Richards joined Gebhardt & Kiefer in 2005.

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS

Ms. Richards has been Certified by the Supreme Court as a Trial Attorney. She is a member of the Mercer County Bar Association and the New Jersey Defense Association.