Robert V. Fodera

PRIMARY AREAS OF PRACTICE

Robert V. Fodera's practice is devoted to pursuing the claims of, and defending, clients in various commercial, corporate, municipal, contract and regulatory disputes, and in other business related matters.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Mr. Fodera represents individuals and entities in all manner of disputes and stages of litigation, including personal injury, real estate, employment, business, construction and franchise contracts, partnership dissolution, workers compensation and complex commercial transactions.

Mr. Fodera has represented insurance companies and their insured in diverse and complex claims and handles litigation from its inception through trial and appeal. His practice includes the defense of employers, management, businesses and individuals for a wide variety of claims stemming from discrimination, harassment, breach of contract and violations of both State and Federal civil rights laws. Mr. Fodera has also litigated complex contract and construction litigation disputes, including land use and various municipal actions.

Mr. Fodera has represented numerous municipalities, planning boards and sewage authorities. He has assisted the Borough of Roseland, Borough of Deal, Asbury Park Planning Board, Borough of Washington, the Township of Tewksbury, Monmouth County, the Town of Clinton, the Borough of Hampton, the Township of East Amwell, the Township of Knowlton, the Township of Jefferson and the Township of Montville.

Mr. Fodera has litigated civil rights cases in both federal and state courts handling claims related to violations of the Conscientious Employee Protection Act ("CEPA"), 41 U.S.C. §1983, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD), and related statutes. Mr. Fodera routinely appears in State and Federal court.

Mr. Fodera also has extensive experience handling personal injury and workers compensation claims. He has handled claims on behalf of injured parties and has obtained significant settlements, as a result of automobile, slip and fall, and work related injuries. Mr. Fodera has also handled claims due to legal and professional malpractice. He has also successfully defended clients in personal injury matters and diversified complex corporate and commercial litigation.

Mr. Fodera previously held numerous senior positions in New York City government as a member of the Dinkins and Guiliani Administration. From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Fodera served as Deputy Executive Director of the New York City Mayor's Task Force on Staten Island Secession; acting as the Mayor's Advisor and Senior Analyst on Staten Island Secession issues. Mr. Fodera also spearheaded efforts in the Mayor's Office of Operations and the N.Y.C. Department of Health in providing innovative solutions for the improvement and re-engineering of core City services.

EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Fodera received his Bachelor of Arts from Pace University in 1988. He graduated from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs in 1990 with a Master in Public Administration. He received his Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law in Newark where he was a member of Rutgers Computer and Technology Law Journal. He joined Gebhardt & Kiefer in 2005.

BAR ADMISSIONS AND AFFILIATIONS

Mr. Fodera is admitted to practice law in the State of New Jersey and New York. He is also admitted in the United States District Court for New Jersey, the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the New Jersey Bar, New York Bar, Hunterdon County Bar Association and the New Jersey Defense Association. Mr. Fodera has published a law journal article on Staten Island Secession and the History of the Home Rule Doctrine in the New York State Constitution, The Home Rule & Civil Social Law Journal , The Local Public Entity Study Organization, Chuo Gakuin University, Kujike, Abiko, Chiba, Japan - March 1997. Mr. Fodera is a past president of the Clinton, Sunrise Rotary and active in the Boy Scouts of America. He is also a Barrister of the Joseph Halpern - David Furman American Inn of Court.