Norris McLaughlin, P.A.Members Honored by Rutgers Department of Public Safety

Edward G. Sponzilli and Nicholas F. Pellitta, members of the Somerville law firm of Norris McLaughlin, P.A., were recently honored by the Rutgers University Department of Public Safety for 30 years of service to the Rutgers Police Department as the Rutgers Assistant Prosecutors, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. Sponzilli and Pellitta were presented with a plaque in “grateful appreciation of the dedicated services provided to improving the safety and security of Rutgers University.”

Sponzilli is a New Jersey Supreme Court Certified Civil Trial Attorney with more than 30 years experience in complex corporate and commercial litigation. In addition to New Jersey, he is admitted to practice in New York and the District of Columbia. He has litigated cases in many different jurisdictions, including employment litigation matters relating to restrictive covenant, wrongful termination, CEPA, employment discrimination and sexual harassment. He has defended products liability, toxic tort, and professional malpractice claims.

Additionally, Sponzilli has handled matters involving franchise practices, intellectual property, health care, estate, real estate, construction, antitrust, commodities, civil RICO, Fair Credit Reporting Act, consumer fraud, shareholder disputes, civil rights, constitutional law, sports law, personal injury, insurance and reinsurance coverage matters, dram shop, alcohol, defamation, business tort, criminal and education law matters.

Sponzilli is a past president of the C. Willard Heckel Inn of Court and the Rutgers—Newark Law School Alumni Association and a Trustee of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey. He has been on the faculty of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy for 12 years and, for the past five years, has been one of only two non-government faculty members in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Trial Advocacy Institute. Sponzilli is also a state certified mediator and federal arbitrator. He is a member of the Bergen, Essex and Middlesex County Bar Associations, New Jersey and New York State Bar Associations, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, American Bar Association, as well as the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey, Trial Attorneys of New Jersey (Board of Trustees), The American Association for Justice, Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, National Association of College and University Attorneys, and the New Jersey Defense Association.

Sponzilli was presented with the Client Protection Award from the New Jersey Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection in December 1999. He was honored for his outstanding service on behalf of the public and the Bar of New Jersey for his role as Chancery Court-appointed Receiver in the case of Montano v. Cohen & Cohen. He has also been selected for inclusion in New Jersey Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers In America.

Sponzilli earned his J.D. from Rutgers University Law School in 1975, his M.A. from Columbia University in 1972, and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Rutgers University in 1971.

Pellitta has substantial experience in a variety of legal areas in both federal and state courts. He provides a wide variety of litigation strategy and assistance in commercial matters, including contract disputes, fraud claims and insurance-related issues. Pellitta has also represented colleges and universities for 20 years in areas such as tort claim defense, police litigation, civil rights and student discipline. On the individual level, Pellitta offers assistance to clients in matters involving personal injury, criminal charges, juvenile delinquency, DWI and other similar offenses, both in municipal and superior courts.

Pellitta has served as second vice president in the C. Willard Heckel Inn of Court, an organization designed for the continuing education of newly-admitted attorneys. He has also lectured at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and on behalf of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office in the area of trial practice. He currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce, and was previously Legal Counsel to the Chamber, aiding in contract review, lease and vendor agreements, tenant issues and general legal advice. He is also Vice President of Hunterdon Prevention Resources (HPR) and also serves as a member of the HPR Board of Trustees.

Pellitta obtained his J.D. from New York Law School in 1985 and received his B.A. from Rutgers College in 1982.

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