Jeffrey O'Hara

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation

Construction

Crisis Management and Catastrophic Loss

Product Liability and Tort Law

Professional Liability

Transportation Law

Trial Practice

Career

As of April 2025, Jeff has served as lead counsel in approximately 90 jury trials, taking 67 verdicts in a wide array of subject areas. Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as Civil Trial Attorney since 1999, Jeff focuses primarily on the defense of large exposure, catastrophic casualty events. He is also called upon to defend complex commercial disputes.

Jeff is a Fellow into the American College of Trial Lawyers, widely considered the preeminent organization of trial lawyers in North America. A four-time recipient of the "Bullseye Barrister" distinction for outstanding trial service, Jeff has attained the elevated rank of Advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is also a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, a Fellow in the International Society of Barristers, as well as an active member in the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel and the USLAW Network.

Jeff is accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the preparation, presentation and prosecution of claims for veterans’ benefits. He is a Co-Founder of and currently serves as President for One Vet @ A Time, Inc. d/b/a Project OVAT, a non-profit charitable entity that provides medical and legal support at no cost to select veterans pursuing VA claims. Jeff also serves on the Board of Directors of the Trenton Youth Wrestling & Learning Center and as Board Advisor for The Patriot Fund, having previously served on the Legal Committee for USA Triathlon, as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games and two terms on the Board of Directors for the USLAW Network.

Professional Memberships

American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow (2020 - present)

Chair - Special Problems in the Administration of Justice (US) (2023 - present); Member - New Jersey State Committee (2021 - present)

American Board of Trial Advocates, Advocate (2003 – present)

Senior Life Fellow (2021)

Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow (2019 – present)

Peter Perlman Service Award (2019)

Barrister, Order of Juris

Member, Trial Law Institute

Member, Diversity Law Institute

Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Member (2011 – present)

International Society of Barristers, Fellow (2015 – present)

International Association of Defense Counsel, Member (2004 – present)

USLAW, Board of Directors (2008 – 2013, 2021 – 2023)

Defense Research Institute, Member; Trial Tactics Steering Committee (2003 – 2012)

Experience

Chamseddine v. Live Nation, Court of Common Pleas of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia County), Opening Global Demand $20 million; Final Global Offer $10 million, 7 days of trial - case resolved as to all defendants for $18 million during close of plaintiff's case in chief.

Treme v. Walmart Transportation, Superior Court of Massachusetts (Hampshire County), Opening Demand $20 million, Final Offer (confidential), 20 days of trial - verdict of $1.775 million (net recovery of $0 based on co-defendant settlement credit), post-trial motions denied - appeal pending.

Smerina v. Texas Road Plaza, LLC, Superior Court of New Jersey (Middlesex County), Opening Demand $1.5 million, Final Offer $450,000, 6 days of trial - case resolved at close of plaintiff's proofs for $500,000.

Perez v. Live Nation, Supreme Court of New York (New York County), 16 days damages only trial. Demand - $50 million before start of trial, reduced to $35 million during trial, Final Offer - $31 million, Verdict of $102 million, reduced by trial judge to $53 million, further reduced by First Department to $34 million.

Linwood v. Schindler Elevator Corporation, Southern District of New York, Opening Demand - $4.5 million, Final Offer - $300,000, 3 days of trial - directed verdict in favor of defense

Vracevic v. Fabcon East, Superior Court of Connecticut (Hartford), Opening Demand $9 million, Final Offer - $1.2 million, 16 days of trial – hung jury (terms of resolution before re-trial confidential)

Rattner v. Chubb National Insurance Company, Eastern District of Virginia, Opening Demand - $11.5 million, Final Offer - $0, 6 days of trial – policy declared void per fraud/concealment and intentional acts provisions, verdict of $945,000 on counterclaim.

Ahsan v. Staples, Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn), Opening Demand - $2 million, Final Offer - $150,000, 6 days of trial – no cause for action

Malik v. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, District of New Jersey (Newark), Opening Demand - $25 million, Final Offer - $3 million, 3 days of trial – case resolved during plaintiff’s proofs (terms of resolution confidential)

Kinghorn v. Apex Tool Group, Superior Court of Massachusetts (Middlesex County), Opening Demand - $32 million, Final Offer - $2.5 million, 13 days of trial – verdict of $16 million (terms of post-verdict resolution confidential)

Brown-Obot v. Helal, Superior Court of New Jersey (Essex County) Opening Demand - $1 million, Final Offer – $0, 6 days of trial – no cause for action

Sosa v. Clayton Concrete, Superior Court of New Jersey (Essex County) Opening Demand - $6 million, Final Offer - $1 million, 8 days of trial – damages only verdict of $675,000

Connors v. Target Corporation, Superior Court of New Jersey (Essex County) Opening Demand - $5 million, Final Offer - $350,000, 6 days of trial – verdict of $375,000. Secured full indemnity and reimbursement of all defense costs from co-defendant post-verdict

Miller v. Duane Reade, Supreme Court of New York (Kings County) Opening Demand - $100 million, Final Offer - $20 million, 35 days of trial – case resolved at close of plaintiff’s proofs for $22 million

Walczak v. Target Corp., Superior Court of New Jersey (Middlesex County) Opening Demand - $1.2 million, Final Offer - $0, 6 days of trial – no cause for action. Secured reimbursement of all defense costs from co-defendant post-verdict

Smith v. Ratan R. Park, Superior Court of New Jersey (Bergen County) Opening Demand - $15 million, Final Offer - $4 million, 12 days of trial – no cause for action

Melville v. US Bancorp, Supreme Court of New York (Kings County) Opening Demand – $2.5 million, Final Offer – $0, 5 days of trial (terms of post-liability verdict resolution confidential)

Olan v. Target Corp., Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn) Opening Demand – $1.2 million, Final Offer - $100,000, 4 days of trial – no cause for action

Marrero v. Target Corp., Supreme Court of New York (Bronx County) Opening Demand – $5.6 million, Final Offer – $300,000, 13 days of trial – verdict of $1.3 million (terms of post-verdict resolution confidential)

Edison Salvage v. Garden State Paper Company, Superior Court of New Jersey (Bergen County) Opening Demand – $3.25 million, Final Offer – $260,000, 2 phase trial (1st phase 6 days, 2nd phase 2 days) – verdict of $295,000

White v. Morcos, Superior Court of New Jersey (Passaic County) Opening Demand $2 million, Final Offer – $0, 14 days of trial, directed verdict as to Morcos, $925,000 verdict as to other defendant

Alfone v. Caputo, Superior Court of New Jersey (Essex County) Opening Demand – $1 million, Final Offer – $0, 4 days of trial – no cause for action

Expert in these Jurisdictions

New Jersey

Colorado (inactive)

United States Supreme Court

United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

Publications

Quoted, "A Certain Kind of Insurance for a Certain Kind of Life"

Gallagher Newsletter - Personal Lines, 10.02.2024

Project One Vet @ A Time Featured in ACTL Article

The American College of Trial Lawyers Journal, Fall 2023

Case Cited, "3rd Circ. Orders Jurisdiction Probe In Suit Over Fire Coverage"

Law360, 09.20.2022

Case Cited, "$14M in Settlements Ends Ga. Case Involving Man Who Lost Foot When Hit by Concrete Truck"

Daily Report, 09.23.2021

Closing Arguments Quoted, "Did a Great Falls Doctor Set Her Mansion on Fire?"

The Washington Post, 10.19.2017

Case Cited, "Split N.J. High Court Nixes Class Certification In TGI Fridays Drink Prices Suit"

Lexis Legal News, 10.09.2017

Closing Arguments Quoted, "Hotel Cleared in Pool Incident"

The Record (Bergen County), 12.12.2012

Education

Awards