Donald A. Caminiti

The practice of representing victims of negligence hasn’t changed dramatically over all these years. We’re still trying to help grievously injured people get on their feet again. What has changed is there is now a concerted effort by the insurance industry to discredit the jury system. A lot of money has been spent by the wrongdoers lobby to promote the idea that a jury composed of ordinary citizens, a jury of one’s peers, is somehow incapable of making a sound reasoned judgment.

Many people see attorneys in a courtroom and marvel at their presentation, their skills and oratory. But the fact is there is much, much preparation behind the courtroom drama. Someone once said there are no lions in the courtroom, just drudges back at the office. There are plenty of 12-hour days, and lots of pressure in preparing a case for trial.

I have worked on many difficult cases in which a dangerous manufacturer, a negligent doctor or a careless driver caused an injury. Some of those cases have taken years to resolve, but we’ve been able to do what’s right and what’s in the best interest of our client. Unfortunately, many of those cases are settled with confidentiality agreements, so we can’t disclose the problem that caused the accident and injury in the first place. That is unfortunate. Society would be much better off if we abolished confidentiality agreements so that the wrongdoer’s conduct could be exposed for all to see.

I enjoy what I do – working within our civil justice system to help obtain for my clients a fair and just resolution of their case.

Areas of Practice:

• 60% Civil Litigation – General Negligence
• 10% Civil Litigation – Medical Malpractice
• 10% Civil Litigation – Defective Products
• 5% Civil Litigation – 1983 Defense
• 15% Miscellaneous
• Class Actions — Plaintiff
• Criminal Law
• Motor Vehicle Accidents — Plaintiff
• Personal Injury — Plaintiff
• Premises Liability — Plaintiff
• Sexual Abuse — Plaintiff
• Traffic Violations
• Wrongful Death — Plaintiff
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Auto Dealer Fraud
• Civil Rights
• Legal Malpractice
• Medical Malpractice
• Nursing Home Abuse
• Products Liability
• Professional Malpractice
• Sexual Harassment
• Wills

Litigation Percentage

• 85% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Certified Legal Specialties

• Certified Civil Trial Attorney, New Jersey Supreme Court
• Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1989
• Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates, 2000

Ancillary Businesses

• Honorable Discharge, United States Air Force, July 1966 – March 1970

Languages

• Spanish

Fraternities/Sororities

• Phi Beta Kappa

• New Jersey, 1976
• New York, 1980
• District of Columbia, 1978
• U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1976
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1990
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1986

• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey School of Law – Newark, Newark, New Jersey
  • J.D. – 1976
• Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey
  • B.A. magna cum laude – 1973
  • Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
  • Major: History

• Hon. Theodore W. Trautwein Assignment Judge Bergen County Superior Court, Judicial Clerk, 1976 – 1977

• Top 10: 2013 New Jersey Super Lawyers
• Top 100: 2012 New Jersey Super Lawyers
• Top 100: 2011 New Jersey Super Lawyers
• Top 100: 2010 New Jersey Super Lawyers
• Top 100: 2009 New Jersey Super Lawyers
• Top 100: 2008 New Jersey Super Lawyers
• Top 100: 2007 New Jersey Super Lawyers
• Top 100: 2006 New Jersey Super Lawyers
• Top 10: 2005 New Jersey Super Lawyers
• Phi Beta Kappa, 1973
• Who’s Who in America, 2000
• Who’s Who in America, 2004
• Who’s Who in America, 2007
• Who’s Who in America, 2008
• Who’s Who in America, 2009
• Honored Member, Who’s Who in America, 1989 – 1990
• Honored Member, Who’s Who in America, 1991 – 1992
• Honored Member, Who’s Who in America, 1990 – 1991
• Honored Member, Who’s Who in America, 1992 – 1993
• Who’s Who in America, 1994 – 1995
• Ten Leaders – Personal Injury & Trial Law of Northern New Jersey, 2003 – 2004
• Member, Outstanding Lawyers of America, 2003 – 2010
• James J. McLaughlin Award. New Jersey State Bar Assoc., 2015

• American Association for Justice, Prior Board Member, 2000 – 2006
• American Association for Justice , Member, 1980 – Present
• New Jersey Association for Justice, Board Member and Past President, 1980 – Present
• Housing Authority of Bergen County, Co-Counsel, 1997 – Present
• Township of River Vale, Assistant Counsel, 1977 – 1980
• Housing Development Corporation of Bergen County, Counsel, 1978 – Present
• Housing Authority of the Township of North Bergen, Counsel, 1980 – 1984
• North Bergen Rent Leveling Board, Counsel, 1980 – Present
• Attorney General of the State of New Jersey to represent the State of New Jersey in Tobacco Litigation, Special Counsel, 1996 – 1999
• Borough of Paramus, Special Counsel, 2006 – Present
• Borough of Paramus Affordable Housing Corporation, Counsel, 2006 – Present
• American Bar Association, Member
• New Jersey Bar Association, Member
• District of Columbia Bar Association, Member
• New York Bar Association, Member
• Bergen County Bar Association, Member
• ATLA, Sustaining Member, 1988
• ATLA-New Jersey, Member, 1981 – Present
• Board of Governors, American Association for Justice(formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America), Member, 2001 – 2007
• Board of Governors, Association of Trial Lawyers of America New Jersey Chapter, Member, 1983 – Present
• ATLA – New Jersey, President, 1994 – 1995
• ATLA – New Jersey , President-Elect, 1993 – 1994
• First Vice-President, ATLA-New Jersey , 1992 – 1993
• ATLA-New Jersey , Second Vice-President, 1991 – 1992
• ATLA-New Jersey , Third Vice-President, 1990 – 1991
• ATLA-New Jersey , Third Vice-President, 1990 – 1991
• ATLA, Education Committee, Chairman, 1989 – 1990
• ATLA-New Jersey , Treasurer, 1986 – 1987
• ATLA-New Jersey , Secretary, 1985 – 1986
• Secretary, ATLA-New Jersey , 1989 – 1990
• ATLA, Seminar Committee Chairman, 1984 – 1987
• ATLA-New Jersey , Parliamentarian, 1984 – 1985
• Trial Lawyers For Public Justice, Member, 1991 – Present
• ATLA-New Jersey – PAC, Chairman, 2000 – 2001
• Tomorrows Children’s Fund Hackensack University Medical Center, Member, Executive Board, 1987 – Present
• Service Award, Community Resource Counsel Bergen County, Recipient, 1995

• “Legal Responsibility During Gymnastic Lesson”, Montclair State College Gymnastic Safety Workshop, 1980
• “Legal Responsibility During Gymnastic Lesson”, Montclair State College Gymnastic Safety Workshop, 1981
• “Legal Responsibility During Gymnastic Lesson”, Montclair State College Gymnastic Safety Workshop, 1983
• “Basic Course in trial Advocacy”, National College of Advocacy, 1983
• “Legal Consideration: Review of Law in Evaluating Cases For Selection – Variations In Law Between New York and New Jersey”, American College of Legal Medicine, 1984
• “How To Win trip, Slip and Fall Cases”, ATLA – New Jersey Seminar, 1989
• “Social Host Liability”, People’s Law School, Bergen Community College, 1989
• “Auto Insurance: A Problem we All Must Live With”, 1989
• “Emotional Distress – What Is It and When Is It Actionable”, 1990
• “Does Auto Insurance Get You Down?” An Analysis of New Jersey’s Automobile Insurance Laws, 1991
• “Political Action Committees”, Cranio-Mandibular Society of New Jersey, 1991
• “Rights & Limitations Under Today’s Auto Insurance Laws in New Jersey”, 1993
• “Hot Tips hi Tort Law V”, ATLA-New Jersey Seminar, 1994
• “Civil Trial Preparation”, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1995
• “Hot Tips in Tort Law, VIII”, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1996
• “Litigating A Wrongful Death Case”, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1997
• “Litigating Wrongful Death Cases”, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1999
• Program Chair/Speaker, “How To Stay On Your Feet On The Premises Liability Case”, ATLA-New Jersey Seminar, 2002
• “Winning At Trial: Direct & Cross Examination Of Experts”, ATLA-New Jersey Seminar, 2002
• “Hot Tips in Tort Law”, ATLA-New Jersey Seminar, 2003
• “Structured Settlement”, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2003
• “Cross Examination: Destroying Adverse Witnesses Using Microsoft Power Point”, ATLA-New Jersey Boardwalk Seminar, 2003
• “Litigating the Slip ‘N’ Fall Case”, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Moderator, 2003
• “Premises Liability: Expert Witnesses – Nailing Down the Facts Early through Expert Witnesses”, ATLA-New Jersey Boardwalk Seminar, 2004
• Co Chair/Speaker, Five Concurrent Seminars Program – “Premises Liability”, ATLA-New Jersey,, 2004
• “Opening Summation” “Direct Examination Of Plaintiffs’ Expert”, ATLA-New Jersey Trying The Auto Case, 2005
• “Sexual Misconduct By A Physician”, ATLA-New Jersey Boardwalk Seminar Hot Tips In Medical Malpractice, 2006
• “Some Myths About Degenerative Disc Changes”, ATLA-New Jersey Boardwalk Seminar Litigation at Sunrise Legal Medicine: Radiology, 2007
• “Exposing Defense Medicine”, ATLA-New Jersey Seminar, 2007
• “Behind Enemy Lines: Armed Cross Examination”, ATLA-New Jersey Seminar , 2007
• “A Plaintiff Attorney’s Perspective”, Damage Prevention Conference and Expo, 2007
• “Direct Examination Of Plaintiff s Expert”, ATLA-New Jersey Seminar, Pines Manor, 2008
• “Exposing Deceptive Defense Medicine: Polarizing the Case”, NJAJ, 2009
• “Techniques for Dealing with the Usual Suspects in NJ”, NJAJ, 2009
• “Your NJ DME Usual Suspects – Our Collective Experience”, NJAJ, 2009
• “Audience Participation Segment – Q and A”, NJAJ, 2009
• Trial Strategy, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1985 – 2010
• Trial Strategy, New Jersey Association for Justice, 1985 – 2010
• Master, Justice Morris Pashman Inn of Court, 1998 – Present
• Moderator, “How To Stay On Your Feet In Slip ‘N Fall Litigation”, New Jersey Institute For Continuing Legal, 2009
• “That Is A Lucid, Intelligent, Well Thought-Out Objection”:Sustained Or Over-Ruled? Objections to Jury Charges, NJAJ Meadowlands Seminar 2009, Sheraton Meadowlands, 2009
• “Understanding Chiropractics”, New Jersey Institute For Continuing Legal Education, Panelist, 2009
• Moderator, “How To Stay On Your Feet In Slip ‘N Fall Litigation”, New Jersey Institute For Continuing Legal Educations, 2009
• NJAJ, Boardwalk Seminar Litigation At Sunrise, “Degenerative Disc Disease: Strategies to Neutralize this Potentially Frivolous Defense”, 2010
• Speaker, “ALM Annual Medical Malpractice Update”, 2014
• Cross Examination College: Speaker, “Cross of the Defense Radiologist”, NJAJ Meadowlands Seminar, 2014
• Litigation at Sunrise: Speaker, “BAD FAITH: Where are We Now?”, NJAJ Meadowlands Seminar, 2014

• “Recreation & Sports Equipment”, Chapter 71, (Co-Author), Products Liability Practice Guide, Matthew Bender, Vol. 4, 1988
• “How to Prove Portee or Falzone Emotional Distress Cases”, National Trial Lawyer, Volume 3, May 19, 1991
• “Model Statement Of Procurement Policy For Public Housing authorities Operating hi New Jersey”, (Co-Author), 1994

• Executive Board Member, Tomorrow’s Children’s Fund, Hackensack University Medical, 1987 – Present