Richard J. Levinson - Edison, NJ

Overview

In 1939, my father, Jacob Levinson founded this firm in Perth Amboy, in partnership with Woodbridge Judge Andrew Desmond. The law firm began representing workers who were injured in the course of their employment against major corporations, and the firm has always devoted itself to representing common, every day people against big and powerful opponents. I grew up with injured plaintiffs and their problems, often visiting my father's office until I began my career with his firm in 1954.

I started Columbia Law School in 1953 and graduated from that institution in 1956. I previously spent four years at Wesleyan University in Connecticut where I graduated with honors after preparing at Perth Amboy High School.

Since December of 1956 when I became a member of the New Jersey Bar, I have practiced all of the many varieties of personal injury law. The only time when I was not appearing for injured plaintiffs was the two years from 1957 to the end of 1958 that I spent in the US Army. Since starting to practice, I have handled only personal injury cases for injured victims. I have consistently worked for the benefit of injured plaintiffs, the Bar and the legal community.

I have participated in Bar Association Committees, Legislative Committees and Legal Organizations. I was a Charter Member and past president of the Middlesex County Trial Lawyers as well as the New Jersey Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an honorary organization made up of experienced trial members of the Bar. I served in every capacity of LEGAL, a group of lawyers formed for the purpose of defending and extending the rights of the injured. I have been Chairman of the Appellate Practices of the New Jersey Bar, a member of the Auto Reparation Committee of the New Jersey State Bar and twice Chairman of the Civil Practices section of the New Jersey Bar Association. For many years I have been on the Court House Committee of Middlesex County and I have served under at least three different Assignment Judges. I have spoken at many seminars and have consistently made myself available to those members of the Bar who felt it would benefit them. I received the Trial Attorneys of NJ Award for distinguished service in 1990. I was, for many years, a trustee of the Dickinson School of Law. I have been a Certified Civil Trial Attorney since certification began in 1984 until 2007. I am the 2007 winner of the Honorable Herman J. Breitkopf Award presented by the Middlesex Country Trial Lawyers for integrity and ability in the field of law.

I have represented thousands of plaintiffs and tried more than 300 cases in my 52 years at the bar. Every satisfied plaintiff is a memorable case, but three in particular stand out. The first one was only a $25,000.00 recovery for a Perth Amboy character and ex-light heavy-weight fighter who was libeled when it was stated that he took "a dive" or threw a fight. The publisher paid for this injustice and misinformation. The next case involved a police officer who lost both legs as a result of a turnpike truck accident. In spite of many difficulties, including insurance coverage, a multi-million dollar settlement was achieved. The third case involved a dentist and his wife who were killed in a tragic accident abutting a restaurant in Monmouth Beach when their car fell into a river. The victims were trapped and could not escape. The dentist was killed and his wife rendered a vegetable. An $11,000,000.00 settlement was achieved against three defendants.

My 48 years at the Bar has fulfilled my childhood dreams of being a lawyer and representing the injured and powerless. My career has been devoted to pursuing the claims of the injured and aiding and providing justice for those who often have no other way to prevail. I am eternally grateful to those who have shown their faith in me by allowing me to represent their interest.

I am married and have one child.