Jeffrey E. Strauss
Counsel
E-Mail: jstrauss@mskf.net

Jeffrey E. Strauss, (Counsel), admitted to New Jersey, New York, and Washington D.C. bars; admitted to U.S. Supreme Court (1999); admitted to U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals (1998).

Mr. Strauss has been designated by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney in 1992 and has been recertified in 1999 and 2006. He has obtained numerous verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients since he began the practice of law in 1986.

Mr. Strauss is a 1979 graduate of Rutgers University where he majored in Zoology and Physiology. Upon graduation he pursued graduate coursework in immunology, endocrinology and biochemistry. He then attended graduate school at Boston University providing laboratory teaching assistance in Human Anatomy and obtaining his Master of Science degree in Applied Anatomy and Physiology. He chose to enter the law in 1983 at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan where he was invited to join the Law Review during his first year eventually serving as its Articles Editor. Mr. Strauss graduated from law school Cum Laude in January 1986 and worked briefly for the U.S. Department of Human Services Office of General Counsel in New York City until becoming a member of the New Jersey Bar in June 1986. He then became associated with law firms specializing in substantial injury cases due to medical malpractice, product liability, industrial and construction accidents and serious car or truck crashes.

Mr. Strauss has been the co-chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association's Medical Malpractice subcommittee for two years, he is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Union County Bar Association, a Master in the Richard J. Hughes Inns of Court of Union County, a member of the New Jersey Association of Trial Lawyers and the American Association for Justice formerly known as The Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He was the lead author of "Selecting the Right Cases" published in the New Jersey Law Journal's Medical Malpractice Section, August 8, 2005.

Mr. Strauss is a member of the bar in New Jersey, New York and Washington D.C. and is admitted to practice in the New Jersey Federal Courts, the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. His entire practice is devoted to litigation and he has been counsel on numerous significant cases during his career, most recently as co-counsel in obtaining a $21 million verdict involving inflicted brain injuries to an infant by foster parents. He has been involved in numerous appellate cases in the state and federal courts of New Jersey and before the New York Supreme Court- Appellate Division.

Mr. Strauss is involved in his community and currently serves as an elected member of the Scotch Plains Township Council, a four year post.   He is also a member of the Scotch Plains Planning Board, Council liaison to the Recreation Commission and a member of the Shared Governmental Services Committee which coordinates services and functions with the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education and the Borough of Fanwood.   Previously, he was a resident in Fanwood and served on the Zoning and Planning Boards in Fanwood and has been involved in numerous community organizations.  

Education: Rutgers University (B.S. Zoology and Physiology, 1979); Rutgers University (Graduate coursework in Immunology and Endocrinology, 1979-1981);  Boston University (M.S. Applied Anatomy and Physiology, 1982); Thomas M. Cooley Law School (J.D., Cum Laude, Law Review, 1986).   

Member: Union County Bar Association; Master in Union County Inns of Court (2001 to present); New Jersey Bar Association Medical Malpractice Subcommittee (2000 to 2005); Association of Trial Lawyers of America/American Association for Justice; American Association for Justice, formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Practice Areas:  Personal Injury, Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Construction/Workplace Accidents, Motor Vehicle Accidents, and Products Liability

Reported Decisions:

Von Borstel v. Campan & N.J. Transit Rail Operations, 255 N.J. Super. 24, 604 A.2d 614 (App. Div. 1992)

Eliopoulos v. Healthcheck, Inc., 51 A.D.3d 622, 857 N.Y.S.2d 686 (N.Y.A.D. 2 Dept., 2008), 2008 N.Y. Slip. Op. 04310

Rudenjak v. GPU Nuclear, 1991 WL 210852 (D.N.J. 1991)

Spychala v. G.D. Searle & Co., 705 F.Supp. 1024 (D.N.J. 1988) 

Sample Verdicts/Settlements:

$21 million verdict, inflicted damages upon a child in foster care.    Infant child was improperly placed in foster car and was abused suffering "shaken baby syndrome" resulting in brain damage and multiple bone fractures.  State was held liable for breaching its own procedures and regulations in child placement and required oversight.  Foster parents were held jointly liable for the inflicted physical damage.  (Co-counsel, Burlington County N.J.)(2006)

$3 million settlement, medical malpractice, failure to use noninvasive methods to investigate an urgent vascular condition resulting in an invasive catheterization and a stroke in a 29 year old woman.   (Co-Counsel, Rockland County, NY)(2006)

$1.7 million settlement, medical malpractice in failing to timely diagnose, refer and treat a patient with cardiac symptoms resulting in a heart attack and severe heart muscle damage.  (2004)

$850,000 settlement, medical malpractice, failure of an Obstetrician to heed the signs of impending delivery thereby prolonging the pregnancy resulting in an infection that caused brain injury to the child.  (1996) 

$650,000 settlement ,medical malpractice, in failing to timely diagnose and refer for treatment a middle age high risk male patient for treatment of cardiac symptoms substantially contributing to the necessity of a heart transplant.  (2005) 

$460,000 settlement for injuries to hand and wrist, 16 year old female plaintiff was visiting a county operated zoo when a prairie dog known to have bitten two other visitors in the preceding two weeks leaped and bit her wrist causing permanent scarring and loss of function.  (2008)

$400,000 settlement for burn injuries, plaintiff was a truck driver unloading chemicals and was caused to be covered with the chemicals due to poor unloading procedures by the chemical plant.  (2004)

$350,000 verdict, medical malpractice, surgeon damaged a nerve that should have been protected during an operation resulting in diminished movement of the plaintiff's arm.   (Union County, NJ 2002)

$350,000 verdict for medical malpractice, failure of Obstetrician in a high risk pregnancy to heed the complaints of the mother and delayed delivery resulting in the child being born deceased.   (Middlesex County, NJ 1992)

Mr. Strauss has obtained numerous other verdicts and settlements for his clients.