Christopher focuses his practice in the areas of professional liability, employment practices liability and education law. Christopher has litigated a variety of complex matters in federal and state courts throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He also has represented employers in administrative proceedings before the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and he has represented school districts in special education due process matters.
While attending Penn State - The Dickinson School of Law, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Christopher clerked for the Honorable Robert J. Woodside in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. After graduating from law school, Christopher served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Ronald B. Graves in the Civil Division of the New Jersey Superior Court. Christopher then went on to join a mid-sized law firm in northern New Jersey as an associate, where his practice focused primarily on commercial litigation.
Significant Representative Matters
· Dismissal on motion of claims brought against mortgage lender for alleged violations of federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act by plaintiff who claimed she was the victim of a housing fraud scam.
· Assisted in obtaining defense verdict at trial in favor of school district, administrators and professional staff alleged to have violated 1st Amendment rights of students by disciplining them for protesting a dress code policy.
· Summary judgment dismissing claims against school district, administrators and school board members in action by former teacher who alleged she was terminated from her employment in violation of her federal civil rights.
· Summary judgment dismissing claims by parent and students against school district, administrators and staff members of claims brought under federal and state wiretap laws and 4th Amendment.
· Summary judgment dismissing action against parking authority by former employee who claimed she was terminated from her employment in violation of her 1st and 14th Amendment rights.
· Dismissal on motion of claims by first-time home buyers against mortgage broker brought under federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and Pa. Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.
· Dismissal on motion of claims by parent of special needs student brought under the IDEA and Rehabilitation Act against the administrative agency responsible for overseeing special education hearings.
· Dismissal on motion of claims by parent of special needs student brought against school district under the IDEA and Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of U.S. Constitution.
· Assisted in obtaining summary judgment dismissing claims of breach of fiduciary duty, negligence and fraud against attorney.
· Dismissal on preliminary objections of tortious interference and civil conspiracy claims brought against real estate agency and broker.
· Dismissal on motion for sanctions of claims under federal RICO statute and for breach of contract brought against school district and administrators by parent of former student in the district.
· Dismissal on motion of claims under Americans with Disabilities Act brought by former employee against a Clinton County municipality.
· Successfully defended grievance brought by retired employee against school district seeking to recover unpaid, accrued sick leave.
· Settlement of class action under federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act against medical billing company involving approximately 2,500 identified class members.
· Successfully mediated multimillion dollar construction defect claim brought against roofing and sheet metal contractor.
· Defense award at arbitration in negligence action brought against insurance agency and owners of the agency.
Published Works
· "Sewage Sludge and Land Application Practices: Do the Section 503 Standards Guarantee Safe Fertilizer Usage," Dickinson Journal of Environmental Law and Policy, Volume 9, at p. 147 (Spring 2000)
· "Pennsylvania Superior Court Limits Duty Of Insurance Brokers," Defense Digest, Vol. 12, No. 4, December, 2006
· "School's Out: The Third Circuit Precludes Use of 42 U.S.C. 1983 to Remedy Violations of IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act," Defense Digest, Vol. 13, No. 3, September, 2007
· "Remedies for Disabled Students Curtailed," New Jersey Law Journal, Vol. CXCI, No. 2, Jan. 14, 2008
· "Ninth Circuit Holds Private Tuition Is Reimbursable Under IDEA Even Though Student Never Received Special Education From School District," Defense Digest, Vol. 14, No. 4, December, 2008
· "Forum The Bell Tolls: Plaintiffs Lose Challenge To Validity Of Forum Selection Clause In Their Auto Insurance Policy," Defense Digest, Vol. 16, No. 1, 2010
· "The Third Circuit Holds That Private Employers Are Not Prohibited By Bankruptcy Code From Denying Employment To Individuals Who Previously Filed For Bankruptcy," Defense Digest, Vol. 17, No. 2, June, 2011
Representative Cases
· Smith v. Professional Billing and Management Services, Inc., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 86189 (D.N.J. 2007)
· Roberts v. First Bank of Delaware, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71266 (M.D. Pa. 2008)
· Walsh v. Krantz, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 118109 (M.D. Pa. 2009
· Gregory v. Derry Township School District, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1875 (M.D. Pa. 2010)
Past Employment Positions
· Morris, Downing & Sherred, LLP, Newton, New Jersey, 2002 - 2006
· Honorable Ronald B. Graves, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Judicial Law Clerk, 2001 - 2002
Associations & Memberships
· Dauphin County Bar Association
· New Jersey State Bar Association
· Pennsylvania Bar Association
· PBA Professional Liability Committee
Honors & Awards
· BV® Distinguished™ LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
Year Joined Organization: 2006
Publications
Third Circuit Holds That Private Employers Are Not Prohibited by the Bankruptcy Code From Denying Employment to Individuals Who Previously Filed for Bankruptcy
Defense Digest Article · June 2, 2011
Federal - Employment Law, KEY POINTS A private employer is not prohibited under §525(b) of the Bankruptcy Code from refusing to hire an individual simply because he or she previously filed for bankruptcy. Public entity..., Defense Digest, Vol. 17, No. 2, June 2011
Forum the Bell Tolls: Plaintiffs Lose Challenge to Validity of Forum Selection Clause in Their Auto Insurance Policy
Defense Digest Article · March 1, 2010
Pensylvania - Insurance Coverage, Key Points: When the language of an insurance contract is clear and unambiguous, courts will give effect to that language. Forum selection clause in plaintiffs' auto insurance policy was clear..., Defense Digest, Vol. 16, No. 1, March 2010