George devotes 100% of his practice to defense litigation in the areas of complex general liability, automobile liability, product liability, trucking litigation, and construction accidents. Over his 30-year career, he has handled thousands of casualty cases, resolving them through dismissal prior to trial, settlement, or ultimate verdict at trial. George has represented numerous professional organizations, both private and public, in the defense of general liability as well as professional liability cases.
A 1974 graduate of Georgetown University, Washington D.C., George later attended Seton Hall University School of Law, achieving his Juris Doctorate in 1977. From September 1977 through September 1978, Mr. Helfrich was the law clerk to the Honorable Marshall Selikoff, Presiding Judge-Civil Division-Superior Court-Monmouth County.
Upon completion of his clerkship, George began his legal career as a civil defense attorney at the law offices of the Honorable Robert C. Pollock.
He continued to hone his skills as a senior trial attorney with the law offices of Minichino and Mautone. Thereafter, George was selected as the managing attorney for the Home Insurance Company in the state of New Jersey. He oversaw Home's entire litigation department in New Jersey, including the handling of complex litigation as well as all administrative and budgeting functions.
Significant Representative Matters:
· Successfully defended an automobile accident case in which the plaintiff demanded the policy limits of $2 million and alleged potential bad faith against the carrier by obtaining a defense verdict on lack of proximate cause.
· Successfully defended an educational institution against a claim of wrongful death of a student as a result of a criminal act upon their property and obtained a judgment of indemnity against the co-defendant security company for all defense fees incurred in defense of the matter. Verdict against co-defendant was $4.3 million.
· Successfully defended trucking company against a claim of product liability for the condition of a tire that had been "recapped," and subsequently had failed, with a defense verdict at trial, which withstood appellate review.
· Successfully argued at the trial level and affirmed on appeal that our trucking client was not a "manufacturer" or "seller" as defined under the New Jersey Product Liability Act in regard to their business of recapping tires.
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Issues involving all aspects of civil litigation including but not limited to pleading practice, discovery devices, motion practice and litigation strategy
Issues involving indemnification, governmental immunities, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages
Honors and Awards:
Appointed Civil Arbitrator-Morris County
AV Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
New Jersey Super Lawyer (2006-2009)
Professional Associations and Memberships:
Essex County Bar Association
Morris County Bar Association
New Jersey State Bar Association
Past Employment Positions:
Hon. Marshall Selikoff, Presiding Judge - Civil, Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth County, Law Clerk, 1977 - 1978