Ms. Rothschild practices in the areas of complex litigation, including insurance coverage, class actions, defense of employers, products liability and toxic torts, commercial contracts and business torts. She has litigated cases in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Connecticut, Florida, Virginia and the Virgin Islands. She has more than 50 reported opinions, involving significant and novel insurance and products liability issues.
For 36 years, Ms. Rothschild has been defending companies against a wide variety of claims involving products liability and commercial issues. She currently defends research-based pharmaceutical companies in litigation involving employment matters and prescription and over-the-counter medicines. She was lead counsel in the first trials involving phenylpropanolamine (PPA), a widely-used decongestant and appetite suppressant, both of which resulted in defense verdicts. The two major victories in PPA litigation, were recognized among The National Law Journal's Top 10 Defense Verdicts for the Year, both in 2004 and 2005.
She has been representing corporate policyholders for 30 years, litigating and resolving coverage disputes involving products liability; environmental impairment; directors' and officers' liability; errors and omissions; and fidelity claims, principally for Fortune 500 companies. She has litigated and is currently litigating (and settling) coverage disputes involving billions of dollars including, among other things, personal injury and property damage asbestos-related claims, breast implant claims and environmental liabilities.
She is a member of the American Law Institute and was a Consultant on the ALI Enterprise Liability Project and Restatement of Torts (3rd), Products Liability. Ms. Rothschild is a frequent lecturer on insurance, civil practice and procedure, trial techniques, toxic torts and products liability.
She served on the Editorial Board of The New Jersey Lawyer from 1996-1999 and is the author of numerous articles. She was a faculty member of the Defense Trial Academy (1996) and served as Chairman of the District V Fee Arbitration Committee of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1984-1988.
Ms. Rothschild has been recognized as a Chambers USA "Leaders in their Field" lawyer for 2006-2012. She is listed in The International Who's Who of Insurance & Reinsurance Legal and The Product Liability Defence. She is also recognized as a New Jersey Super Lawyer for 2006-2012; listed in the 2007-2012 issues of The Best Lawyers in America; and is recognized among the Top 100 Lawyers and Top 50 Women-New Jersey Super Lawyers for 2008-2012.
Ms. Rothschild has also appeared pro hac vice in courts in other states, including federal courts in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Virgin Islands.
Memberships & Affiliations
American Bar Association
New Jersey State Bar Association
Essex County Bar Association
American Law Institute
International Association of Defense Counsel
Defense Research Institute
Representative Matters
Fulton Boiler Works, Inc. v. American Motorists Insurance Co., No. 5:06-CV-1117 (GTS/DEP), 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 28756 (N.D.N.Y. March 25, 2010)
Appalachian Ins. Co. v. General Electric Company, 8 A.D. 3d 109, 778 N.Y.S. 2d 494 (1st Dept., 2004)
Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 98 N.Y. 2d 208, 774 N.E. 2d 687, 746 N.Y.S. 2d 622 (2002)
CSR Ltd. V. Federal Ins. Co., 146 F. Supp. 2d 556 (D.N.J. 2001)
In Re Duplan Corp., 212 F. 3d 144, (2nd Cir. 2000)
CSR Ltd. V. Federal Ins. Co., 40 F. Supp. 2d 559 (D.N.J. 1998)
Carter-Wallace, Inc. v. Admiral Ins. Co., 154 N.J. 312, 712 A. 2d 1116 (1998)
Mennen Co. v. Atlantic Mut. Ins. Co., 147 F. 3d 287 (3rd Cir. 1998)In re Tutu Wells Contamination Litigation, 994 F. Supp. 638 (D. Virgin Islands, 1998)
Columbia Cas. Co. v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., 215 A.D. 2d 91, 635 N.Y.S. 2d 173 (1st Dept. 1995)
Utica Mut. Ins. Co. v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Inc., 213 A.D. 2d 1046, 624 N.Y.S. 2d 332 (4th Dept. 1995)
Owens-Illinois, Inc. v. United Ins. Co., 138 N.J. 437, 650 A. 2d 974 (1994)
Coffman v. Keene Corp., 133 N.J. 581, 628 A. 2d 710 (1993)
Theer v. Philip Carey Co., 133 N.J. 610, 628 A. 2d 724 (1993) Dafler v. Raymark Industries, Inc., 132 N.J. 96, 622 A.2d 1305 (1993)
Pulte Home Corp., Inc. v. Ply Gem Industries, Inc., 804 F. Supp. 1471 (M.D. Fla., 1992)
Landrigan v. Celotex Corp., 127 N.J. 404, 605 A. 2d 1079 (1992)
Grassis v. Johns-Manville Corp., 248 N.J. Super 446, 591 A. 2d 671 (1991)
Armco, Inc. v. Glenfed Financial Corp., 720 F. Supp 1129 (D.N.J. 1989)
Armco, Inc. v. Glenfed Financial Corp., 746 F. Supp. 1249 (D.N.J. 1990)
Mauro v. Raymark Industries, Inc., 116 N.J. 126, 561 A. 2d 257 (1989)
Murnick v. Board of Educ. of City of Asbury Park, 235 N.J. Super. 225, 561 A. 2d 1193 (App. Div. 1989)
In re Asbestos Litigation, 829 F. 2d 1233 (3rd Cir. 1987)
Menna v. Johns-Manville Corp., 585 F. Supp. 1178 (D. N.J. 1984)
News
04/05/12, McCarter Partners Named Top New Jersey Super Lawyers 2012
03/22/12, Chambers USA 2012 Awards "Leading Lawyer" Rankings to 51 McCarter Lawyers
09/06/11, The Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 34 McCarter Lawyers in 2012 Referral Guide
06/10/11, Chambers USA 2011 Awards "Leading Lawyer" Rankings to 42 McCarter Lawyers
08/11/10, The Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 35 McCarter Lawyers in 2011 Referral Guide
05/03/10, McCarter & English's Pro Bono Program given an A+ grade by the NJ Law Journal
03/26/10, 33 McCarter & English Lawyers Included in 2010 Chambers USA
03/22/10, 37 McCarter Attorneys Recognized As New Jersey Super Lawyers for 2010
07/29/09, The Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 33 McCarter Lawyers in 2010 Referral Guide
03/31/09, 43 McCarter Attorneys Recognized As New Jersey Super Lawyers for 2009
03/13/09, Chambers USA 2009 Profiles 25 McCarter Lawyers
07/15/08, Gita Rothschild quoted in New Jersey Law Journal about winning summary judgment for client Pharmacia & Upjohn Co. in two hormone replacement therapy cases
06/13/08, Chambers USA 2008 Ranks McCarter in Top Tiers for 14 Practice Categories
09/25/07, The Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 36 McCarter Lawyers in 2008 Referral Guide
07/01/07, Chambers USA 2007 Ranks McCarter No.1 in 5 Practices
08/03/06, Gita Rothschild is quoted in Health Law360 in an article titled "Fifth Vioxx Victory Bodes Well For Merck."
04/17/06, 2005 Defense Win Listed in The National Law Journal
03/28/05, 2004 Defense Win Listed in The National Law Journal
Speaking
2008, Environmental Insurance Past, Present and Future
Gita F. Rothschild
Lecturer, ALI/ABA Programs (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008)
2008, Mass Litigation
Gita F. Rothschild
Lecturer, ALI/ABA Programs
2004, Opinion and Expert Testimony in Federal and State Courts
Gita F. Rothschild
Lecturer, ALI/ABA Programs
2002, Insurance Considerations in Settling Commercial Cases
Gita F. Rothschild
Lecturer, The Federal Bar Council
1999, 2000, Insurance Law in New Jersey
Gita F. Rothschild
Lecturer, Lorman Education Services
1998, Litigation Management Best Practices: Inside/Outside Counsel Relationships
Gita F. Rothschild
Lecturer, Glasser Legalworks
1997, 1988, Civil Practice and Procedure, including Trial Techniques
Gita F. Rothschild
Lecturer, ALI/ABA Programs
1996, Defense Trial Academy
Gita F. Rothschild
Faculty Member
1994, Mass Tort Update
Gita F. Rothschild
Lecturer, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education
1991, Trial Techniques
Gita F. Rothschild
Lecturer, Defense Research Institute
1988, Toxic Torts and Product Liability
Gita F. Rothschild
Lecturer, ALI/ABA Programs
1988, Asbestos Property Damage Claims
Gita F. Rothschild
Lecturer, Defense Research Institute
Publications
04/13/12, Law Schools Under Fire for False Advertising -- Insurance Cover for These Recent Lawsuits
M&E Insurance Coverage Alert
01/01/10, Insurance Considerations in Settling Commercial Cases
Gita F. Rothschild and Arnold L. Natali Jr.
Settlement Agreements in Commercial Disputes: Negotiating, Drafting & Enforcement, Aspen Law & Business (2000, 2010)
12/23/08, The Resolution of Environmental Insurance Claims: Key Issues from the Policyholder's Perspective
Gita F. Rothschild
ALI-ABA Environmental Insurance (Course Materials 2000); (Revised and Updated 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008) Reprinted in ALI-ABA The Practical Lawyer
12/01/99, How to Have Your Cake and Eat It
Gita F. Rothschild
International Commercial Litigation
01/01/98, What Can You Learn from a Litigation Nightmare?
Gita F. Rothschild
Litigation Management Best Practices: Inside/Outside Counsel Relationships
04/01/97, Choosing and Holding a Forum
Gita F. Rothschild
Litigation Magazine
01/01/97, Dealing with Accountants and Auditors: Avoiding Sanctions in Complex Cases
Gita F. Rothschild
Defense Counsel Journal, co-author
01/01/94, Damages and the Problem of Enhanced Risk
Gita F. Rothschild
Practicioners Guide to New Jersey Product Liability Law, co-author
08/01/92, Issues Involving Expert Witnesses in Toxic Tort Litigation
Johanna Gibbon and Gita F. Rothschild
The Corporate Analyst
01/01/92, Issues Involving Expert Witnesses in Toxic Tort Litigation
Gita F. Rothschild
Co-author, The Corporate Analyst