Jennifer is a Partner at Cooper Levenson, serving in the firm’s Appeals & Research Practice Group. She brings more than 25 years of experience handling civil and criminal appeals.
Jennifer joined Cooper Levenson in 2017 after practicing as a solo attorney, where she focused on civil and criminal appeals, post-conviction relief, and termination of parental rights appeals. She also represented clients in small business matters, defense litigation, and personal injury cases.
In addition to her practice, Jennifer served as an Adjunct Professor at Stockton University, teaching Argument and Persuasion in the Social Sciences. She began her legal career as a Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Steven Z. Kleiner of the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Case Highlights
New Jersey Supreme Court
East Bay Drywall v. Dep’t of Labor, 246 N.J. 275 (2021), authored brief and appeared for oral argument in a matter regarding the classification of subcontractors.
Haviland v. Lourdes Medical Center, 250 N.J. 268 (2022), appeared for oral argument before the New Jersey Supreme Court on the novel issue concerning whether an affidavit of merit is required for a complaint alleging a direct claim against a non-licensed technician and a vicarious liability claim against the medical facility.
Allen v. Cape May County, 246 N.J. 275 (2021), authored brief and appeared for oral argument in front of the New Jersey Supreme Court, representing an employer alleged to have violated the Conscientious Employee Protection Act.
Bank of NY Mellon v. Corradetti, 245 N.J. 136 (2021), authored briefly in a matter before the New Jersey Supreme Court, representing homeowners in a foreclosure matter.
McKelvey v. Pierce, 173 N.J. 26 (2002), authored brief in a matter before the New Jersey Supreme Court, representing a seminarian who withdrew from his studies resulting from sexual harassment.
New Jersey Appellate Division
Brueck v. Wawa, Inc., A-0249-22, authored brief in an appeal relating to a parking lot slip and fall incident; appeal raises issues of net opinion, summary judgment, and reopening discovery.
Edmondson v. Lilliston Ford Inc., A-3286-21, authored brief in an appeal of a contract dispute relating to the sale of a used vehicle; argument on appeal is based on res judicata.
Heuman v. Wayne Heuman Masonry, A-1593-21, authored brief on behalf of injured employee regarding the workers’ compensation bar, oral argument forthcoming.
Patel v. H.J.S. Funding, A-2697-20, authored brief in a business dissolution matter, oral argument forthcoming.
Evolution v. Marra, Calgagni & Kanefsky, __ N.J. Super. __ (App. Div. 2023), authored brief for an interlocutory appeal addressing whether RPC 1.6 protects the identity of a law firm’s client in this business tort litigation.
McVey v AtlantiCare, 272 N.J. Super. 278 (App. Div.), certif. denied, 252 N.J. 322 (2022), authored brief and appeared for oral argument in an employee termination matter where an employee was terminated for racist comments posted on a social media account.
In re L.S., A-0139-20 (App. Div. Mar. 7, 2022), certif. denied, 252 N.J. 370 (2022), authored brief in an administrative appeal for attorney’s fees for a public employee disciplinary matter.
In re Adoption of a Child, A-3562-20 (App. Div. Mar. 11, 2022), authored brief in an adoption appeal.
Witte v. Avinion, N.J. Manufacturers Ins. Co., Doc. A-0501-20 (App. Div. Nov. 15, 2021), certif. denied, 251 N.J. 2 (2022), authored briefly in an insurance coverage matter, addressing whether the policy declaration page establishes a reasonable understanding of coverage.
Township of Upper v. Whippoorwill, A-3103-20, authored briefly in an interlocutory appeal for trespass upon municipal land, which the matter settled.
New York Mortg. Trust v. Deely, 466 N.J. Super. 387 (App. Div. 2021), authored brief in a matter submitted to the New Jersey Appellate Division, representing a bank whose mortgage was equitably subrogated to first lien position. This published opinion adopted the Restatement and established precedent for lien priority.
McKiski v. Harrah’s, A-2153-19 (App. Div. Sep. 27, 2021), authored brief and appeared for oral argument before the New Jersey Appellate Division, representing a casino in a personal injury matter.
Davis v. DGMB Casino, A-2627-19 (App. Div. May 25, 2021), authored brief in a matter before the New Jersey Appellate Division, representing casino in a personal injury matter.
Schwartz v. Menas, A-4292-18 (App. Div. Nov. 6, 2020), authored brief in a matter before the New Jersey Appellate Division, representing attorneys in a legal malpractice matter involving a commercial real estate transaction and the new business rule.
Fox v. DGMB Casino, A-3947-18T2 (App. Div. Aug. 17, 2020), authored brief in a matter before the New Jersey Appellate Division, representing casino in a personal injury matter
RDPD v. Mermelstein, A-2655-18 (App. Div. Jun. 30, 2020), authored brief and appeared for oral argument before the New Jersey Appellate Division, representing an LLC in a commercial real estate dispute.
Lambert v. Borough of Beach Haven, A-555-19 (App. Div. May 20, 2020), authored brief in a matter before the New Jersey Appellate Division, representing developer in a Zoning Board appeal.
Cornine v. Puccia, A-3941-17 (App. Div. Jan. 14, 2020), authored brief in a matter before the New Jersey Appellate Division, representing casino in a negligent security matter.
Cook v. Bally’s Park Place, A-4855-13 (App. Div. Dec. 3, 2019), appeared for oral argument before the New Jersey Appellate Division, representing a casino in a wrongful termination matter.
Bank of NY Mellon v. Kingsbury, A-0249-16 (App. Div. Jul. 13, 2018), authored reply brief in a matter before the New Jersey Appellate Division, representing a homeowner in a fraudulent mortgage dispute.
3rd Circuit Court of Appeals
Livingstone v. Hugo Boss and Borgata, 21-2757 (3d. Cir.) (discrimination, appeal dismissed)
Toledo v. MGM Resorts, 20-2516 (3d. Cir. Dec. 10, 2021) (personal injury)
Antonio v. Harrah’s, 847 Fed. Appx. 126 (3d Cir. 2021) (negligence)
Abramowitz v. Tropicana and Borgata, 750 Fed. Appx. 109 (3d Cir. 2018) (CEPA)
Edmondson v. Lilliston Ford Inc., 722 F. Appx 251 (3d Cir. 2018) (fraud, arbitration award)
D’Ambrosio v. Crest Haven Nursing & Rehab. Ctr., 755 F. Appx 147 (3d Cir. 2018) (race discrimination)
Awards and Recognitions
ROI-NJ named Jennifer to the inaugural list of Influencers In Law in July 2022.
Community
Jennifer is President of the Board of Trustees of the Bay Atlantic Symphony.
Jennifer is also a mentor for the Stockton University Women’s Leadership Council.
In the Margate Community Church, Jennifer serves as Moderator and is on both the Pulpit Committee and the Music Committee.
Seminars
“Understanding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” Moderator, Atlantic County Bar Association CLE Presentation, November 22, 2022
“Mentoring” Panel Discussion with Stockton Women’s Leadership Council, This Is It Network Live Women’s Conference, Aug. 19, 2022
“Appellate Practice in NJ,” Atlantic County Bar Association CLE Presentation, Nov. 23, 2021
“Appellate Procedure in NJ and the 3rd Circuit,” Cooper Levenson’s CLE Series, June 9, 2021
“Mid-Size Firms,” Widener Law Career Panel, Career Development/SBA Series, Mar. 9, 2021
“Appellate Practice in NJ,” Atlantic County Bar Association CLE Presentation, Nov. 24, 2020
“Additional COVID-19 Funds Announced,” AC Chamber Webinar, Apr. 30, 2020
“Good News for Small Business, Part II,” AC Chamber Webinar, Apr. 8, 2020
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him
or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
