Paul T. Hofmann

With over 30 years experience in tort litigation, Paul T. Hofmann, partner with the law firm of Hofmann & Schweitzer, stands tall as a champion for victims whose lives are forever changed. He has resolved hundreds of personal injury and wrongful death suits, through settlements and scores of jury verdicts. He has gotten over a hundred million dollars in recoveries for his clients which places him in an elite group of multi-million dollar advocates. Paul specializes in personal injury matters, with special emphasis on maritime (Jones Act and Longshore Harbor Workers), railroad (F.E.L.A.) and construction worker tort claims. Perseverance and determination are the firm's guiding principles. As managing partner, Paul insists that the assigned attorney personally visit the client's accident site to develop an understanding of why the event happened. Further, attorneys are required to return any client's call within 24 hours. Existing clients and potential clients are often surprised to get phone calls and email replies from Paul after working hours and on weekends. Personal service sets Paul and the firm apart from many other plaintiffs firms. Each client is entitled to be treated as if his/her claim is the only one that matters. "Our mission is to maximize each client's recovery by thorough research, preparation and creative presentation."

Paul's passion for representing working men and women is not only recognized by his clients but also by his peers who voted and selected him for inclusion as a New York Super Lawyer since 2006 to the present.

Paul T. Hofmann has been counsel representing the party making new, and important additions to the body of maritime, construction and railroad law through appellate decisions, including:

The extent of my experience and knowledge is exemplified in the myriad of cases I have handled which have resulted in reported decisions. Below is a non-exclusive list of many of the major cases I have handled which resulted in reported decisions. These decisions show the nature of the diversity of maritime law, construction law and personal injury litigation topics with which I have developed expertise.

Professional Organizations:

- Member, American Association for Justice

- Section Memberships: Admiralty

Current Member of the Admiralty Executive Committee, Active Participation in Many

- Policy Making Decisions and Assisted AAJ in Legislative Attempts to Modify Death on High Seas Act and the Limitation of Liability Act and to Protect the Seaman's Wage Act for Cruise lines Class Actions.

- 1997-98, Section Chairman

- 1996-97, Section Vice-Chairman

- 1995-96, Section Secretary

Railroad, 1995-present

- New Jersey Bar Association

- New York State Trial Lawyers Association

- New Jersey Association for Justice

- Maritime Law Association of the United States, Secretary Maritime Torts Section

Other Organizations:

Member:

- Traumatic Brain Injury Association

- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Association

Lectures:

1989 Guest Lecturer, University of Glasgow, School of Law "Comparative American and Scottish Civil Procedure"

1993 ATLA Annual Convention Lecture, "Use of Professional and Regulatory Standards to Prove Liability in Maritime Personal Injury Cases"

1999 Delegate to the U.S. Committee Negotiations for Draft Hague Convention on Foreign Jurisdiction and Enforcement of Judgments The Hague, Netherlands

2002 ATLA Winter Convention Lecture "Claims Arising on Government Vessels"

2004 Lecture, New Jersey - Institute for Continuing Legal Education (I.C.L.E.) "From Sea To Sky", A general overview of maritime personal injury claims

2007 Lecture to Maritime Law Association Thoughts on the Legal Decision in the Staten Island Ferry Crash - a Plaintiff's Personal Injury Attorney's Perspective

2008 AAJ Convention Lecture and Paper "The ISM Code's Applicability to, and Benefits for, Injured Maritime Claimants"

2010 New York County Lawyer's Association Lecture "Is the Jones Act Dead for the Foreign Seaman? Some Current Topics in Application of the Jones Act and General Maritime Law to a Foreign Seafarer's Personal Injury Claim"

2011 Lee V. Astoria Generating - its Impact on Cammon v. City of New York, New York's Labor Law and the Issue of Preemption under the Longshore and Harbors workers compensation Act ("LHWCA')

Publications:

-ATLA Admiralty Section Newsletter "Claims Arising on Government Vessels", 1992. An analysis of the requirements and pitfalls in handling claims against government owned or operated vessels.

Tulane University Law School Maritime Law Journal, 1999, An Analytical Framework for Maritime Preemption Cases Involving Wrongful Death Damages - The Legacy of Miles, Yamaha, Amtrack and Others.

Civic Organizations:

- Member and Legal Advisor, New Jersey Association of Rail Passengers

- Coach, Warren Youth Basketball Assn.