As a shareholder in our Casualty Department and co-chair of the Amusement, Sports and Recreation department, Sara actively defends matters involving premises liability, amusements, sports and recreation, construction, automobile, and condominium/community association law. Sara also defends professional liability claims involving sports coaches and real estate professionals. Sara frequently provides seminars to NAFDMA, IAAPA, SERMA and RSA as well as to carriers and claims professionals.
In her career, Sara has defended Fortune 500 retailers, restaurant businesses, and major hospital networks in New Jersey premises liability actions. Sara routinely represents sports facilities, World and Olympic coaches, athletes, sports teams, and contractors in a wide array of matters.
Through her extensive background in the sport of figure skating, Sara provides a unique perspective to the defense of her sports-related clients. Sara is known for her dedication and consistency in achieving successful results for her clients. She is a former U.S. International Figure Skating Team Competitor, two-time U.S. National Figure Skating Championship Medalist (including winning a National Championship) and World Junior Team Member. Attributing many of her good qualities to her high level and successful participation in sports, Sara enjoys being a role model to young athletes and working with athletes to achieve their goals.
Sara received her juris doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law, where she defended juveniles through her work with the Seton Hall Law, Center for Social Justice, Juvenile Justice Law Clinic. During her time at Seton Hall Law, Sara externed for Judge Edwin H. Stern (on temporary assignment with the New Jersey Supreme Court) and Justice Virginia Long, and drafted memoranda on petitions for certification.
In conjunction with a pro bono organization, Partners for Women and Justice, Sara has successfully represented domestic violence victims in obtaining final restraining orders in New Jersey family court.
Sara is licensed to practice in New Jersey and New York.
Honors & awards
New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Star
2021-2022
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Year joined
2017
Pro Bono
Partners For Women In Justice
Results
Summary Judgment Won in a Dog Bite Case in New Jersey
General Liability
March 1, 2024
We secured summary judgment in a general liability case involving a dog bite. The plaintiff alleged a laceration to the face from a dog bite. The dog was owned by a co-defendant, not by our client, the landlord of the property where the bite occurred. There were no issues of material fact or proof to support a theory of liability under strict or ordinary negligence, and no behavioral signs of aggression were observed by the plaintiff or the property owner’s son who hosted the party where the plaintiff was bitten.
Summary judgment for national concert promoter.
Premises & Retail Liability
February 9, 2021
We obtained summary judgment for a national concert promoter and public entity venue owner. The plaintiff purchased outdoor lawn seats for a concert at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey. After the show started, it began to rain, and the plaintiff alleged the lawn area became slippery, wet and muddy. The plaintiff attempted to walk down the sloped lawn toward the stage to buy her husband a beer.
No-cause verdict on behalf of national trucking company.
Trucking & Transportation Liability
August 23, 2020
We obtained a no cause verdict following a one day non-jury trial (conducted virtually) in the Law Division of Hudson County for our client, a national trucking company. The plaintiff alleged the truck swerved into his lane causing property damage.
Court agrees mode of operations does not apply in retail liability case
Premises & Retail Liability
December 30, 2019
We were successful on a motion for summary judgment, thereby barring the application of the mode of operations in a slip and fall case where an alleged partially eaten sandwich was found in the aisle of the retailer.
Rock Climbing Liability Waiver Found Enforceable.
General Liability
April 11, 2019
We obtained summary judgment on behalf of a rock climbing center. The plaintiff, a certified climber, was injured when she fell from a 25-foot rock-climbing wall at our client's facility. After reaching the summit of the wall, she pushed off to begin repelling down, only to realize that she forgot to connect to the auto-belay system. She fell to the ground and fractured both ankles and underwent open reduction internal fixation surgery.
Thought Leadership
New Jersey Appellate Division Affirms Dismissal of Slip-and-Fall Suit at Concert Venue
Roseland
Amusements, Sports & Recreation Liability
July 1, 2025
The plaintiff claimed she was injured when she slipped and fell on a wet floor at a concert at the Prudential Center. Case Law Alerts, 3rd Quarter, July 2025 is prepared by Marshall Dennehey to provide information on recent developments of interest to our readers.
New Jersey Court Dismisses Baseball Team’s Fiduciary Duty Claim Against Board Member, Citing Lack of Individual Liability Under Florida Law
Roseland
Amusements, Sports & Recreation Liability
April 1, 2025
The New Jersey District Court dismissed the plaintiff’s breach of fiduciary duty claim, applying Florida law to determine that no cause of action existed against an individual board member of a not-for-profit entity. Case Law Alerts, 2nd Quarter, Apri
Appellate Court Affirmed Trial Court’s Decision to Grant Summary Judgment to Defendants as to Plaintiff’s Theories of Liability Under New Jersey’s Title 59 and Private Negligence.
Roseland
Amusements, Sports & Recreation Liability
January 1, 2024
The plaintiff was “going for a double” in a men’s softball game when he fractured his ankle as he attempted to slide to second base and his cleated foot caught in a six-foot ripped seam and divot in the artificial turf. Case Law Alerts, 1st Quarter, January 2024 is prepared by Marshall Dennehey to provide information on recent developments of interest to our readers.
The Stand-Alone, Small Link to the Terms and Conditions Page of Defendant’s Website Did Not Suffice to Waive the Plaintiff’s Constitutional Rights
Philadelphia - Headquarters
Amusements, Sports & Recreation Liability
January 1, 2024
11th Circuit Court of Appeals Vacates Ruling Against Plaintiff in Amusement Park Discrimination Case
Roseland
Amusements, Sports & Recreation Liability
October 1, 2023
In this case, the plaintiff argued that the amusement park imposed discriminatory eligibility criterion, in violation of the ADA, when it refused to permit him to ride on the Krakatau Aqua Coaster as he presented with only one hand, but no prosthe Case Law Alerts, 4th Quarter, October 2023 is prepared by Marshall Dennehey to provide information on recent developments of interest to our readers.
Classes/Seminars Taught
Health Club Claims, Marshall Dennehey Client Webinar, February 5, 2025
Preparing A Claim for Trial, Marshall Dennehey Client Webinar, February 4, 2025
Roller Skating and Ice-Skating Management, SERMA, Webinar, December 17, 2024
Risk Management, Risk Shifting, & Corporate Formalities, NAFDMA International Agritourism Association, Webinar, July 11, 2024
Annual Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Training, Marshall Dennehey Client Webinar, May 18, 2023
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.
