Rafael Vergara

While in law school, Rafael served as a Managing Editor of the Rutgers Law Review and as a Legal Research and Writing Teaching Associate. After law school, and prior to embarking on a career in private practice, he was a judicial law clerk in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Special Civil Part. 

• Khazin v. Geowealth Mgmt., LLC, Civil Action No. 17-11487 (SDW)(CLW), 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96932 (D.N.J. June 7, 2018); involving a motion to certify an order for an interlocutory appeal
• Estate of Litwin v. Emeritus Corp., No. 14-5847 (NLH/KMW), 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 107696 (D.N.J. July 12, 2017); represented defendants who were granted partial summary judgment
• Frimpong v. Sunrise Senior Living, Inc., Civil Action No. 16-3917-BRM-LHG, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 146711 (D.N.J. Oct. 24, 2016); involving a motion to remand a case removed to federal court
• Skelcy v. UnitedHealth Grp., Inc., 620 F. App'x 136 (3d Cir. 2015); represented defendants-appellees who prevailed in position that they did not owe a duty of care like that which might be found in a physician-patient relationship
• Successfully argued to the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division – First Department that a reinsurer’s statute of limitations defense should be decided by arbitration panel rather than the court
• QBE Ins. Corp. v. Adjo Contracting Corp., 997 N.Y.S.2d 425 (2014); argued appeal pertaining to a commercial general liability insurer’s duty to defend under New York law
• Andreyko v. Sunrise Senior Living, Inc., 993 F.Supp.2d 475 (D.N.J. 2014); first published case in New Jersey recognizing that unlike nursing home residents who may bring lawsuits seeking compensatory and punitive damages, plus attorney’s fees, for rights violations under New Jersey’s Nursing Home Responsibilities & Rights of Residents Act, specifically N.J.S.A. § 30:13-8, assisted living residents were held not to have the same statutory remedy available to them
• Quiles v. Bradford-White Corporation, Slip Copy, 2012 WL 1355262 (N.D.N.Y.); represented water heater manufacturer in products liability case in which design defect claim was dismissed
• Whippoorwill Hills Homeowners Ass’n, Inc. v. Toll at Whippoorwill, L.P., 91 A.D.3d 864, 937 N.Y.S.2d 595 (2d Dept. 2012)
• Arias v. PM Partners, 90 A.D.3d 490, 934 N.Y.S.2d 160 (1st Dept. 2011); represented bank in personal injury action involving fall on sidewalk
• Utak v. Commerce Bank Inc., 930 N.Y.S.2d 575 (1st Dept. 2011); successfully argued appeal resulting in the dismissal of a banking client named as a defendant in a false arrest and false imprisonment case
• Flangos v. Flangos, 82 A.D.3d 1037, 919 N.Y.S.2d 181 (2d Dept. 2011); successfully argued appeal on behalf of an insurer, which resulted in the vacating of a judgment insofar as it directed the insurer to make certain payments
• Keir v. Unumprovident Corp., 2010 WL 3566878 (S.D.N.Y Sept. 14, 2010)
• Carl v. Cohen, 55 A.D.3d 478, 868 N.Y.S.2d 7 (1st Dept. 2008)
• Them-Tuck Chung v. Pinto, 26 A.D.3d 428, 809 N.Y.S.2d 572 (2d Dept. 2006)
• Conti v. Equitable Life Assur. Soc. of U.S., 227 F.Supp.2d 282 (D.N.J.  2002)