JOHN S. FETTEN

John is a civil trial lawyer with extensive experience in representing individuals and businesses in connection with a variety of litigated matters including personal/bodily injury and property damage in both federal and state courts at the trial, appellate and Supreme Court levels.  He has represented clients in car accidents, truck accidents, premises liability, construction site accidents, construction defects, product defects, employment discrimination, business liability based upon business operations, mass torts, consumer fraud and insurance coverage.

John has trial experience throughout New Jersey dating back over 37 years.  John has been personally responsible for litigating hundreds of cases involving claims of common law fraud, consumer fraud, breach of warranty, breach of contract and negligence. He has tried numerous personal injury matters in state and federal courts and administrative courts throughout New Jersey. He has arbitrated hundreds of claims in both binding and non-binding arbitration as well. He has tried cases at all levels and has tried one of the most significant personal injury recovery cases in Essex County, New Jersey. After five weeks of trial a matter resolved for more than $18.5 Million Dollars with his client paying less than 30% of the recovery despite rear-ending the host car on the highway. He has tried personal injury, property damage and consumer fraud matters to verdict including those claims carrying treble and punitive damages along with fee shifting.

John has developed a refined area of practice and primary focus in the defense of automotive retailers-car dealerships-in a variety of matters. John has represented Fortune 500 automotive retail clients in New Jersey. He has represented some of the Automotive News Top 100 dealerships throughout his career. His advice and counsel are sought for pragmatic and efficient solutions to daily problems. His clients rely upon him for knowledgeable advice and counsel on federal and state statutes and regulations governing most aspects of automotive retailer businesses dealings and especially those directly impacting consumers.

He has counseled dealership clients on licensing, suspension, and revocation issues before the Motor Vehicle Commission. He has represented and guided car dealer clients through class action claims including to the Appellate Courts and New Jersey Supreme Court. He has provided counsel and representation on coverage issues applicable to claims advanced against automotive retailers and their insurers and has assisted in securing the best available and purchased protection under available policies of insurance. His knowledge and experience have allowed him to provide advice and counsel on compliance issues and documentation details before any problems arise.

As a result of John’s substantial experience in representing auto dealerships, he has been recognized as one of the state’s leading authorities in automotive retail field and in litigation of such claims.  He has been asked to, and has, presented to the members of The New Jersey Coalition of Automobile Retailers, the largest automotive retail organization in the state, on legal topics that affect its members.  He has also been asked to present to garage keepers and their employees by Universal Underwriters Insurance Company, for years the largest insurer of automotive, motorcycle and part store retailers in New Jersey, on auto dealership law impacting those businesses on different occasions.  He also has and continues to be approved as panel counsel by numerous insurance companies to represent auto dealerships in a wide range of dealer related litigation.

John is a Member of the New Jersey Bar Association (NJSBA), Defense Research Institute (DRI), New Jersey Defense Association (NJDA) and National Association of Dealer Counsel (NADC).

John graduated from Creighton University School of Law, Omaha, Nebraska and undergraduate degree from Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey. While in law school John clerked for the Army Corps of Engineers, Real Estate and Acquisition Section, Omaha Branch, Missouri River Division for two years primarily assisting with claims and condemnation proceedings. He was then a law clerk to The Honorable Jacques H. Gascoyne, P.J. Cv., Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division Morris County after which he joined the predecessor firm and then became principal. He has been managing the firm since 2015.