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Michael A. Ferrara Jr.
Mr. Michael A. Ferrara joined the University of San Diego School of Law Board of Visitors in fall of 2004. Mr. Ferrara is the owner of The Ferrara Law Firm L.L.C. and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the New Jersey Supreme Court, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the Federal Courts. Mr. Ferrara previously owned and operated a cellular telephone company in Texas, taught business law at Camden County College, and traveled throughout Russia teaching the newly democratic country how to implement a mortgage system to increase home ownership. He is a former U.S. Naval officer and a Vietnam veteran. Mr. Ferrara graduated from Villanova University in 1964 with a B.S. in Mathematics and received his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1972.
Mr. Ferrara is the founder and former chair of ATLA New Jersey Legal PAC, the lawyer’s Political Action Committee. He is a past president of ATLA-NJ, the New Jersey Trial Lawyers Association (now NJAJ), a diplomat of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and past president of South Jersey ABOTA Chapter, Master of the Camden Inns of Court, and a past president of the Civil Justice Foundation. He is a past chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association Medical Malpractice Committee.
Mr. Ferrara is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Attorneys, one of 500 selected in the world. Mr. Ferrara was awarded the “AV” [highest] rating by Martindale-Hubbell, The Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement by ATLA-NJ in 1992 and The 2001 Trial Bar Award to outstanding trial attorneys presented by the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey (TANJ). He served on Senator Corzine, Lautenberg, and Torricelli’s Senate Federal Judicial Selection Advisory Committee, the Board of the Amigos de Jesús orphanage in Honduras, and the Board of the San Miguel School in Camden, N.J.
Mr. Ferrara is frequently asked to lecture for ATLA, now AAJ, the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) (recipient of their Distinguished Service Award in 2015), the National College of Trial Advocacy, the Practicing Law Institute (PLI), and many state trial lawyer organizations. He has published many articles dealing with the law.
He is married and resides with Penny, his wife of 46 years, in Marlton, New Jersey. They have five children, Michael, Mary, John, Anne and Jennie, and four grandchildren.
Representing those harmed by:
- Defective Products
- Defective Drugs
- Bad Doctors
- Products Liability Cases
- Auto, Bus and Tractor Trailer Cases
- Construction-Site Injuries
- General Civil Litigation
- Nursing Home Abuse
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
- Civil Trial Attorney, Supreme Court of New Jersey
- Board Certified Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocates
- Civil Trial Attorney, The National Board of Trial Advocacy
- New Jersey, 1973
- Pennsylvania, 1972
- U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1973
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1973
- U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1973
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1993
University of San Diego School of Law, San Diego, California
J.D. – 1972
Honors: Board of Visitors, University of San Diego School of Law
Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania
B.S. – 1964
Major: Mathematics
“Employment Torts: an Overview of Damages”
“The Use of Jury Questionnaires”
“The Role of Litigation: Paralegal in Discovery and Depositions”
“Botched Operation? Wrong Medication? When to Sue the Doctor”
Greenberg v. Pryszlak, 426 N.J. Super. 591 (App. Div. 2012)
Catando v. Sheraton Poste Inn, 249 N.J.Super. 253 (App. Div. 1981)
Davidson v. Slater, 189 N.J. 166 (2007)
Hallacker v. National Bank & Trust Co., 806 F.2d 488 (3d Cir. 1986)
Kauffman v. Borough of Glassboro, 181 N.J.Super. 273 (App. Div. 1981)
Kerr S.S. Co., Inc. v. Westhoff, 204 N.J.Super. 300 (Law Div. 1985)
Massi v. Rutgers Cas. Ins. Co., 2005 WL 3478176 (App. Div. 1985)
McRory v. Zappolo, 2007 WL 3227177 (DNJ 2007)
Princeton Ins. Co. v. Chunmuang, 151 N.J. 80 (1997)
Spaulding v. Hussain, 229 N.J.Super. 430 (App. Div. 1988)
State in Interest of J. F., 141 N.J.Super. 328 (App. Div. 1976)
State v. Reddy, 130 N.J.Super. 14 (Law Div. 1974)
State v. Reddy, 137 N.J.Super. 32 (App. Div. 1975)
Thermographic Diagnostics, Inc. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 241 N.J.Super. 88 (App. Div. 1990)
Thompson v. Toyota Motor Corp., 157 F.R.D. 10 (D.N.J. 1994)
Wilson v. Unsatisfied Claim and Judgment Fund Bd., 213 N.J.Super. 520 (App. Div. 1986)
How to Try a Personal Injury Case, Rutgers Institute for Professional Education
Moderator, Medicine for Lawyers: Point Counter Point on Traumatic Brain Injury Cases, ICLE Seminar, December 13, 2003
American Association for Justice – New Jersey Affiliate
Speaker, A Review of New Jersey’s No Fault, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Laws, New Jersey Annual Convention, Grossingers, New York, 1983
Speaker, Effective Closing Arguments, New Jersey Plaintiff’s Trial Academy, 1984
Speaker, Closing Arguments and Trial Conduct, New Jersey’s Plaintiff’s Trial Academy, 1985
Speaker, Updated Ethical Dilemmas, New Jersey Boardwalk Seminar, 1989
Speaker, New Case Law and Landmark Cases, New Jersey Annual Convention, 1989
Speaker, Slip, Trip & Fall and the Construction Accident Cases, Themes/Diffusing the Defense in The Opening, NJ, Masters in Advocacy Seminar, Cherry Hill, 1991
Speaker, Directing the Plaintiff, The Masters in Trial Advocacy, Edison, 1992
Speaker, Personal Injury Program Proving the Injury, Boardwalk Seminar Bally’s Park Place, 1996
Speaker, Art of Cross Examination, Trial Academy, 1996
Guest Speaker, The Year in Torts, Seaview Resort, 1996
Guest Speaker, Maximizing Damages in Soft Tissue Cases, Pines Manor, Edison, 1994
Guest Speaker, The Art of Cross Examination, Trial Academy, 1994
Guest Speaker, Jury Selection and Courtroom Presentation, 1995
Guest Speaker, Personal Injury Program – Proving the Injury, Boardwalk Seminar, 1996
Guest Speaker, The Art of Cross Examination, Trial Academy, 1996
Panelist, How to Nail Down Your Liability Case, Top Ten Torts, Boardwalk Seminar, 1995
Panelist, Top Ten Torts, Boardwalk Seminar, American Association for Justice, 1993
Speaker, Punitive Damages in Bad Faith Cases, NJ Annual Convention Host Farm, Lancaster, PA,, 1981
Speaker, Pre-Trial Discovery, Tucson, AZ, 1989
Speaker, Preparing the Slip & Fall Case, Annual Convention, Toronto, 1991
Speaker, Using Psychologists and Consultants, National College of Advocacy, San Francisco, 1991
Guest Speaker, Personal Empowerment, National Convention, Boston, 1996
Speaker, The New Jersey No Fault Law, NJ Legal Secretaries Association, 1986
Speaker, Winning the Battle But Losing the War: the Cap on Damages, National Dram Shop Seminar, Atlantic City, NJ, 1986
Speaker, A Legislative Review, Garden State Bar Association, Newark, NJ, 1986
Speaker, Recent Changes in the New Jersey No Fault Law, Independent Agents Luncheon Forum, 1989
Speaker, The New Auto Insurance Law, The Gloucester County Medical Society, 1986
Speaker, Opening Statements – Wrongful Death Trial, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Woodbridge, NJ, 1989
Speaker, New Auto Insurance Law, Independent Insurance Agents, Burlington County, 1989
Speaker, How To Try a Medical Malpractice Case, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Cherry Hill, NJ, 1990
Speaker, Hot Tips in Tort Law I, Suing Patient’s Physician for Ignoring that Patient’s Trial, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1990
Speaker, Evaluating Personal Injury Cases – Reviewing Medical Records, Camden County Bar Association, 1990
Speaker, Insurance Litigation, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1990
Speaker, Maximizing Damages and Trial Techniques, Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, 1990
Speaker, Hot Tips in Tort Law II, Diffusing Time Bomb Jurors, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1991
Speaker, Expert Witness Testimony, The Camden County Bar Foundations’ Continuing Legal Education Committee, Cherry Hill, NJ, 1992
Speaker, Oswin v. Shaw & Brown v. Fuentes, From the Plaintiff’s Perspective, Presented to Personal Injury Law Committee, Camden County Bar Association, Camden NJ, 1992
Speaker, South Jersey Paralegal Association, 1996
Speaker, Recent Caselaw, Institute Continuing Legal Education, Cherry Hill, NJ, 1996
Speaker, Demonstration Of the Art Of Examination Of An Expert In A Traumatic Brain Injury Case Direct, New Jersey Head Injury Association, Inc., Woodbridge, NJ, 1996
Speaker, Lawyering in the 90’s, Villanova University Law School, 1996
Speaker, Personal Empowerment, American Association for Justice, National Convention, Boston, 1996
Guest Speaker, Stress/Heart Attack and the Trial Lawyer, Camden County Bar Association, 1995
Guest Speaker, Demonstration of the Examination of an Expert in a TBI Case Direct, New Jersey Head Injury Association, 1996
Panelist, Auto Negligence, Camden County Bar Association, Legal Line Cable Television, 1995
Panelist, Prevention of Head Injury, American Association for Justice, Educational Foundation Cable Television, 1993
Panelist, Hot Tips in Tort Law, Ex-Parte Interviews, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 1993
Panelist, Direct and Cross Examination of a Neurologist, Camden County Bar Association, Young Lawyers, 1993
Speaker, "Legal Negotiation & Settlement: Winning Strategies", Camden County Bar Association, 2002
Panelist, Point-Counter Point on Traumatic Brian Brain Injury Cases, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2003
Panelist, How to Try a Personal Injury case: from Conferencing to Closing, Camden County Bar Association, 2003
- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2003
- 2001 Trial Bar Award, Trial Attorneys of New Jersey, 1991
- Martindale-Hubbell A-V Rating (Highest Rating for Law Firm Competence)
- Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement, American Association for Justice, 1992
- Sons of Italy, Outstanding American Citizen Award, Cherry Hill Lodge, Cherry Hill, NJ, 1999
- Trial Attorneys of NJ, Trial Bar Award, for Distinguished Service and Achievement, 2001
- Hall of Fame, West Catholic High School, 2001
- Combat Action Ribbon
- 2 Navy Unit Commendation
- Vietnam Campaign Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal with Three Bronze Stars
American Association for Justice, Board of Governors, 1988 – 2000
American Association for Justice – New Jersey, President, 1985 – 1986
American Association for Justice – New Jersey, Chair and Founder Legal Pac, 1988 – 1990
New Jersey Trial Academy, Faculty
Boardwalk Products Liability Seminar, Chair, 1984
Camden County Bar Association Personal Injury Chair, Founder, 1984 – 1989
Camden County Bar Association Personal Injury Chair, Member, 1989 – Present
Camden County Bar Association Personal Injury Chair, Trustee, 1988 – 1991
Burlington County Bar Association, Chair, Civil Practice Bench-Bar Committee
Burlington County Bar Association, CLE Committee, 1998 – 1999
Camden Inns of Court, Master
Civil Justice Foundation, President, 1998
Civil Justice Foundation, Trustee
National College of Trial Advocacy, Hastings College of Law, CA, Faculty
National Board of Trial Advocacy, State Coordinator
American Board of Trial Advocates, Diplomate
New Jersey Trial Lawyers Association, Member
Federal Judicial Selection Advisory Committee, Member, 1997 – Present
The Injury Board, Member
New Jersey Association for Justice, Member
The American Association for Justice, Member
Taos Injury Lawyer
United States Navy, Lieutenant, 1964 – 1969
Naval Officers Submarine School, New London, Connecticut
Marlton Track Club, New Jersey, Founder and Commissioner
Cellular One Telephone Company, Wichita Falls, Texas, President and C.E.O.
Founder and Commissioner, Marlton Track Club, New Jersey
Father’s Club Member, St. Joseph’s Preparatory School
Member, Board of Trustees, West Philadelphia Catholic High School
Past President, Little Mill Woods Civic Association
Member, Former Board of Directors, Little Mill Woods Civic Association
Former Basketball Coach, Marlton Recreation Council
Former Adjunct Professor of Law, Camden County College
Co-Chair of Capital Campaign, Merion Mercy Academy Parents Club
Amigos de Jesus, helped Build an Orphanage in Honduras, 2000 – 2001
Sponsor, March of Dimes Foundation, 1995 – 2002
Sponsor, New Jersey State Aquarium, 1995 – 1999
Founder and Sponsor, Academic Allstars, Courier-Post, Cherry Hill, NJ, 1997 – 2001
Sponsor, Bancroft Foundation For Brain Injuries Philadelphia, PA, 1998 – 2002
Co-Counsel in the lawsuit against the tobacco industry (Represent the Governor of New Jersey)
Part of Congressional Delegation to Russia and Moldova, November, 1999
Merion Mercy Academy Parents Club (Co-Chair of Capital Campaign)
7th Grade CCD Instructor, St. Joan of Arc, Marlton, NJ
Board of Trustees, West Catholic High School
Board of Visitors, University of San Diego School of Law
Mr. Ferrara was selected by his peers for inclusion in Woodward White's The Best Lawyers in America; in the field of Personal Injury Litigation for 2021 (Copyright 2013 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC). The list is generated entirely on peer review. A further description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Mr. Ferrara has been elected as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). ABOTA is a premiere trial bar association where membership is by invitation only. Members must have tried at least 10 civil jury trials to conclusion and possess additional litigation experience. Further information regarding ABOTA and their members can be found here.
Mr. Ferrara has been listed in Martindale Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers of 2022. The Register is generated from evaluations of lawyers by other members of the bar and the judiciary in the United States and Canada. A further description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Mr. Ferrara has been included on Thomson Reuters' Super Lawyers "Top 100: 2012 - 2022" list for the New Jersey area. The Super Lawyers list is generated using a patented selection process involving three basic steps: creation of the candidate pool using peer nominations; evaluations of candidates by the research department; and peer evaluation by practice area. A further description of the selection methodology can be found here. Some states are broken into several regions, thus inclusion on the list does not mean that there are only 100 recipients in the state. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
