Peter A. Lentini

As a shareholder, Peter practices in the area of general civil litigation, with particular emphasis on product liability and premises liability litigation. With trial experience in both state and federal courts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Peter has handled hundreds of product liability, motor vehicle, trucking and transportation, and premises claims--many involving death, paralysis, loss of limb, burns, blindness, brain injuries, and other severe and permanent injuries. He also defended fire loss cases for a major manufacturer of computer equipment. Sample product claims have involved hunting tree stands, conveyors, commercial laundry equipment, gas powered cut saw, industrial machinery, electric carts, laptop computers, printers, HVAC systems, sprinkler valves, gym equipment, portable stairs, safety harness, dishwasher, roofing materials and manufactured homes. Additionally, Peter has experience defending organizations and hotel chains in high-exposure cases involving human trafficking and sexual assault allegations, including matters brought under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA).

Peter has considerable experience in product litigation relating to hunting tree stand accidents. He has worked for various manufacturers, retailers and insurance companies in this industry. In addition to handling these claims directly in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Peter has counseled, handled or overseen the defense of over 200 product claims in states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Additionally, Peter has served as an adjunct professor of pre-trial advocacy for Rutgers School of Law in Camden, New Jersey, and is a member of the Camden County Bar Association.

Honors & Awards

•New Jersey Super Lawyer (2005, 2010 )
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Results

Positive Outcome Obtained in a Motor Vehicle/Wrongful Death Trial

We defended a client in a motor vehicle/wrongful death trial in which the jury awarded a much smaller amount than the plaintiff sought. The decedent was rear-ended on the New Jersey Turnpike while driving 9.9 miles per hour at 3 a.m. He was intoxicated, with a blood alcohol level of .095. His car, which was black with black wheels and black tinted windows, was disabled by the collision and came to rest broadside in the left travel lane. A good Samaritan tow truck driver saw the crash and stopped to render assistance. The decedent, who was uninjured in the initial accident, borrowed the tow truck driver’s phone/flashlight and re-entered his car in the left lane. Our client’s truck subsequently hit the disabled car while the decedent was in it. The trial judge refused to allow us to introduce evidence relating to the first accident. The decedent’s contributory negligence in causing the first accident, which put him in peril, was to have been the focus of our defense. Given the surprisingly small verdict, the client indicated that it will likely accept the result. Before trial, the plaintiff’s economist estimated the value of lost services to the family at more than $6 million. The judge dismissed damages relating to two siblings. The jury awarded significantly reduced damages to the decedent’s mother in accordance with the arguments we made.