NY, NJ, PA Legal Services Provider | Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A.

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Areas of Practice

• Products Liability Defense
• Litigation
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Appellate Practice
• Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices

Bar Admissions

• New Jersey
• New York
• U.S. Court of Appeals
  
  
  
  • Second Circuit
  • Third Circuit
  • Federal Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

Education

• Columbia Law School
  • J.D., 1961
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • B.S., 1958

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• New Jersey State Bar Association
• American Law Institute
  • Life Member
• American Bar Foundation
  • Life Member
• New Jersey Law Journal
  • Editorial Board
• Columbia Law School
  • Board of Visitors
• NJICLE Board of Trustees
  • Chair
• Marie L. Garibaldi ADR Inn of Court
• Richard J. Hughes American Inn of Court

News

• William A. Dreier Is Honored as ADR Practitioner of the Year
• Twenty-Five Norris McLaughlin Attorneys Recognized by New Jersey Super Lawyers
• Norris McLaughlin & Marcus Presents Products Liability Seminar 
• Twenty-Five Norris McLaughlin & Marcus Attorneys Named Among Best Lawyers
• Twenty-Two Norris McLaughlin Attorneys Named Among New Jersey Super Lawyers
• William A. Dreier Is First Recipient of Annual Award To Be Named After Him
• William A. Dreier Lectures On Advance Civil Mediation Skills
• Honorable William A. Dreier Named Among The Best Lawyers In America
• New Jersey State Bar Foundation Recognizes Honorable William A. Dreier
• William A. Dreier Will Speak At Advanced Mediation Clinic
• William A. Dreier to Speak About Hot Topics in Chancery Trial Practice
• Twenty-One Norris McLaughlin & Marcus Members Named Among Best Lawyers In America

Publications

Books

• New Jersey Products Liability and Toxic Torts Law, Gann Law Books, 1995-present
• Products Liability and Toxic Torts Law in New Jersey — A Practitioner’s Guide, NJICLE, 1976-1993
• Chancery Practice in New Jersey, NJICLE, 7 editions to 2008
• Secured Transactions Under the Revised Uniform Commercial Code, NJICLE
• Secured Financing Under the Uniform Commercial Code

Law Review Articles

• "Liability for Drug Advertising, Warnings and Fraud," Rutgers L. Rev. (2006)
• "Beyond Workers' Compensation: Workplace Comparative Fault and Third-Party Claims," 20 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 459 (2004)
• "Direct-to-Consumer Advertising Liability: An Empty Promise?," 30 Seton Hall L. Rev. 806 (2000)
• "Manufacturers Liability for Drugs and Medical Devices Under the Restatement (Third) of Torts: Products Liability," 30 Seton Hall L. Rev. 258 (1999)
• "The Restatement (Third) of Torts: Products Liability and New Jersey Law - Not Quite Perfect Together," 50 Rutgers L. Rev. 2059 (1998)
• "Design Defects Under the Proposed Section 2(b) of the Restatement (Third) of Torts: Products Liability - A Judge's View," 30 U. Mich. J. of Law Reform 221 (1997)
• "Reform of the Personal Injury Damages Delivery System," 48 Rutgers L. Rev. 799 (1996)
• "Injuries to Production Workers: Reform of the Workers' Compensation Product Liability Interface," 48 Rutgers L. Rev. 813 (1996)
• "Analysis, 1987 Product Liability Act," 41 Rutgers L. Rev. 1279 (1989)
• "Identification of the Defendant Manufacturer in Generic Product Cases: Issues and Questions," 17 Seton Hall L. Rev. 513 (1987)

Presentations

Judge William A. Dreier, a member of the firm, heads the Norris McLaughlin worldwide products liability practice, as well as supervising litigation, mediation, and arbitration.

In his 25 years in the New Jersey State Judiciary, Judge Dreier was a presiding judge of the Appellate Division from 1994 through 1998. He served in the Appellate Division since 1983, and previously in the Chancery Division and the Law Division of the Superior Court since 1973. He has authored approximately 380 published legal opinions.

Recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts in the area of products liability, Judge Dreier is the author of several books and numerous law review and journal articles and has lectured in New Jersey and nationally on the subject in law school symposia, NJICLE programs, and as the coordinator of and lecturer in several ALI-ABA national products liability programs. His book, New Jersey Products Liability and Toxic Tort Law (Gann Law Books) has been published annually since 1995, as a successor to seven editions with supplements, published by NJICLE since 1977. In addition, he is an authority on commercial litigation, having authored the seven editions of the state’s principal text on Chancery Practice from 1983 to 2008, as well as earlier texts on Secured Financing.

As an arbitrator and mediator, Judge Dreier has been chosen as a member of the New Jersey Panel of Distinguished Neutrals, International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), and the AAA National Panels of Mediators and Commercial, Complex Cases, Class Actions, and Wireless Telecommunications Arbitrators, and as an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) Arbitrator. He is a Certified Mediator for the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, and a member of the International Mediation Institute, as well as the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators.

Judge Dreier has also served as a court-appointed mediator in various complex litigations. He is a member (Emeritus) of the Columbia Law School Board of Visitors, the editorial board of the New Jersey Law Journal, and the American Law Institute and is the Chair of the NJICLE Board of Trustees.

Judge Dreier was the recipient of the 2008 Medal of Honor awarded by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation, was given the 1983 Alfred C. Clapp NJICLE Award for Excellence in Continuing Legal Education, and was the initial recipient of the William A. Dreier Award for Excellence in Product Liability Law (name for him) by the New Jersey State Bar Association Product Liability Section. He has been regularly included in the Alternative Dispute Resolution section of The Best Lawyers in America and New Jersey Super Lawyers, including most recent edition.  He is also listed in Who''s Who in America and Who''s Who in the World (2010).

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Publications

• "A Missed Opportunity ," New Jersey Law Journal, January 5, 2009
• "The Essentials In A Successful Appellate Practice," The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, September 2008
• "ADR Trends for 2008 ," The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, January 2008
• "Strategies for Successful Interaction With ADR Neutrals ," The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, August 2007
• "Recent Court Rulings Affect Punitive Damages ," New Jersey Lawyer, May 14, 2007
• "Characteristics To Consider When Selecting 'The Right' ADR Neutrals ," The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, April 2007
• "Punitive Damages Rules Change ," Litigation Alert, March 2007
• "A Safe Harbor? FDA Approval of Drug Warnings ," For The Defense, March 2007
• "Resolving Disputes With A Focus On Your Client's Business Needs ," The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, January 2007
• "Does FDA Approval Provide Safe Harbor? ," New Jersey Law Journal, December 11, 2006
• "FDA Reaffirms Its Firm Stand on Preemption ," New Jersey Defense, Vol. 22, Issue 3, June 2006
• "Save Time and Money with Mediation ," U.S.1, February 22, 2006
• "Experts Identify ADR Trends and Best Practices ," The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, January 2006
• "A Simple End to Complex Instrumentalities ," New Jersey Law Journal, December 5, 2005
• "Evidence of Post-Accident Repairs: Admissible or Not? ," Products Liability Law Alert, September 2005
• "The Growing Popularity of ADR ," The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, August 2005
• "When Does A Plaintiff Need an Expert? ," New Jersey Law Journal, December 6, 2004
• "Finding the Most Efficient Forum for Resolving Disputes in Today's Corporate World ," Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, December 2004
• "Mediate, Arbitrate - Don't Litigate ," Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, August 2004
• "Assessment of Employees' and Employers' Conduct in Product Liability Cases - A New Beginning?," New Jersey Law Journal, 2003
• "Advice to the Novice (and Seasoned) Appellate Lawyer," New Jersey Lawyer Magazine, 2003
• "Resolve Your Disputes Out of Court ," Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, August 2003
• "A Question of Liability - Who's To Blame When Products Developed by Licensees Cause Unforeseen Injuries? ," New Jersey Law Journal, April 3, 2003
• "Recovery For 'Fear of Cancer' ," Products Liability Law Alert, April 2003
• "Is Including Arbitration Clause in Product Warranties a Legal Practice? ," Products Liability Law Alert, February 2003
• "Untying the Laidlow Knot ," New Jersey Law Journal, December 9, 2002
• "A New Look at the Worker's Compensation Defense in Products Liability Cases ," Products Liability Law Alert, March 2002
• "Lowering The Bar ," New Jersey Law Journal, December 3, 2001
• "Liability for Design Defects in New Jersey Following the 1997 Restatement (Third) of Torts: Products Liability ," New Jersey Law Journal, December 4, 2000
• "State-of-the-Art: Whose Art; What Was Known; and When? ," Products Liability Law Alert, November 2000
• "Products Liability and Rico Claims ," Products Liability Law Alert, August 2000
• "Warranty: The Stepchild of Product Liability ," Products Liability Law Alert, July 2000
• "Punitive Damages ," Products Liability Law Alert, January 2000
• "Drawing the Line on Foreseeable Misuses ," Products Liability Law Alert, October 1999
• "Post-Sale Duties to Warn ," Products Liability Law Alert, June 21, 1999

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Presentations

• "Managing Products Liability Risk for Manufacturers and Distributors,"  Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, Bridgewater, New Jersey, November 11, 2009
• Norris McLaughlin & Marcus Member Speaks at Advanced Mediation Training
• Advanced Civil Mediation Training Course, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, New Jersey, December 8, 2008
• Annual Seminar of Municipal Excess Liability Fund, Monroe Township, New Jersey, November 24, 2008
• "Advanced Mediation Techniques," Mercer County Bar Association, Marriott Princeton Conference Center at Forrestal, Princeton, New Jersey, November 7, 2008
• "Advanced Mediation Clinic," New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, in cooperation with the NJSBA Dispute Resolution Section and the Justice Garibaldi ADR Inn of Court, New Brunswick, New Jersey, June 16, 2008
• "Hot Topics in Chancery Trial Practice: 2008," New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, in cooperation with the NJSBA Equity Jurisprudence Committee, Edison, New Jersey, May 5, 2008
• "A Case Study on Product Liability Litigation," The Bar Foundation of Union County, Mountainside, New Jersey, April 10, 2008
• Products Liability: From Intake Through Trial, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, March 3, 2007
• "How to WIN in Mediation," Mercer County Bar Association, November 29, 2006
• Planning Chair or Co-Chair and Faculty Member, Annual ALI-ABA Advanced Products Liability Conference, 1984 - Present
• Products Liability, Annual Lecture, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1983 - Present
• Evidence Law and Control of the Courtroom for New Judges, Annual Lecture, New Jersey Judicial College, 1978 - Present
• Products Liability, Annual Lecture, New Jersey Judicial College, 1977 - Present
• 4th Annual Gaining Physician Access Conference, The Center for Business Intelligence, March 16-17, 2006
• Product Liability: A Road Map to Mediation or Trial, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, March 11, 2006
• Commercial Mediation Workshop, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, February 28, 2006
• Toxic Torts and Products Liability, New Jersey Law Journal, 2002
• Products Liability A-Z, New Jersey Law Journal, 2000

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