Firm News
Our Latest Newsletter
For the most recent issue of our newsletter, click here.
Firm Announcements, Media Mentions, and Publications
2024
Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari P.C., Sponsored P.G. Chambers School’s 70th annual Walk.Run.Roll 5K event!
Welcome to the newest edition of the Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari Newsletter
May 7, 2024
2024 Super Lawyers List
March 27, 2024
Congratulations to Blume attorneys Carol Forte, Michael Zerres, John Molinari, Jeffrey Zenna, Mitchell Makowicz, Kenneth Elwood, Norberto Garcia, David Fried, Cynthia Craig, and Brian Mahoney for being selected for inclusion to the 2024 NJ Super Lawyers List.
We are also proud to announce that Connor Turpan, Brian Riehl, Terrence Hull, and Richard Madurski have been selected for inclusion to the 2024 NJ Super Lawyers Rising Stars list.
*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of NJ. Visit the link below for award methodology.
https://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection-process/
Highlighting Achievement: Kim Molinelli’s Insightful Article in PANJ Winter Newsletter
February 22, 2024
Congratulations to Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari Paralegal Kim Molinelli, who is a member of the Paralegal Association of New Jersey (PANJ) and the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) Paralegal Special Committee. Her article entitled “So, You Wanna Be a Rockstar” was recently published in the PANJ Winter Newsletter. The article speaks to the integral role paralegals play in a law firm and also provides tips on how to be a paralegal “rockstar.”
Thank You Everyone For Participating In Our 1st Annual Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari Valentine’s Day Card Exchange!
February 14, 2024
Today at Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari P.C. we conducted our first annual Valentine’s Day card exchange which gave us all an opportunity to exchange kind words, tell someone they are appreciated, and let someone know they are a valued co-worker. A good time was had by all! Thank you, Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari P.C., for providing a platform for us all to express appreciation to those we work with! Happy Valentine’s Day!
2023
Blume, Forte, Fried, Zerres & Molinari is Pleased to Announce That Our FIrm Was Named The #1 Personal Injury Law Firm in NJ by the NJ Law Journal for 2023!
Celebrating Four Decades of Mentorship: Blume Forte’s Clerkship Program and Alumni Reunion Event
For over 40 years, Blume Forte has hired 3L JD candidates to participate in the Firm’s year-long clerkship program. Law clerks work directly with partners and associates, gaining hands-on experience in all aspects of personal injury litigation. The Firm recently hosted a reunion networking event, welcoming back over 50 law clerk alumni, who now practice in all areas of law. It was a great evening to reconnect and catch up with colleagues. We are looking forward to the next alumni event.
Blume, Forte, Fried, Zerres & Molinari is Pleased to Welcome Nine Third-Year JD Candidates From Seton Hall and Rutgers Law Schools, Participating in our 2023-2024 Law Clerk Program
The participants work for a full year under the direct supervision of partners and associates on a variety of tasks. The program provides them with hands-on experience in all aspects of a personal injury litigation practice. Our clerks assist their attorneys with research and writing projects, pleadings, discovery requests and responses, motions and briefs. They have the opportunity to observe hearings, depositions, mediations, Court conferences, arbitrations, and trials, all of which will provide to them an invaluable experience that will inform their future careers in the law. This year’s law clerks are: [first row] Sydney Monroe (Rutgers), Jonathan Rawson (Rutgers), Madeleine Kardek (Seton Hall), [second row] Vincent Molinari (Seton Hall), Amber Joy Wiens (Seton Hall), Christina Conkling (Seton Hall), Jessica Masi (Seton Hall), Juliana Balabusta (Rutgers), and Stephen Weiss (Rutgers).
WEAR BLUE! 4 CASA Event With Somerset Patriots Baseball!
We had a great time at the ballpark raising awareness about foster youth and child abuse in our community with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and our presenting partner, PNC Private Bank.
11 Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari Attorneys Have Been Selected for Inclusion in The 2023 Edition of New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari is proud to announce that 11 firm attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2023 edition of New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars, published by Thomson Reuters. Each year Super Lawyers recognizes outstanding attorneys who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5% of New Jersey attorneys are selected by Super Lawyers to receive this honor and only 2.5% of New Jersey attorneys receive a Rising Star distinction.
- Carol L. Forte: ranked number 2 in top 10 overall; top 50 women lawyers, the top 100, and top personal injury medical malpractice: plaintiff
- Michael P. Zerres: top personal injury medical malpractice: plaintiff
- Kenneth W. Elwood: top personal injury general: plaintiff
- John E. Molinari: top personal injury general: plaintiff
- David M. Fried: top personal injury general: plaintiff
- Jeffrey J. Zenna: top personal injury general: plaintiff
- Norberto A. Garcia: top personal injury general: plaintiff
- Mitchell J. Makowicz: top personal injury general: plaintiff
- Terrence J. Hull: top rising star personal injury general: plaintiff
- Connor C. Turpan: top rising star personal injury medical malpractice: plaintiff
- Richard T. Madurski: top rising star personal injury medical malpractice: plaintiff
The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. For more information about Super Lawyers and their selection process, please visit SuperLawyers.com.
SETON HALL LAW STUDENT TEAMS – Outstanding Law Student Pro Bono Awards
This award recognizes an individual law student or students who excelled in supporting pro bono or legal aid programs for underserved communities. A group of nine current and former Seton Hall Law students will receive the award for developing a series of informational videos for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, who represented themselves in restraining order hearings. Blume Forte law clerk, Sarah Souaid has been named a recipient of the award.
Congratulations Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari Law Clerk, Emily Fetsko, For Receiving the Northern New Jersey Chapter Law School Scholarship!
2022
Chambers School Annual Walk.Run.Roll 5k Sponsored by Blume Forte Fried Zerres and Molinari
On Sunday, October 2, 2022, P.G. Chambers School hosted its annual Walk.Run.Roll 5k. Blume Forte Fried Zerres and Molinari was proud to sponsor the event and Associate Terrence Hull Esq. served as co-chair. “Team Blume Forte” had an impressive showing with 28 participants in the race. The 5k raised donations and awareness for the Morris County School, which provides therapies and interventions for more than 900 children with physical, language, sensory, and learning disabilities.
Welcome Third-Year JD Candidates to the 2022-2023 Law Clerk Program!
Blume, Forte, Fried, Zerres & Molinari is pleased to welcome nine third-year JD candidates from Seton Hall and Rutgers law schools, who are participating in our 2022-2023 Law Clerk program. The participants work for a full year under the direct supervision of partners and associates on a variety of tasks. The program provides them with hands-on experience in all aspects of a personal injury litigation practice. Our clerks assist their attorneys with research and writing projects, pleadings, discovery requests and responses, motions and briefs. They have the opportunity to observe hearings, depositions, mediations, Court conferences, arbitrations and trials, all of which will provide to them an invaluable experience that will inform their future careers in the law. All of the law clerks who sought judicial clerkships after graduation have secured positions: four with Law Division judges, one with an Appellate Division judge, and one with a New Jersey Supreme Court justice. This year’s law clerks are: [first row] Eve Litvak (Seton Hall), Allison Ens (Rutgers), Heather Brandspiegel (Rutgers), [second row] Erin McNamara (Seton Hall), Alexander Wukovitz (Rutgers), Sarah Wisniewski (Seton Hall), Emily Fetsko (Rutgers), Sarah Souaid (Seton Hall), and Kimberly Begley (Seton Hall).
Awards & Prestigious Positions
Congratulations to Jeffrey Zenna for being named as the Chairman of the New Jersey District 10B ethics Committee.
Congratulations to Norberto Garcia for receiving the 2022 Hudson County Bar Association Lawyer of the Year award. The award is presented in cooperation with the bar associations across the state to lawyers who are respected by colleagues for their character, competence, and exemplary professional behavior.
Welcome 2022 Law Clerks!
Blume, Forte, Fried, Zerres and Molinari has, for over four decades, maintained a Law Clerk Program for promising law students.
Candidates, from Seton Hall University Law School and Rutgers Law School, are evaluated on a number of criteria, with particular attention to scholastic achievement, and to research and writing skills. Once hired, the Law Clerks work with the Firm for a full year, assisting their respective supervising attorney(s) in all aspects of plaintiff personal injury litigation.
By working closely with their supervising attorneys and staff, the Law Clerks provide invaluable insight and assistance, all the while honing their skills and learning how to properly litigate a personal injury case.
Over the years, a large percentage of Blume, Forte Law Clerks have secured Judicial Clerkships following law school graduation – with judges in the Law Division and Appellate Division, and with justices on the New Jersey Supreme Court.
This year’s Law Clerks are Heather Brandspiegel, Allison Ens, Emily Fetsko and Alexander Wukowits (Rutgers Law School); and Kimberly Begley, Eve Litvak, Erin McNamara, Sarah Souaid and Sarah Wisniewski (Seton Hall University School of Law).
Seminars & Panels
Norberto A. Garcia is moderating the panel Hot Tips for Hot Litigators for NJ ICLE on 8/18/22
Aug 18, 2022
Carol L. Forte is participating in a seminar given by the American College of Trial Lawyers
Carol will be demonstrating how to do a direct examination of a plaintiff’s expert in a medical malpractice case.
2019
Richard J . Villanova has a speaking engagement on June 29, 2019 – Preparing and Presenting the Auto Injury Case
2017
Blume Forte Hosts CLE on Taxation Issues
This event is the latest in a continuing CLE series hosted by the firm for colleagues in other firms.
May 15, 2017
Mitch Makowicz to Provide Overview of Medical Malpractice Law in New Jersey
Mitch Makowicz is a featured speaker at an upcoming CLE event in Gloucester County
April 20, 2017
NJ State Bar Presents Fried with 2017 McLaughlin Award
David Fried was presented this week with the 2017 James J. McLaughlin Award
February 17, 2017
Ken Elwood Obtains $1.95 Million Work Injury Settlement
A woman who almost lost her arm in a New Jersey work-related injury obtained the settlement in this Somerset County injury lawsuit.
February 6, 2017
2016
IN PRINT: The Firm Contributes to a New Jersey Law Journal Special Issue on “Auto Injury”
In an exclusive supplement on Automobile Injury published today by the New Jersey Law Journal, the firm discusses the challenges handling cases where plaintiffs who have sustained non-traditional injuries have doctors who do not want to be involved in the lawsuit.
January 25, 2016
2015
Blume Attorneys Listed in “The Best Lawyers”
A number of firm attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2016 edition of “The Best Lawyers,” and three were named “Lawyer of the Year.”
August 21, 2015
Blume Forte Receives Award at New Jersey Law Journal “Hall of Fame” Dinner
The firm takes top honors in New Jersey Medical Malpractice recoveries
May 1, 2015
Blume Forte Hosts New Jersey Attorney CLE Event
The firm has re-launched their popular networking breakfast series and added CLE credits
March 24, 2015
Blume Forte Receives Coveted “Litigator Award”
Blume Forte recognized for excellence in multimillion dollar personal injury litigation in New Jersey.
February 10, 2015
2014
IN PRINT: Fried Authors Medical Malpractice Article for New Jersey Lawyer Magazine
In an exclusive supplement on Automobile Injury published today by the New Jersey Law Journal, the firm discusses the challenges handling cases where plaintiffs who have sustained non-traditional injuries have doctors who do not want to be involved in the lawsuit.
August 1, 2014
Zerres Named “Lawyer of the Year”
Michael Zerres recognized by Best Lawyers in America
October 9, 2014
2012
“Recovering Money Damages for Brachial Plexus Injuries”
The firm’s work is featured in an article from Outreach Magazine
May 15, 2012
