Michael A. Ferrara Jr.
Partner
Michael Ferrara is a proud trial lawyer, having tried over 250 jury trials over his 50-year career.
He was born and raised in Philadelphia and graduated from Villanova with a B.S. in Mathematics. After serving five years as a Naval Officer, including service in Vietnam, he went to law school at the University of San Diego where he serves on their Board of Visitors.
Mr. Ferrara is a partner at Ferrara & Gable, LLC, a past president of the New Jersey Trial Lawyers Association (NJAJ), and former member of the Board of Governors of AAJ. He is a frequent speaker at trial lawyer seminars and a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He was the founder of the New Jersey Trial Lawyer’s PAC and served on county and federal judicial selection committees. He is certified as a Civil Trial Attorney by the New Jersey Supreme Court and a past president of the South Jersey chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).
He served on the boards of the Amigos de Jesus orphanage in Honduras, West Catholic H.S. in Philadelphia, and the San Miquel School in Camden. He was the founder of the Marlton Track Club and enjoyed coaching youth sports.
His non-lawyer activities include being the owner and CEO of Cellular One, a cellular telephone company in Wichita Falls, Texas; a guest speaker at a joint session of the Russian legislature on the topic of home mortgages; and the host of The People’s Law School, a talk radio show on WPHT, the CBS affiliate in Philadelphia.
He was co-counsel representing the State of New Jersey in the landmark tobacco litigation and counsel for many clients in the Vioxx litigation. Some of his significant appellate victories include imposing a duty upon doctors to provide litigation assistance to their clients, and establishing guidelines for what auto crash victims need to prove when they have pre-existing conditions.
Some of his awards include the ATLA-NJ Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement, the Trial Bar Award from the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey (TANJ), and the State Bar Professionalism Award. He recently was honored for his pro bono service by the N.J. Supreme Court.
He is married to Penny and they are the proud parents of five children and five grandchildren. They live in Marlton, NJ.
Areas of Practice
- Defective Products
- Defective Drugs
- Bad Doctors
- Products Liability Cases
- Auto, Bus and Tractor Trailer Cases
- Construction-Site Injuries
- General Civil Litigation
- Nursing Home Abuse
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Certified Legal Specialties
- Civil Trial Attorney, Supreme Court of New Jersey
- Civil Trial Law, The National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Civil Practice Advocacy, The National Board of Trial Advocacy
Bar Admissions
Education
- 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
Representative Cases
- 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)
Classes/Seminars
- Medical Malpractice Annual Seminar, New Jersey State Bar Association, Moderator and Speaker, 2013-2023
- New Jersey Association for Justice Boardwalk Seminar, Ethics Co-Chair and Speaker, 2010-2023
- 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
Honors & Awards
- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2003
- Trial Bar Award, Trial Attorneys of New Jersey, 2001
- 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
Professional Associations & Memberships
- American Association for Justice, Member
- Board of Governors, 1988 – 2000
- New Jersey, President, 1985 – 1986
- New Jersey, Chair and Founder Legal Pac, 1988 – 1990
- New Jersey Trial Academy, Faculty
- Boardwalk Products Liability Seminar, Chair, 1984
- Camden County Bar Association, Member, 1989 – Present
- Personal Injury Chair, Founder, 1984 – 1989
- Personal Injury Chair, Trustee, 1988 – 1991
- Burlington County Bar Association, Chair, Civil Practice Bench-Bar Committee
- CLE Committee, 1998 – 1999
- Camden Inns of Court, Master
- Civil Justice Foundation
- President, 1998
- Past 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
Past Employment Positions
- 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.
Pro Bono Activities
- 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
