Episode 46

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Published on:

28th Feb 2025

Jersey Justice w/ Judge Lou F. Locascio | Episode 46 | Takedowns to Verdicts: A Journey to the Bench

On the latest episode of Jersey Justice, attorneys Gerald Clark and Mark Morris of the Clark Law Firm, PC welcome retired Judge Hon. Louis F. Locascio, J.S.C.

The session covers Judge Locascio's journey from starting as a Division 1 Wrestler at Columbia and working as a Defense Attorney to becoming a Judge in the New Jersey Superior Court Civil, Criminal, and Family Division.

Topics include:

- Judge Locascio's personal background coming from an Italian-American family from Linden, New Jersey

- His athletic background in Wrestling from competing against Olympic level Wrestlers and how it allowed him to pursue a College Degree from Columbia University and subsequently Seton Hall Law School

- Legal background prior to pounding the gavel, how he started as a trial lawyer specializing in Criminal and Civil litigation

- His career on the Bench and stories from various trials. Specifically his professional philosophy on Attorney preparedness and the importance of a strong work ethic

- Ultimately, his life after his retirement after nearly two decades serving as a Judge and how he has seen the legal world evolve

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Prior to his retirement, Judge Locascio, for 17 years, sat in all three divisions (criminal, civil, and family) in the Superior Court in Monmouth County. He has written approximately 40 judicial opinions, 20 of which have been published. In addition, he has published approximately 150 articles in the N.J. Law Journal either as an Op. Ed. contributing author or in his own Court Watch column.

He is one of the very few judges (and lawyers) board certified by the Supreme Court as both a civil and criminal trial lawyer.

Prior to taking the bench, because he tried over 400 jury trials, he developed the practical ability to resolve cases as a judge. Indeed, in his 4 years sitting in the family division, he never completed a divorce trial—he settled them all.

Because of his vast experience as a trial lawyer, he found his greatest effectiveness was in resolving civil and family cases.

Now retired from the bench, he serves you, the lawyers. Big or small case—med. mal., motor vehicle, matrimonial—in person or zoom—he is happy to settle your case whenever or wherever you need him.

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About the Podcast

Jersey Justice
Law ★ Policy ★ Life
Jersey Justice delivers insightful and engaging discussions on a range of law, policy, and life in New Jersey, including workplace and construction site injuries, automobile crashes, commercial litigation, and other related legal matters. Jersey Justice is designed to keep listeners informed and educated about the complexities of civil law and policy and its everyday impact on life.

Jersey Justice: Law ★ Policy ★ Life is hosted by esteemed attorneys Gerald H. Clark and Mark W. Morris and delivers captivating and informative content through an interview-driven format, enriched with panel discussions that showcase the expertise of distinguished guest speakers from the legal field. The podcast is produced by Oscar Carrillo

About your hosts

Gerald Clark

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Gerald H. Clark, Esq. is certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Civil Trial Attorney and holds a distinction shared by less than 3% of New Jersey attorneys.

Gerald H. Clark, an accomplished and influential attorney in New Jersey's construction injury law, has made significant strides in the legal field. A long-time member of the Board of Governors of the New Jersey Association for Justice, he has served as counsel on numerous state and national class action matters, including a landmark consumer fraud lawsuit against Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, which resulted in a settlement valued at $1-3 billion.

Throughout his career, Gerald has successfully handled catastrophic loss and wrongful death cases, passionately representing deserving clients on a contingency basis to ensure access to justice. His strategic appeals in cases like Costa v. Gaccione and Fernandes v. DAR Development Corp. have influenced New Jersey's construction injury law for the benefit of workers.

Gerald has been recognized in the New Jersey Law Journal's "40 Under 40" and named a "Rising Stars Super Lawyer" from 2006-2012. Since 2013, he has been consistently honored as a "Super Lawyer" by Thompson Reuters, a "Top 100 Trial Lawyer" by the National Trial Lawyers Association, and a "Top 100 Litigation Lawyer in the State of New Jersey" by the American Society of Legal Advocates.

Mark Morris

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Mark W. Morris, a senior trial attorney, has been recognized on the Super Lawyers Rising Stars List each year since 2019 and has been named a “Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer” by the National Trial Lawyers Organization since 2019 as well.

Throughout his career, Mark has obtained remarkable settlements and verdicts for his clients, such as a $2 million settlement for a concert patron injured by a stage diver, a $1.325 million settlement for a motorist struck by an intoxicated driver, a $1 million settlement in a negligent security case and a $975,000 settlement in a worksite products liability case. Additionally, he has played a vital role in helping Clark Law Firm P.C. achieve numerous multi-million-dollar settlements and jury verdicts including a jury verdict of $2,579,000 for a construction worker who was injured when he was backed over by a utility truck.

Leading the firm's Consumer Rights Division, Mark has successfully prosecuted state and nationwide consumer class action claims, representing clients against businesses engaging in misleading or fraudulent practices. Notably, he worked on an obsolete motor oil class action that resulted in a $28.5 million settlement for consumers in 2021. Mark has also secured a $1 million consumer fraud class action settlement involving misleading business practices related to the service of process.

With a commitment to all aspects of litigation, Mark has demonstrated success in handling client intake, depositions, motion practice, arbitrations, mediations, and trial. He has won several cases before the Appellate Division and has litigated in both state and federal courts throughout New Jersey and the Southern District of New York.