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Knowledge, experience, and dedication have brought the lawyers of The Epstein Law Firm to the forefront of their profession. From personal injury to civil litigation, they have built a strong record of success in achieving justice for their clients.
Our practice is diverse and well-established. Recognizing that every case is unique, we always begin by listening to you.
The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. has been successfully representing clients throughout New Jersey since 1973
Winning a legal argument is only part of resolving a civil dispute. The requested remedy must address the actual problem, the evidence must support it, and the process must make practical sense. A claim for unpaid money, a disagreement over property rights, and an urgent business conflict can require very different strategies.
The Epstein Law Firm represents individuals, executives, professionals, and businesses in New Jersey civil litigation. Our lawyers can review the dispute, assess the available evidence, and discuss negotiation, mediation, or court proceedings in light of your objectives.
Whether you are considering a claim or have received legal papers, begin with the documents and deadlines already in front of you. You do not need to choose a litigation strategy before asking for advice.
The Epstein Law Firm
New Jersey Civil Litigation
Speak with The Epstein Law Firm about your situation and the next steps.
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(201) 231-7847Schedule your free consultation
A useful first discussion identifies what would resolve the problem. Is money owed under an agreement? Is a party asking the court to stop particular conduct? Are there continuing obligations that need clarification? Different forms of relief can require different proof and procedures.
Separate the events from your conclusions about them. Explain what each party promised, what happened afterward, and the financial or practical consequences. Provide the complete agreement and correspondence, including records that may support the other side’s position.
The Epstein Law Firm can use that information to assess the legal basis of a claim or defense. This includes considering whether a negotiated solution could address the problem and what would be required if litigation becomes necessary. A strong opening position should reflect the available evidence rather than an assumption that every disagreement belongs in court.
Civil litigation covers a broad range of conflicts. The relevant practice area helps identify the central questions and the documents to review.
Some matters overlap. Identifying the main issue helps avoid pursuing a remedy that does not fit the underlying facts.
The amount in dispute is one consideration, but the kind of relief and the court’s authority also matter. New Jersey’s Special Civil Part guidance describes eligible money claims up to $20,000, with a Small Claims section for claims up to $5,000. Larger monetary cases generally proceed in the Civil Part, while other matters require different procedures.
Choosing a lower monetary limit can mean giving up recovery above that limit. Claims seeking something other than money, certain professional-malpractice claims, and probate matters also raise different forum questions. Do not select a filing route from the dollar amount alone.
An arbitration clause can require additional analysis. Bring the actual agreement, not a summary of what you remember signing. The firm can review jurisdiction, venue, and relevant contract provisions before recommending the next step.
Keep signed agreements, amendments, invoices, payments, emails, messages, and notices in their original form where possible. Identify important conversations and the people who participated. A chronology can make a large file easier to understand without replacing the underlying records.
Electronic information deserves attention. Routine deletion, device replacement, or account closure can affect material relevant to a dispute. New Jersey’s complex-business case-management guidance addresses preservation and discovery planning. Counsel can help identify the appropriate scope rather than collect every business record indiscriminately.
Do not obtain evidence through unauthorized access or circulate sensitive material unnecessarily. Explain who controls the information and where it is stored. Questions about privilege, confidentiality, and lawful collection should be addressed before a large transfer of records.
If you have been served, provide the summons, complaint, and delivery details promptly. A demand letter, an agency notice, and filed court papers are not interchangeable. Each may require a different response.
Talking to the other party does not necessarily suspend a response deadline. Check the actual papers and obtain advice about the required filing. A business disagreement that seems capable of settlement can still lead to a default if court obligations are ignored.
Tell counsel about earlier negotiations, any related proceedings, and relevant insurance or indemnity agreements. These facts can affect who should receive notice and how the defense is organized. Do not assume a general business policy automatically covers the dispute or that another party has taken responsibility for responding.
Civil litigation can involve exchanging documents, written questions, depositions, and expert evidence. The information obtained may change the assessment of liability, damages, or settlement. A strategy should be revisited as important facts become clearer.
Mediation offers an opportunity to negotiate with a neutral facilitator. It is not a ruling on the merits, and an agreement remains necessary. Useful preparation includes identifying disputed facts, acceptable terms, and any obligations that would continue after settlement.
The terms can matter as much as the payment. Releases, timing, security for payment, and future performance should be understood before an agreement is accepted. If the case proceeds to judgment, collection can present additional practical questions; a favorable decision is not itself a guarantee of payment.
Throughout the process, ask how the likely benefit compares with the cost, time, and uncertainty of the next step. That conversation is part of informed representation, not an admission that a supported claim should be abandoned.
The Epstein Law Firm’s civil litigation practice includes representing executives, professionals, and individuals in disputes requiring attention to technical, business, and contractual issues. Michael J. Epstein is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney and has state and federal judicial-clerkship experience.
Those qualifications support evaluating how a dispute may be presented in court while keeping the client’s objective central. Prior verdicts and settlements demonstrate past work; they cannot determine the merits or value of a new matter.
Contact The Epstein Law Firm for a free initial consultation. Bring the key documents, identify any pending deadlines, and explain the outcome you hope to achieve. The next step is to assess what the evidence supports and which route can realistically address the problem.
Selected results reported by The Epstein Law Firm.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case depends on its own facts, evidence, and applicable law.
These excerpts describe experiences with the firm. They are not identified as cases in this practice area and do not predict another outcome.
“They took the time to explain everything clearly, making sure I understood my options and felt comfortable with each step of the process.”
— R. S. · Read the full Google review
“Michael and his team were incredibly responsive, always keeping us informed and addressing any questions or concerns promptly.”
— s. v. · Read the full Google review
Practical assistance can help you understand the procedure, even when a dispute still requires legal advice. The right starting point depends on whether you need forms, help with costs, or a structured settlement discussion.
Special Civil instructions and forms — The New Jersey Judiciary explains eligible claims, filing and answering, preparing for court, and collecting a judgment. Use the instructions for the actual type of case. A simplified process can still have limits on recoverable amounts and claims, so do not select a court solely because its forms look easier.
Court-fee waiver information — If filing costs are a barrier, review the Judiciary’s fee-waiver criteria and application instructions for your court. Prepare the required financial information and check the rules concerning represented applicants. A waiver concerns eligible court fees; it does not promise a lawyer at no cost or eliminate every expense of litigation.
Civil mediation guidance — The court’s mediation information explains how a neutral facilitator helps parties explore settlement. Ask about the process, any charges, and the information needed to assess a proposal. Mediation does not itself determine the merits or suspend every court obligation.
Bring the summons, complaint, agreement, or judgment that defines your problem when seeking help. Keep service dates and scheduled appearances visible. Court information can explain procedure, but it should not be mistaken for an assessment of your legal strategy or the merits of a claim.
These answers provide general information. The facts and applicable rules should be reviewed with a lawyer before making decisions about a particular matter.
The appropriate court depends on the amount and type of relief sought. New Jersey’s Special Civil Part handles certain money claims of $20,000 or less, while larger civil damages claims generally belong in the Law Division’s Civil Part. Some disputes seeking equitable relief or involving probate require a different part or procedure.
A lawyer should also consider jurisdiction, venue, contractual forum terms, and any applicable arbitration agreement. Choosing a lower monetary division can limit what may be recovered, so it should not be treated as a simple filing convenience. Bring the amount in dispute, the documents creating the obligation, and information about the parties before deciding where and how to proceed.
Sources: New Jersey Courts — Special Civil Lawsuits ; New Jersey Courts — Complex Business Case Management .
Preserve relevant contracts, amendments, invoices, payment records, emails, messages, and records of the events in dispute. Keep ordinary electronic files and their original information where possible. Business litigation may involve electronically stored information held by several custodians, and a preservation plan can be important before routine systems delete or overwrite material.
Identify the people, devices, accounts, and date ranges likely to contain relevant evidence. Discuss lawful collection and privilege issues with counsel before forwarding large amounts of sensitive information. New Jersey’s complex-business guidance addresses preservation and discovery planning. The appropriate scope should follow the actual issues; a dispute does not justify unauthorized access to another person’s accounts or records.
Sources: New Jersey Courts — Complex Business Case Management ; New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct — Fees and Client Duties .
A contract claim generally requires proof of the agreement, the relevant obligations, a failure to perform as required, and resulting damages, with the claimant’s performance and applicable defenses also needing review. A disappointing business outcome does not alone establish a breach. The actual terms and the parties’ conduct are central to the evaluation.
Bring the complete agreement, amendments, payment records, and communications about performance. Identify the particular obligation you say was broken and how the loss followed from it. New Jersey’s model contract instruction explains the basic framework; the legal analysis can differ with the agreement and facts. Counsel can also examine the appropriate forum and remedy before treating the amount of an unpaid invoice as the entire case.
Sources: New Jersey Model Civil Jury Charge 4.10A — The Contract Claim ; New Jersey Courts — Special Civil Lawsuits .
Read the summons and complaint promptly and obtain advice about the required response. Keep the papers and the date and method of delivery. A conversation with the other party or an attempt to negotiate does not necessarily suspend the court deadline. The appropriate response depends on the court, claims, and case status.
Bring relevant agreements, earlier correspondence, insurance information, and details of any related proceedings to counsel. In Special Civil matters, the Judiciary explains that failing to answer can lead to a default judgment; other proceedings have their own requirements. Do not assume a weak claim can safely be ignored. Ask what must be filed, who will handle it, and whether representation has actually been accepted before relying on the firm for a response.
Sources: New Jersey Courts — Special Civil Lawsuits ; The Epstein Law Firm — Contact and Consultation .
Bring a short timeline, the names of the people or organizations involved, and the documents you already have. Include notices, correspondence, contracts or incident reports relevant to the dispute, along with any court papers and their delivery dates. Identify what outcome you are seeking and the practical losses you want the lawyer to evaluate.
You do not need to assemble a perfect file before making contact. Explain what is missing and where it may be located. The initial discussion can identify conflicts, deadlines, and the information needed for further review. Agree on a secure way to provide sensitive records, and confirm whether the firm has undertaken representation before relying on it to meet a deadline.
Sources: The Epstein Law Firm — Contact and Consultation ; New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct — Fees and Client Duties .
Yes. Mediation can help parties explore a negotiated resolution with a neutral facilitator. The mediator does not decide the merits in the way a trial judge or arbitrator might. Whether mediation is productive depends on the parties’ willingness to negotiate and whether they have enough reliable information to assess the disagreement.
Discuss payment terms, releases, confidentiality, and any continuing business obligations before accepting a proposal. The litigation schedule and discovery obligations remain important unless the court orders otherwise. New Jersey’s complex-business case-management guidance expressly addresses mediation and settlement planning. Counsel can help determine what information is needed to negotiate and whether an agreement should address related claims or future performance.
Sources: New Jersey Courts — Civil Mediation Questions ; New Jersey Courts — Complex Business Case Management .
Yes. You can request an initial legal consultation and discuss what information is needed to evaluate the matter. Lawyers have duties concerning information received from prospective clients, subject to the applicable rules and exceptions. Ask about a secure communication method and the conflict-check information the firm needs before sending extensive sensitive records.
A private consultation and a filed court case are different. If litigation is contemplated, counsel should explain what may become part of the record and what protective measures may be available; complete anonymity cannot be promised in every proceeding. You can also ask about the scope of representation and next steps before deciding whether to enter an agreement.
Sources: New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct — Fees and Client Duties ; The Epstein Law Firm — Contact and Consultation .
Discovery is the process for obtaining relevant information through the procedures available in the case. It can include document requests, written questions, depositions, and expert material. The court may set a schedule and resolve disagreements about the appropriate scope, confidentiality, or other limits. It is not permission to obtain information through unauthorized access.
Work with counsel to preserve relevant records and identify people who may have information. Business cases can require particular attention to electronically stored material and the form of production. The information obtained may affect settlement evaluation or preparation for trial. Keep court deadlines separate from informal negotiations, and discuss privilege and privacy before producing sensitive information.
No. A judgment establishes the court’s decision, but collecting money can require additional steps. The defendant’s available assets, other obligations, and the applicable enforcement procedures can affect recovery. New Jersey’s Special Civil guidance describes tools for obtaining financial information and enforcing a money judgment; their availability depends on the circumstances.
Discuss collection considerations when evaluating litigation or settlement, not only after trial. A proposed payment arrangement should be reviewed for timing, enforceability, and what happens if a payment is missed. Counsel can explain which further work may be needed and whether it falls within the representation agreement. Neither a favorable decision nor a promise to pay guarantees immediate collection, and enforcement must follow the lawful court process.
Sources: New Jersey Courts — Special Civil Lawsuits ; New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct .
The Epstein Law Firm offers a free initial consultation. The fee arrangement for any representation should be discussed separately and confirmed in writing. Ask whether the matter would use a contingency fee, an hourly arrangement, or another structure, and how litigation expenses would be handled. A free consultation does not mean that every potential matter will be accepted.
Before signing, ask what services are included, how costs are advanced or reimbursed, and what happens if the matter ends without a recovery. The answer can depend on the practice area and the proposed agreement. Bring the documents you already have and identify any approaching deadlines so the initial conversation can focus on the next necessary steps.
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The Epstein Law Firm serves clients from three New Jersey locations:
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560 Sylvan Avenue, Suite 1000-A Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 (By Appointment Only)
201-734-3763
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18-20 Lackawanna Plaza, Suite 200 Montclair, NJ 07042 (By Appointment Only)
973-381-8410
The Epstein Law Firm
The Epstein Law Firm