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Overview

Christopher Kozak has earned a reputation among his clients and colleagues for being thorough, well prepared and driven for amicable case resolution, as well as, when needed, aggressively defending his clients at trial. With more than 25 years of experience handling a broad range of civil litigation cases in federal and state courts in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, Chris has tried cases to verdict in some of the most difficult jurisdictions in the country. Chris also is well known for his efficiency and desire to quickly move matters forward. Clients appreciate his practical case evaluations and innovative theories to better posture their cases for the best possible results.

Chris defends companies and individuals facing an array of personal injury and liability claims, including toxic torts involving asbestos, talc, mold and lead exposure; products and premises liability; property casualty claims; and construction accident and defect cases. His experience also includes professional liability defense, such as pharmacy malpractice. In addition, he has handled actions under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) related to railroad worker injury claims and defends claims of cumulative trauma, repetitive stress injuries and occupational hearing loss. 

Chris is an accredited lecturer on strategies to assist insurance companies and self-insured clients with collecting information to better prepare claims for early resolution or preserving information for use in litigation and at trial.

Experience

  • Tried several cases to verdict in New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

  • Negotiated favorable settlements with catastrophically injured litigants, involving multiple contractors, and complex fact patterns.

  • Stepped in as counsel in high-stakes subrogation actions, deflecting the focus away from our clients, and resolved actions for reasonable figures by spreading the allocations of responsibility.

  • Received numerous summary judgment decisions by marshalling the facts during his case investigation and work-up.

Education

  • Seton Hall University School of Law, JD, 1996
  • State University of New York at Binghamton, BA, 1993

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Connecticut

Court Admissions

  • US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • US District Court, District of New Jersey
  • US District Court, Southern District of New York
  • US District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • US District Court, Northern District of New York
  • US District Court, Western District of New York
  • US District Court, District of Connecticut
  • US District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

News + Insights

Publications

A Review of Federal Medical Malpractice Tort Reform Alternatives, Seton Hall Legislative Journal

Other Events

Talc Litigation Conference, Industrial Talc, Perrin Conferences
New York Asbestos Litigation Conference, Talc Litigation, Perrin Conferences
Talc Litigation Conference, Talc Science—FDA Working Group and New Studies, Perrin Conferences
National Asbestos Litigation Conference, Trying the Talc Case, Perrin Conferences
Cutting-Edge Issues in Asbestos Litigation Conference, Consumer Use Cosmetic Talcum, Perrin Conferences
National Asbestos Litigation Conference, Update on Talc Litigation—Unique Issues, Perrin Conferences
Daubert Challenges to Plaintiffs' Analytical Methods & Counting Methods in Talc Litigation, Defense Research Institute
Introduction to Law and Civil Defense Litigation, "You and the Law" Class 2020, Middlesex High School
National Asbestos Litigation Conference, Update on Talc Litigation, Perrin Conferences
NY Appellate and Summary Judgment Decisions Roundtable, Perrin Conferences
Update on Talc Litigation 2019, Perrin Conferences
Introduction to Law and Civil Defense Litigation, "You and the Law" Class 2019, Middlesex High School
Litigation Management Southeast Conference, The Mighty Morphin' Talc Defenders—How to be a Superhero in the Courtroom, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
National Asbestos Litigation Conference, Talc Science—Habit, 'Asbestos' Definitions, and Epidemiology, Perrin Conferences
Should You Be Afraid? Defeating Fear at Trial by Focusing on Credibility, Motives and Science, Environmental and Emerging Claim Manager Association
Talc Litigation Trends, Trial Themes, Science and Trial Preparation
Update on Talc Litigation 2017, Perrin Conferences
Ethics in the Use of Social Media