About Us

Jeffrey M. Advokat

Hilary B. Rosenberg

Advokat & Rosenberg have provided responsible and professional legal services of all types to the public for more than 55 years combined. Our professional legal services involve representing clients in all bodily injury claims, criminal (traffic, DWI, drug, assault) matters at both the local municipal and county superior court levels, real estate closings, family divorce or child custody matters, as well as civil law. Additionally, when it comes to business matters, we are also experienced attorneys in handling the sale or purchase of a business, negotiating leases, and fighting breaches of a business contract against your clients who fails to pay you for the services you provided.

We concentrate in cases involving:

• General Legal
  • Such as: DYFS Matters - Employment Discrimination - Real Estate & Wills
• Civil Law / Personal Injury Matters
  • Such as: Motor Vehicle Accidents – Wrongful Death – Slip & Fall – Dog Bites
• Municipal Court/Traffic Court
  • Such as: DWI - Disorderly Persons - Speeding Defense -Loss Of License
• Family Law Matrimonial
  • Such as: Divorce – Custody/Visitation – Support – Paternity - Guardianships
• Criminal Law
  • Such as: Indictable Offenses – Criminal Defense – Juvenile Law – Drug Cases

Sample Cases

Suit alleging foster home child abuse settled by state for $4.5 million

The state agreed on May 10 to pay $4.5 million in a Hudson County negligent-supervision suit, J.P. v. Division of Youth and Family Services, filed on behalf of a boy sexually abused in a foster home.

In 1995, 3-year-old J.P. was placed in the home of Dale Porter and Arthur Gardner, a gay couple in Jersey City. In 1998, while investigating domestic violence allegations between the parents, the police became aware of alleged sexual abuse of J.P. Porter and live-in nanny Rex Gale pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated sexual assault, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, endangering the welfare of a minor and child abuse, says J.P.'s laywer, Jeffrey Advokat ond Advokat & Rosenberg in Morristown.

When the investigation began, the boy was placed with Francine Orsini, who later adopted him, and she filed the civil suit. She claimed that a Division of Youth and Family Services caseworker who regularly visited the Porter household saw signs of alcohol abuse and assaultive behavior but DYFS did not follow up, and that the agency failed to investigate the background of Gale, who allegedly had prior convictions for sexual assaults on children.

The case, assigned to Judge Anthony Graziano for trial, settled during jury selection.

The state was represented by Deputy Attorney General Esther Bakonyi. Her spokesman, Lee Moore, confirms the settlement.

- By Charles Toutant

DWI crash lawsuit is settled

BUTLER - A settlement worth about $600,000 has been approved to end litigation by two Hewitt women injured in a 1990 crash with a drunken driver.

Attorney Jeffrey Advokat, representing Luanne Milligan, said the settlement was approved by Superior Court Judge David Cramp in Morristown. The agreement calls for an arbitrator to decide how Milligan, 40, will divide the settlement with Bonnie Rosario. The latter was a passenger in Milligan's car when it was struck head-on by a pickup truck operated by Glenn Martin of Denville.

The lawyer said both women were critically injured in the crash on Kiel Avenue, Butler. After striking Milligan's car, the truck careened into a house at 47 Kiel Ave., jolting a resident. Police said the truck narrowly missed striking a 10-year-old boy riding his bike near the scene.

Martin, 33, was later convicted of driving while intoxicated, Advokat said, explaining the bulk of the settlement came from insurance carried by the owner of the truck. Martin was held personally liable for $27,500.