James Coons
Overview
James is a civil litigator, with an emphasis on commercial disputes, products liability defense, catastrophic personal injury claims, mass toxic torts, commercial disputes, consumer fraud and warranty class actions, employment disputes, and insurance coverage actions. The majority of his cases are venued in the state and federal courts of New York and New Jersey. Over the course of his career, James has represented domestic and foreign product manufacturers, vehicle manufacturers, insurers, franchisors, computer software companies, telecommunications companies, energy companies, building contractors, and individuals. James has handled matters from inception through trial and appeal.
Education and Admissions
Admissions
New Jersey
New York
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Supreme Court
Education
Boston University School of Law, J.D. (2000)
Rutgers University, B.A., 1997, magna cum laude
Work Highlights
- Worked with Ansa Assuncao team to petition for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court on behalf of British manufacturer, resulting in reversal of the lower court’s finding of jurisdiction over the company, despite lack of constitutional minimum contacts, dismissal of claim, and clarification of the “stream of commerce” theory of personal jurisdiction.
- Successfully defended multiple lawsuits concerning alleged defects in client’s plumbing products.
- Won a permanent injunction against five former employees of insurance company client competing in violation of their respective employment agreements, resulting in termination of their competing enterprise and a high settlement payment to the client.
- Successfully prosecuted breach of contract action on behalf of European confectionary manufacturer against U.S. retailer resulting in settlement for entire claimed amount paid to client and voluntary dismissal of retailer’s counterclaim.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf component manufacturer based on Daubert argument regarding inadmissibility of the “net” opinion of plaintiff’s designated expert.
- Successfully defended building product conglomerate client’s entire asbestos defense portfolio, resulting in dismissal of 95% of all claims and nuisance value settlement.
- Won summary judgment on behalf of faucet manufacturer in catastrophic injury case alleging defective product warnings, upheld on appeal to New York Appellate Division.
- Won motion to dismiss catastrophic injury suit brought by plaintiff for spoliation of the allegedly defective product in Bronx County, New York.
- Won Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss wrongful death product liability claim alleging subject motorcycle’s defect was “speed”.
- Conducted pro bono investigations of a state police organization on behalf of an investigatory committee appointed by the Governor of New Jersey.
Prior Affiliations
DLA Piper US, LLP
Select Decisions
- Duell v. Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., et al.,
962 F.Supp.2d 723 (D.N.J. 2013) - J. McIntyre Machinery, Ltd. v. Robert Nicastro, et ux.,
131 S. Ct. 2780 (2011) - Nicastro v. McIntyre Machinery of America,
201 N.J. 48 (2010) - Nicastro v. McIntyre Machinery of America,
399 NJ. Super. 539 (App. Div. 2008) - The Business Edge, Inc. v. Champion Mortgage,
519 F.3d 150 (3d. Cir. 2008) - Vereczkey v. Delta Faucet, et. al.,
2008 N.Y. Slip Op 09588 (2d Dep’t 2008) - Rice v. Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.,
No. CV-07-4031, WL 4646184 (E.D.N.Y. 2008)