Eugene M. Purcell

PARTNER
Eugene M. Purcell received his B.A. degree in Business Administration from Fairfield University in 1959 and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 1962. After serving a clerkship for the Honorable Arthur J. Blake (then senior partner of Lamb, Blake, Hutchinson & Dunne and subsequently Assignment Judge in Essex and Ocean Counties) and trying cases for one year, Mr. Purcell accepted an appointment as Law Secretary to The Honorable Alexander P. Waugh, then Assignment Judge in Essex County. Mr. Purcell subsequently became a partner in two law firms prior to founding the firm of Purcell and Ries in 1973. He served as the firm's Managing Partner until 1984.

For over forty years, Mr. Purcell has specialized in the trial of complex civil cases including product liability, medical malpractice, mass tort and employment matters. Mr. Purcell has a special expertise in the area of insurance coverage litigation and product liability as it relates to ethical drugs and drug products, blood and pharmaceutical efficacy issues. He has successfully defended and prosecuted declaratory judgment actions on a range of sophisticated insurance coverage issues.

Mr. Purcell is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and currently sits on the State Committee of that organization. He is a member of the Federation of Insurance & Corporate Counsel and a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He was selected as a Charter Member of the New Jersey Chapter of The American Board of Trial Advocates in 1984 and presently holds the rank of Diplomate. In 1998, he was presented with the Annual Trial Bar Award by the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey, for Distinguished Service in the Cause of Justice. In 2004, he was presented with the James J. McLaughlin Award by the New Jersey State Bar Association, for competence and success as a trial attorney who demonstrates civility and professionalism in the practice of law.

Mr. Purcell served on the Union County Ethics Committee from 1978-1981 and was the Municipal Judge in Passaic Township (now Long Hill) from 1980-1985. He has lectured extensively on trial practice at Seton Hall University School of Law and Rutgers University School of Law. He is a Certified Civil Trial Attorney and past President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey, of which he was a founding member.

Mr. Purcell’s professional memberships include the American Bar Association, New Jersey State Bar Association, Somerset County Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, Inc. and the New Jersey Defense Association.

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