Mr. O’Hara joined Connell Foley in 1993. As of January 2008, he has handled over 60 jury trials jury trials in a plethora of subject areas, with 48 verdicts. Mr. O'Hara previously supervised major claims investigation and general litigation efforts nationally for a publicly-traded power and energy company. Currently, he is the engagement partner for the National Counsel Program with a publicly-traded franchisor. Moreover, Mr. O’Hara serves as primary trial counsel in the New York-New Jersey region in a wide spectrum of general liability matters for one of the world's largest retailers. He received the Bullseye Barrister Award from Target Corporation for outstanding service in December 2007. Mr. O'Hara has managed litigation venued in federal and state courts throughout the United States.
In 1999, Mr. O’Hara was distinguished as a nominee for the New Jersey State Bar Association’s “Young Lawyer of the Year” award. The Supreme Court of New Jersey recertified Mr. O'Hara as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney in 2006—a recognition he has enjoyed since 1999. He has also been an Associate in the American Board of Trial Advocates since 2003. Moreover, he is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (2004 to present), a member of the Defense Research Institute's Trial Tactics Steering Committee (2003 to present), and he has been a Master in the Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. Inn of Court since 1996. In addition, Mr. O’Hara serves as Connell Foley’s primary contact with USLAW, and was elected to its Board of Directors in 2006. In this regard, he received the O’Hagen Award for outstanding service in October, 2007. Finally, Mr. O'Hara serves as pro bono counsel to the Board of Directors for the September 11, 2001 Children's Fund, Inc., as well as a member of the legal committee for USA Triathlon.
During law school, Mr. O'Hara was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society and a member of Phi Kappa Phi and the honor chapter of Phi Delta Phi. Upon graduation, he served as a Law Clerk to Associate Justice Virginia Long, during her 1992-93 term on the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division.
Melville v. US Bancorp
Supreme Court of New York (Kings County)
Demand - $2.5 million, Offer - $0, 5 days of trial
(terms of post-liability verdict resolution confidential)
Olan v. Target Corp Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn)
Demand - $1.2 million, Offer $100,000, 4 days of trial - no cause of action
Marrero v. Target Corp.
Supreme Court of New York (Bronx County)
Demand - $5.6 million, Offer - $300,000, 13 days of trial – verdict of $1.3 million
(terms of post-verdict resolution confidential)
Kone v. SYSCO Food Services of Metro New York
Supreme Court of New York (Kings County)
Demand - $250,000, Offer - $10,000, 3 days – case resolved during trial for $12,000
Edison Salvage v. Garden State Paper Company
Superior Court of New Jersey (Bergen County)
Commercial dispute, Demand - $3.25 million, Offer - $260,000, 2 phase trial (1st phase 6 days, 2nd phase 2 days) – verdict of $295,000
White v. Morcos
Superior Court of New Jersey (Passaic County)
Demand $2 million, Offer – 0, 14 days, directed verdict as to Morcos, $925,000 verdict as to other defendant
Alfone v. Caputo
Superior Court of New Jersey (Essex County)
Demand - $1 million, Offer – 0, 4 days – no cause for action
Jackson v. Jersey City Medical Center
Superior Court of New Jersey (Hudson County)
Demand - $75,000, Offer – 0, 5 days – no cause for action
Mansfield v. Rutgers University
Superior Court of New Jersey (Middlesex County)
Demand - $100,000, Offer – 0, 3 days – no cause for action
