Areas of Practice

At Hassing & DeFilippis, LLP we practice in Municipal, State, and Federal Courts throughout Northern New Jersey.  Located in Flanders we frequently represent clients in the New Jersey Superior Courts located in Morristown, Newton, and Belvidere.  We also serve clients in municipal courts throughout northern New Jersey.

Our practice areas include but are not limited to criminal and civil litigation including criminal defense, personal injury, employment law, land use, zoning and construction, public bidding law, collections, estate contests, insurance coverage disputes, and civil and criminal appeals.  We also handle real estate transactions, zoning and land use applications, estate administration, small business formation and acquisition, and draft contracts, wills, powers of attorney, and health care proxies with advanced directives (often referred to as living wills.) 

Please scroll down for a more thorough discussion of our practice areas.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE LITIGATION

If you have been charged with a crime or even a municipal court summons the possible impact on your freedom, current and future employment, driving privileges and your life as a whole can be serious.  You need an experienced attorney who is effective in court, knows how to present and defend a case at trial, and gives you the information you need to be able to make the critical decisions about your case that affect you.

Erik Hassing has extensive experience in criminal law.  In law school Erik focused on criminal law while interning at the Mercer County Prosecutor’s office.  After law school and a clerkship for the Union County Assignment Judge Edward Beglin, Erik worked for five years as a Bronx County Assistant District Attorney prosecuting and investigating misdemeanor and felony crimes.  While serving as a prosecutor in the Bronx Erik started in the Criminal Court Bureau prosecuting misdemeanor DWIs, simple assaults, drug possessions, marijuana possession and distributions, driving while suspended, and eluding police.  Erik subsequently moved to the Grand Jury Bureau where he investigated, screened and presented to the Grand Jury felonies for indictment including gang assaults, felony assaults, attempted murders, manslaughters, weapon possessions, drug distributions, recidivist felony DWIs, felony assaults on police officers, robberies, burglaries, and virtually any other felony crime imaginable.  Erik concluded his career at the Bronx DA’s Office in the felony Economic/Automobile/Arson Crimes Division of the Investigations Bureau.  Erik’s responsibilities included investigating and prosecuting through trial and sentencing complex white collar crimes, organized insurance frauds, arsons, and automobile crimes.  After leaving the Bronx District Attorney’s Office Erik returned to New Jersey where one of his specialties is criminal defense.  Since returning to New Jersey Erik has defended numerous felonies including allegations of white collar fraud, drug possession and distribution, prescription fraud, robbery, weapons possession, and theft.  He has also defended and tried DWIs, driving while suspended, assault, domestic violence and juvenile charges in the municipal courts, domestic violence courts, and juvenile courts.

If you have been charged with any crime or municipal court summons Erik will give you the information you need to make the correct decisions about your case and provide you with a vigorous defense should you decide to try your case.

CIVIL LITIGATION

    Erik Hassing and Kevin DeFilippis have both practiced extensively in civil litigation.  Whether you have suffered a personal injury, been treated illegally in your employment, have a contract dispute, are being sued by someone claiming your negligence caused their injury, are being sued by a former employer claiming discrimination or harassment, have a construction dispute, an appeal or simply want to collect on a debt we have the experience to assist you with your problem. 

Personal Injury

Erik Hassing practiced in personal injury first on the defense side after returning to New Jersey defending and trying medical malpractice, motor vehicle accident, construction injury, and slip and fall cases.   Since leaving insurance defense work Erik has practiced primarily representing victims who have been injured by someone else’s negligent, careless and reckless behavior or family members who have lost a loved one due to another’s negligence.  Similarly Kevin DeFilippis has worked extensively on personal injury matters and is well versed on the legal and practical issues you face when you have been injured by someone else’s negligence. If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in an automobile accident, a slip and fall, by a defective product, or in any other way due to what you believe to be someone else’s negligence come speak with us.  Even if you were injured at work, don’t hesitate to call as you may have claims against parties other than your employer that are not barred by worker’s compensation. We don’t charge for the initial consultation so it won’t cost you anything but a little of your time.  If we determine that you have a case we can handle it on a contingency fee basis.

Both Erik and Kevin have also defended people or companies who have been sued but have been told they do not have insurance coverage.  We have been able to secure coverage when the client did not think they had any coverage.  If you are being sued and don’t think you have coverage to provide for your defense, have had a claim denied by your insurance company, or have been told by your insurance company they are only defending you while they reserve the right to deny coverage later, come speak with us.  We may be able to find you coverage you didn’t think you had and force your insurance company to honor the claim and pay for your legal fees.  If it is definitively determined that you don’t have any coverage we will provide you with a defense at a reasonable rate.    

Employment Law

Most of us spend more hours awake at work than we do at home.  Our employment dictates our ability to pay bills, keep medical insurance, pay the mortgage, and meet our basic needs; so, when you are subjected to harassment, discrimination, or wrongful termination your pain, fear, and anxiety are palpable.

If you are an employer and an employee or former employee is alleging wrongful termination, harassment, or discrimination your defense can be expensive and time consuming.  Worse yet, if you don’t defend yourself you may not only have to pay your own legal fees and any judgment but you may even have to pay the plaintiff’s legal fees.

Kevin DeFilippis and Erik Hassing have litigated numerous employment law suits both from the employee’s side of the courtroom and from the employer’s side.  We know how the other side is likely to defend or prosecute their case because we have done it ourselves.

Land Use, Zoning, and Construction Litigation

            Land use and construction cases often present their own unique issues both legally and factually.  The field has a complex maze of statutes, regulations, and codes many of which require knowledge of construction to understand or navigate successfully.  You need an attorney with experience in this area of law who understands both construction and the law.  Kevin DeFilippis has litigated numerous construction cases and has developed the expertise to understand your case and how you fit into the often unique laws that govern this area of law.  Erik Hassing understands the language of the construction field because he worked residential construction to help pay for college.  Erik also previously served as the attorney for the Warren County Construction Board of Appeals and has represented numerous individuals in construction litigation, appealing stop work orders, and litigating zoning applications or problems.  If you are having a problem with your construction project, permitting, zoning or are in a dispute with the local code enforcement officer call us so we can help with your problem and help you move forward to complete your project.

Public Bidding Law

The public bidding laws in New Jersey are designed to ensure fairness when bidding on public contracts and prevent partiality in awarding bids.  Unfortunately, the laws are not always properly followed creating the potential for the very corruption and bias they are designed to prevent.  Kevin DeFilippis has developed a specialty challenging the award of contracts based on failures to adhere to the public bidding laws. We understand time is of the essence and you need answers and action quickly when it comes to challenging public bidding.  If you have submitted, or are about to submit, a bid on a public contract but think the bidding documents, specifications, or procedures violate New Jersey law call Kevin DeFilippis to schedule a consultation and protect your rights. 

Collections

            Though perhaps not seen as the most glamorous area of the law, collection is just as critical to your case as getting a favorable judgment.  A judgment is a legal piece of paper saying a person or company owes you money.  It is a potentially valuable piece of paper but it is only by collecting on the money owed that it has any realized value.  As any business owner knows, getting the work and invoicing the customer is only half the battle.  Collecting on the invoice is not just important, but can be the difference between staying in business and going out of business.  Don’t wait crossing you fingers hoping to get paid when it is clear just by sending another bill will not help.  Call us so we can help you collected the money that is legally owed to you. 

Civil and Criminal Appeals

            In any litigation there is the potential for an appeal or to fight an appeal.  You need an experienced attorney whether you have an appeal of a civil or criminal matter to the Appellate Division or Supreme Court, need to file for post conviction relief, or just want to appeal a municipal court conviction or a denial of a variance.  Erik Hassing has appealed and successfully argued before the Appellate Division, restoring cases that were previously dismissed by lower court rulings, and successfully appealed municipal court convictions before the Superior Court.  Erik previously served as the former attorney for the Warren County Construction Board of Appeals and has thoroughly litigated zoning appeals and notices of violations for private clients, so he also has a thorough understanding of the procedures and differing venues for specialized appeals.

Insurance Coverage Claims and Suits

We discuss insurance coverage issues in the personal injury section above, but insurance coverage problems can arise in any insurance contract.  Your claim may be denied under your home owners policy if you have had a fire, or you can have a claim related to your business insurance policy denied.  If you are being sued, and have been told you have no insurance coverage, or have submitted a claim and had it denied, come speak with us.  As you may have seen in other sections of our practice areas, Erik Hassing has a background in arson investigation and prosecution, insurance fraud prosecution, insurance defense, and construction; so we have the knowledge of the industry to ensure your rights are protected.  We have represented people or companies who have been told they do not have insurance coverage for a particular suit only for us to find them coverage.  If you are being sued and don’t think you have coverage, or you have had a claim denied by your insurance company, or had your insurance company advise you they were defending you but reserving the right to disclaim coverage, come speak with us.  We may be able to find you coverage you didn’t think you had, force your insurance company to honor your claim, and pay for our representation. If we determine after our investigation that you actually don’t have any applicable coverage we will provide you with an experienced defense at a reasonable rate.  

REAL ESTATE, LAND USE,

AND ZONING TRANSACTIONS

            Real estate closings, land use and zoning often seem like they should be simple and easy matters.  The reality is that due to the growing number of rules, regulations, and laws the simple is not always so simple.  Protect your investment by ensuring your purchase, your plans, or your project is done properly complying with the applicable laws before you end up in costly litigation.  A little expense now can save a huge expense later.  If you are already in litigation, as you can see in our section on civil litigation, we have the expertise to handle your case.
     

WILLS AND ESTATES

            Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Appointments of Health Care Proxies with Advanced Directives (commonly known as living wills) are some of the least expensive yet often overlooked ways of ensuring your family is prepared, and provided for, should you pass away or be unable to make decisions regarding your own finances or health care.  You can spare your loved ones additional difficulties and expenses at the most difficult time in their lives by getting a Will, Power of Attorney and an Appointment of Health Care Proxy with an Advanced Directive.  Even one is a great improvement over none, but only with all three are you properly protected against all eventualities.

No one wants to think about being incapacitated and being unable to make their own decisions about their health care or finances, but you can save your family the guilt and burden of making, or worse yet arguing over, your health care decisions with an advanced directive.  If you want someone who isn’t an immediate family member to make your decisions for you, or even be allowed to speak with an insurance company, doctor or hospital about your health care, a health care proxy is required under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).   Similarly, a simple and inexpensive power of attorney will save your family the difficulty and expense of addressing your finances if you are physically or mentally unable to do it for yourself.  With today’s strict privacy laws if your trusted loved one does not have a power of attorney for you it can often be difficult for them to get a financial institution or insurance company to even confirm you have an account much less speak with them about the account or allow them to withdraw money to pay the mortgage, taxes, medical bills, or other bills.  Having a person declared legally incompetent so a guardian can be appointed is far more expensive than a power of attorney and health care proxy.

Similarly, most people do not want to think about dying or prepare for it; yet it is the one thing in life that will happen to everyone.  A simple and inexpensive self authenticating last will and testament easily pays for itself by saving your family the expense of purchasing a bond to probate your estate.  It can also save your family the legal fees associated with getting a court to order a Will be admitted to probate when it has been denied by the surrogate.  A Will allows your executor or executrix to be quickly appointed and to quickly and efficiently marshal your assets to pay debts and bills before distributing the assets per your wishes.  If you have a child or children, a Will ensures they are taken care of by people you trust and your assets are properly protected for their benefit.

Finally, if you have lost a loved one we can assist you with administration or execution of the estate to ensure everything is done properly and as quickly and easily as possible.  Kevin DeFilippis and Erik Hassing have experience handling complex litigated will contests, orders to show cause to order a will probated, uncontested will probates, and probating and distributing an estate with no Will via the statutes of intestacy.  You can be confident that in this most difficult time in your life we will do everything we can to ensure dealing with the legalities of estate administration does not become a burden.