Ralph G. Cretella, Esq.
lead trial attorney

2,600,000.00 Settlement – A man who was a tanker truck operator was in the course of his employment, completing a pre-trip inspection on top of his tanker, when he was caused to fall over ten feet from the top of the tanker without any fall protection. Despite legal challenges such as the workers’ compensation bar, limiting the ability to sue one’s employer, along with other highly contested liability issues, Mr. Cretella prepared the case for trial. After three private mediations which were unsuccessful, the matter settled the day of trial for 2,600,000.000 along with his future medical care to be covered and paid for.

2,000,000.00 Settlement – As a result of the motor vehicle crash, a client sustained serious injuries to her neck and back. The client underwent a number of procedures including cervical and lumbar fusion surgeries. Liability was strongly contested by the defense. The parties agreed and entered into non-binding mediation with a retired former presiding civil judge. The case presented many challenges including piercing the limitation on lawsuit threshold, establishing liability, causation and resolving outstanding medical liens. Following intense negotiations, the client’s lawsuit was resolved at mediation for $2,000,000.

$850,000.00 – As a result of a very unfortunate and tragic motorcycle wreck, a young 24-year-old man lost his life due to the negligence of another driver. Mr. Cretella filed a wrongful death lawsuit on the families’ behalf. Due to the nature of the wreck, liability and damages were strongly contested. After conducting challenging depositions of fact witnesses and first responders and establishing liability and damages through liability and medical experts, the case resolved for $850,000.00

$810,000.00 – Client was the operator a vehicle that was on an active rideshare transport when the client’s vehicle was struck head on by another vehicle that improperly crossed a double yellow line in an attempt to bypass a long line of traffic. As a result of his injuries, the client underwent a back surgery to address a herniated disc that he sustained as a result of the car crash. The case presented many challenges including piercing the limitation on lawsuit threshold, causation and resolving outstanding medical liens. It was contended by the defense that the client’s injuries were the result of a prior work related accident that had occurred before the motor vehicle crash. Following intense negotiations, the client’s lawsuit was resolved for $810,000.00

$750,000.00 – Clients were driving in Ocean County when another vehicle failed to observe a third vehicle which was stopped in front of him, causing a rear end impact that catapulted the stopped vehicle into the clients’ car resulting in the clients sustaining severe and permanent injuries requiring hospitalization. It was discovered that the defendant was intoxicated and had consumed several alcoholic beverages at an establishment prior to the crash. Mr. Cretella sued both the negligent driver and the establishment which had served the defendant alcohol prior to the crash and was able to recover a settlement in the amount of $750,000.00

$750,000.00 – Ralph G. Cretella, IV lead trial attorney with Garces Grabler & LeBrocq obtained a $750,000.00 verdict for a 47-year-old women who sustained permanent injuries when her motor vehicle was rear-ended. As a result of the collision, the plaintiff alleged that she sustained multiple level disc herniations in her cervical and lumbar spine that required her to undergo six pain management procedures, including two epidural injections. The defense argued that plaintiff’s alleged injuries were the result of degeneration and were not causally related to the motor vehicle collision, despite the fact that plaintiff had no prior complaints of neck or back pain. Ralph was able to demonstrate through the objective credible medical evidence that the motor vehicle collision was the sole cause of the plaintiff’s permanent injuries. After a week and a half of trial, the Middlesex County jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the plaintiff in the amount of $750,000.00