John Ratkowitz Recruited by the New Jersey Association For Justice to Write Two Amicus Curiae Briefs in Cases Pending Before the New Jersey Supreme Court.

In July and August 2013, John Ratkowitz wrote and submitted amicus curiae briefs on behalf of the New Jersey Association of Justice in two cases pending before the Supreme Court of New Jersey, Badiali v. New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Group, and Wadeer v. New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Group. In both of these cases, the New Jersey Association of Justice is asking the Court to define the procedural and substantive nature of a cause of action against an insurance carrier who engages in first-party bad faith. First-party bad faith cases are lawsuits brought against insurance companies alleging that a carrier wrongfully denied a claim or failed to timely pay benefits to a policy holder submitting a claim to his own insurance company under a policy that he paid the premiums for. These kinds of claims include property damage claims submitted under home-owners insurance companies, and Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Claims in automobile accident cases.

In 2008, John Ratkowitz was scheduled to argue a similar case before the Supreme Court in Taddei v. State Farm, but the carrier elected to settle that case just before the Court entertained oral argument on the appeal.

The New Jersey Association for Justice was founded in the late 1940s and is a statewide association of almost 2,400 trial attorneys in private practice. NJAJ is dedicated to protecting New Jersey's families by working to preserve and strengthen the laws for safer products and workplaces, a cleaner environment and quality health care.