Thomas E. Hastings

Tom Hastings is an accomplished litigator and counselor, with particular experience in appeals and the defense of liability insurers in complex insurance coverage and extra-contractual liability actions. His practice also includes commercial and business tort litigation and product liability matters. Tom's trial experience includes serving as first chair in a several month environmental insurance coverage action. His appellate work includes appeals of substantial commercial and personal injury verdicts and insurance coverage determinations.

Representative Experience

• A favorable answer by the New Jersey Supreme Court to a certified question concerning the application of the “made-whole” doctrine, and the subsequent affirmance by the Third Circuit of summary judgment for a workers’ compensation insurer in a dispute over the distribution of lien proceeds, in Asbury Park v. Star Insurance Co. (2020).
• Summary judgment for an insurer in a priority of coverage dispute in A.J.D. Construction Co. v. Twin Resources, Inc. (2020).
• The affirmance by the New Jersey Appellate Division of summary judgment for a pool liner installer in a diving injury case in Tran v. Nguyen (2018).
• The dismissal, in favor of arbitration, of an order to show cause against a home warranty insurer in Enea v. NJ Office of Dispute Settlement (2017).
• The reversal of a jury verdict against a hospital for breach of its contracts with a group of physicians in Vosough v. Kierce, 437 N.J. Super. 218 (App. Div. 2014).
• The dismissal of tortious interference claims against a third-party insurance administrator, affirmed by the Appellate Division, in Dooley v. La Padula (2014).
• Summary judgment for an auto insurer, affirmed by the Appellate Division, recognizing a limitation on the “permissive use” doctrine, in Hudeen v. Smith (2014).
• The affirmance by the Appellate Division of an order striking an award of punitive damages against an employer in a CEPA action in Phillips v. Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc. (2012).
• Summary judgment for an insurer in an additional insured coverage dispute, affirmed by the Appellate Division, in Smith v. Toys "R" Us, Inc. (2012).
• The 99% remittitur of a pain and suffering award in a workplace exposure case, sustained on appeal by the Appellate Division, in Webb v. Troy Corp. (2007).
• The unanimous reversal by the New Jersey Supreme Court of a plaintiff’s verdict against a property owner, in light of the plaintiff's refusal to testify at trial, in Gonzalez v. Safe and Sound Security Corp., 185 N.J. 100 (2005).

Professional Recognition

• Selected into Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” List in the area of Insurance Law in Princeton, 2022
• Selected to Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Insurance Law, 2006–2022

No aspect of these rankings has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Further information on methodologies is available via these links.