Steven Kunzman concentrates his practice on representation of clients in all aspects of environmental matters, with a focus on environmental litigation, including land use and affordable housing issues. He has served as lead or co-lead trial counsel in numerous state and federal actions, including multi-week trials involving alleged chemical releases onto lands and waters, claims of bodily injuries and disease from exposure to chemicals from environmental releases and from exposure to chemicals and products in the workplace; asbestos exposures; products liability actions; and construction defect claims.

Steven has extensive experience in handling suits involving clean-up of polluted property under Superfund and the NJ Spill Act, including claims by the government for Natural Resource Damages. He has also been involved in disputes with the NJDEP on permits and alleged permit violations.

Steven has also represented insurance companies in coverage matters related to environmental, long-term disease and construction defect claims.

Steven has been AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and has been selected as a New Jersey Superlawyer annually since 2006. Steven is a member of the American Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Somerset County Bar Association. He is also a member of the Defense Research Institute and the Defense Association of New Jersey and has served as a court-approved mediator in the State of New Jersey.

Steven is currently President and Counsel for both the John A. Van Winkle Foundation and the Arnold A. Schwartz Foundation. He formerly served as counsel to the Bedminster Township Board of Health.

LATEST NEWS EVENTS

Firm obtains summary judgment for Township of Roxbury in Superfund case

Martin Allen Quoted in Star Ledger re: Hospital Exemption from Real Estate Taxes

NJ Governor Signs Law Allowing for Extension of Statutory Deadline for Submission of Remedial Investigation of Pre-1999 Discharges

Pompelio argues victim’s right to face defendant at sentencing.

Attorney Martin Allen Is Quoted in NJ Spotlight Magazine

SIGNIFICANT MATTERS:

Reported Decisions

Warren Tp. v. Suffness, No. A-5523-86T6 , Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, 225 N.J. Super. 399

N.J. Tpk. Auth. v. N.J. Tpk. Supervisors Ass’n, A-20 September Term 1995 , SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY, 143 N.J. 185

Pitney Bowes, Inc. v. Baker Industries, Inc., A-4484-93T5F , SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY, APPELLATE DIVISION, 277 N.J. Super. 484

Diamond Shamrock Chemicals Co. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., A-694-89T1 , SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY, APPELLATE DIVISION, 258 N.J. Super. 167

Hills Dev. Co. v. Bernards, Nos. A-122, A-123, A-124, A-125, A-126, A-127, A-128, A-129, A-130, A-131, A-132, A-133 , Supreme Court of New Jersey, 103 N.J. 1

Unreported Decisions

Linden Roselle Sewerage Auth. v. New Jersey Dep’t of Envtl. Prot., DOCKET NO. A-2915-11T4, SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY, APPELLATE DIVISION, 2013 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1532, April 16, 2013 (submitted amicus brief and argued on behalf of N.J. League of Municipalities)

D’Agostino v. Prudential Ins. Co., DOCKET NO. A-5912-09T1, SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY, APPELLATE DIVISION, 2012 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1791, November 1, 2011

Princeton-Gamma Tech v. Hartford Insurance Group, et. al. SOM-L-1289-91, SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY, LAW DIVISION, Somerset County, 1997

Other Trials and Significant Matters

Represented materials broker in wrongful death asbestos – mesothelioma claim. Client settled prior to closing arguments – the jury verdict was one of the highest awards in such cases in New Jersey.

Represented owner of former fuel oil company. Client was determined liable for remediation cause, but former owner was determined to not be responsible for multi-million dollar claim for alleged related business losses.

Served on steering committees of defense groups in various landfill cases, including: the Caldwell Trucking Superfund Site, Combe Fill North Landfill, Combe Fill South, Passaic River, BEMS Landfill and Pennsauken Landfill.