Joan focuses her practice on defending professional liability claims, particularly in complex, multi-party construction defect cases involving architects, engineers, surveyors, landscape architects, and contractors. She brings a broad, well-rounded perspective to the legal issues affecting the construction industry, informed by experience across multiple jurisdictions that include New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Arizona.
Her work includes reviewing and negotiating professional service agreements and construction contracts on behalf of licensed professionals, owners, and contractors. She also provides risk management and loss prevention guidance, drawing on her litigation background to identify and address potential areas of dispute before they escalate.
Joan has served as lead counsel in matters involving EIFS installation defects, general liability claims, toxic mold exposure, school construction delays, and permitting disputes. She has represented clients in arbitration, mediation, and in both state and federal courts. Among her notable matters, she successfully handled trial and appellate arguments in Briggs v. Luisi, a case involving contractor liability under the Consumer Fraud Act. She also frequently speaks at continuing education programs for design professionals on topics such as liability and regulatory compliance.
Outside of her legal practice, Joan is actively involved in community service. She serves on the Board of Directors for CASA for Children of Monmouth County and has held leadership roles in the Howell Township Environmental Commission and Green Team. She organized and a not for profit entity to start up and manage a local farmers market during the height of Covid as President and Manager of the Howell Farmer’s Market Association, supporting local agriculture and small businesses, and maintained operation of same through 2024 before moving to Pennsylvania.
Areas of Focus
Professional Liability – Design & Construction Professionals
- Represents architects, engineers, surveyors, landscape architects, and construction contractors in defense of professional liability claims, including design defect and personal injury liability
- Represents commercial clients on payment or other breach of contract claims
- Litigation of multi-party construction defect and professional negligence claims
- Consumer Fraud Act violation claims involving construction industry activity
- Representation in AAA, mediation, and state and federal court
- Superior Court and Appellate Court experience ikn multiple juriscitions
Construction General Liability & Defect
- Claims involving faulty construction, material failure, and design deficiencies
- Experience with toxic mold, EIFS-related damage, and property loss claims
Contract Review & Risk Management
- Negotiation and review of professional service contracts, construction agreements, and commercial contracts
- Strategic contract drafting informed by litigation experience
- Risk management and loss prevention counseling for design and construction professionals
Representative Litigation and Trial Experience
Lead Litigation Experience
- Construction defect litigation involving EIFS systems
- Professional liability claims under the NJ Consumer Fraud Act
- Mold-related property and personal injury disputes
- School construction and delay-related claims
- Condominium and Residential Homeowner’s Association defect cases
Personal Injury and Premises Liability
- Personal injury death claim experience involving complex liability issues and governmental regulatory frameworks
- Resolved personal injury claims on motion for summary judgment for large warehouse project claims
Risk Management
- Counsel to various start-ups, initating client service contracts and merger and employment issues, and advising on conflict of interest rules for multiple clients and other risk management concern
Appellate Experience
- Briggs v. Luisi, A-1592-06T5 (N.J. Super. App. Div. 2007) (Unpublished):
Successfully defended an appeal involving a contractor’s misrepresentation and violation of the Consumer Fraud Act—recognized as a case of first impression
Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Represented clients in AAA arbitrations and private mediations to resolve complex construction and design disputes
Affiliations
- Howell Township Environmental Commission, Chairperson, 2016-2022
- Howell Farmer’s Market Association, President, 2020-Present
- CASA for Children of Monmouth County, Board of Directors, 2004-Present
- New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, 2015-Present