Juliann M. Alicino

Juliann concentrates her practice on defending private individuals and commercial entities in civil matters as a member of the firm’s General Civil and Commercial Litigation Practice Group. Her work involves general liability, automobile liability, insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, premises liability, construction litigation, contract and indemnification issues, and products liability. Julie also advises clients on risk management strategies to mitigate exposure before litigation arises.

Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney—a distinction held by fewer than 2% of attorneys statewide—Julie has demonstrated the highest levels of experience, education, and skill in civil trial practice. She has litigated numerous matters from their inception through trial, trying multiple cases to verdict and obtaining favorable results. Her capabilities extend to the appellate level, where she has successfully briefed and argued appeals, including her work in the published Appellate Division case James v. Ruiz. This case has played a pivotal role in shaping how New Jersey courts address expert testimony and the business record hearsay exception.

Julie is an active leader within the legal community and a dedicated contributor to public service. She frequently serves as a lecturer and moderator for continuing legal education programs hosted by the New Jersey State Bar Association, the New Jersey Defense Association (NJDA), and various local bar associations. She currently serves as President-Elect of the NJDA, President of the Middlesex County Trial Lawyers Association, and Vice President of the Board of Trustees for the New Brunswick Free Public Library, reflecting her strong commitment to both professional and community leadership.  She also serves as Chair of the NJDA Diversity Committee, a Trustee for the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey, and is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association Civil Trial Bar Executive Committee.

Throughout her career, Julie’s excellence has been consistently recognized. She was named to NJBIZ’s "Forty Under 40" list in 2021, received the NJDA’s "Young Lawyer of the Year" award in 2019, and has been selected as a Super Lawyers "Rising Star" every year since 2019. In addition, she has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch since the 2023 edition for her achievements in commercial litigation, insurance law, and personal injury litigation.

Areas of Focus

General Liability & Premises Liability

• Defense of claims involving bodily injury and property damage on residential, commercial, or public premises
• Representation of property owners, managers, and commercial tenants in negligence and liability lawsuits

Automobile Liability

• Defense of personal injury claims arising from motor vehicle accidents involving both insured and self-insured defendants, including both personal and commercial policies
• Handling of liability, coverage, and indemnification issues

Insurance Coverage & Bad Faith

• Representation of insurers in coverage disputes, declaratory judgment actions, and bad faith litigation
• Advising carriers on policy interpretation and litigation strategy

Construction Litigation

• Defense of developers, contractors, and subcontractors in matters involving contract disputes, defects and construction site accidents

Contract & Indemnification Disputes

• Resolution of disputes involving breach of contract, indemnification clauses, and risk transfer
• Advising clients on drafting and enforcement of contractual terms

Products Liability

• Defense of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in litigation involving allegedly defective or dangerous products

Appellate Advocacy

• Preparation and argument of appeals in state appellate courts
• Lead counsel in the published opinion James v. Ruiz, influencing admissibility of expert opinions and hearsay under the business records exception

Representative Litigation and Trial Experience

Automobile Liability – Directed Verdict

• Secured a directed verdict at trial resulting in the dismissal of all claims against her client. After the plaintiff presented their case, Julie successfully moved for a directed verdict, arguing that her client bore no liability for the subject automobile accident. The Court agreed and granted the motion, dismissing the case in favor of the defense without the need for jury deliberation.

Automobile Liability – Jury Defense Verdict

• Prevailed at trial in Middlesex County Superior Court in an automobile liability case involving claims of permanent injury. The plaintiff alleged permanent injuries to his neck, back, wrist, and ankle following a motor vehicle accident. After trial, the jury found that the plaintiff failed to prove he sustained a permanent injury as a result of the accident and returned a verdict in favor of the defendant.

Personal Injury – Jury Defense Verdict

• Secured a unanimous defense verdict at trial in a personal injury case arising from a motor vehicle accident. The plaintiff alleged new injuries and an aggravation of prior conditions involving the neck, back, and hand. Following trial, the jury unanimously found that the plaintiff did not sustain a permanent injury as a result of the accident, resulting in a complete defense verdict.

Insurance Defense – Jury Defense Verdict

• Prevailed at trial on behalf of two insurance carriers in a claim for uninsured motorist benefits. The plaintiff alleged that an unidentified vehicle caused him to lose control of his motorcycle, resulting in a severely fractured arm requiring surgery and additional knee injuries. Representing both insurance companies, Julie successfully defended the claim, and the jury unanimously found that the unidentified vehicle was not negligent and was not a proximate cause of the accident.

Appellate Victories

• Successfully upheld a defense verdict before the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division in James v. Ruiz. After securing a unanimous jury verdict at trial in Atlantic County, the plaintiff appealed, arguing that he should have been permitted to reference the opinion of a non-testifying doctor during summation. On appeal, the defense brief was prepared, and oral argument was successfully presented, resulting in the Appellate Division affirming the trial court’s decision. The published opinion established important precedent regarding the limits on the use of non-testifying expert opinions at trial.
• Successfully prevailed on appeal on behalf of a student-tenant client in a case Mercer Ins Co. v. Baron arising from a residential fire in New Brunswick. The home insurer had sued the tenants and their guests, alleging their negligence caused the destruction of the property. Following trial, the jury unanimously found that the landlords were solely responsible for the damage, clearing the tenants of all liability and the verdict was upheld by the Appellate Division.
• Prevailed on appeal before the New Jersey Appellate Division in a personal injury case involving roadway conditions. In Sivak v. Chrzanowski, the plaintiffs appealed a jury verdict in favor of the defendants, arguing that the trial court erred by giving a Mockler instruction concerning roadway skidding. On appeal, the court affirmed the trial result, holding that a Mockler defense—traditionally applied to snow or ice—was also appropriate for wet roadway conditions caused by rain. The decision clarified and expanded the use of the Mockler instruction, providing an important defense for drivers facing accidents on rain-slicked roads.

Affiliations

• Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney
• New Jersey Defense Association, President-Elect
• New Jersey Defense Association, Diversity Committee, Chair
• Trial Attorneys of New Jersey, Trustee
• Litigation Counsel of America, Associate Fellow
• Middlesex County Bar Association
• New Jersey State Bar Association, Civil Trial Bar Executive Committee
• Middlesex County Trial Lawyers Association, Vice President

Awards

• The Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch" list (2023-2025 editions)
• New Jersey Super Lawyers, "Rising Stars" list (2019-Present)
• NJBIZ, "Forty Under 40" list (2021)
• New Jersey Defense Association Young Lawyer of the Year Award (2019)

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