News & Knowledge

Clients and Friends,

As we monitor, assess, and respond to rapidly-evolving developments related to the spread of COVID-19, the safety and health of FormanWatkins employees, their families, and our communities is our most important objective. This is an unprecedented time filled with unique challenges. To meet these challenges, the Firm has taken a number of actions to protect the safety of our team while ensuring continued service to our clients.

In the spirit of giving, our New Jersey, Jackson, and New Orleans offices kept with past traditions and donated their efforts with local charities. New Jersey purchased various winter items and donated them to Lunch Break. Jackson adopted children from the Angel Tree Program through Prison Fellowship Ministries. New Orleans adopted a family through Catholic Charities’ Adopt-A-Family program. Thank you all for your compassion and continued support of these local charities! (Nicole Diesa and Donna Ross from the NJ office) (Jackson Office) (New Orleans Office)

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, on Thursday, October 31, our offices wore pink to honor those we have lost, those who are fighting, and those who have survived.

The Monmouth County Veterans Information and Resources Clinic will be taking place Saturday, November 2, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Monmouth University.  This is the third Veterans clinic organized by the Monmouth Bar Association.  The introductory clinic was successfully held in November of 2018, which led to hosting a Spring clinic in March of 2019.  Please refer to the flyer below for services that will be provided at the November 2 clinic, and be sure to pass the information along to local New Jersey Veterans.

New Jersey partners Tom Toman and Nicole Diesa recently won a summary judgment motion in New Jersey asbestos litigation.  Despite a tentative decision to deny the motion, the Court eventually granted summary judgment and found that based upon a failure to establish causation, plaintiff could not submit a legally sufficient case against the manufacturer of electrical products represented by FormanWatkins.  Ms. Diesa wrote the winning briefs, and Mr. Toman gave the oral argument.

The Monmouth & Ocean County Veterans Information and Resources Clinic was held on Saturday, March 30, 2019, and New Jersey Partners Tom Toman and Nicole Diesa were among those who volunteered. The event was held at the James J. Howard Outpatient Clinic in Brick, New Jersey, and it was successful in reaching a number of younger Veterans that do not normally use the Clinic or any other traditional Veterans groups. Overall, there were 10+ legal consultations conducted, with participation from six additional Veterans aide groups. Based on the success of the event, the president of the Ocean County Bar has asked that another joint Veterans Information and Resources Clinic be organized for later this year. This was the second pro bono event orchestrated by the Monmouth Bar Association as part of a new Veterans’ program that was initiated by FormanWatkins in 2018.

FormanWatkins is a proud participant in this Spring’s Monmouth & Ocean County Veterans Information and Resources Clinic, taking place Saturday, March 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the James J. Howard Outpatient Clinic in Brick, New Jersey.  This clinic was first held in November of 2018, and its success resulted in the planning for a joint program with Ocean County.  Please refer to the flyer below for services that will be provided at the March 30 clinic, and be sure to pass the information along to local New Jersey Veterans.

The New Jersey team is at it again with their generous spirit! The office collected money from its attorneys and staff, purchased various winter items, and dropped them off today at Lunch Break, a local charity in Red Bank, New Jersey.

On November 17, 2018, New Jersey partners Tom Toman and Nicole Diesa were among the 18+ Monmouth Bar Association (“MBA”) attorneys who volunteered at the Monmouth County Veterans Information and Resources Clinic held at Monmouth University and provided free consultations to Veterans on various legal topics.

New Jersey partner, Thomas M. Toman Jr., is grateful to be one of the members from the Monmouth Bar Association organizing a new pro bono legal clinic for local Veterans.  The clinic will be held on Saturday, November 17, and will use local attorneys, appearing pro bono, to give legal advice to Veterans on a variety of legal issues.  The Monmouth Bar Association is co-sponsoring the event with Monmouth University.  Additional services will be provided by the Veterans Administration, Monmouth County Veterans Services, and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, as well as other community Veteran service providers.  The Monmouth County Clerk’s office will also be available on site to provide Veteran identification cards.