Robert A. Fagella

Managing Partner, Emeritus

rfagella@zazzali-law.com

973.623.1822

Mr. Fagella has extensive experience handling a wide variety of civil litigation for over 25 years. His practice is concentrated in labor and employment law, employee benefits, and trial and appellate litigation in both state and federal courts. His litigation experience includes numerous cases involving race, sex harassment, whistle blower and other employment matters. He provides advice and counsel to organizations and individuals regarding state and federal labor laws, and has successfully handled countless arbitrations and hearings before PERC, the NLRB and administrative agencies. He is counsel in dozens of published and unpublished court opinions in both state and federal courts. He served as a Deputy Attorney General from 1978 to 1983. Mr. Fagella has served as an adjunct professor at Seton Hall Law School, and is currently a member of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics. He has been named New Jersey Super Lawyer in employment and labor law every year since 2006.

Education

• Rutgers School of Law, J.D., 1977 (Honors)
• New York University, B.A., 1973 (cum laude)

Bar Admissions

• New Jersey, 1977
• Federal and State Courts of New Jersey and New York, 1983
• Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 1980

Professional Affiliations

• New Jersey State Bar Association

Notable Decisions

• Liik v. New Jersey Dept. of Personnel, 2009 WL 2176980, (App. Div. 2009)
• Middletown Tp. PBA Local 124 v. Township of Middletown, 193 N.J. 1, 2007
• In re Carroll, 339 N.J. Super. 429 (App. Div. (2001)
• Danese v. Ginesi, 280 N.J. Super. 17 (App. Div. 1995)
• Dennery v. Board of Educ. of Passaic County Regional High School Dist. No.1 Passaic County, 131 N.J. 626 (1993)
• Lammers v. Board of Educ. of Borough of Point Pleasant, 260 N.J. Super. 390 (App. Div. 1992)
• Mechanical Contractors Ass’n of New Jersey, Inc. v. State, 255 N.J. Super. 488 (1992)
• Cadwell v. New Jersey Dept. of Corrections, 250 N.J. Super 592, (App. Div. 1991)
• Dugan v. Stockton State College, 245 N.J. Super. 567 (App. Div. 1991)
• Iannone v. McHale, 245 N.J. Super. 17 (App. Div. 1990)
• Moore v. Youth Correctional Institute at Annandale, 119 N.J. 256 (1990) Matter of Hill, 241 N.J. Super. 367 (App. Div. 1990)
• Matter of Warren, 117 N.J. 295 (1989)
• Gable v. Board of Trustees of the Public Employee’s Retirement System, 115 N.J. 212 (1989)
• Matter of New Jersey Bus Operations, Inc, 233 N.J. Super. 173 (App div. 1998)
• Allen v. Board of Trustee, Police and Firemen’s Retirement System, 233 N.J. Super. 197 (App. Div. 1998)
• New Jersey State Police Ass’n Inc. v. Attorney General, 201 N.J. Super 75 (App. Div 1985)
• Stack v. Booton Bd. of Educ., 199 N.J. Super. 121 (App. Div. 1985)
• Paul v. National Educ. Ass’n, 195 N.J. Super. 426 (App. Div. 1984)
• New Jersey State of Higher Educ, v. Board of Directors of Shelton College, 90 N.J. 470 (1982)
• Council of New Jersey State College Locals, NJSFT-AFT/AFL-CIO v. State Bd. of Higher Ed, 91 N.J. 18 (1982)
• Jaeger v. State, 176 N.J. Super. 222, (App. Div. 1980)
• Hollander v. Watson, 173 N.J. Super. 300 (App. Div. 1980)
• PBA Local 278 New Jersey State Campus Police v. Degnan, 175 N.J. Super. 102 (App. Div. 1980)
• Bowser v. Borough of Freehold, 2004 WL 1179269, (3rd cir. 2004)
• Lawson v. Passaic County and Vicinity Carpenters and Millwrights Local 124, 2002 WL 31322943, (3rd cir. 2002)
• Zamboni v. Stamler, 847 F.2d 73, (3rd cir. 1998)
• May v. Cooperman, 780 F.2d 240, (3rd cir. 1985)
• New Jersey Philadelphia Presbytery of the Bible Presbyterian Church v. New Jersey State Bd. of Higher Educ., 654 F.2d 868 (3rd cir 1981)
• Lerch v. Citizens First Bancorp, Inc., 805 F.Supp.1142 1992
• U.S. v. Toys “R”Us, Inc., 754 F.Supp.1050, (O.N.J 1991)
• Reiner v. State of N.J., 732 F. Supp. 530 (O.N.J 1990)
• Poole v. Stephens, 688 F.Supp. 149 (D.N.J. 1988)
• In re. Bobilin 83. B.R. 258 (1988)
• Wichert v. Walter, 606 F.Supp, 1516 (D.N.J 1985)
• Schornstein v. New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, 519 F.Supp 773, (D.N.J. 1981)
• Palumbo v. United Parcel Service of America, Inc., 209 WL 5205315 (D. N.J. Dec. 23, 2009)
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 177 v. United Parcel Service of America, Inc. , 2009 SL 3234541 (D. N.J. Sept. 30, 2009)
• Palumbo v. United Parcel Service of America, Inc. 2007 WL 2900403 (D. N.J. Oct. 2, 2007)
• Arrington v. United Parcel Service, 2005 WL 2475706 (D. N.J. Oct. 5, 2005)
• Bowser v. Borough of Freehold, 99 Fed. Appx. 401 (3rd Cir. (NJ) May 27, 2004)
• Lawson v. Passaic County and Vicinity Carpenters and Millwrights, Local 124, 50 Fed.Appx. 73 (3rd Cir. (NJ) Oct. 17, 2002)
• In re New Valley Corp. , 1993 WL 818245 (D. N.J. Jan. 28, 1993)
• NJ Phil-Presbytery of the Bible Presbyterian Church v. New Jersey Board of Higher Education, 654 F.2d 868 (3rd Cir. 1980)