JOHN P. MORGENSTERN

John P. Morgenstern is a partner with Deasey, Mahoney, Valentini & North, Ltd., where he represents governmental and private sector clients in federal and state courts and agencies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He also serves as the editor-in-chief of the firm’s newsletter.

John’s practice includes representing more than twenty public entities in matters involving civil rights, employment law, labor law, premises liability, and general liability. He has broad experience defending manufacturers, designers, wholesalers, and retailers in product liability matters. John routinely defends public and business entities, as well as individual clients, in matters of general liability and transportation law.

John’s clients routinely benefit from his unique experience serving as a Captain on active duty with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s (“JAG”) Corps. As a member of the V Corps based in Heidelberg, Germany, Captain Morgenstern deployed to Iraq during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (Phase I) and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in Baghdad in February 2004. He also deployed to the Balkans in support of NATO peacekeeping operations. John served as the Officer in Charge of the Patton Legal Center, Administrative Law Advisor to the V Corps Command Group, and lead prosecutor on ten criminal jury trials and numerous other court proceedings involving American service members throughout Europe and the Middle East.

John also developed the Army’s Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) training program, presented to all redeploying service members following the first phase of operations in Baghdad. He has an understanding of the USERRA possessed by few other attorneys.

The breadth of experience John has gained trying numerous cases to verdict in federal, state, and military courts around the world equips him to confidently and convincingly argue in nearly any forum.

A Philadelphia resident, John is an avid runner. He has competed in full marathons in Rome, Paris, Dublin, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, in addition to countless shorter-distance races and triathlons.

Education

• Lehigh University (B.A. 1994)
• Widener University School of Law (J.D. 1997 – President, Moot Court Honor Society)
• Judge Advocate General’s School of the U.S. Army (First Lieutenant – 2002)

Experience

• Deasey, Mahoney, Valentini & North, Ltd. (2008–Present)
• Sweeney & Sheehan, P.C. (2001–2008 except active military duty)
• U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s (“JAG”) Corps (2002–2005)
• Dolan and Dolan, P.A. (1997–2001)
• Habitat for Humanity, Northwest New Jersey Chapter, pro bono General Counsel (1998–2000)

Professional Affiliations

• Defense Research Institute (Employment Law, Government Liability, and Product Liability committees)
• New Jersey Bar Association (Employment and Labor Law Committee)
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
• Philadelphia Bar Association
• Veterans of Foreign Wars

Awards and Designations

• Bronze Star Medal, awarded in Baghdad, Iraq, February 2004
• Meritorious Service Medal, awarded in Heidelberg, Germany, June 2005
• NATO Commanding General’s Commendation, awarded in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, April 2005
• The Order of Barristers, inducted May 1997
• U.S. Army Commendation Medal, awarded in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, April 2005

Attorney News

• Jerry Valentini and John Morgenstern participated in the 2010 East Region Construction Defect and Insurance Coverage Conference
  June 4, 2010
  
  
• MEDICARE SECONDARY PAYER ACT UPDATE: Tackling the Most Common Obstacles to Settlements
  
  
• Settler Beware: Navigating the Amendments to the Medicare Secondary Payer Act, by John P. Morgenstern, Esq.
  
  

Publications & Lectures

• “Congress Provides Additional Breaks to Military Members and Families under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act,” March 2007
  
  
• “The Continuing Evolution of USERRA (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act),” The Job Description (Defense Research Institute Employment Law Committee newsletter), Fall 2007
  
  
• Military Issues in Civil Litigation, Pennsylvania Defense Institute Continuing Legal Education, March 4, 2006
  
  
• Observations from Behind the Wall in Iraq, International Human Rights Lecture, University of Pennsylvania School of Law, April 3, 2006  
  
  
• “Practitioner’s Guide to the Medicare Secondary Payer Act,” an overview of Medicare set-aside arrangements and Medicare Secondary Payer reports (Deasey, Mahoney, Valentini & North), February 2009
  
  
• “Settler Beware: Navigating the Amendment to the Medicare Secondary Payer Act” (Defense Research Institute committee newsletter), 2009
  
  
• Strategic Use of the Motion to Dismiss and Preliminary Objections, Pennsylvania Defense Institute Continuing Legal Education, May 17, 2007
  
  
• “Supreme Court Clarifies Triggering Event for Title VII Pay Discrimination Claims,” The Voice (Defense Research Institute newsletter) June 13, 2007
  
  
• “Supreme Court Expands Pool of Retaliation Plaintiffs in Federal Courts,” March 2007
  
  
• “Welcoming Home the Service Member Employee: A Primer on the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act,” June 2007