Jose W. Hernandez, Partner

Jose has also devoted his time and experience to public appointments. He served as a municipal court public defender for 7 years and 4 years as a member of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, Office of Attorney Ethics, District I Ethics Committee. He has also regularly volunteered his time to serve as a speaker in ethics seminars sponsored by the New Jersey Association of Justice and the Camden County Bar Association.

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jose is fluent in Spanish. He aggressively protects the rights of those who have been injured by the negligence of others.

Jose obtained his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University in 1989 and graduated from Widener University School of Law in 1994.  He is admitted to practice law in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Practice areas

• Personal injury litigation
• Products liability
• Medical malpractice
• Construction site injuries
• Trucking accidents
• Nursing home negligence
• Workers' compensation
• Commercial litigation
• Criminal defense

Experience

• Associate, Kotlar, Hernandez & Cohen, LLC 2014- present
• Associate, The Ferrara Law Firm, LLC, 2009-2014
• Partner, DiLazzero & Hernandez, LLC, 2003-2008
• Associate, Basile & Testa, P.A., 2001-2003
• Associate, Weinberg, McCormick, Chatzinoff & Zoll, P.C., 1999-2001
• Associate, Kozlov, Seaton, Romanini, Brooks & Greenberg, P.C., 1995-1999
• Law Clerk to the Honorable Joseph F. Greene, Jr. 1994-1995

Public appointments

• Public Defender for the Borough of Buena, Atlantic County, New Jersey appointed January 5, 2004 to December 31, 2011.
• Supreme Court Of New Jersey, Office of Attorney Ethics, Appointment to the District I Ethics Committee May, 2007 to 2011.

Education

• Widener University School of Law, J.D. 1994
• Rutgers University, B.A. 1989

Bar admissions

• State of New Jersey, 1994
• District of New Jersey, 1994
• State of Pennsylvania, 1995
• Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1999

Memberships

• Camden Bar Association
• Burlington Bar Association
• Cumberland Bar Association
• New Jersey Association for Justice
• Life Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Honors

• South Jersey Magazine Top Attorneys Award – Personal Injury, 2018; Automotive, 2016

Reported and unreported decisions

• Greenberg v. Pryszlak, 426 N.J. Super. 591 (App. Div. 2012)-Civil rights case against the New Jersey State Police arising from a wrongful arrest.  Appellate Division reversed trial court's dismissal of the case.
• Falasca Mechanical v. Gloucester County Improvement Authority, A-1872-08T1 decided June 26, 2009-Public bidding case involving Gloucester County's new criminal court building. Represented a successful bidder in a multimillion construction contract challenged by an unsuccessful bidder.
• State of New Jersey v. Hall, Appeal No. 27-06, decided December 20, 2006, Cumberland County Superior Court-Case of first impression-Inoperable third brake light did not justify a motor vehicle stop.  Drug charges and DWI dismissed by the Superior Court.