Michael W. Horner Partner

Michael Horner has extensive experience litigating, mediating and arbitrating complex, catastrophic loss matters involving personal injury and economic damages.  He has been practicing for well over a decade throughout multiple state and federal jurisdictions.  His high-stakes trial practice includes product liability, construction site liability, transportation law, workplace safety, commercial premises liability, dram shop liability and commercial contract disputes.  Mike’s practice frequently involves the defense of insured and self-insured local, national and multinational companies facing potential exposure in the millions of dollars for injuries ranging from death, traumatic brain injury, quadriplegia, paraplegia, loss of limb, property loss and business interruption.  Mike’s catastrophic loss practice often requires associating in as lead trial attorney with primary carrier retained counsel and trying the case to verdict or favorable settlement.  

Mike also has significant experience litigating a wide variety of employment-related disputes involving age, gender, disability and race discrimination, non-compete and restrictive covenants and fraud in state and federal courts and agencies in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  He has tried employment disputes to jury verdict and obtained temporary restraining orders and permanent injunctions in multiple jurisdictions.  

Mike also has significant experience litigating a wide variety of commercial contract and other business related disputes for clients ranging from small local businesses to multinational corporations in both state and federal courts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.      

Representative Matters

• Obtained a unanimous defense jury verdict on behalf of a regional material handling service and supply company after a six-week trial involving wrongful death and survival claims. Plaintiff alleged damages arising from negligent maintenance of a pallet truck involved in a warehouse accident. Retained as lead counsel shortly before initial trial date with a demand at $15 million. (Superior Court of N.J., Camden County)
• Represented international sporting goods manufacturer in a product liability action involving a youth baseball aluminum bat which allegedly permitted dangerous batted ball speeds. The Plaintiff was a 12-year-old male pitcher hit in the chest with a batted ball causing commotio cordis (extremely rare condition whereby heart stops) and subsequent catastrophic brain injury. Settled on the eve of trial after mediation and mock trial. (Superior Court of New Jersey, Passaic County)
• Represented an international engineering/construction services company in a construction site accident case where an ironworker alleged traumatic brain injury after being struck by a knuckle boom crane. Retained ten days before trial with a $10 million demand. Filed five motions in limine, retained and served five expert reports (lifecare, economics, vocational, life expectancy and liability) and joined subcontractor employer for contractual indemnity all within ten days. Case settled for $1.5 million (partially structured and less than half economic damages) after four days of trial. (Superior Ct. of N.J., Middlesex County)

Recognition & Involvement

In addition to his law practice, Mike gives back to the community by serving as a board member and volunteer for the Medford Arts Center and as a board member for Mimosa Lakes Community Association.  Prior to practicing law, Mike managed his family’s garden and pool business and was a sportswriter for New Jersey and Philadelphia high school, college and professional sports.