John H. Geaney
John H. Geaney, Esq. is a Shareholder and Co-Chair of Capehart Scatchard's Workers' Compensation Group. Mr. Geaney began an email newsletter entitled “Currents in Workers’ Compensation, ADA and FMLA” in 2001 in order to keep clients and readers informed on leading developments in these three areas of law. Since that time he has written over 500 newsletter updates.
Mr. Geaney is the author of Geaney’s New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Manual for Practitioners, Adjusters & Employers. The Manual is distributed by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE). He also authored an ADA and FMLA Manual also distributed by NJICLE. If you are interested in purchasing “Geaney’s New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Manual for Practitioners, Adjusters & Employers,” please contact NJICLE at 732-214-8500 or visit their website at www.njicle.com.
Mr. Geaney represents employers in the defense of workers’ compensation, ADA and FMLA matters. He is a Fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers of the American Bar Association. He is one of two firm representatives to the National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network.
A graduate of Holy Cross College summa cum laude, Mr. Geaney obtained his law degree from Boston College Law School.
Mr. Geaney was selected to the “New Jersey Super Lawyer” list (2005-2017, 2021 in the area of Workers’ Compensation). Only 5% of attorneys are selected to “Super Lawyers” through a peer nominated process based on independent research and peer evaluation. The Super Lawyers list is issued by Thomson Reuters. For a description of the “Super Lawyers” selection methodology, please visit https://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html
For the years 2022-2024 Mr. Geaney was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® list in the practice area of Workers’ Compensation Law - Employers. The attorneys on this list are selected based upon the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area. A complete description of The Best Lawyers in America® methodology can be viewed via their website at https://www.bestlawyers.com/methodology.
*No aspect of this advertisement has been submitted to or approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Capehart Scatchard is a full service law firm with offices in Mt. Laurel and Hamilton, New Jersey. The firm represents employers and businesses in a wide variety of areas, including workers’ compensation, civil litigation, labor, environmental, business, estates and governmental affairs.
Appellate Division Affirms Decision of Judge of Compensation on Making an Adverse Inference From Failure of Petitioner to Produce Treating Cardiologist in Case
Of what significance is it when a claimant who has been treating with a cardiologist for decades files a pulmonary claim but never produces the cardiologist to testify? That was the key issue in Donato v. Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority, A-5984-11T4 (App. Div. August 21, 2013). John Donato worked for the JCMUA from 1961 […]
Trainer Injured at Health Club Shed Her Employee Status and Was Not Covered at the Time of Her Fall
Mary Patterson worked for The Atlantic Club as a personal trainer, training clients from 6:00-7:00 a.m., from 8:00-11:00 a.m., and from 12:00-3:00 p.m. She was injured at 11:15 a.m. when she tripped and fell, breaking her wrist on the premises. The Atlantic Club denied the claim asserting that she was not in the course of […]
HIV Positive Employee Shows Enough Evidence to Defeat Employer’s Motion for Summary Judgment
Winning on summary judgment on fact sensitive ADA cases can be quite difficult as seen in Croy v. Blue Ridge Bread, Inc. d/b/a Panera Bread, 28 ADA Cases 414, (W.D. Va. No. 3:12-cv-00034, July 15, 2013). Mark Croy worked for Blue Ridge Bread (hereinafter BRB) as a café worker. In 2008, he received a promotion […]
Appellate Division Affirms Decision That a Motion for Past Benefits Should Not Be the Subject of a Motion Trial
Caitlin Wilson was injured on September 8, 2011 when she dropped a heavy frame on her foot while in the employment of respondent Studio I, Inc. She received $420 per week from September 14, 2011 to October 24, 2011 in temporary disability benefits. Her doctor advised that she could work light duty at the end […]
Failure to Provide FMLA Notice Dooms Employer’s Effort to Terminate Employee for Excessive Use of Leave
The case of Young v. Wackenhut Corporation, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14414 (D. N.J. Feb. 1, 2013) demonstrates the importance of providing required FMLA notice to eligible employees. Jacqueline Young, a Payroll Specialist, advised her employer, The Wackenhut Corporation (hereinafter “TWC”), of her interest in maternity and FMLA leave in November 2008, when she first […]
Employer May Be Entitled To Offset For Overpayment Of Benefits To Petitioner
Adam Weiner worked for the Elizabeth Board of Education and received an award of 100% total and permanent disability on October 18, 2000. That entitled him to $480 per week for 450 weeks and thereafter. That award was reduced on January 9, 2001 to $340.98 per week due to the social security disability offset rate. […]
Appellate Court Approves Dismissal of Firefighter’s Occupational Knee Injury Claim
John Machiaverna worked for the City of Newark as a firefighter since 1988. He filed a workers’ compensation claim for his left knee in 2008, alleging that repeated work stressors over many years caused extensive knee problems and a need for knee replacement surgery in May 2007. He contended that his knee problems were due […]
The “General Employer” Is Immune From Civil Suit From An Employee Loaned To A “Special Employer” In New Jersey
In December 2006, Bobby Robinson was injured working at a construction site in Asbury Park, N.J. when a jack hammer “kicked back” and knocked him off a ladder. He filed two workers’ compensation petitions: one against Tishman Construction Corporation and the other against Air Joy Heating and Cooling, Inc. The two companies asserted joint responsibility for […]
Fitness-For-Duty Exams in Workers’ Compensation
The words “fitness for duty” do not appear in the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act, but the issue is of paramount importance to employers and employees in many workers’ compensation cases. In New Jersey the need for a fitness exam is often compelling because medical and temporary disability benefits end at maximal medical improvement often […]
University Did Not Violate ADA By Requiring Fitness Exam
Dr. Leon Coursey worked as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Education at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He began there in 1972. Students logged complaints about Dr. Corsey in 2004, and several colleagues registered complaints in 2007. In 2009, 12 students reported that Dr. Coursey exhibited erratic behavior in the classroom. […]
Governor Christie Signs Law Providing Special Benefits to Spouses of Deceased Police and Fire Fighters
In a piece of special legislation, Governor Christopher Christie signed into law Senate, No. 1469, on June 13, 2013. The bill pertains to dependency benefits for surviving spouses of certain fire and police personnel who die in the line of duty. Under current law in New Jersey, surviving spouses are entitled to dependency benefits of […]
Appellate Court Dismisses Occupational Claim As Not Timely Filed
Is there a statute of limitations in an occupational disease claim? While some practitioners believe only traumatic claims have a statute of limitations, the case law is clear that there is a statute of limitations in occupational disease claims as outlined in Earl v. Johnson & Johnson, 158 N.J. 155 (1991). Occupational disease claims can […]
Injury in Elevator of Multi-Tenant Building Found Not Compensable
Petitioner Valerie Pyles worked for respondent The Mentor Network as a therapist in the Somerset, N.J. office. Her office was on the third floor of a four-story office building. She generally took one of the building’s two elevators from the lobby to the third floor to get to her office. On the accident date, Pyles […]
Appellate Division Rejects Claim By Counsel That Compensation Judge Was Biased and Partial to Respondent
There are very few cases in workers’ compensation where a party asks a judge to recuse himself or herself. One recent case, Executrix of the Estate of Rosemarie Bellino v. County of Hudson, A-0275-11T4, (App. Div. April 30, 2013) provides guidance on the legal standard. Rosemarie Beillino worked as a sheriff’s officer for the County […]
Employer Which Discovered Material Misrepresentations Years Later On Post-Offer Form Properly Terminated Employee For Dishonesty
Many employers utilize post-offer medical examinations as part of their hiring process to screen out potential employees who cannot perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. Sometimes, however, the value of a post-offer medical examination does not come to light until long after hiring. In Reilly v. Lehigh Valley Hospital, 27 […]
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