N.J. Federal Judge Refuses to Dismiss Sandy Coverage Case, Finds No Evidence of Attorney Misconduct

NEWARK, N.J. — A New Jersey federal judge has refused to dismiss a Superstorm Sandy coverage case, ruling that the defendant insurer failed to back its allegation with proof that the plaintiffs’ counsel has repeatedly ignored its attempts to engage in discovery.

In the May 12 order, Senior Judge William H. Walls of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey explained “dismissal is a drastic sanction and should be reserved for those cases where there is a clear record of delay or contumacious conduct by the plaintiff.”

Peter Blaso and the DeMeglio family sued Alterra Excess & …