N.J. Federal Judge Reinstates Superstorm Sandy Coverage Case, Citing Former Counsel’s Failure to Prosecute

TRENTON, N.J. — A New Jersey federal judge has reinstated a Superstorm Sandy coverage action, ruling that the plaintiff has shown that extraordinary circumstances exist to justify vacating an earlier dismissal order, namely, his previous counsel’s failure to prosecute his case.

In a Jan. 12 order, Judge Jose L. Linares of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey explained that reinstatement is warranted because plaintiff’s former counsel “failed to prosecute numerous claims filed on behalf of victims of Superstorm Sandy, and appear to have all but abandoned the litigation.”

William Gallagher sued Farm Family Insurance Co. in …