Daniel S. Sweetser

Daniel S. Sweetser is a partner in the firm’s Business Law and Litigation Group. For the past 20 years, Dan has been successfully litigating a wide range of cases in the State and Federal courts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Dan represents and counsels clients in the areas of employment law, contracts, business disputes, insurance, securities, franchise  and civil rights law.

Areas of Practice:

Litigation
Business Law
Employment Law
Labor Law, Contract Law
Insurance Law
Securities Law
Franchise Law
Civil Rights

Articles

Dan Sweetser Obtains Unanimous Jury Verdict in Pregnancy Discrimination Case

Bar Admissions:

New Jersey (1991), Pennsylvania (1991), U.S. District Court District of New Jersey (1991)
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania (2000), U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit (1997)

Representative Cases:

Victory in Third Circuit Court of Appeals: Dan successfully upheld a jury verdict and $1,085,000 judgment he obtained for his client in a breach of contract case in New Jersey Federal District Court. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the jury verdict. The defendant ultimately paid Dan’s client $1,167,000 to finally resolve the case.

Jury Verdict in Favor of Employer Client in Wrongful Discharge Case: Dan obtained a jury verdict in New Jersey Federal District Court for his employer client in a lawsuit filed by a former employee who alleged that he was wrongfully discharged in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment. The jury found no wrongdoing by Dan’s client.

Multi-Hundred Thousand Dollar Settlement for Oppressed Shareholder: Dan obtained a multi-hundred thousand dollar recovery for a shareholder in a small company who was forced out of the Company. Dan argued that his client was treated unfairly by the Company and paid less than what  he was entitled to for his shares. Dan prevailed on a summary judgment motion and after doing so, the Company agreed to settle with Dan’s client.

$200,000 Settlement for Potential Employee in Handicap Discrimination Case: Dan recently obtained a $200,000 settlement during trial for his client who claimed that he was unlawfully refused a job by a police department due to a perceived handicap.

Trial Verdict for Employer in Contract Case: Dan obtained a trial verdict in State Court for an employer who was sued by its former National Sales Manager for a multi-hundred thousand dollar bonus. Dan proved at trial that the employee’s contract did not entitle her to the claimed bonus due to the circumstances of her separation. The court ruled in favor of Dan’s client on all counts.

Confidential Six Figure Settlement of Sexual Harassment Retaliation Claim: Dan obtained a six figure settlement for his client in a Mercer County lawsuit where Dan’s client claimed that she was fired for complaining about sexual harassment by her boss. After Dan obtained a jury verdict on the issue of liability, the defendant employer settled the case while the jury was deliberating on the issue of punitive damages.

Jury Verdict in Breach of Contract Case Resulting in $1,085,000 Judgment: Dan obtained an $805,000 jury verdict for his client in New Jersey Federal Court in a breach of verbal contract case. With interest, Dan’s client was awarded a judgment of $1,085,000.

$200,000 Settlement of Student’s Civil Rights Claim During Trial: Dan obtained a $200,000 settlement for his client after three days of trial in New Jersey Federal Court. Dan’s client alleged that she was sexually abused whil-e a student in a local high school by an employee. The high school settled the case after Dan presented his client’s case to the jury.

Trial Victory in Franchise Law and Consumer Fraud Case: Dan obtained a verdict for his two clients, a restaurant franchisor and its franchising company, in a lawsuit brought by a franchisee seeking $1,000,000 in damages. After a five-day non-jury trial in Atlantic County, the Court ruled that Dan’s clients did not violate the law and entered judgment in their favor.

$1,250,000 Political Discrimination Settlement: Dan obtained a $1,250,000 settlement in Federal Court against the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency on behalf of several employees who were fired shortly after a new administration took office. Dan’s clients alleged that they were fired for political reasons. The case settled just before trial.

Multi-Hundred Thousand Dollar Age Discrimination Settlement: Dan obtained a multi-hundred thousand dollar confidential settlement for a securities industry executive during a securities’ industry arbitration. Dan’s client alleged that he was discharged due to his age.

Dismissal for Employer Client in Wrongful Discharge Case: Dan successfully had a claim of handicap discrimination dismissed in favor of his employer client. Dan’s client was sued by a former employee who was discharged. The case was dismissed by a Camden County Judge on summary judgment.

Jury Verdict in Sexual Harassment Retaliation Claim: Dan obtained a jury verdict in Pennsylvania Federal Court which resulted in a $300,000 settlement. The jury found that Dan’s client was unlawfully fired by her employer after reporting that a co-worker was being sexually harassed. The employer settled the case prior the damages phase of the trial.

Jury Verdict in Favor of Firm Client Accused of Pregnancy Discrimination: On January 25, 2012, Dan obtained a jury verdict in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Mercer County, for a corporate client in a lawsuit filed by a former employee. The employee alleged that she was fired due to her pregnancy. After a five day jury trial before Judge Darlene Pereksta, the jury returned a unanimous verdict if favor of Dan’s client finding that the former employee’s discharge was not due to her pregnancy.

Honors and Awards:

Designated, New Jersey Superlawyers™, 2010-2013
Business Edition Superlawyers™, 2012

Professional Associations and Memberships:

American Bar Association
Employment Law Section
New Jersey Bar Association
Mercer County Bar Association
Bucks County Bar Association
National Employment Lawyer’s Association
New Jersey and Pennsylvania Employment Lawyer’s Association

Past Employment Positions:

Lozier, Lazzaro, & Sweetser, Partner
Pellettieri, Rabstein, & Altman, Partner