Cynthia Betz has a varied litigation and counseling practice. She primarily focuses on environmental and insurance coverage matters, but is also a go-to resource for out-of-state firms seeking savvy local counsel for federal and state court cases of all kinds, including Hatch-Waxman, toxic tort, and other types of litigation.
Cynthia assists clients at well-known Superfund sites, including the Berry’s Creek Study Area, the Portland Harbor, and the Passaic River sites. She defended clients in several cases during New Jersey’s first round of natural resource damages groundwater litigation concerning claims for replacement resource services involving hundreds of acres of land.
Currently defending and counseling clients on a variety of environmental and natural resource damages matters concerning several kinds of environmental contaminants of concern, Cynthia advises clients on structuring creative strategies, crafting settlements and reaching solutions. She regularly works with various technical consultants on such matters as hydrodynamic and groundwater modeling and with economists in connection with valuing alleged natural resource damages.
Cynthia’s policyholder insurance coverage experience includes counseling and litigation in state and federal courts and international arbitrations. In addition to assisting clients with the recovery of insurance assets, Cynthia counsels clients on the structuring of their insurance programs and works with them to negotiate the terms of new and renewal policies to ensure they obtain favorable terms that may avoid future pitfalls. Cynthia regularly works with clients to reach a resolution with their carriers outside litigation or before trial where possible.
Cynthia was part of the trial team that helped Wakefern Food Corp. and its members obtain recovery for their Superstorm Sandy losses through a $15.6 million jury verdict against an insurance consultant that improperly advised on Wakefern’s property insurance policy.
Her practical knowledge of New Jersey’s courts makes her sought after local counsel for a wide array of matters. Working in tandem with out-of-state lead counsel, she provides support and guidance as needed to successfully navigate the New Jersey federal and state courts.
Cynthia’s practice extends to pro bono work, including counseling at the firm’s expungement clinics and representing clients in cases involving the Fair Housing Act, contract disputes, and insurance coverage, among other matters.
