Thomas R. Chesson

Thomas R. Chesson is Of Counsel to Porzio, Bromberg & Newman. He was a principal of the firm from 1974–2001. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants in serious personal injury, medical malpractice, and product liability actions and is experienced in medical licensure and privilege matters.

• American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
• American Board of Trial Advocates, 1992–present; Civil Justice Subcommittee on Court Congestion; National Ad Hoc Committee
• Trial Attorneys of New Jersey, Past President
• National Health Lawyers Association
• American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics
• Ocean County Bar Association
• Supreme Court of New Jersey, District X Ethics Committee, Secretary, 1990–1993 American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics
• Supreme Court of New Jersey Committee on Relations with the Medical Profession, 1981–1982
• Administrative Office of the Courts Representative to National Conference on Trial Delay Reduction, 1985
• Trial Attorneys of New Jersey, Trustee, 1977; Secretary, 1980–1981; Vice-President, 1981–1984; President-elect, 1984–1985; President, 1985–1986; Board of Trustees, Chairman, 1986–1987
• Morris County Bar Association, Medical Legal Cooperation Committee, Chairman, 1974–1982; 1987–1990; Trustee, 1982–1984
• New Jersey State Bar Association, Executive Committee, Civil Trial Section, 1978–1980; Section on Relations with the Medical Profession, 1980–1982; Civil Case Management Implementation Committee, 1986–1988; General Council, 1982–1987
• American Bar Association, Professional Liability Litigation Committees, Sections on Medical Liability and Architect Liability
• New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Associate
• National Panel of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association
• National Head Injury Foundation and New Jersey Head Injury Association, Inc.
• Matheny School Hospital, Peapack, New Jersey, Board of Trustees, Chairman, 2002–2004; Development and Public Relations Special Events Committee, Chairman; Committee on Trustees, Chairman.

• "Impact of Malpractice on a Surgeon’s Career," University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Resident Education Conference 1999–2000, New Brunswick, New Jersey, October 27, 1999.
• Ocean County Vo-Tech, Toms River, New Jersey, November 20, 1998.
• "Trying Closed Head Injury Cases," NJ Chapter—American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants, June 19, 1997.
• "How to Try a Medical Malpractice Case," National Head Injury Foundation, 1996.
• "Personal Injury Practice for the General Practitioner," NJ Institute of Continuing Legal Education, June 1996 and 1997.
• "Guardianship of the Disabled & Practical Considerations, Procedures, Constitutional Rights," New Jersey Head Injury Association Annual Seminar, April 1995.
• "Trying Closed Head Injury Cases," New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, April 1994 and June 1994.
• "How to Avoid Being Sued Through Proper Medical Record Documentation," University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Dental School, November 1991; Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, January 1992 and March 1992.
• "How to Enhance the Quality of Your Professional Life" (Ethics in the Workplace), New Jersey Chapter of the Legal Assistant Management Association, October 1991.
• "Mock Malpractice Trial Focusing on the Perinatal Nurse Defendant," Educational Conference, New Jersey Section of NAACOG and Morristown Memorial Hospital, July 1991.
• Lecturer, "Choices: Ethical Considerations and Professional Responsibility for Paralegals," New Jersey State Bar Association/Paralegal Subcommittee, May 1991.
• Lecturer, "Medical Malpractice and Third Party Negligence," New Jersey Head Injury Association Professional Council, April 1991 and November 1991.
• "Suing and Defending Hospitals and Hospital Employees," Trial Attorneys of New Jersey, March 2, 1991.
• "Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Research and Safety" (Tort Liability of Publicly Owned Railroads), International Symposium, Transportation Center, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, November 1990.
• "Ghost Surgery" and Its Legal Ramifications, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, June, 1990; UMDNJ/School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, October 1990.
• Hot Tips in Tort Law, NJ Institute of Continuing Legal Education, June 1990.
• Lecturer, "How to Handle Yourself if You Are Sued," Residents at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/School of Osteopathic Medicine, October 1988.
• Joint Obstetric-Pediatric Perinatal Seminar, Morristown Memorial Hospital, September 1983.
• Jersey City Women’s Club, Medical Malpractice, November 1983.
• Highway Maintenance Liability, 3M Company, February 1984.
• Medical-Legal Aspects of Worker’s Compensation, Fairleigh Dickinson University, September 1982.
• Medical-Legal Aspects of a Cardio-Vascular Case: The Heart in the Workplace, Fairleigh Dickinson University, May 1983.
• University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey Credentials & Peer Review Committee, 1988 (3 sessions).
• Handling of Complex Ob/Gyn Cases, Trial Attorneys of New Jersey, April 1988.
• WOR-TV’s Straight Talk, Liability Insurance Reform, July 7, 1986.