Firm Overview

Since 1984, the law firm has been providing the insurance industry and corporate clients with comprehensive expertise in all areas of civil defense litigation.  The firm of Monte & Rudolph specializes in the defense and trials of major, catastrophic and complex cases, including wrongful death and traumatic brain injuries.  Our unwavering goal is to work in unison with our diversified clients to resolve all claims economically, efficiently and competently.  We have a state-wide insurance defense practice where we defend claims involving wrongful death, traumatic brain injury, product liability, employer liability (Laidlow claims), commercial litigation, tractor-trailer litigation, automobile negligence, premises liability, construction defect, dram shop/liquor liability, insurance subrogation, PIP/UM/UIM claims, and coverage and indemnification.  We also have extensive Federal Court experience and we handle all types of appeals to the Appellate Division and Supreme Court.

Since 1984, we have been conveniently located at the Jersey shore in Sea Girt, Monmouth County.  Our location in central New Jersey makes it easy for us to reach any county in New Jersey.  Our central location also makes it convenient for us to meet with our clients and representatives at any location in New Jersey, Manhattan or Philadelphia.

For the past 25 years, the insurance industry, corporations, and our self-insured clients have heavily relied on us to try their complex, major and catastrophic cases and we have successfully responded to the challenge.  We do not hesitate when it comes time to pick a jury and try the largest, most complex cases.  Stephen Rudolph, a partner and Certified Civil Trial Attorney, has tried more than 10 wrongful death cases through verdict and has obtained at least 25 defense verdicts that have been published in the NJ Jury Verdict Review & Analysis or Verdict Search-New Jersey.  Since 2003, Mr. Rudolph has obtained "no cause" defense verdicts in 14 of the 21 counties in New Jersey, establishing our strong State-wide presence. 

At Monte & Rudolph, we firmly believe that every case must be aggressively litigated and fully prepared as if it were going to be tried through verdict.  Once a case is “trial ready,” we can obtain the best settlements for our clients and representatives.  A strong trial defense, coupled with the ominous threat to the plaintiffs of a defense verdict, has historically resulted in the best settlements for our clients and representatives.  We are relentless and tireless in our efforts to better serve our insurance, corporate and self-insured clients.  Our clients deserve and expect that type of professional legal service.

Our insurance and corporate clients demand strong and aggressive defense attorneys that will not hesitate to try a case through verdict if necessary.  Frankly, any defense attorney can settle a case or pay out on a claim -- or in some cases overpay on a claim.  That's not hard to do.  The hardest aspect of defending a claim is the actual trial and Monte & Rudolph has firmly established itself as a strong leader throughout New Jersey in trying complex, high-exposure cases through verdict.

Since we handle complex and catastrophic trials, we are very adept at working with primary and excess carriers simultaneously.  Often times, this task also includes working with the client's in-house or personal counsel.  We work extraordinarily hard to coordinate a unified and strong trial defense, while working together with everyone involved to ensure the trial is conducted flawlessly and successfully.

Monte & Rudolph is technologically advanced and fully understands the importance of constant and immediate communication with our clients and representatives, whether it’s a pre-trial report, status report or a simple update.  In this fast-paced society, we utilize all types of electronic software and hardware to email and scan large or small amounts of documents and photographs.  We fully understand that our corporate and insurance clients frequently need quick and professional responses to matters that arise unexpectedly, and we take tremendous pride in fulfilling that obligation.     

Monte & Rudolph is also a general practice firm that offers a wide range of legal services for our clients.  We have criminal defense attorneys who handle all criminal matters in Municipal Court and Superior Court, such as indictable offenses, DWIs, expungements and any traffic offense.  We also have attorneys who handle real estate, bankruptcy, wills, estates, probate, corporate and other commercial transactions.