Comprised of a team of legal professionals whose aggregate experience exceeds 200 years, Kearns Rotolo Law is supported by a knowledgeable administrative staff, all of whom maintain the considerable standards of quality and excellence upon which the Firm was founded.
At Kearns Rotolo Law, we are committed to protecting the rights and best interests of our clients while pursuing proven litigation philosophies utilizing tactics and cost-effective legal strategies.
Anthony P. Kearns, III, Former Two-Term Hunterdon County Prosecutor As managing partner in the Firm, Mr. Kearns focuses on matters pertaining to criminal defense, domestic violence, divorce and family law, personal injury, and municipal matters.
Mr. Kearns has experience working on both sides of the criminal justice system and has garnered statewide recognition as a criminal defense attorney. Mr. Kearns is the only Hunterdon County prosecutor thus far to have been appointed to the position for two terms, giving him the distinction of being the County’s longest serving prosecutor.
As Hunterdon County’s Chief Law Enforcement Officer from 2009 to 2019, Mr. Kearns oversaw all law enforcement agencies in the County while managing and leading his own team of assistant prosecutors and detectives. The goal of his team was to detect, prosecute, and prevent criminal activities. This experience afforded Mr. Kearns unique insight into how the State prepares and prosecutes criminal cases, which he now uses to mount skilled and powerful defenses of the charges against his clients.
As a trained mediator and collaborative law attorney, Mr. Kearns can offer the Firm’s family law clients alternate means to resolving their legal issues with regards to divorce and related matters. Additionally, his experience as a former therapist counseling families and individuals, both men and women, caught in domestic violence situations allows him to provide compassionate counsel to clients navigating emotional family disputes.
Anthony P. Kearns currently serves on the District XIII Ethics Committee. This committee is charged with investigating and, if necessary, conducting formal proceedings to determine any ethical wrongdoing by attorneys throughout Hunterdon, Somerset, and Warren counties.
Victor A. Rotolo, Trial Attorney with More Than Four Decades of Experience Victor Rotolo comments about the Firm’s overall philosophy as follows: “At Kearns Rotolo Law, serving our clients is our first priority. As a client, you will be apprised of the status of your case on a continual basis as it proceeds. Your phone calls will be returned in a timely fashion, and we will always take the time to discuss your concerns and questions. When you become our client, we make these commitments to you.”
Formerly an officer with the City of Elizabeth Police Department, Mr. Rotolo has this unique background and experience adding to his 40-plus years as a practicing trial attorney in the State of New Jersey. As an attorney, Mr. Rotolo has represented thousands of clients in all stages of litigation throughout the courts of New Jerey and has successfully argued cases before the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Mr. Rotolo was also a member of the District XIII Ethics Committee and was honored to serve as both Vice Chair and Chair of that committee.
Philosophy in Practice Most legal issues can be highly emotional for those involved. That is why the attorney/client relationship is so important. At Kearns Rotolo Law, we are committed to helping our clients satisfy their expectations and reach their ultimate goal whenever possible. To this end, our lawyers offer the respect and understanding each client deserves, and approach every case, whether a trial or negotiation, with care and compassion.
Anthony Kearns, Victor Rotolo and their team draw on experiences from both the legal and judicial systems to develop strategies for helping clients find resolution to their legal disputes. The Firm will make efficient use of in-house resources and outside consultants to achieve legal resolutions in your best interests.
Kearns Rotolo Law is a full-service law firm. Our attorneys are prepared to represent clients in the main categories of Family Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and DUI violations. The firm is also available to represent clients in other areas including, but not limited to, matters pertaining to juvenile and teen offenses, including shoplifting, vandalism, and drug and underage drinking offenses; traffic violations and other municipal court matters; worker’s compensation; and estate litigation, administration and planning.
Divorce and Family Law For most people, divorce involves more than dissolving a marriage. Our Hunterdon County-based divorce attorneys stand ready to help clients throughout New Jersey resolve any property distribution or post-divorce issues they may have, and help negotiate terms of alimony, child support, and child custody and/or visitation matters, if necessary.
Criminal Defense When it comes to criminal offenses, our justice system was built on the belief that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Our attorneys aim to uphold that belief by working diligently to defend your rights against any criminal charges you may face, including arson, assault, drug offenses, weapons charges, and white-collar crimes. Additionally, our attorneys can assess criminal records and counsel clients on whether they are eligible to proceed with an expungement of those records.
Personal Injury Our Firm has handled numerous personal injury cases varying in magnitude of injury resulting from motor vehicle accidents, slip-and-falls, construction accidents, burns, and dog bites. We will review the details of your case and advise you on the course of action that will suit your interests best.
DUI Violations Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol continues to be a major problem on our nation’s roadways. In New Jersey, a DUI offense is considered a traffic violation; however, these charges carry costly penalties that can have lifelong implications.
Unfortunately, many DUI-related accidents result in serious injury or even death. If you are involved in a fatal accident while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, your DUI charge changes from a traffic violation to an indictable offence. As a result, you could be brought to trial and, if convicted, face potential jail time of one year or longer. Our attorneys have experience in both municipal and trial courts. We will prepare your defense against DUI charges to help minimize the impact these charges can have on your reputation and career, and we will defend your rights at trial should you face more serious charges.
Domestic Violence Although domestic violence cases very often involve acts that, under different circumstances, could be considered criminal in nature, these sensitive and emotional cases are handled through Family Court to provide victims the privacy they deserve. Because our attorneys are experienced in both family law and criminal defense, they have the experience, skill, and compassion necessary to provide effective counsel to clients involved in domestic violence situations.
Some Areas of Focus Divorce & Family Law: Child Custody and Support
Some of the most acrimonious issues relating to divorce involve child custody and child support. Most parents want what is best for their children. Parents facing a divorce, however, can’t always agree on what ‘best’ is.
When a divorce involves minor children, it is important to determine who has legal and/or physical custody. New Jersey courts will use “best interests of the child” guidelines when ruling on these matters. Fortunately, there are a variety of child custody arrangements, ranging from sole custody to co-parenting agreements, designed not only to protect the children, but also to preserve, when possible, the relationships these children have with each parent as well as with their siblings.
Sometimes it is determined that it would be in a child’s best interest to spend the majority of time with one parent over the other. In these instances, further negotiations regarding child visitation schedules and child support may be necessary. When agreements on these matters are reached, they become court orders by which all interested parties are legally bound to abide.
Divorce can be highly emotional, and these emotions can cloud the judgment of those involved. Our attorneys are experienced in all matters of family law, including child custody and child support. We are prepared to help guide you through this process to arrive at arrangements that are in both your best interest and the best interests of your child.
Criminal Defense: Assault
Charges of assault range in severity and include:
- Simple assault
- Aggravated assault
- Assault by auto or vessel
These charges carry serious penalties of fines and jail time commiserate with the degree of the crime. A record of conviction on an assault charge can follow you years after the fact and impact your ability to get an education, a job and even housing. Because of the serious nature of these charges, retaining the representation of experienced counsel is prudent. At Kearns Rotolo Law, our attorneys are committed to defending your rights against these charges, and are prepared to mount a strong defense to mitigate the consequences.
Personal Injury Law: Auto Accident Injuries
Millions of people are injured each year in car accidents on roadways throughout the country, making auto accident injuries the number one personal injury claim.
Most auto accidents can be attributed to driver behavior and his or her failure to use what the law terms as ‘reasonable care.’ Behaviors most commonly attributed to car accidents include distracted driving, speeding, drunk or drugged driving, tailgating, failure to observe traffic signs or signals, improper turns, wrong-way driving, and driver fatigue. Other contributing factors include weather, potholes, road construction, tire blowouts, automobile design defects, animal crossings, and inexperience. Whatever the cause, car accidents have a serious, traumatic affect on those involved.
In addition to the stress they experience, car accident victims may also suffer serious injuries leading to costly medical expenses and, in some cases, lost wages due to lengthy recovery times. While car insurance, which is required by New Jersey State law, may cover some expenses associated with an accident, victims may also be entitled to recover damages resulting from the injuries and damages they suffer.
If you are involved in a car accident, our Hunterdon County personal injury lawyers will work with you to prove your case or defend you against claims brought by another driver.
Our Goal At Kearns Rotolo Law our attorneys live and work in the same community as the people we serve. It is our goal to make a difference in our clients’ lives and, in turn, take steps to improve our community.
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