Michael B. "Mike" Zerres, Medical Malpractice Attorney in Chatham, New Jersey
focused on Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, and Product Liability
Chatham New, NJ
Trusted medical malpractice attorney serving Chatham.
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Quick answer
Michael B. "Mike" Zerres is an attorney based in Chatham, NEW JERSEY. The practice focuses on Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, and Product Liability.
- Based in
- Chatham, NEW JERSEY
- Experience
- attorney
- Known for
- Medical Malpractice · Personal Injury · Product Liability
- Handles Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, and Product Liability matters from Chatham, NEW JERSEY.
- Recognized with Lawyer of the Year — Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs (Newark) (2025).
About Michael B. "Mike" Zerres: Michael B. "Mike" Zerres is an attorney based in Chatham, NEW JERSEY. The practice focuses on Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, and Product Liability.
Areas of practice
Michael's practice areas in Chatham
Michael concentrates on medical malpractice, personal injury, and product liability. Each area below outlines the kind of case Michael handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.
Medical Malpractice
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Personal Injury
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Product Liability
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Medical Malpractice cases in Chatham, New Jersey
Michael takes medical malpractice matters in Chatham, New Jersey. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Michael agrees to represent you.
Personal Injury cases in Chatham, New Jersey
Michael takes personal injury matters in Chatham, New Jersey. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Michael agrees to represent you.
Product Liability cases in Chatham, New Jersey
Michael takes product liability matters in Chatham, New Jersey. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Michael agrees to represent you.
Biography
Michael B. "Mike" Zerres, medical malpractice attorney serving Chatham
Michael B. "Mike" Zerres is an attorney based in Chatham, NEW JERSEY. The practice focuses on Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, and Product Liability. Michael works from Chatham, New Jersey and takes on medical malpractice matters across the region.
Named by Best Lawyers in America as “Plaintiff’s Products Liability Lawyer of the Year” for 2019 and 2022, and, “Plaintiff’s Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year” for 2015 for the Newark metro area, and has been designated as one of the Best Lawyers in America in the fields of personal injury, medical malpractice & product liability from 2007-2023. He has been designated as a Super Lawyer 2005 – 2023 (16th-consecutive year listed in Super Lawyers) in the area of plaintiff’s Medical Malpractice, recognized as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in New Jersey by The National Trial Lawyers and rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell. He has also been listed by Lawdragon as one of the Top 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers for 2020, 2021.
Michael Zerres, a principal of the firm of Blume Donnelly Fried Forte Zerres & Molinari , is Certified as a Civil Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, specializing in medical malpractice, products liability and personal injury cases.
A member of the New Jersey Bar, as well as the Bar of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and United States Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit, Mike joined the firm in 1990 and is handling a variety of complex matters involving such issues as the proper management of labor and delivery, cerebral palsy, Erb's palsy, newborn care and the failure to timely diagnose and treat various types of cancer.
Mr. Zerres has also presented on legal issues, including "Live Demonstration of an Opening Statement in a Laparascopic Cholycystectomy Case," "Proving Economic Damages in Wrongful Death Cases," "Apparent Authority," "Direct Examination of a Liability Expert" and "The Ethics of Lien Resolution," and, has acted as a co-author and/or reviewer on two books on Nursing Malpractice.
He has been honored by the Cerebral Palsy League of New Jersey and is a longstanding former member of the Board of Governors of the New Jersey chapter of the American Association of Justice and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey. Mike has been recognized by the LawDragon legal resources group as one of the nation's leading plaintiffs' attorneys. He is also a member of the Birth Trauma Litigation Group of the American Association of Justice.
Mike is a graduate of Seton Hall University (1984, B.A., magna cum laude) and St. John's University School of Law (1987). He is also a member of ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates), the Morris County Bar Association, the Essex County Bar Association, and the Monmouth County Bar Association.
Here is a list of some of Mr. Zerres' reported decisions: Dehanes v. Rothman 158 N.J. 90 (Sup. Ct. NJ, 1999); Allstate Ins. Co. v. Coven, 264 N.J. Super. 240 (App. Div. 1993); Grecco v. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey 345 N.J. Super. 94 (App. Div. 2001); Cordero v. Christ Hospital, et al., 403 N.J. Super. 306; 958 A.2d 101 (App. Div. 2008); D'avila v. Hugo Neu et. als. 42 N.J. Super. 80 (App. Div. 2015).
Michael's approach to medical malpractice cases
Named by Best Lawyers in America as “Plaintiff’s Products Liability Lawyer of the Year” for 2019 and 2022, and, “Plaintiff’s Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year” for 2015 for the Newark metro area, and has been designated as one of the Best Lawyers in America in the fields of personal injury, medical malpractice & product liability from 2007-2023. He has been designated as a Super Lawyer 2005…
Clients Michael works with
Michael reviews new inquiries case-by-case for medical malpractice, personal injury, and product liability matters in Chatham and the surrounding New Jersey area.
Credentials
Credentials — where Michael studied and practices
St. John's University
J.D. · 1987
Seton Hall University
BA · 1984
Jurisdictions
Michael's state bar admissions
New Jersey, New Jers
ACTIVE
Michael studied at J.D. in St. John's University and BA in Seton Hall University.
Law school and academic background
Michael completed J.D. in St. John's University and BA in Seton Hall University. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Michael runs in New Jersey is where that training gets applied to real client questions.
Recognition
Michael's legal honors and published work
Michael has received 29 formal recognitions from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.
Lawyer of the Year — Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs (Newark)
2025
Lawyer of the Year — Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs (Newark)
2022
Lawyer of the Year — Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs (Newark)
2019
Lawyer of the Year — Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs (Newark)
2015
Best Lawyers in America — Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Medical Malpractice Law
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability Litigation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Automobile
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Automobile Collision
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Birth Trauma
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Brain Injury
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Catastrophic Injury
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Civil Litigation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Construction
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Consumer Safety Law
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Hospital Malpractice
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Medical Malpractice
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Medical Negligence
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Premises Liability
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Professional Malpractice
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Wrongful Death
2026
Legal awards and honors
Lawyer of the Year — Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs (Newark) (2025). Lawyer of the Year — Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs (Newark) (2022). Lawyer of the Year — Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs (Newark) (2019). Lawyer of the Year — Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs (Newark) (2015). Best Lawyers in America — Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (2026).
Locations
Office locations for Michael B. "Mike" Zerres in Chatham, New Jersey
Michael's primary office is at Chatham, New Jersey, 07928. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.
Client feedback
Client reviews of Michael B. "Mike" Zerres
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Schedule your consultationHiring guide
How to hire Michael B. "Mike" Zerres — what to expect in your first consultation
Working with a new medical malpractice attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Michael usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.
Consultation formats and pricing
Michael charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Michael's office.
What to bring to your first meeting
Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Michael will tell you what matters and what doesn't.
Questions to ask a medical malpractice attorney in Chatham, New Jersey
A short list to run through before you commit: How many medical malpractice matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?
Fees & payment
Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Michael
Michael discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in medical malpractice practice — ask which fits.
Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options
Every medical malpractice matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Michael confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.
Payment methods and payment plans
Michael's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many medical malpractice practices work with clients on structured schedules.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about Michael B. "Mike" Zerres
How much does it cost to hire Michael for a medical malpractice case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Michael walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does Michael offer a free consultation?
Michael charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Michael's office. Some medical malpractice attorneys offer free consults — check Michael's current terms during booking.
How long do medical malpractice cases in New Jersey typically take?
Simple medical malpractice matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Michael gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can Michael take my case if I'm outside Chatham?
Michael is licensed in New Jersey. Matters governed by New Jersey law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Michael will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with Michael?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Michael will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is Michael accepting new medical malpractice clients right now?
Michael's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.
Areas served
Medical Malpractice attorneys serving Chatham, Trenton and Newark in New Jersey
Michael handles medical malpractice matters throughout New Jersey. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified medical malpractice attorneys in that community.
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