Apruzzese, McDermott, Mastro & Murphy, P.C.

25 Independence Blvd., Third Floor, Warren, N.J. 07059
T 908-580-1776 F 908-647-1492
http://www.ammm.com

Unwavering commitment and determination to navigate the best course of action for our clients

Robert J. Merryman

Robert J. Merryman (also known by “Bob” Merryman) is a principal with the firm and has represented municipalities, school districts and other public entities in New Jersey since 1992. In his role as counsel to numerous public and private entities, Bob has represented clients in litigation in State and Federal Court and has argued numerous appeals before the Appellate Division. He regularly handles grievance arbitrations for both public and private sector clients and handles administrative proceedings in matters before the New Jersey Department of Education (“DOE”), Civil Service Commission (“CSC”) and the Public Employment Relations Commission (“PERC”). Bob also represents clients in matters before the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (“EEOC”), the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights and the New Jersey Department of Labor.

In the area of negotiations, Bob regularly handles collective negotiations on behalf of municipalities and school districts. He has successfully handled a number of police and fire interest arbitration proceedings, and has successfully pursued scope petitions and handled the defense of unfair practice charges before the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission.

Bob is a frequent speaker on topics relating to labor, employment and school law and regularly provides in-service training for public sector clients with regard to workplace harassment policies and procedures. He has written a number of articles on labor, employment and school law issues including: L.W. v. Toms River Regional Schools Board of Education: An Expansion of the Law Against Discrimination to Student Harassment, New Jersey Labor & Employment Law Quarterly (Summer 2007); Revisions to the White Collar Exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Labor & Employment Law Quarterly (June 2005); Public School Construction Contracts: Issues to Look for in School Construction, School Leader (May/June 2002). He has had the privilege of presenting workshops at New Jersey School Boards Association Annual Convention and has been a presenter at the New Jersey Association of School Attorneys Spring School Law Forum and Fall School Law Forum.

Before coming to Apruzzese, McDermott Mastro & Murphy P.C., Bob was an associate with Caroll and Weiss in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, where he represented public boards of education in employment litigation, labor matters and general education matters. In that position, Bob regularly handled student discipline, student residency disputes, special education mediation and due process proceedings, grievance hearings, unfair practice proceedings and litigation in both state and federal court. Bob also provided in-service training for school districts with regard to workplace harassment, student harassment, student discipline and special education.

Bob is a graduate of Rutgers School of Law – Camden, and was the recipient of a graduate fellowship to the Eagleton Institute of Politics, where he earned a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science. Bob received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Rutgers College Bob served as a Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Joseph F. Lisa, J.S.C. in the Superior Court, Gloucester County.
Bob is a member of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the State Bar Association; he has served as Trustee and Vice President of the New Jersey Association of School Attorneys and is a member of the New Jersey Labor Employment Relations Association.

Education

  • Rutgers School of Law- Camden – Juris Doctor
  • Rutgers University – Master of Arts, Political Science
  • Rutgers University – Rutgers College – Bachelor of Arts, Economics

Bar Admissions

  • State of New Jersey
  • Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
  • United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
  • United States District Court – Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Practice Areas

Labor, Employment, Civil Rights and Education Law. Represents public and private sector employers, including municipalities, counties, colleges and public boards of education.

Honors and Recognitions

Recipient of Graduate Fellowship to the Eagleton Institute of Politics and Public Policy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick New Jersey.

Professional Associations/Memberships

  • New Jersey State Bar Association – Member of the Labor and Employment Section

  • New Jersey Association of School Attorneys (“NJASA”)– Member and former Trustee and Vice President

  • New Jersey Labor Employment Relations Association (“LERA”) – Member

Published Articles and Noteworthy Cases

  • Brown v. Township of Old Bridge, 319 N.J.Super. 436 (App. Div. 1999)

  • In re. J.B., 386 N.J.Super. 512 (App. Div. 2006)

  • P.B.K. v. Board of Education of the Borough of Tenafly, 343 N.J.Super. 419 (App. Div. 2001)

  • Chernavsky v. Township of Holmdel, 135 Fed. Appx. 507 (3d Cir. 2005)

  • DePinto v. Bayonne Board of Education, 514 F.Supp.2d 633 (D.N.J. 2007)

  • Haworth v. Deborah Heart and Lung Center, 271 N.J. Super. 502 (App. Div. 1994).

  • Gileece v. Township of Union, United States District Court, D. New Jersey. December 08, 2010. Not Reported in F.Supp.2d, 2010 WL 5099361

  • Coles v. Bayonne Board of Education, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, April 29, 2008. Not Reported in A.2d, 2008 WL 1862480

  • Frank v. Township of Old Bridge, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, July 31, 2009. Not Reported in A.2d 2009 WL 2341557

  • Ewtushek v. Township of Old Bridge, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, February 09, 2005. Not Reported in A.2d, 2005 WL 1583075

  • Rure Associates v. Dynamic Industries, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, December 27, 2005. Not Reported in A.2d, 2005 WL 3526104

  • Borough of Stanhope v. Dulio, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, April 13, 2007. Not Reported in A.2d, 2007 WL 1094348

  • In re D’Altrui, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, February 24, 2009. Not Reported in A.2d, 2009 WL 425622

  • In Re J.D., Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division (December 06, 2005) Not Reported in A.2d, 2005 WL 3276297

  • L.W. v. Toms River Regional Schools Board of Education: An Expansion of the Law Against Discrimination to Student Harassment, New Jersey Labor & Employment Law Quarterly (Summer 2007)

  • Revisions to the White Collar Exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Labor & Employment Law Quarterly (June 2005)

  • Public School Construction Contracts: Issues to Look for in School Construction, School Leader (May/June 2002).

E-mail Address
RMerryman@ammm.com

Direct Telephone and Ext.
908-580-1776 ext. 255

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