Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. Stands with CAIR Against Religious Discrimination
Yesterday, in an online news conference, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. announced the filing of a lawsuit in Delaware federal court on behalf of three Muslim women. These women were forbidden by the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families (DSCYF) from wearing hijabs, a head covering that is custom to the Islamic religion. Attorney Patrick Gallagher of Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. expressed that the state’s treatment of Muslim women violates multiple applicable laws, and that the firm is proud to stand with CAIR on behalf of these women.
Since the 2016 Presidential election, CAIR reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry against members of minority groups. CAIR’s current mission is to protect the civil rights of American Muslims and enhance understanding of the Islamic religion. The lawsuit seeks an injunction that prohibits the DSCYF from discriminating against employees on the basis of religion and to accommodate religious head coverings in the workplace, as well as payment for economic and punitive damages. For more information on the lawsuit, please click here.
Major Victory for Church Rights in Delaware
Delaware will no longer impose COVID-19 restrictions on houses of worship beyond those that are generally applicable to other secular entities. The move comes on the heels of a First Amendment lawsuit. Attorneys Thomas C. Crumplar of Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A., participated in filing the complaint, Rev. Dr. Christopher Allen Bullock v. Gov. John C. Carney. The lawsuit cited Governor Carney’s specific restrictions on church gatherings, which deprived citizens of the right to freedom of religious assembly, freedom of religious speech, and the free exercise of religion. On June 2, Governor Carney removed these mandatory restrictions on church gatherings. Churches are now allowed use state recommendations as they see fit to best safely and responsibly minister to their congregants.
Anticipating the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19 this fall, Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. attorneys will be working with lawyers from other firms to seek a permanent injunction prohibiting future government interference in religious worship in the state of Delaware.
Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. 2020 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. is honored to announce that Thomas C. Crumplar and Raeann Warner were selected to this year’s Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. Super Lawyers selects attorneys by using a patented multi-phase process, which includes peer reviews and nominations, combined with independent research. The process also contains research on the lawyer’s awards, experience, verdicts, and other legal achievements. The final result is a list of credible lawyers used as a resource for both attorneys and consumers when searching for legal counsel.
Meet Our Team
Thomas C. Crumplar, co-founder of the firm, has been selected to Super Lawyers for the second consecutive year. He graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law and is admitted to practice in Delaware and New Jersey. When in school, he authored several law review articles and achieved many accomplishments, including creating the university’s patent policy. Thomas is currently a member of the Delaware Bar Association, the New Jersey Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and the National Crime Victim’s Bar Association.
Thomas primarily focuses on personal injury cases; some of his highest accomplishments include asbestos-related cases and clergy abuse. His past verdicts have amounted to millions of dollars, serving as some of the highest verdicts in the history of the United States. Thomas remains active in his local community and serves as an Elder at the Emmanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Wilmington.
Raeann Warner, an esteemed lawyer and the Director of the firm, received her law degree from Widener University School of Law and is admitted to practice in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. She primarily focuses on childhood sexual abuse, employment discrimination, personal injury, and toxic tort cases, including cases involving asbestos-related diseases. Raeann has been selected to Rising Stars each consecutive year since 2012.
Raeann is currently a Secretary of the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association and serves as the Revitalization Governor for the American Association for Justice. Additionally, Raeann was featured in Philadelphia Magazine and in Delaware Today as a top civil rights attorney. Some of Raeann’s achievements have involved her fighting against insurance companies to obtain compensation for victims with asbestos injuries, as well as numerous success stories involving survivors of childhood sexual abuse. She vigorously fought for the rights of child sex abuse survivors by applying the Child Victims Act, which extended the statute of limitations for claims of child sexual abuse.
Our legal team advocates for victims that were injured due to the negligent actions of another party. At Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A., we have the combined experience needed to fight on your behalf for the justice you deserve. Nearly 90 percent of our clientele has been referred by clients or other lawyers. For a free consultation, complete our online form or call us at 302-656-5445 today. Located in Wilmington and Millsboro, Delaware, we represent clients throughout the state, including Dover, New Castle County, and Sussex County.
Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. Stands Up for Religious Liberty
Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. recently filed a major constitutional lawsuit citing deprivation of the right to exercise religion, freedom of religious speech, and religious assembly. The complaint was filed May 19, 2020 in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Attorney Thomas C. Crumplar of Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A., along with the Neuberger Firm, P.A. and Martin D. Haverly, Attorney at Law, are litigating the case on behalf of Reverend Dr. Christopher Alan Bullock, Pastor of the Canaan Baptist Church in Wilmington, Delaware. The plaintiff is seeking an injunction to open religious worship services in Delaware, effective Sunday May 31, 2020; celebrated by many religious denominations as the feast of Pentecost.
The lawsuit alleges that the defendant, Governor John Carney, overstepped his authority in a number of instances in his declaration of and modifications to the State of Emergency response to the COVID-19 outbreak. In the latest modification, Governor Carney stated that congregants over the age of 65, as well as other high-risk individuals, should not attend religious services in person. Furthermore, houses of worship are only allowed to open one day per week for just one hour, and all congregants must practice social distancing. Other detailed restrictions include those effectively prohibiting the use of hymnals, the practice of baptism, and the distribution of communion.
The lawsuit contends that these restrictions are discriminatory, as the Governor has made exceptions for more than 200 secular industries, but not for houses of worship. Furthermore, under the Governor’s directives, pastors and congregants have not, and will not, be able to worship according to their conscience without risking penalty of six months in jail. The lawsuit notes that the Governor’s orders burden the plaintiff’s religious beliefs, compelling him to either change those beliefs or act in contradiction to avoid penalty.
Read the complaint here.
The attorneys at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. expect the lawsuit to be fast-tracked by the U.S. District Court in Delaware as courts in other states have already thrown out similar restrictions placed on religious institutions. Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. represents individuals in civil rights cases, as well as legal matters involving personal injury, employment law, and environmental toxic tort. For more information, contact the legal team at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. at 302-656-5445 or contact us online. Located in Wilmington and Millsboro, Delaware, we serve clients throughout the state, including Dover, New Castle, and Sussex County.
Case Between Millsboro Residents and Poultry Farm Ends with Private Settlement
A settlement has finally been reached in the ongoing legal battle between the plaintiffs and Mountaire Farms. Townsend Inc. purchased land from the plaintiffs, a multi-generational family living in Millsboro, Delaware, to start a new poultry farm. This transaction occurred many years ago but has caused major problems ever since.
Since late 2017, the decision to sell land to this poultry company has been questioned among the victims. Mountaire Farms, the poultry plant operator, has been violating its waste disposal permits and has been spraying too many contaminates onto their fields. This violation has caused extreme water contamination. Health problems such as gastrointestinal issues, thyroid problems, and various birth defects have been reported in the past few years. Residents believed that the ongoing health issues were due to their drinking water.
A lawsuit began in 2018 and ended in the form of a private-settlement for the family and 105 of their neighbors. Thomas Crumplar, an accomplished attorney at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A., represented 99 of the plaintiffs involved in the case.
Since the settlement, the air in the community smells fresher, the water is becoming healthier, and vegetation is growing at a faster rate. Although the residents of Millsboro still need to drink from bottled water, significant progress is being made from the outcome of the case settlement.
If you believe you have been exposed to a toxic chemical or dangerous substance, contact one of our Delaware toxic tort lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. for a free case consultation. Contact us online or call us at 302-656-5445 today. With offices located in Wilmington and Millsboro, Delaware, we also serve clients in Dover, New Castle County, and Sussex County.
Boy Scouts Of America Bankruptcy In Wilmington, Delaware
The Boy Scouts of America filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in Wilmington, DE on February 18, 2020. Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. has significant experience with fighting for survivors of sexual abuse in Bankruptcy Court. Jacobs & Crumplar also regularly acts as co-counsel to file motions in Bankruptcy Court for out of state attorneys who are litigating cases against a defendant who files for bankruptcy.
In October 2009, the first of the cases filed under the Child Victim’s Act to go trial, that of John Vai v. Diocese of Wilmington, Inc., St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, and Francis J. DeLuca, former priest of the Diocese of Wilmington whose victims numbered over twenty in his 40 year career with the Diocese and beyond. On the eve of trial, the Diocese of Wilmington filed for bankruptcy. This meant that the trial was put on hold. Jacobs & Crumplar, along with The Neuberger Firm, fought for the right of the survivors in the Bankruptcy Court. Significantly, seven survivors were permitted to testify live on August 12, 2010 in the Bankruptcy Court to show that they would be irreparably harmed if their cases against the individual parishes were not allowed to go forward to trial and the Bankruptcy Court determined on August 13, 2010 that the survivors would be irreparably harmed if not permitted to go to trial in the fall of 2010.
Then, in October 2010, Jacobs & Crumplar and The Neuberger Firm represented survivor John Vai in his trial which was permitted by the Bankruptcy Court to proceed, against Francis J. DeLuca and St. Elizabeth’s parish. The jury found St. Elizabeth’s parish was reckless, grossly negligent, and negligent, awarding $60,000,000.00 against DeLuca and $3,000,001.00 against St. Elizabeth’s parish.
In February 2011, survivors of priest abuse and the Diocese of Wilmington reached a $77.425 million lawsuit settlement and creation of a trust to resolve claims against the Diocese of Wilmington.
If you are a survivor of abuse while in the Boy Scouts of America or a lawyer who needs assistance with matters in our bankruptcy court, please contact us today. The Millsboro sexual abuse lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. have successfully won cases for victims of sexual abuse. Call us at 302-656-5445 or complete our online form for a free consultation. Located in Wilmington and Georgetown, Delaware, we proudly serve clients from the surrounding areas, including Dover, New Castle County, and Sussex County.
Jacbos & Crumplar, P.A. Announces Expansion of Law Practice
Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. is pleased to announce it is joining forces with the Law Office of Andrea G. Green, LLC, a firm based in Millsboro, Delaware. That firm’s attorneys Andrea Green and Nicole Evans bring their extensive experience handling workers’ compensation and auto accident injury claims to the legal team of Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A.
Andrea Green has been practicing law for more than 25 years. She has worked in both the non-profit and private sectors of the legal community, bringing extensive experience in personal injury and workers’ compensation. She is admitted to practice in both Delaware and Maryland, as well as the United States District Courts for Delaware and Maryland, the Third and Fourth Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Green is a member of the Delaware State Bar Association and the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association. She was also a member of the Randy J. Holland Workers’ Compensation American Inn of Court. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the State University of New York at Binghamton, and her law degree at Northeastern University School of Law.
Nicole Evans also focuses her legal practice on workers’ compensation and personal injury. She has represented clients in the Sussex County community for more than eight years. Ms. Evans graduated from Salisbury University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and went on to earn her law degree at Villanova University School of Law. She is a member of the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association and the Delaware State Bar Association.
Founded in 1981, Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. represents clients in New Castle County, Kent County and Sussex County. From their offices in Wilmington and their new location in Millsboro, the attorneys at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. will continue to serve residents throughout the state of Delaware in legal matters involving personal injury, workers’ compensation, employment law, and environmental toxic tort, and other practice areas. For more information, contact us at 302-656-5545 or use our online form.
Jacobs & Crumplar Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Delaware Today
Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. is proud to announce that two Patrick C. Gallagher, have been named to Delaware Today’s Top Lawyers 2019 for Civil Litigation. The lawyers are chosen by a survey of their professional peers in Delaware. The editors of Delaware Today conduct the survey and verify the winners.
Patrick Gallagher focuses his practice in the areas of personal injury, employment discrimination, and civil rights. He has litigated cases at every level of the Delaware courts, including the Delaware Supreme Court.
Congratulations, Patrick!
Founded in 1981, Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. serves clients’ needs in the areas of personal injury, workers’ compensation, employment law, sexual abuse, and civil rights. If you are facing a legal challenge, do not hesitate to contact us online or call our team today at 302-656-5445. We have offices in Wilmington and Millsboro to assist clients across the state of Delaware.
Thomas Crumplar Honored by Super Lawyers for 2019
Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. is pleased to announce that Thomas Crumplar has been honored by Super Lawyers for 2019. Both seasoned attorneys have dedicated years of service with outstanding results.
Super Lawyers chooses exemplary lawyers using a multiphase process that evaluates performance through independent research and peer review. Honors are bestowed once a year, on a state-by-state basis, and are separated by specific categories of practice. Lawyers who are selected have undergone a rigorous screening process to provide the public with high-caliber recommendations amongst experts across all areas of law.
Thomas Crumplar is a founding partner of Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. He began practicing law in 1975 after he earned his law degree from the University of Virginia. While at school, he created the University of Virginia’s patent policy, which pertained to scientific research completed at the university. After graduation, Mr. Crumplar started his career as a law clerk for Federal Judge John T. Copenhaver in Charleston, West Virginia. In 1981, he and Robert Jacobs founded Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A.. Mr. Crumplar is a member of the bar in both Delaware and New Jersey. He is also an active member of the American Association for Justice and the National Crime Victim’s Bar Association.
Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. is proud to have such extraordinary lawyers on their team and offer their sincerest, heartfelt congratulations. For assistance on a legal matter, call 302-656-5445 or visit the firm online at https://www.jcdelaw.com/. Attorneys at the firm assist clients throughout Delaware from their offices in Wilmington and Georgetown. They also serve as local counsel for clients nationwide.
Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. Representing Plaintiffs in 3M Product Liability Litigation
Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. is representing plaintiffs in product liability suits against the 3M Company and Aearo Technologies, LLC. Joined by the Texas law firms of Watts Guerra, LLP, Danziger & De Llano, LLP, and Tracey & Fox Law Firm, and The Johnson Law Group. The lawsuits, filed on February 15 in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware, allege that the two companies knowingly manufactured defective earplugs that failed to protect users from hearing damage. The plaintiffs, who served in the U.S. military, suffer from hearing impairment that happened during training and active military duty exercises.
The plaintiffs wore Combat Arms™ dual-ended earplugs manufactured by Defendants. Subsequently, they developed hearing loss and/or tinnitus.
History of Defective Earplugs
The 3M Company and Aearo Technologies, LLC manufactured the duel-sided Combat Arms™ earplugs for use as standard equipment for thousands of U.S. soldiers between the years of 2003 and 2015. They were designed to eliminate noise but also to be flipped over to enable hearing during gunfire and explosions while still protecting the eardrums. Unfortunately, the earplugs failed to fit properly and led to them loosening, which offered insufficient protection against potential hearing damage. The lawsuits claim the manufacturers were aware of the design problems with the earplugs since 2000 when safety tests that were issued failed.
The plaintiffs have filed a claim against the companies for damages stemming from design defects, failure to warn, negligence, breach of express and implied warranties, fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment, negligent misrepresentation, fraud, and violation of consumer protection laws on the part of 3M and Aearo Technologies.
Delaware Product Liability Lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. Fight for Veterans Harmed by Negligence
If you served in the military and suffer from hearing loss after using this product, the Delaware product liability lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. will review your case for free to determine if you are entitled to compensation. Call 302-656-5445 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We represent clients throughout Delaware from our offices in Wilmington and Georgetown.