Resume, Jonathan E. Diego, Esq.

Legal Experience

LAW OFFICES OF MIKSIS & DIEGO
ATLANTIC CITY and LINWOOD, NEW JERSEY
2009 to present date - Partner

Represent plaintiffs in employment discrimination/retaliation, labor matters, Workers' Compensation, and personal injury litigation. Defend individuals in indictable criminal, domestic violence, municipal court disorderly person offenses, and motor vehicle matters.

LAW OFFICES OF GERALD F. MIKSIS
ATLANTIC CITY and LINWOOD, NEW JERSEY
2003 to 2009 - Associate

Represent plaintiffs in employment discrimination/retaliation, labor matters, Workers' Compensation, and personal injury litigation. Defend individuals in indictable criminal, domestic violence, municipal court disorderly person offenses, and motor vehicle matters.

OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
2002/2003 - Assistant City Attorney/Tort Litigation Unit

Trial attorney in the Tort Litigation Unit. Supervised law student intern, paralegal, paralegal-intern, and legal secretary in the preparation of cases for trial. Successfully represent Camden City in Federal District Court (FDC), Superior Court-Law and Appellate Divisions, Division on Civil Rights, and OAL. Areas of successful representation include defending the City and Police Department during Civil Rights actions in FDC regarding allegations of police misconduct, employment discrimination defense, and defending Camden in Title 59 actions in Superior Court. Prosecuted employees during disciplinary hearings.

OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
2001/2002 - Prosecutor

Prosecutor for Camden City (highest case volume municipal court in southern New Jersey). Administrator/supervisor for cases handled by the Assistant Prosecutor, Special Prosecutor, Paralegal, and liaison police officers from the State Police, Camden City Police Department (CCPD) and Delaware River Port Authority Police. Worked closely with members of the PATCO Police, Camden County Parks Police, Rutgers University Police, UMDNJ police, and New Jersey Transit Police, among others, in the enforcement/prosecution of State and local laws. Interacted closely with the Camden County Prosecutor's Office regarding DUIs and other related matters which included indictable charges. Responsible for the prosecution of disorderly and petty disorderly persons offenses; other non-indictable offenses not within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Superior Court; violations of motor vehicle, traffic, fish and game, and boating laws; proceedings to collect penalties where jurisdiction is granted by statute; violations of county and municipal ordinances; and all other proceedings in which jurisdiction is granted by statute. Presided over in service training sessions for members of the CCPD addressing all areas of law the officers are charged with enforcing. Assisted in the successful development/organization/implementation of night court sessions to address legal violations in and around the Camden waterfront entertainment centers. LAW OFFICE OF JONATHAN E. DIEGO, LLC ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY 2000 to 2003 Conflict Public Defender for Pleasantville Municipal Court (2000-2001). Pool attorney for New Jersey Public DefenderŐs Office (Atlantic County). Areas of practice included criminal, juvenile, family and landlord/tenant matters in Superior Court, municipal court cases, private and public sector administrative disciplinary hearings. Provided pro bono and reduced fee representation to the working poor in various civil and criminal matters.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES
SOUTH JERSEY CHAPTER
1999 to Date-Pro Bono Legal Advisor to Past President

Provide legal advice to past President regarding issues including, but not limited to, use of force, administrative disciplinary hearing due process and various personnel matters.

NEW JERSEY POLICE ADMINISTRATORS ASSOCIATION
1999 to Date - Pro Bono Legal Advisor to Past President

Offer legal counsel to past President of Association on various issues. Provide legal advice regarding numerous matters related to due process administrative disciplinary hearings, personnel issues and use of force questions.

OFFICE OF THE CITY SOLICITOR
ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY
1999/2000- Police Internal Affairs Prosecutor/Police Legal Liaison (Assistant City Solicitor)

Successfully represented Atlantic City before Appellate Division, Law Division, Municipal Court and administrative tribunals in matters that refer, regard and/or relate to the Atlantic City Police Division (Division). Drafted ordinance that legally created the Division, as per N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118. Duties included providing legal counsel and supervision to the Division Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) regarding the investigation and charging of officers with violations of Division Rules/Regulations and N.J.A.C. Represented City during Division disciplinary hearings by investigating and prosecuting administrative charges against officers charged with various forms of misconduct. Duties also included providing legal advice to the Director-Department of Public Safety, Chief of Police and other management on the day-to-day operations of the Division. Legal counsel to panel of Division management during the drafting of updated Rules and Regulations. Member of Division Review Board for Police Candidates; work on which included the review, discussion and vote on the offering of employment to prospective police candidates. Provided legal counsel to Division management at their command center during week of Local 54 strike of 14,000 members, including advice on responses to court Orders, casino and union attorneys, and union members' actions and statements toward each other and police officers. Initiated changes in Atlantic City municipal court to ensure that citizens whom file criminal complaints against police officers are advised of their rights to file a complaint with the IAU. Implemented procedure for closer scrutiny of attorney fee reimbursement, under N.J.S.A. 40A:14-155, to Division officers involved in litigation and/or disciplinary matters saving City tens of thousands of dollars over one year. Also, enacted course of action that saved City thousands of dollars in copying costs, related to disciplinary matters.

LAW OFFICE OF ARLENE GILBERT GROCH
SOMERS POINT, NEW JERSEY
1998/1999-Associate

Represented plaintiffs in employment discrimination litigation pursuant to federal and state law. Represented parties in family court hearings, including those related to the division of assets following a divorce. Also, represented Plaintiffs during final restraining Order hearings related to allegations of domestic violence.

SPEVACK & CANNAN, P.C.
ISELIN, NEW JERSEY
1998-Associate

Represented employees in discrimination suits pursuant to state and federal law. Responsibilities also included drafting and filing EEOC Charges and representing employees during subsequent EEOC investigations.

REINHARDT & SCHACHTER, P.C.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
1996 to 1998-Associate

Represented plaintiffs in employment discrimination suits in FDC and Superior Court. Work included representing private and public employees before various State boards and agencies, including the Department of Education, and Board of Respiratory Care. Also, represented Federal employees during EEO proceedings through EEOC appeals. Various experience included work on summary proceeding to enforce a DCR Agreement/Order; enforcement of a foreign judgment; filing a construction lien; and expungement of criminal records. Labor work included representing union members during termination arbitrations.

NEW JERSEY PROTECTION & ADVOCACY, INC.
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY
1994 to 1996-Staff Attorney

Represented individuals with disabilities in Superior Court, Municipal Court and administrative proceedings. Enjoined State Developmental Center from arbitrarily transferring low functioning residents from their long term living quarters. Successfully represented individual with partial quadriplegia in Municipal and Superior Courts to force shore municipality to allow him to use a tricycle instead of a wheelchair as an ambulating device. Successfully represented client with total quadriplegia by convincing the Director of the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services to reverse an ALJ decision, which denied his application for entry into a community based residential program and forced him to remain in a nursing home. Advised various courts and law enforcement agencies regarding their responsibilities pursuant to Title II of the ADA. Duties also included investigating alleged violations of state and federal civil rights laws in the community and institutions, and addressing community groups regarding their rights and responsibilities under the LAD and ADA.

HON. ARTHUR GUERRERA, J.S.C.
HON. ROBERT NEUSTADTER, J.S.C.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY-CRIMINAL PART
MAYS LANDING, NEW JERSEY
1993/1994-Judicial Law Clerk

Researched and drafted opinions and legal memoranda in response to defense counsel and prosecutors' motions; mediated small claim matters.

OFFICE OF THE CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR-HOMICIDE UNIT
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
1992/1993-Legal Intern

Represented State in criminal court suppression hearings and juvenile court trials; researched and drafted briefs related to sentencing, merger, suppression motions and general office memoranda.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. FELLOWSHIP
INSTITUTIONAL LAW PROJECT
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Summer 1992-Summer Associate

Successfully represented indigent client in deportation hearing before INS Judge. Responsibilities also included drafting and responding to interrogatories and interviewing clients.

GOLDENBERG, MACKLER & SAYEGH
ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY
Summer 1991-Summer Associate

Duties included research and drafting legal memoranda, interviewing clients and serving subpoenas.

CONGRESSMAN WILLIAM HUGHES
2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
LINWOOD, NEW JERSEY
1990-Congressional Intern

Addressed constituents' concerns and queries regarding federal, state and local matters.