Beth Baldinger Named Attorney of the Year

Beth Baldinger was named the Law Journal’s Attorney of the Year at the New Jersey Legal Awards Thursday evening.

Baldinger, a partner with plaintiffs firm Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman in Roseland, was honored for her work representing Xavier Ingram, who was paralyzed during an arrest by the Camden County Police Department. Baldinger last year obtained a $10 million settlement for Ingram after a four-week trial in Camden federal court ended in a hung jury and mistrial.

Baldinger was selected from among a trio of finalists that also included: Paul da Costa of Snyder Sarno D’Aniello Maceri & da Costa, recognized for his work in the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation and New Jersey veterans’ homes matters; and Diana Manning of Bressler Amery & Ross, whose careerlong efforts to elevate women in the profession have manifested in her becoming the first woman to lead her firm as well as her rise up the leadership ranks of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association.

In accepting the award, Baldinger spoke mainly about Ingram, who claimed he was paralyzed at age 20 when an officer stepped on his neck during his arrest—though the department contended he was injured in an accidental fall. Baldinger spoke about helping Ingram find a measure of peace in resolving the case and said she found inspiration from him as a client and, ultimately, a person she considered a family member.

She said during her remarks that it was a “privilege” to represent Ingram, in this sense: “At the heart of all we do is—when you have someone who’s in the deepest of need, the most dire of circumstances, and you have the privilege to reach out your hand, and give them your heart and give them your mind, and make a commitment to do what needs to happen.”

“It took eight years, but I never once doubted Xavier; he told the truth from the first day,” Baldinger said.

Ingram “broke my heart at least 1,000 times; I will also tell you, he’s made me smile at least 1,001,” she said, adding that he “is now part of my family, and he sits at my table.”

Baldinger added, “it may not be your traditional client-lawyer relationship, but I will tell you it was a journey I am so glad I took.”

“My job was not only to get accountability in a very high-stakes litigation in federal court, but to bring him forward so that he would have a life,” she said.

Also at Thursday’s event—which drew some 250 attendees—Riker Danzig was named Law Firm of the Year, for its cumulative success across categories; the firm took home Litigation Departments of the Year, Dealmakers and New Leaders of the Bar honors. The other finalists in the Law Firm of the Year category were Brach Eichler and Sills Cummis & Gross.

In addition to hearing from Baldinger, attendees listened to remarks from the Lifetime Achievement award winners: Bonnie Frost of Einhorn Barbarito Frost & Botwinick and Peter Pearlman of Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf.

Frost, who was honored for her years of impactful appellate work and high number of oft-cited precedents, discussed the importance of making career advancements and changes when inspired to do so. Pearlman—also an accomplished appellate lawyer and credited by members of the federal judiciary for his work with the federal bar and beyond—spoke about the importance of putting full effort into every engagement and the vital work mentors do.