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Paul M. da Costa, Partner
Medical Malpractice & Personal Injury



Testimonials | Verdicts & Settlements

Paul M. da Costa, Esq., is a partner at Snyder Sarno D’Aniello Maceri & da Costa LLC, and he is the head of the firm’s Medical Malpractice/Personal Injury Department.  He is a certified civil trial attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.  The New  Jersey Law Journal has selected Mr. da Costa as a finalist for the 2022 New Jersey Legal Awards "Attorney of the Year." In their profile article, "Paul da Costa Harnesses 'Immense Power to Cause Change' as a Trial Litigator", the New Jersey Law Journal described Mr. da Costa as a "formidable litigator" and noted that he was selected as a finalist for "his high-impact - and high-profile -work." In 2021, Mr. da Costa was appointed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey to a three-year term as a member of the Board on Attorney Certification, Civil Certification Committee.  Mr. da Costa is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. He has been admitted to practice law in both the State of New Jersey and the District of Columbia. The National Law Journal selected Paul M. da Costa and his Medical Practice Department for its prestigious 2022 Elite Trial Lawyers Awards in the medical malpractice category.  In 2023, Mr. da Costa was invited to be a member on the Seton Hall School of Law's Board of Visitors.  

Mr. da Costa has also been selected for inclusion in Woodward White’s The Best Lawyers in America. Specifically, he was selected in 2020 for the field of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, and in 2021-2022 he was selected in the fields of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs.   Mr. da Costa has been included on Thomson Reuters’ New Jersey Super Lawyer list from 2017 - 2023, Thomson Reuters' New Jersey Super Lawyers Top 100 list in 2020 - 2023, and Thomson Reuters’ New Jersey Rising Stars list in 2008, 2010 - 2016.  He is on the Board of Governors for the New Jersey Association for Justice (NJAJ). Mr. da Costa regularly lectures on the topics of medical malpractice, trial techniques, and strategy.  He dedicates his practice to protecting the rights of all individuals that have been wronged through no fault of their own.

Mr. da Costa has substantial experience handling high-profile cases that garner media attention on a national, state, and local level. His cases have been covered by numerous media outlets, including Time, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, Star-Ledger, Bergen Record, The Huffington Post, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, New Jersey Law Journal, VICE News, NJTV News, AP news, New Jersey 12, CBS radio, The New York Times, and others.  He has a unique ability to offer his clients the care and compassion needed during their difficult times while simultaneously providing aggressive legal representation in the courtroom, in the media, and in the legislature.

As Seen On

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Trusted to Take on High-Profile Cases

When our firm takes on high-profile cases, we realize the opportunity and responsibility of not only giving victims a voice but making the best of an otherwise horrible situation. These cases allow our team and our clients to make a difference. They allow us to bring about a change for the better so someone in the future may not have to suffer the same fate.

Throughout 2020, 2021 and 2022, Mr. da Costa was representing numerous families and staff members that have fallen victim to COVID-19 inside of nursing homes, such as the Veterans Memorial Homes at Menlo Park and Paramus. His representation of the veterans and their families included testifying before the New Jersey Legislature. Mr. da Costa ultimately obtained settlements totaling $44 million for his clients.   Many articles from prestigious news outlets were published about this monumental achievement including ones featured in the New York Times,  NJ.com, News 12 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com, Newsweek, and NBC Philadelphia

In addition, Mr. da Costa also represented many of the families and children that were victims of the Adenovirus outbreak at The Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in late 2018.  As part of his representation of the victims of the Adenovirus outbreak that claimed the lives of eleven children, he testified on behalf of his clients before the New Jersey Senate Health & Human Services Committee.  His testimony on behalf of his clients and their children was described by a columnist for the North Jersey Record/USA Today Network as having spoken:  “eloquently on their behalf.” His zealous advocacy on behalf of his clients resulted in a $6.2 million settlement. 

Mr. da Costa is dedicated to providing a voice to individuals that have been the victim of medical malpractice, nursing home malpractice, car accidentstruck accidentsmotorcycle accidentsdefective productsconstruction accidentssexual abusebirth injury, brain damage, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, and wrongful death.  He focuses his practice in the areas of medical malpracticeproducts liability, mass torts, and catastrophic personal injury cases. 

Mr. da Costa has handled a vast array of medical malpractice cases involving claims of, among others, failure to diagnose cancer, obstetrical injuries, wrongful birth, and wrongful death. Mr. da Costa has also handled motor vehicle accidents, bus crashes, pedestrian accidents, worksite toxic exposure, and products liability cases involving pharmaceutical and medical device products, sports and recreational products, construction equipment, ladders, and tires. In addition, he has experience in handling cases involving sexual tort claims against religious institutions and mental health professionals.

Through his tenacious and diligent advocacy, Mr. da Costa makes it his priority to “right the wrongs” that have been forced upon his clients. Mr. da Costa is not afraid to take cases to trial because he is a firm believer that pursuing the truth through litigation will prevent potential future wrongs.  Mr. da Costa has obtained seven-figure trial verdicts and settlements for his clients, including an $8.5 million and $4.5 million jury verdicts in surgical error cases, as well as a $1.5 million trial verdict in an OB/GYN case.  His most recent seven-figure settlements include a $6.2 million nursing home infection outbreak case, a $1 million cancer recurrence case, a $3.2 million anesthesia medical malpractice case, a $1.6 million settlement at trial in failure to timely diagnose case, $1.275 million settlement in failure to timely diagnose case and $1 million settlement at trial in emergency medicine malpractice case. He also settled a $2.5 million case against New Jersey Transit ("NJT") where his client was a pedestrian struck by an NJT bus. In 2023, Mr. da Costa secured a precedential victory in the Appellate Division.  In the published decision, the Appellate Division agreed that our client had a right to obtain metadata and to inspect the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) of her deceased husband from the Defendant hospital. This is the first New Jersey Appellate Division decision on this issue, which had previously caused confusion and unreasonable delay in the discovery process in medical malpractice cases. This decision should provide guidance for discovery requests of this kind going forward in all manners of litigation.

In 2023, Snyder Sarno D'Aniello Maceri & da Costa LLC was ranked in the 2023 U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" Regional Tier 1 - New Jersey list in 6 practice areas including personal injury and medical malpractice.  In 2022, Mr. da Costa and his team were recognized as having two of the top 20 largest personal injury awards in the state of New Jersey as ranked by New Jersey Law Journal's Personal Injury Top Awards 2022. In 2018, Mr. da Costa was recognized for his work when the New Jersey Law Journal listed Mr. da Costa three times on their list of Top 20 Settlements and Verdicts. In 2017, Mr. da Costa received recognition for his accomplishments while securing two spots in the New Jersey Law Journal’s Top 20 Personal Injury Awards of the Year. His cases landed him in the 6th and 17thspot for the year. Earning him 6th place was a case of unnecessary surgery that a Monmouth County court awarded $8.5M. The 17th spot was awarded in the case of spinal surgery complications leading to a $4.5M verdict in Union County. In 2019, TopVericts.com listed one of Mr. da Costa and Mr. Devinney's cases amongst their list of top 50 Verdicts and Settlements in the United States for a $3.25 million anesthesia malpractice case. The list is comprised of cases filed either in a state or federal court, as well as those settled prior to commencing a lawsuit. More information regarding the list can be found here

In 2016, Mr. da Costa secured a $2.6 million settlement from the State of New Jersey on behalf of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP), formerly known as DYFS. The settlement was for the estate of a seven-year-old boy, which the New Jersey Law Journal identified in its “2016 Personal Injury Special Section.”  In 2016, two of Mr. da Costa’s settlements, $3 million and $1 million, were included in Verdict Search’s “Top New Jersey Settlements 2016” publication.  The $3 million settlement was ranked third in the professional negligence category, and the $1 million settlement was ranked fourteenth in the medical malpractice category.

Mr. da Costa is a 2003 graduate of Seton Hall University’s J.D. / M.A.D.I.R. joint-degree program, a collaboration of the School of Law and the School of Diplomacy and International Relations. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, Rutgers College. Mr. da Costa has also successfully completed the trial advocacy institute administered by the National Trial Advocacy College at the University of Virginia School of Law. 

Mr. da Costa is a frequent lecturer and presenter at continuing legal education (“CLE”) programs.   

Awards, Recognitions, & Professional Associations


New Jersey Supreme Court Certified Attorney
Fellow of Litigation Counsel of America
Rated by Super Lawyers Top 100 New Jersey
Recognized by Best Lawyers 2023
American Board of Trial Advocates
National Association of Distinguished Counsel 2021
Martindale-Hubbell Preeminent Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence 2021

 No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.  Click here to view recognition methodology.

As Seen On

NJ Spotlight News- NJ to pay almost $53M over COVID-19 deaths at veterans homes
First Aired 12/27/21

NJ Spotlight News - Grand jury probes COVID-19 deaths at NJ veterans homes
First Aired 1/05/2021

NJ Spotlight News - It’s a race: COVID-19 vaccine vs. a second surge at nursing homes
First Aired 12/10/2020

NBC News - New Questions Over Outbreak at Veterans Nursing Home in NJ
First Aired 10/19/2020

Vice News - How NJ Failed its' Veterans at a Nursing Home During COVID
First Aired 10/15/2020

NJ Spotlight News - NJ veterans home staff & families demand answers on COVID-19 deaths
First Aired 09/16/2020

NJTV News - COVID Death Count Higher than Reported
First Aired 08/17/2020

NJTV News - NJ Veterans Home COVID-19 Cases
First Aired 08/11/2020

NBC News - NJ Veterans Home COVID-19 Cases
First Aired 07/03/2020

NBC News - NJ Veterans Home COVID-19 Cases
First Aired 06/29/2020

NorthJersey.com - Wanaque Adenovirus Outbreak Cases
First Aired 10/19/2019

ABC7 Eyewitness News - Wanaque Rehab Center Cases
First Aired 12/03/2018

NJ Spotlight News - NJ Veterans Home COVID-19 Cases
First Aired 05/19/2022

Walter Ramos

Paralegal: Walter Ramos
wramos@snydersarno.com
425 Eagle Rock Avenue, Suite 100
Roseland, NJ 07068
(973) 274 - 5200 | Fax: (973) 274 - 5202

Paralegal: Christian Lopez
clopez@snydersarno.com
425 Eagle Rock Avenue, Suite 100
Roseland, NJ 07068
(973) 274 - 5200 | Fax: (973) 274 - 5202

Referrals

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Pursuant to rule 1:39-6(d), Paul welcomes referrals.

Speaking Engagements

Civil Trial Advocacy Do's & Dont's: Tips for the Novice (Jan. 2014). Read more.

How is ADR used in family law vs. civil law matters and what is the difference? Read more.

Civil Trial Advocacy Do’s and Dont’s: Tips for the Novice (Apr. 2015). Read more.

20th Annual Medical Malpractice Update: What Effect, if any, Does the Affordable Care Act have on Life Care Plans? Read more.

Medical Malpractice - Meadowlands Seminar 2016 Topic: Mock Trial of an Anesthesia Malpractice Case - Cross of Defense Liability Expert. Read more.

Medical Malpractice - Boardwalk Seminar 2017 Topic: Using Medical Learned Treatise. Read more.

Paul speaking on Direct and Cross-Examination. Read more.

Civil Trial Advocacy Do’s and Dont’s: Tips for the Novice (May 2017). Read more.

What Awards and Honors are Permissible on Your Law firm Website: How to Comply -Ethics Seminar-Boardwalk Seminar 2022. (April 2022) Read more

Liens - Medical Malpractice Seminar- Boardwalk Seminar 2022. (April 2022) Read more

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