Jeffrey D. Cohen

Jeffrey D. Cohen is a founder and President of Cohen & Frey P.C. Jeff has over two decades of experience both asserting and defending high value claims for clients resulting in favorable outcomes. He handles the prosecution of claims seeking the recovery of millions in damages to property and infrastructure caused by third parties ranging from damage caused by crossing accidents to damage caused by design and/or construction defects. Jeff and his team are nationally recognized for their work recovering freight, demurrage and accessorial charges for firm clients. Jeff also defends his transportation clients when faced with claims for freight loss and damage.

Jeff has litigated cases in 53 courts in 31 states and the District of Columbia including, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. These matters were pending before state and federal trial courts, bankruptcy courts and appellate courts.

While Jeff has substantial experience litigating cases, what makes him so effective is that he is not simply a litigator; he is part of a much smaller group of attorneys that have significant courtroom trial experience. Jeff has served as lead trial counsel in hundreds of matters over the course of his career, and prior to civil practice was an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia handling felonies, and was selected for a specialized fraud unit. Jeff and his team analyze each case anticipating a trial. This impacts all decisions from the moment the case comes in the door and inevitably leads to more cases settling, with better outcomes, without the need for the trial at all.

In managing the practice, Jeff has developed protocols to ensure that cases are managed efficiently and that all actions taken provide value to the client. Jeff participates in multiple national organizations, including The Conference of Freight Counsel, Transportation Lawyers Association, and International Factoring Association and is a speaker addressing interstate transportation issues both through presentations at association conferences and conducting legal education seminars for other attorneys. Jeff is also a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC).

EDUCATION

Rutgers University School of Law, J.D., 1996

Eagleton Institute of Politics, M.A., 1994

Rutgers University, B.A., 1991

CONTACT INFORMATION

Direct Line: 215.609.1104

E-Mail: jcohen@freightlaw.net

PRACTICE AREAS

Jeffrey D. Cohen represents clients across the country in connection with issues related to the commercial transportation of freight and interstate commerce including:

recovery of damage caused by improper grade crossing
recovery of damage caused by barge allisions
recovery of damage caused by improper loading
recovery of damage caused by water main breaks / retention pond failures
construction litigation
collection of freight charges
collection of demurrage and detention charges
collection of all accessorial charges
defending freight claims
preparing / reviewing transportation contracts
trucking and rail accidents
property damage

ADMISSIONS

Pennsylvania
New Jersey
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas
U.S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas
U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
Multiple other jurisdictions across the country on a case by case basis

PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS

Speaker, Trucking Litigation, Legal Education Seminar, Philadelphia, PA
Speaker, Conference of Freight Counsel, Annual Meeting, Sonoma, CA
Speaker, How Evolving Technologies in the Transportation Industry Impact the Presentation of Evidence in Transportation Litigation, Transportation Lawyer’s Association Annual Conference, Orlando, FL
Speaker, Preparing for a Deposition, Various Client Groups
Author, Application of Technology in Freight Loss and Damage Litigation & Rail Technologies Impacted by A Standard for Data Retention
Author, Understanding Freight Loss and Damage Claims and Litigation

REPRESENTATIVE ENGAGEMENTS

Property Damage Recovery

Lead trial counsel at jury trial seeking recovery of damages caused by improper loading of steel pipe not in conformance with AAR Open Top Loading Rules which led to multi trian derailment in Class 1 rail carriers yard. Secure jury verdict in favor of client assessing damages over $800,000. United States District Court, Northern District of Alabama

Freight Loss and Damage Defense

Lead trial counsel representing an interstate motor carrier obtaining a jury verdict of no liability defeating a claim for 3.5 million in damage to over 800 shipments of light bulbs. United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
Lead trial counsel representing a major class 1 rail carrier defending against a freight claim for over $1,700,000 in damages to a transformer, resulting in a ruling of liability of only $100,000. United Stated District Court, District of South Carolina
Lead trial counsel representing a major class 1 rail carrier defending against a freight claim for $800,000 in damages to a transformer, resulting in a ruling of no liability based on challenges to scientific evidence. United Stated District Court, District of Florida
Obtained summary judgment defeating a $350,000 freight claim for damage to rolled steel based on claim deficiencies. United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Freight Charge Collections

Lead trial counsel in adversary proceeding the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia, obtaining a ruling that a debt of approximately 1 million dollars was not dischargeable in bankruptcy due to intentional malicious conduct of debtor.
Lead trial counsel in adversary proceeding the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota, obtaining a ruling that a debt of approximately $800,000 was not dischargeable in bankruptcy due fraudulent transfers by debtor.

Demurrage Collections

Obtained summary judgment in favor of carrier for demurrage charges against a warehouse consignee. United States District Court, District of South Carolina
Lead trial counsel in multiple cases resulting in successful jury trial verdicts for clients in cases focusing upon freight handling issues.

Other

Obtained summary judgment defeating a claim for $5.9 million in damages defending former officers of a closely held corporation against breach of contract, fraud and racketeering allegations. United States District Court, District of New Jersey