John J. Sullivan

Partner
Office - NY: New York
jsullivan@hillrivkins.com
45 Broadway, Suite 2110
New York, New York  10006
212-669-0600 office phone
212-669-0609 direct dial
914-720-2470 cell phone
212-669-0698 fax

Office - NJ: Manalapan
jsullivan@hillrivkins.com
The Bentley Building
98 Craig Road
Manalapan, NJ  07726
732-838-0300 office phone
212-669-0609 direct dial
914-720-2470 cell phone
732-316-2365 fax

Focus of Practice:
Admiralty & Maritime Law
Inland Transportation & Third Party Logistics
Large Loss Subrogation
Products Liability
Insurance Defense
Insurance Coverage
Refinery & Petrochemical Losses
Fire Loss
Commercial Litigation
Trials and Appeals

Educational Background:
Fordham University School of Law
Juris Doctor, 1994

Georgetown University
B.S. International Management & Finance, 1990

Admitted to Practice:

New Jersey (1994)
New York (1995)
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Trials and Appeals

Professional Affiliations:

Maritime Law Association of the United States 

Publications:
Note - The Constitutionality of New York State’s Affirmative Action Law, 21 Fordham Urban Law Journal 1107 (1994).

Speaker:

“Maritime Attachment Under U.S. Law”, Canadian Transportation Lawyers’ Association, December 2003

“Transportation Losses - Coverage and Subrogation,” PLRB Claims Conference, April 2006

Representations Include:

In re Hapag-Lloyd, A.G., 573 F. Supp. 3d 934 (S.D.N.Y. 2021) — successfully opposing the motion to dismiss of an ocean carrier (slot charterer under a vessel sharing agreement) under a purported forum selection clause, in a Limitation Proceeding arising the catastrophic fire on board the M/V YANTIAN EXPRESS, on the grounds that dismissal would tend to lessen the carrier’s liability under US COGSA and would frustrate the purpose of the concursus sought under the U.S. Limitation of Liability Act.

 

State Bank of India v. Shane of New York, Inc., Docket No. 1:12-cv-08916 (S.D.N.Y. 2014) – trial verdict in favor of bank against buyers of goods on commercial invoices pledged and assigned to the bank by the seller as security for a commercial line of credit

 

Northern Assurance Co. of America v. North East Marine, Inc., Docket No. 1:12-cv-2958 (S.D.N.Y. 2014) – trial verdict in favor of marine insurer voiding marine liability policy ab initio due to the insured’s material misrepresentations

 

Stolthaven Perth Amboy, Inc. v. JLM Marketing, Inc., 47 A.D.3d 414, 849 N.Y.S.2d 513 (1st Dep’t 2008) – affirming confirmation of arbitration award, where opposing counsel had argued that award was never properly affirmed and was in manifest disregard of the law

Lykes Lines Limited LLC. v. Bringer Corp., 2007 WL 766170 (S.D.N.Y. 2007) – grant of motion to dismiss for improper service and failure to state a cause of action

Marchese v. General Accident Ins. Co., 98 Civ. 1680 (DRD) – jury verdict in favor of insurer on insured’s policy claim (2002)

Darvick v. General Accident Ins. Co., 303 A.D.2d 540, 756 N.Y.S.2d 457 (2d Dep’t 2003) – affirming grant of summary judgment to insurer based on insured’s failure to comply with policy provisions

New York Life, Inc. v. General Accident Ins. Co. of America, N.Y. Index No. 131TSN1997– jury verdict in favor of insurer on insured’s policy claim (2004)

Fekete v. GA Ins. Co. of New York, 279 A.D.2d 300, 719 N.Y.S.2d 52 (1st Dep’t 2001) – affirming denial of motion to amend complaint to assert claims for bad faith and punitive damages

Deiulemar Compagnia de Navigazione SpA v. Dabkomar Bulk Carriers Ltd., 2006 WL 317241 (S.D.N.Y. 2006) – granting motion to vacate Rule B attachment for failure to state maritime claim

Perfume & Cosmetics Palace, Inc. v. CGU Ins. Co., 295 A.D.2d 215, 744 N.Y.S.2d 19 (1st Dep’t 2002) – reversing trial judge’s findings on proper measure of insured’s loss on first party insurance claim

Gee Tai Chong Realty Co. v. GA Ins. Co. of New York, 283 A.D.2d 295, 727 N.Y.S.2d 388 (1st Dep’t 2001) – reversing trial court’s ruling that insurer was precluded from contesting coverage for property loss at trial

Wasserman, Schneider & Babb v. EM Indus., Inc, 245 A.D.2d 1, 666 N.Y.S.2d 112 (1st Dep’t 1997) – reversing denial of summary judgment to client on attorney fee dispute