The Alternative Press

WARREN, NJ - Each year, members of the staff at DiFrancesco, Bateman, Coley, Yospin, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum, P.C., the law firm headed up by partners including New Jersey's 55th Governor Donald DiFrancesco, embrace a cause in New Jersey, which they help tto raise funds for. This year, the firm decided to help a group, which has its roots in Sussex County.

"Each year we select a cause," said Sue Nagel, one of the firm's employees. "Several times we've helped charities, which fight for cancer. This year we decided it would be a good idea to help Rich."

"Rich" is Richard Pompelio, a Sparta resident and founder of the New Jersey Crime Victims' Law Center (NJCVLC), started in 1992. The law center became the first firm of its kind, providing pro bono representation for crime victims, and the families of crime victims.

Pompelio, who had started his career off on an opposite front, including as a municipal prosecutor, learned about the iniquities in the justice system after the murder of his son, Tony Pompelio, in 1989, when the Sparta High School student was attacked when helping a classmate in peril at a party.

Pompelio was instrumental in re-crafting New Jersey's Crime Victims' Bill of Rights in 1991. In 2012, Pompelio worked to improve the bill with Assemblyman Alex DeCroce, who became a friend of Pompelio's after learning of his story. DeCroce was one of the original legislators who went to bat for him, helping to spearhead the bill in 1991. In 2012, DeCroce passed away suddenly from a heart attack, following a lengthy legislative session. Governor Chris Christie signed the updated bill, renaming it after DeCroce, on Aug. 7.

DiFrancesco has also known of Pompelio's zeal to help victims, having been a New Jersey State Senator, including serving as Senate President in 1992.

"He's a unique person with different skills," said DiFrancesco of Pompelio. "He took it [fighting for crime victims] as a cause. He's been doing this for a long time."

During the length of his career, Pompelio has provided counsel to over 10,000 victims, in New Jersey, nationwide, and worldwide.

Pompelio joined the firm of DiFrancesco, Bateman, Coley, Yospin, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum, P.C. in July of 2011, to start the first victim civil litigation firm within a New Jersey law firm. DiFrancesco, Bateman, Coley, Yospin, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum, P.C., is already a full-service law firm, offering all clients a myriad of diverse practice areas, when they are seeking representation. The civil litigation department, where Pompelio's son Nicholas, is also part of the team (including attorneys Paul Rizzo, Jeff Pompeo, and Sarah Mahoney), offers victims the opportunity to have Pompelio's support for the criminal part of their trial with the NJCVLC, and the backing of the entire firm, when the crime victims he helps need assistance with civil facets of their cases.

"We thought this would be good for him, and for us," DiFrancesco said of Pompelio starting the civil litigation department within the firm.

However, DiFrancesco explained over the years, the funding has dwindled from the state, which had previously been allocated to help the NJCVLC.

"The idea is to try to raise money for victims of crime," DiFrancesco said of the initiative started by his employees.

Nagel, along with co-workers Barbara Lemley, Debbie Rubio, and Janet Gonzalez, are coordinating an in-house basket raffle for members of the firm to participate in, with gift baskets filled with items ranging from baby necessities, to champagne, to giveaway certificates for spa treatments, to flat-screen TV's. All funds raised during the March 12 raffle, will benefit the NJCVLC.

DiFrancesco said although the basket event is held for employees only, members of the public are always welcomed to donate directly to the NJCVLC, which is a tax-deductible donation. 

"It's a distinct honor and privilege to work with Rich, he makes everyone feel so special,"  Rubio said.

Della Wallace is another co-worker at DiFrancesco, Bateman, Coley, Yospin, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum, P.C., who spoke highly of Pompelio, and experienced first-hand the assistance he provides to victims, when a friend of her daughter's was molested.   

"It was a Friday night, and I sent him [Pompelio] an email," Wallace said. "He responded within a half-hour, and was sitting at the victim's house the next day."

Pompelio was visibly moved by the accolades.

"In all my years, I've never worked with a bunch of people with such huge hearts," Pompelio said. "It reflects the spirit of the whole office."

To donate to the NJCVLC, click here for the website, or call: (973) 903-9848, for more information.

Wallace also coordinates a drive for a non-profit she had started called, "Prom Kings and Queens," which helps to provide prom wear at no cost for young women and men in need in New Jersey. To donate items or funds to the organization, Wallace can be reached at DiFrancesco, Bateman, Coley, Yospin, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum, P.C. at 908-757-7800 ext. 128, for more information.  

For more information about the Crime Victim Civil Litigation Practice at DiFrancesco, Bateman, Coley, Yospin, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum, P.C., click here for the website.

Click here for DiFrancesco, Bateman, Coley, Yospin, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum, P.C.'s website.

Editor's Note: Richard Pompelio and Nicholas Pompelio are advertisers on TheAlternativePress.com. To learn more about becoming an advertiser, call: (862) 354-1675, or email: jmiller@thealternativepress.com.

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