ATTORNEY PROFILES
Attorney Profiles
Radano and Lide
have been helping accident victims
since 1984. Let us help you get the compensation you deserve. We work on a contingency bases, so we don't get paid unless and when you collect. Our team of lawyers and other legal professionals has a single focus, that being, to help you get the justice you deserve!
Nicholas G. Radano
Nicholas G. Radano established the firm of Radano and Lide in 1984, when he realized there was a need to better service those who are disadvantaged, after personally witnessing victims suffer the consequences of an accident. As such, his practice is solely focused on the field of personal injury with an emphasis on serious automobile accidents, trucking accidents, premises liability, products liability, dog bites, and insurance coverage issues. His reputation as a no nonsense attorney, who is always well prepared and takes whatever time is necessary, day or night, to advance his client's cause is well documented.
Mr. Radano worked his way through school as a clerk at Acme Markets. After graduating from Villanova, he attended the University of New Hampshire School of Law, during which time he served as a Legal Intern to Justice Laurence Duncan of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire. He was also a member of the Law Review. He has been practicing law since 1977, and is admitted in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Since the inception of the Mandatory Superior Court Arbitration Program that was implemented more than 20 years ago, Mr. Radano participates as an Arbitrator in Gloucester and Cumberland Counties. He is an active member of the Attorney Bar Association and the Cumberland County Bar Association.
Melville D. Lide
Melville D. Lide joined Nicholas G. Radano in establishing the firm of Radano and Lide in 1984. His practice is focused upon the field of personal injury with an emphasis on motor vehicle and premises liability claims, including matters involving complex insurance coverage issues.
After graduating from Lehigh University with a Major and two Minor Degrees, Mr. Lide attended Rutgers - The State University Law School - Camden, from which he graduated in 1980. Thereafter, in 1980, he was admitted by the Supreme Court of New Jersey to practice before the Courts of the State of New Jersey and he was also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Mr. Lide has successfully argued hundreds of motions on behalf of personal injury Plaintiffs before the New Jersey Trial Courts and has also successfully briefed and argued matters before the Appellate Division and the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Since shortly after the Mandatory Superior Court Arbitration Program was implemented in New Jersey for personal injury cases more than 20 years ago, Mr. Lide has regularly served as an Arbitrator in Cumberland County and has also served, periodically, in Gloucester, Salem, Atlantic and Cape May Counties. Mr. Lide is a member of the New Jersey State and Cumberland County Bar Associations.
Mr. Lide is a past recipient of the Cumberland County Bar Association Professional Lawyer of the Year Award and he is currently serving his third term on the New Jersey Supreme Court Professional Responsibility Rules Committee, having been appointed to serve by the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Michael J. Gaffney
Michael J. Gaffney, Esquire is a partner with the law firm, having practiced with the firm for over 27 years. He has been admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and has been certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as Civil Trial Attorney since 2015 (re-certified in 2020). He specializes in civil litigation with emphasis on personal injury and insurance defense.
Mr. Gaffney received the 2022-2023 Professional Lawyer of the Year Award from the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law.
Mr. Gaffney is a longstanding member of the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA), the New Jersey Association for Justice (NJAJ), and Cumberland County Bar Association, and served as the Chairperson of the Cumberland County Civil Practice Committee (2008-2012), of which he is still a member. He is presently the Chairperson of the Cumberland County Arbitration Committee.
Mr. Gaffney has been a South Jersey resident his entire life. He graduated from Audubon High School in 1989 (fifth in his class). He then attended Seton Hall University, where he graduated cum laude, in 1993. After graduation, he attended Villanova University School of Law, where he obtained a Juris Doctorate in 1996, and received the Villanova Law Alumni Association Award.
Mr. Gaffney also gives back to the community serving as a Judge in the Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial competition, Volunteering his time as a mentor, and donating time to the Temple University Chapter of A Moment of Magic.
For the past 27 years, Michael Gaffney, Esquire has been zealously representing his clients, both in Court and out. Mr. Gaffney has a proven track record of consistently obtaining pre-litigation settlements for his clients of over three million dollars yearly. When settlements are not possible, Mr. Gaffney has noteworthy Trial experience with significantly favorable Jury Verdicts, including numerous Verdicts in excess of available insurance coverage. Because of his knowledge and skill, he is often referred cases by other attorneys to litigate. His wealth of experience and well-managed schedule, has afforded him familiarity with most insurance companies, their adjusters, the local Courts and the local Judges.
Mr. Gaffney's Verdicts Include:
$565,000.00 Verdict in a Slip and Fall Case
$200,000.00 Verdict in an Automobile Crash
$125,000.00 Verdict in an Intersectional Collision Motor Vehicle Crash
$100,000.00 Verdict in an Uninsured Motorist Case
$500,000.00 Verdict in an Underinsured Motorist Case
$150,000.00 Verdict in a Motor Vehicle Crash
$231,250.00 Verdict in a Disputed Liability Motor Vehicle Crash
$1,000,000.00 Judgment in a Sexual Assault Case
Some of Mr. Gaffney's Recent Settlements Include:
$250,000.00 in Intersectional Collision (2023)
$800,000.00 in Motorcycle v. Automobile Crash (2023)
$700,000.00 in Disputed Liability Car v. Dump truck Crash (2023)
$250,000.00 in Slip and Fall on Water at Grocery Store (2023)
$375,000.00 in Motorist Injured While at Work (2022)
$300,000.00 in Motor Vehicle Crash with Surgery (2022)
$450,000.00 in Minor Impact Motor Vehicle Accident (2022)
$250,000.00 in Deadly Motorcycle Crash (2021)
$112,500.00 in Disputed Liability Crash (2021)
$150,000.00 in Trip and Fall on Sidewalk (20210
$150,000.00 in Rear End Collision (2021)
$137,500.00 in Trip and Fall at Rental Property (2021)
$145,000.00 in Ankle Surgery for Motor Vehicle Crash (2021)
$225,000.00 in Assault Case (2021)
$250,000.00 in Rear End Collision Case (2021)
The qualifications to become a Certified Civil Trial Lawyer in New Jersey are as follows:
- Demonstrate his involvement in many civil cases that went to trial, including spending more than thirty days in the courtroom
- Be a member in good standing of the New Jersey Bar for five or more years
- Complete a certain number of continuing legal education courses (CLE) in the three years before filing an application
- Submit a list of judges and fellow lawyers who could attest to her reputation, character and ability
- Pass a written examination concerning various aspects of practice in her specialty
Kelly A. Dougherty
Kelly Dougherty is a South Jersey native with a passion to pursue her career locally and support the community she loves. She graduated from Ocean City High School and went on to attend The College of New Jersey, where she graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Criminology and Justice Studies. She then attended Rutgers School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2012 with her Juris Doctorate. While in law school, Ms. Dougherty was an active participant in the pro bono program and interned for the Honorable William C. Todd III in the Chancery Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey. She was also accepted onto the Journal of Law and Public Policy where her work was chosen for publication.
After graduating law school, Ms. Dougherty worked in estate planning but wanted to play a more active role in helping her community, so she joined Radano and Lide. She is admitted to practice throughout New Jersey and currently resides in Mays Landing.
Paul V. Orecchia
As a senior trial attorney at The Radano & Lide Firm, Paul has fought to get, for his clients in courtrooms across the State of New Jersey, compensation for injuries resulting from car crashes, construction accidents, dog bites, slip and falls, and other personal injuries. Paul is committed to personal attention, fast action and aggressive representation.
Prior to Radano & Lide, during Paul’s more than 25 years of legal experience he has practiced Civil, Corporate, Business and Estate litigation, in Federal Court in Newark and Trenton as well as New Jersey State Courts in Atlantic, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean and Union Counties. His prior practice included helping individuals with personal injury matters, real property transactions and estate issues, as well as advising companies and boards of directors on New Jersey law issues. He has served as a Board of Trustee on several nonprofit entities including: Child Care Services of Monmouth County; Contributech in Ocean County; and Holy Spirit High School and Assumption Regional Catholic School, in Atlantic County.
Car Accident Lawyer — Paul B. Orecchia, Esq. in Vineland, NJ
While in law school, Paul was an intern at Wier and Halberstadt, in Wilmington Delaware, assisting in the preparation of legal pleadings for clients pursuing anti-trust litigation matters.
Prior to law school, he was an Accountant, in Washington D.C., a the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), which has helped more than 50 million low-to middle- income families realize the American Dream of owning a home.
Education
Widener University Delaware Law School (J.D., 1991)
George Washington University (B. of Accy., Phi Beta Kappa, 1987)
Bar Admissions
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Court Admissions
New Jersey Superior Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
