Domhnall (Donny) O’Cathain is a New Jersey trial lawyer. He has helped his clients secure tens of millions of dollars for the injuries and economic losses they have suffered from the negligence of corporations and careless people.
Donny litigates personal injury cases in state court and in federal court. So far in 2024, Donny won settlements for clients such as $170,000 for an uber crash; $300,000 for rear end car crash with surgery; $375,000 for trip and fall on stairs; and $875,000 for leg and ankle fractures caused by a negligent forklift driver.
In 2017, his clients (a wife and her husband) won the largest dental malpractice jury verdict in New Jersey in a case where the defendant refused to make any offers. In 2019, his client won a $1.2 million dollar jury verdict in a case where the bus company’s final offer was $200,000. During the pandemic, he tried four virtual jury trials. Three of those cases resulted in verdicts for his clients that were more than twice the final offer by the defense. In the fourth case, the defense moved from a never-pay position to a six-figure settlement before closing statements.
He has many seven figure settlements in trucking crash cases and medical malpractice cases. Most of those cases settled shortly before trial.
Firms throughout the tristate area refer cases to him and other New Jersey plaintiff firms bring him in as trial counsel when a case cannot be settled. Many clients have come to him because he has been recommended by lawyers who have gone against him. Donny considers this to be a privilege and is honored to pay referring attorneys a referral fee pursuant to the New Jersey Rules of Court.
Donny was born and raised in Ballincollig, Co. Cork, Ireland. He has lived in New Jersey since 2004. He and his wife – and law partner – Francesca O’Cathain, reside in Hillsdale with their three children, their dog, and whatever other dog(s) their children have smuggled into the house. When he is not with his family or at his desk, he is probably just thinking about cross-examining his next defense witness.
CERTIFICATIONS
• Certified Civil Trial Attorney, New Jersey
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
• Brehon Law Society of New York, President (current)
• Member, Irish American Bar Association of New York (current)
• President, Irish American Bar Association of New York (former)
• American Association for Justice, New Jersey, Member (current)
