Patrick J. Bartels is a founding member and co-managing member of the Keefe Bartels law firm in Shrewsbury, New Jersey. Mr. Bartels practices extensively in the areas of complex toxic tort matters involving asbestos and benzene exposures, class action and employment law. He specializes in the representation of individuals suffering from occupational diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Mr. Bartels graduated from the University of Dayton and the University of Dayton School of Law. He served as a Captain in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) Department from 1982 to 1987. While serving as a Judge Advocate Mr. Bartels litigated over 50 criminal trials and numerous administrative hearings. Mr. Bartels was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1987.

Following a brief tenure at a small Plaintiff's firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mr. Bartels accepted a position as an Assistant Prosecutor in the Middlesex County Prosecutor's office in New Brunswick, New Jersey from 1989 to 1992 during which time he tried numerous felony matters before the Superior Court. Additionally, Mr. Bartels successfully argued several matters before the New Jersey Appellate Division involving important search and seizure issues affecting schools and emergency situations. Mr. Bartels served as the County's first legal advisor to the then newly formed Middlesex County Environmental Crime Task Force.

In 1992, Mr. Bartels joined Garruto Galex & Cantor in East Brunswick, New Jersey where he worked in their asbestos litigation department. Since that time, Mr. Bartels has successfully represented hundreds of victims of asbestos-related diseases. Mr. Bartels' notable accomplishments include mesothelioma jury verdicts of $3.5million and $2.1million and numerous multi-million dollar settlements.

Mr. Bartels served as Co-Counsel in a national consumer fraud class settlement in Chicago, Illinois on behalf of thousands of consumers nationwide. Recently, he served as Co-Counsel in a consumer fraud action seeking class certificate, Cooper et al. v. Cendant Corporation et al. Mr. Bartels has managed and prosecuted numerous complex matters involving defective products such as Rezulin, Baycol and breast implants.

Mr. Bartels is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and is admitted to practice in the State and Federal Courts in New Jersey, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Court of Military Appeals. Mr. Bartels is also a member of the Middlesex County Bar Association and Trial Lawyers of New Jersey.

Patrick Joseph Bartels

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