Attorney Profile
Sunny Marie Sparano
Areas of Practice
Contact Info
Overview
Sunny is Chair of the firm's Architectural, Engineering and Construction Defect Litigation Practice Group and serves on the firm's Board of Directors. Sunny focuses her practice on the defense of design and construction professionals, both independently and through their insurance carriers, in complex construction defect suits asserting a variety of claims, such as building and design-related deficiencies.
These large and complex construction defect suits often involve multiple parties in which issues of code violations, negligence, breach of contract and fraud are at issue, as well as insurance coverage claims under GL policies. Similarly, Sunny defends contractors and design professionals in claims involving construction site accidents. She also defends manufacturers in product liability actions.
In addition to the above, Sunny regularly handles environmental claims and serves as counsel in litigation involving leaking underground storage tanks, groundwater contamination, and claims pursuant to the New Jersey Spill Compensation Act.
Sunny has brought a significant amount of litigation experience with her when she joined the firm in 2005. Prior to joining the firm, Sunny was a construction litigation attorney who represented builders and contractors in complex construction defect suits. Prior to gaining experience in the construction litigation arena, Sunny briefly focused her practice in ERISA litigation handling health, life and disability benefit claims and the defense of insurance companies in connection with said claims.
In 1997 Sunny received her B.A. in Political Science from Seton Hall University. She then entered Widener University School of Law and received her juris doctor in 2000. Following law school, she served as judicial secretary to the Honorable Sallyanne Floria, J.S.C. in the Chancery Division, Family Part, Essex County, New Jersey. She is a member of the New Jersey State, New York State and Essex County Bar Associations, and is the Northeast Regional Associate for the Women's Construction Litigation Alliance, a non-profit organization devoted to expanding the role of women in construction defect litigation.
Results
Successfully represented a general contractor in a multimillion dollar construction defect litigation in New York alleging deficient construction of a mid-rise luxury building and resolved the case through mediation. Achieved a global resolution of the case for less than ten percent of the total damages complained of by plaintiff. Significantly limited our clients contribution, by taking the lead role in mediation and working with the subcontractor defendants to come up with a global settlement package.
Successfully represented general contractors in construction site injury cases whereby the defense of our client was tendered to the subcontractor defendants and the defense of our client was assumed.
Successfully represented a window manufacturer in a multi-party litigation whereby the matter was resolved through mediation with no payment by our client.
Summary judgment granted for defendant in case against an oil tank testing and removal company alleging negligence in connection with the testing of the underground oil tank.
Summary judgment granted for defendant in case by homeowner against contractor whose alleged work caused and/or contributed to the alleged structural deficiencies of the home. Successfully established that plaintiff's expert failed to establish a causal connection between the alleged deficiencies and the work performed by defendant contractor.
Thought Leadership
Navigating Liability for Design: Key Considerations for Contractors, Professionals, and Insurers, ILG Webinar, July 10, 2024
Coordinating the Design Defense, NJICLE 2023 Construction Law Forum, June 21, 2023
Building a Stronger Industry: The Impact of the Building Safety Legislation on Construction and Insurance, ILG 360º London Annual Conference 2023, March 15, 2023
Survival and Revival - How the Construction Industry is Embracing Change to Overcome Recent Challenges, ILG Virtual Conference, March 24, 2021
Construction Defect Litigation in New York and New Jersey, Client Webinar, December 2020
Leveling the Playing Field To Avoid Problems Down the Road on Construction Projects, West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar, May 2017
If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Sue: Why Products Claims in Construction Defect Cases Are Not Easy Money, West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar, May 2016
Statute of Repose and PREDFDA in New Jersey Construction Defect Law, Construction Defect Claims Manager Association, March 2013
Construction Defect in the State of New Jersey, Construction Defect Claims Managers Association, March 2013
Case Law Alerts, contributor, 2011-2012
"If You Build It, They Will Sue," New Jersey Law Journal, March 27, 2006, co-author
"If You Build It, They Will Sue: Construction Defect Litigation In The Garden State And The Trend Of Alternative Dispute Resolution," Defense Digest, Vol. 11, No. 4, December 2005, co-author
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