Summary Judgment in New Jersey Strip Search Class Action

|

PHONE
EMAIL

Sean X. Kelly of our New Jersey office successfully obtained summary judgment in favor of Atlantic County in a long-running, putative class action law suit which challenged the constitutionality under the Fourth Amendment of the county’s policy of strip-searching incoming detainees to its jail.  We successfully argued that Atlantic City’s strip search policy did not violate the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizure.  This extensive litigation included the filing of an amicus brief on behalf of Atlantic County in a related and successful appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court, in the case of Florence v. Board of Chosen Freeholders, 132 S. Ct. 1510 (2012), in which the constitutionality of such policies was established.  Prior to Florence, thirty years of case law had held the contrary, that the routine strip-search of non-indictable pre-trial detainees violated the Constitution.

Ashley S. Cohen

Associate | New Jersey

PHONE 856-406-1339
EMAIL ACohen@moodklaw.com

  • Casualty Group
  • Construction Accident/Construction Defect
  • Transportation/Trucking

Ashley S. Cohen is an Associate Attorney with Marks, O’Neill, O’Brien, Doherty & Kelly. She is admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Ashley graduated magna cum laude from the University of Delaware in 2004 with bachelor’s degrees in both psychology and criminal justice as well as minoring in legal studies and sociology. While at the University of Delaware, Ashley served as a Resident Assistant for two years and worked for the Department of Education Research and Development. She attended Rutgers School of Law in Camden, graduating in 2007. During law school, Ashley was a member of the moot court team, Phi Delta Phi, and assisted in the domestic violence clinic.

While in law school, Ashley interned for a large Philadelphia defense firm concentrating on asbestos litigation and construction law. During her third year of law school, Ashley interned at a New Jersey firm focusing on environmental law and insurance defense. 

Prior to joining Marks O’Neill, Ashley worked on various complex civil litigation matters including class action products liability cases, several pharmaceutical matters, antitrust and SEC investigations and most recently as a Project Attorney with a state court litigation team defending a large educational facility in Pennsylvania. 

Outside of work, Ashley enjoys playing poker, traveling and caring for animals. 

Jacob Jaeger

Associate | New Jersey

PHONE 856-406-1316
EMAIL JJaeger@moodklaw.com

  • Casualty Group
  • Employment Law, Municipal & Public Entity
  • Healthcare & Catastrophic & Excess Loss
  • Professional Liability

Jacob Jaeger is an Associate with Marks, O’Neill, O’Brien, Doherty & Kelly. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey.

Jacob graduated from Ithaca College in 2016, with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. He attended Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law, graduating in 2023. During law school, he served on the Drexel Law Review as a staff writer in his 2L year and lead research editor in his 3L year. Jacob interned at the Federal Community Defender for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and as a judicial extern for the Honorable Paula A. Patrick in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Civil Division.

Since joining Marks O’Neill, Jacob has focused his practice on casualty, healthcare, employment, and professional liability matters.

Outside of work, Jacob enjoys traveling to new places to ski and hike, exploring new restaurants in Philadelphia and elsewhere, and spending time with his family and friends playing board games. Prior to attending law school, Jacob was employed as a recruiter, competitive barista and coffee roaster, professional vocalist, and actor.

Ana R. Ciobanescu

Associate | Philadelphia

PHONE 215-832-4297
EMAIL ACiobanescu@moodklaw.com

  • Casualty Group
  • Employment Law, Municipal & Public Entity
  • Professional Liability

Ana R. Ciobanescu is an Associate with Marks, O’Neill, O’Brien, Doherty & Kelly. She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania.

Ana graduated from Drexel University, College of Arts and Sciences in 2015. After graduating, she was a Victim/Services Coordinator the District Attorney’s Office of Philadelphia in the Victim and Witness Services Unit where she assisted victims of crime to navigate the criminal justice system. She later was a paralegal with the Insurance Fraud Unit tending to matters involving application and incident fraud as well as assisting in grand jury investigations. Ana graduated from Drexel University, Kline School of Law, in May 2022. During law school, Ana was an Executive Editor for Research and Production on Drexel Law Review and was on Drexel University’s nationally ranked Trial Team. Ana was also a certified legal intern with the Philadelphia Legal Assistance, Family Law Unit, where she represented clients in hearings involving both child custody and protection from abuse matters.

Ana first joined Marks O’Neill as a law clerk. As an Associate, she focuses on matters involving professional liability, employment law, and casualty liability claims.

Ana lives in Philadelphia with her boyfriend and their cat, Lenuta. Outside of the office, Ana enjoys trying new foods and restaurants, hiking, reading, and listening to podcasts.