Peter D. Valenzano
Top rated Employment Litigation attorney in Red Bank, New Jersey
McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C.
Practice areas: Employment Litigation, Employment & Labor, Civil Litigation
Licensed in New Jersey since: 2010
Education: Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center
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McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C.
54 Shrewsbury AvenueRed Bank, NJ 07701 Phone: 732-842-6500 Email: Peter D. Valenzano Visit website
Peter Valenzano is a partner at McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C. Mr. Valenzano’s primary areas of practice are employment law and civil litigation. Mr. Valenzano actively litigates in all areas of employment law, including but not limited to matters involving discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, as well as non-compete, whistleblower, wage and hour, and qui tam actions.
As an employment attorney, Mr. Valenzano has experience litigating on behalf of both employees and employers. As a member and board member of the National Employment Lawyer's Association, Mr. Valenzano believes everyone deserves a voice – especially those who have unfairly lost their job due to the insidious and shameful discrimination of their employer. Mr. Valenzano became an employment lawyer so that he could speak up for and defend workers who are unable to defend themselves against the disproportionate power of their employer.
Throughout his career, Mr. Valenzano has successfully litigated against international corporations, counties and municipalities, the State of New Jersey and the Federal Government. In addition, Mr. Valenzano routinely represents public employees such as teachers, police officers, and corrections officers when they are being unjustly brought up on phony disciplinary charges. Mr. Valenzano does not shy away from complex litigation matters. In addition to litigating employment discrimination and whistleblower matters, Mr. Valenzano has successfully litigated personal injury matters, consumer fraud matters, shareholder disputes, partnership disputes, and the enforceability of restrictive covenants.
Recently, Mr. Valenzano successfully argued before the New Jersey Appellate Division in Roman v. Bergen Logistics, 456 NJ Super. 157, where the court held that an arbitration agreement’s bar of punitive damage claims under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”) was unenforceable because it violates the public policy of “eradicating the cancer of discrimination” embodied in the LAD. (Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.)
Beyond his passion for litigation, Mr. Valenzano has considerable experience representing small businesses, partnerships, and sole proprietors in transactional work, such as preparing employment agreements, employee handbooks, operating agreements, shareholder’s agreements, partnership agreements, stockholder agreements, and by-laws. Mr. Valenzano has also successfully negotiated several sales, mergers, and acquisitions on behalf of small and mid-size businesses within the State of New Jersey.
Mr. Valenzano graduated from Rutgers University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Sociology. Before embarking on his legal career, Mr. Valenzano worked for United Cerebral Palsy as a Medicaid Service Coordinator providing access to social services to families caring for loved ones with disabilities and special health care needs in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn, Bronx and Manhattan. After several years working for United Cerebral Palsy, Mr. Valenzano attended Touro Law Center in Long Island, New York where he earned his Juris Doctor Degree. Mr. Valenzano served as President of the Touro Law Center Student Bar Association from 2009-2010. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Valenzano was awarded the Excellence in Contribution to the Growth of the Law Center Award by the administration and faculty of Touro Law Center. Additionally, Mr. Valenzano served as the notes and comments editor of the Touro Law Center International Law Review and received an award in 2009 for Academic Excellence in the Study of International Human Rights.
First Admitted: 2010, New Jersey
Professional Webpage: https://www.redbanklegal.com/team/peter-d-valenzano/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Board member of the National Employment Lawyer's Association. Term of 2015-2017. , 2015
- Sydney Reitman Inn Of Court. Pupil. Have been involved since 2015., 2025
- SDNY Moot Court Competition - Juror. , 2018
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- First Chair arbitration hearing of Boston v. Chipotle (claimant was successful, award is confidential) (2025) , 2025
- First chair arbitration hearing of claimant Katherine Gonzalez v. Doherty Enterprises. , 2025
- Part of the trial team in McCabe v. Monroe BOE, MID-2756-17 resulting in a $500,000 jury award. (2023) , 2023
- Part of the trial team in Levy v. Costco, MON-L-3039-19. (2022) , 2022
- Office of Administrative Law Trial of Jermaine Curry, OAL DKT NO. 17582-52 (2018) , 2018
Representative Clients
- Represent Maria Hadley, former employee of Trump National Golf Club, in a claim against Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster. , 2026
- Represent Justine Sacks, the former general manager of Trump National Golf Club in Bedminister NJ in a CEPA/NJLAD claim. , 2025
- Currently represent a former employee of Blume Forte alleging pregnancy discrimination. https://www.law360.com/articles/2312306, 2025
- Currently represent a former employee of celebrity chef, David Burke, adverse to him and his company Red Horse alleging sexual harassment. The case has garnered significant press. https://www.app.com/story/news/local/monmouth-county/2025/01/03/red-horse-by-david-burke-general-manager-sexually-harassed/77323659007/, 2025
- Represented the former COO of Garces Grabler LeBroq in a claim alleging sexual harassment and gender discrimination against the law firm. https://www.law360.com/employment/articles/2300652/nj-law-firm-ex-coo-settle-sexual-harassment-bias-suit, 2025
- Represented famous musician Bob Marley's son, Rohan Marley, in a claim filed against him alleging sexual harassment. , 2024
- Represent a former employee of Cannabis Company "Verano" alleging sexual harassment. https://www.redbanklegal.com/in-the-news/former-employee-of-cannabis-operator-verano-alleges-sexual-harassment-and-gender-discrimination/, 2023
- Currently represent a NJ Corrections Officer adverse the Hudson County Department of Corrections alleging whistleblower retaliation. https://www.redbanklegal.com/in-the-news/hudson-county-corrections-officer-alleges-whistleblower-retaliation-after-lodging-complaint-regarding-unnecessary-use-of-force-against-an-inmate/, 2023
- Currently represent a former employee of the American Dream mall alleging whistleblower retaliation stemming from a shooting at the mall that was improperly handled by security. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/2023/02/08/american-dream-mall-shooting-former-employee-files-lawsuit/69880241007/, 2023
- Represented two former employees of a well-known celebrity in a sexual harassment claim. , 2023
- Represented a former employee of the Stafford Township Public School District adverse to the Superintendent, George Chidiac, alleging sexual harassment. , 2021
- Represented a group of 10 plaintiffs against the management of Motor Vehicle Assurance alleging racial discrimination and whistleblower retaliation. https://nypost.com/2020/07/15/ceo-at-racist-nj-company-photographed-in-hitler-costume/, 2020
- Represented a former employee of the American Dental Center alleging whistleblower retaliation. https://nypost.com/2020/04/03/new-jersey-dental-worker-claims-boss-did-shots-ate-pot-brownies-on-the-job/, 2020
- Represented a former employee of Recovery Centers in America against the CEO alleging sexual harassment. https://nypost.com/2020/04/15/addiction-clinic-ceo-sexually-assaulted-alcoholic-worker-suit-says/, 2020
- Represented a former EMT adverse to the former chief of the Franklin township fire department alleging sexual harassment. https://nypost.com/2020/12/02/nj-fire-chief-sexually-harassed-teen-volunteer-lawsuit/, 2020
- Represented an employee of a Pizzeria who was subjected to an offensive and anti-semitic tirade. https://abc7ny.com/eatontown-pizzeria-owner-anti-semitic-nj-pizza-anit-semitism-tirade/5852941/, 2020
- Represented a former pharmaceutical representative against her former employer, Novo Nordisk. , 2016
- Represented a class of misclassified workers against Lowes. https://www.newjerseyemploymentattorneysblog.com/lowes-hit-with-worker-classification-class-action-in-nj/, 2016
Transactions
- Represented buyers in the purchase of a business, New Jupiter Media, and assisted them in navigating complex issues involving small business loans. , 2020
- Negotiated the separation of Carol Wolfe, wife of former New Jersey Assemblyman David Wolfe, from the company she founded called Homes Now, a non-profit that constructed over 200 affordable housing units. It was a complex negotiation that took nearly a half year to resolve. , 2018
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Third Circuit Court of Appeals. , 2025
- Eastern District of New York. , 2011
- Southern District of NY, 2011
Pro bono / Community Service
- Cranford Jaycees. Community service projects for the local community in hometown. , 2023
Educational Background
- Graduated from Touro Law Center. , 2007-2010
- Rutgers University. , 2000-2004
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Successfully defeated an Order To Show Cause to seal a complaint in a an egregious sexual harassment claim, Melissa Krupinski v. Maxwell, Tassini and Gardner. In same hearing defeated two motions to dismiss, successfully quashed several subpoenas, and got claims for defamation, abuse of process, fraud, and breach of duty of loyalty successfully dismissed ., 2026
- Appellate Division Victory in Rivera Santana v. CJF, et al consolidated with McDermott v. Guaranteed Rate. 2025 N.J. Super. LEXIS 79. Reversing trial court's order in a case of first impression. Where plaintiffs McDermott and Rivera-Santana each alleged viable sexual harassment claims along with other employment-related claims, the court held that the EFAA barred arbitration of all claims in both cases, not just the sexual harassment claims themselves., 2026
- Appellate Division victory in Hussain v. Allies. Reversing dismissal of client's CEPA claim, DOCKET NO. A-1532-23 (2025), 2025
- Successful Motion To Dismiss Breach of Contract claim in 1:25-cv-01335-JLR Liberty Harbor Coffee Inc. et al v. Moss et al., 2025
- Defeated Motion to Compel Arbitration in the Matter of Jamal Harmon v. Highlight Motor Freight, et al, Docket No. MER-L-406-25., 2025
- Defeated Defendants Motion for Summary Judgment in Transgender Discrimination Claim, CAM-L-001200-23., 2025
- Defeated Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment in the matter of Osterhoudt v. ESS, et al., MID-L-006313-22, 2025
- Defeated Motion for Summary Judgment filed by Defendants in the matter of Jill Kovalsky v. Paulus Sokolowski and Sartor, LLC, MON-L-1225-22, 2025
- Defeated Defendants Motion for Summary Judgment in the matter of Minguito Viera v. Agilex, MID-L-004608-22. , 2025
- Defeated Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment in Iesha Loyal v. Atlantic Health System, et al., ESX-L-005245-21., 2024
- Defeated Defendants' Motion to Compel Arbitration in the matter of Ashaki Thomas v. Quest Diagnostics, HUD-L-001861-23., 2024
- Defeated Motion for Summary Judgment in Gregory Pollock v. 555 Roselle Meat & Produce, Inc. Docket No. UNN-L-4345-21, 2024
- Defeated Defendants Motion to Compel Arbitration in Wayne Chambers v. McWayne Ductile, et al., 3:23-cv-01054-PGS-RLS, 2023
- Defeated Defendants Motion for Summary Judgment in Carly Suchecki v. Howell Animal Hospital LLC, Docket No. MON-L-1666-21., 2023
- Defeated Summary Judgment in the matter of Michael Yawn v. Interactive Video Productions LLC, Docket No. MON-L-1367-21 , 2023
- Defeated Defendants Motion for Summary Judgment in the matter of Justin Pierre vs. Domino's Pizza LLC, S; AAA Case No. 01-20-0014-9263, 2022
- Appellate Division Victory in Tevin Welcome v. Huffmaster - February 08, 2022. (Holding Defendants waived their right to enforce arbitration clause of employment application) , 2022
- Defeated Summary Judgment in the matter of Irwin Wayne Levy vs. Costco Wholesale Corporation, Z; Docket No. MON-L-3039-19, 2022
- Defeated Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment in the matter of Zavadsky - Malouf Buick - GMC, Inc., MID-L-8113-19, 2022
- Defeated Defendants Motion for Summary Judgment in the matter of Karina Janco v. Bay Ridge Automotive Management Corp., ARB - Case No. 01-20-0000-4123-2. , 2022
- Defeated Defendants Motion to Compel Arbitration in the matter of Stefransky Lemoine v. Open Road, et al., BER-L-952-22, 2022
- Defeated Defendants' Motion to Compel Arbitration in Justine Kirchgessner v. JJRCH a/k/a/ Bum Rogers, OCN-L-13-21, 2021
- Appellate Division victory in Gathman v. Care One - December 15, 2021 (holding it was error to dismiss Plaintiff's CEPA claim.) , 2021
- Defeated Defendants Motion to Compel Arbitration in the matter of Suifen Lyu v. Rocket Pharmaceuticals, MID-L-7400-21, 2021
- Appellate Division victory in Roman v. Bergen Logistics - August 23, 2018 (456 N.J. Super. 157) (published opinion - holding prohibition on punitive damages in an arbitration agreement is violative of public policy and unenforceable). , 2018
Honors
- Super Lawyer (2026) , Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2026
- Rising Star - Super Lawyer (2020), Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2020
- Rising Star - Super Lawyer (2019) , Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2019
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2026
- Rising Stars: 2019 - 2020