When Frank Testa was a boy in Vineland, he spent hours in his father’s shoemaking shop. He listened to men who gathered there, and more often than not, joined in the conversation. In fact, he was quite talkative. His father, Joseph Testa, told him he should become a lawyer because he talked so much.

Born in Vineland in 1914, Frank Testa graduated as the valedictorian of the Vineland High School class of 1934. He worked his way through college at Temple University, earned a law degree from South Jersey Law School, which is now Rutgers, and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1940. During his distinguished career, Frank Testa served as a Prosecutor, a Municipal Court Judge, and the Mayor of the City of Vineland before being appointed a Cumberland County Judge in 1973. In 1978, he was appointed as a Superior Court Judge for the State of New Jersey and retired from the bench in 1983.

Judge Testa’s two sons, Joseph and Michael, shared his love for the law and both decided to make it their life’s work as well. Joseph P. Testa graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1971 and was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1971 and the New Jersey Bar in 1972. In addition to his civilian law practice, Joseph Testa retired as a Colonel in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corp, serving on active duty from 1969-1970 and from 1971-1974, and in the reserves from 1971 to 1995.

Michael L. Testa graduated from the Villanova University School of Law and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1975. Michael quickly began to build a reputation in the legal community as forceful advocate who was extremely knowledgeable and always well prepared. Michael Testa is Certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as both a Civil and Criminal Trial Attorney.

In 1983, Joseph and Michael joined another highly respected southern New Jersey attorney, Frank G. Basile, to form Basile, Testa and Testa, PA. The trio was also proud to welcome Judge Frank Testa as Counsel to the Firm. He served as Counsel until his passing in 2002.

In 1995, Joseph P. Testa was appointed as a Superior Court Judge by Governor Christine Todd Whitman and withdrew from the firm. Judge Testa is a frequent lecturer for New Jersey ICLE and other professional associations and has contributed to various publications. He is also a lecturer at the New Jersey Judicial College.

The family’s law tradition welcomed a new member in 2001 when Michael Testa, Jr. joined the firm after graduating from the Villanova University School of Law. He received his LL.M Trial Advocacy Degree from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law in 2006.

Sadly, the firm lost one of its founding members, Frank G. Basile, who unexpectedly passed away in 2006 after 43 years of dedicated service to the profession. His guidance and wisdom is missed by all.

When you choose Basile and Testa to handle your legal needs, you can be confident that the attorneys working on your behalf are utilizing the best resources, accessing the right contacts, and have the experience, reputation, and desire to handle your case. They are successful because they value the little things. You can be confident in the fact that your telephone calls will be returned and they are always available to meet with their clients.

Specializing in the areas of Personal Injury, Crininal Law, Workers’ Compensation, Commercial Law and Litigation, and Wills and Estates, Basile and Testa is committed to providing their clients with legal services that they can trust. When you need a lawyer, there is no substitution for knowledge, experience, and integrity.

A Brief History

Basile & Testa, PA is a Southern New Jersey law firm with over 90 years of combined experience and an outstanding record of success in the New Jersey Courts.

As a Board certified attorneys by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, Michael L. Testa can offer his clients an added level of comfort in the competence of the firm.

Basile and Testa PA was founded in 1983 by Frank G. Basile, Joseph P. Testa, and Michael L. Testa. In 1995, Joseph Testa was appointed as a Cumberland County Superior Court Judge by then Governor Christine Todd Whitman and withdrew from the firm. Frank Basile passed away unexpectedly in 2005.

When you choose Basile and Testa Pa to handle your legal needs, you can be confident that the attorneys working on your behalf are utilizing the best resources, accessing the right contacts, and have the experience, reputation, and desire to handle your case. _ey are successful because they value the little things. You can be confident in the fact that your telephone calls will be returned and they are always available to meet with you.

Specializing in the areas of Personal Injury, Criminal law, Workers’ Compensation, Commercial Law and Litigation, and Wills and Estates, Basile and Testa PA is committed to providing their clients with legal advice that you can trust. In the field of law, there is no substitution for knowledge, experience, and integrity.

A Proven Record of Success

When you choose Basile & Testa, PA to handle your legal needs, you have their promise that they will vigorously defend your rights, provide sound legal advice, and allow your voice to be heard. _is philosophy has resulted in the settlement or successful litigation of thousands of cases. Although they represent each client with the same commitment, the following are some of their most challenging cases.

Former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman was looking for experienced trial attorneys to represent the State in its historic lawsuit against the tobacco industry. Michael Testa and the firm were retained as co-counselors in the case, along with six other firms. A suit was filed against the tobacco industry seeking to recover billions of dollars that the State and its taxpayers paid through the Medicaid program for health care costs attributable to smoking related illnesses. Prior to going to trial, a 7.5 billion dollar settlement was reached for the State of New Jersey.

•  In Vineland, an eight year old child was struck by a car while crossing the street to board her school bus. _e child sustained severe injuries as the result of the accident. Michael Testa obtained a settlement with a total value of $1,855,832 plus attorney fees.

•  In Millville, and electro-mechanic at Foster Forbes Glass Company was severely injured in an accident at work. As a result of this accident, he lost his life. At trial, Frank Basile obtained an award for the family in the amount of $1,052,000.

•  In Atlantic City, a construction worker was injured when the second floor slab of a garage structure at a casino and the scaffold on which he was standing collapsed. He fell 18 feet to the first floor under concrete debris sustaining serious injuries. Michael Testa obtained an award for the injured worker totaling $1,665,000.