Cases & Settlements

Wrongful Death: Counsel represented the children of elderly parents and sister who were killed as a result of tile American Airlines crash in Queens, New York. The airline settled the matter for $4.9 million with the estate.

Product Liability: Counsel represented the estate of a gentleman who was strangled when the log splitter he was using the split wood caught his coat pulling him into the log splitter. The Federal Court judge awarded $1.5 million in wrongful death damages.

Collision: Counsel represented the estate of a girl who was killed while riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle. The claim against the plaintiff's parents' insurance company involved a substantial question as to actual insurance coverage. Counsel for the estate convinced the carrier that the coverage was far in excess of what was quoted by the carrier. The case settled for $600,000.

School Bus Collision: Counsel represented an individual who was driving a motor vehicle when a school bus made a left turn in front of his path. The individual suffered lacerations to his body and a partial removal of his spleen. The school district's insurance company settled for the full amount of insurance coverage of $590,000.

Products Liability: Counsel represented a woman who was operating a wire brush machine manufactured by a Chicago company. The plaintiff caught her hand in the machine, losing fingers and doing substantial damage to her hand. The case settled for $400,000.

Motorcycle / Car Collision: Counsel represented an individual who was injured when a motor vehicle pulled in front of his motorcycle. Plaintiff had no recollection of the collision. Plaintiff suffered from general trauma and

concussion as a result of the collision. He subsequently developed blood clots and was required to take blood thinners to keep further clots from developing. The jury awarded $350,000 to plaintiff.

Pedestrian Struck by Hit & Run Driver: Counsel represented an individual who caught another man burglarizing his house. When accosted, the burglar fled the scene striking the homeowner with his vehicle. The hit and run driver was never found. The plaintiff made a claim on his own insurance company. The matter settled for $325,000.

Worker's Compensation Settlement: Counsel represented an individual who suffered a low back injury when he slid down a flight of stairs after making a sales appointment with a potential customer. The matter was covered by the claimant's worker's compensation carrier. The injury did not require any surgery. The case eventually settled with the worker's compensation carrier for $300,000.

Youth Injured as Passenger: An eleven year old boy suffered internal injuries when the vehicle in which he was a passenger was struck by another car during a rain storm. Counsel convinced the insurance company for the other driver that because she was driving too fast for the rainy conditions, the collision was her fault. The case settled for the full amount of insurance coverage of $200,000.

Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident: Counsel represented a female who was involved in a motor vehicle collision. She was released from the hospital subsequent to the collision and returned home. She passed away a few weeks later in another hospital. Counsel settled for full insurance policy benefits of $150,000.

Darting Dog: Counsel represented an individual who was riding a motorcycle when a neighbor's dog darted into his path. The operator of the vehicle dumped his motorcycle rather than hit the pet. Counsel subsequently learned that the pet had been a nuisance in the neighborhood for some time, freely roaming the streets and chasing vehicles, Plaintiff suffered a broken ankle and subsequently developed blood clots which resolved. The case settled for $125,000.

Hit & Run: Counsel represented an elderly woman struck as a pedestrian by a vehicle exiting a shopping center. The vehicle continued along the road although it was eventually stopped by the police. The woman did not require any surgery and recovered from her injuries. The case settled for $115,000.

Car Driver Suffers Relapse of Multiple Sclerosis Following a Collision: Counsel represented a woman who suffered from multiple sclerosis in remission. The plaintiff's car was struck by another vehicle while running on a work errand. Counsel settled with the other driver for policy limits of $25,000, convinced an arbitration panel to award her an additional $85,000 on her own auto policy, and successfully litigated her worker's compensation claim for benefits to cover the relapse of her multiple sclerosis.

Car Driver Struck by Hit & Run Driver: Counsel represented a driver of an automobile struck from behind by a hit and run driver. The plaintiff suffered low back injury which did not require surgery. Counsel convinced an arbitration panel that the low back condition was a result of the collision. The panel awarded $100,000.

Pedestrian Struck by Van: Counsel represented a pedestrian who was struck by a van after the van had made a sharp left to avoid impact with a vehicle. The van turned into the path of the pedestrian and struck her. She suffered multiple injuries. The case settled for full policy limits of $100,000.

Suit Against Pennsylvania University: Counsel represented a female student who suffered a broken jaw when struck by a barricade pole which had been left open by persons unknown at the University. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania settled the case for $90,000.

Construction Stair Collapse: Counsel represented a woman who suffered injuries to her back when a temporary staircase from the first floor to the basement floor of the house under construction collapsed. Counsel settled the case for $85,000 on the basis that the temporary stairway was improperly built and did not support the weight of plaintiff.

Slip & Fall: Counsel tried a case involving a woman who slipped as a result of water left on the floor of a department store by a floor cleaning machine. The plaintiff sustained injuries to her lower back. The case settled for $75,000 on the second day of trial after the defendant had initially refused to make any offers.

Homeowner Injured When Deck Collapsed: Plaintiff sustained multiple trauma after falling from a deck which collapsed during a party. Counsel convinced the insurance company that the deck had been improperly built. The case settled for $67,500.

Criminal Matters:

Counsel has tried various drug, assault, personal property theft, and numerous cases as both a prosecutor and defense counsel. The most notable case was the defense of an individual charged with berating this 12 week old daughter to death. The individual confessed to the beating prior to counsel’s representation. The Commonwealth sought to the death penalty for the individual.

Counsel was successful in convincing the jury that because of the defendant’s low intellect and his own tragic upbringing, the death penalty was inappropriate.