Defense Digest, Vol. 24, No. 1, March 2018

On the Pulse…Other Notable Achievements

 

New Shareholders

We are happy to announce that 14 associates and one special counsel have been elevated to shareholder, with 60 percent of the new shareholder class comprised of women. In Philadelphia, the new shareholders are: Lawrence J. Bartel, Professional Liability Department; Mary Kate McGrath, Health Care Department; Michelle I. Moses, Health Care Department; Jennie Philip, Professional Liability Department; and Andrea C. Rock, Workers’ Compensation Department. In Pittsburgh, the new shareholder is Joseph V. Lesinski, Casualty Department. In Harrisburg, the new shareholder is Nicole M. Ehrhart, Professional Liability Department. In Mount Laurel, New Jersey, the new shareholders are: Kevin T. Bright, Professional Liability Department; Ariel C. Brownstein, Casualty Department; Angela Y. DeMary, Workers’ Compensation Department; and Jessica D. Wachstein, Casualty Department. In Roseland, New Jersey, the new shareholder is Julia A. Klubenspies, Health Care Department. In New York, New York, the new shareholders are: Adam C. Calvert, Casualty Department, and R. David Lane, Jr., Professional Liability Department. In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the new shareholder is Danielle N. Robinson, Professional Liability Department.

 

Recognition

Marshall Dennehey has been selected a “2018 Best Law Firm” in multiple practice areas, both nationally and across numerous regions of the country. The rankings, which are presented in tiers, are compiled annually by U.S. News - Best Lawyers® and recognize firms for professional excellence and consistently impressive ratings from both clients and peers. A description of the selection methodology may be found at http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/methodology.aspx.

  • National Level
    • TIER 1: Admiralty & Maritime Law
    • TIER 2: Insurance Law
  • Metropolitan Level Tier 1
    • Harrisburg: Workers’ Compensation Law, Employers
    • Jacksonville, FL: Professional Malpractice Law, Defendants
    • New Jersey: Legal Malpractice Law, Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law, Defendants
    • New York City: Admiralty & Maritime Law
    • Philadelphia: Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Medical Malpractice Law, Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation, Defendants; Product Liability Litigation, Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law, Defendants
    • Pittsburgh: Personal Injury Litigation, Defendants
  • Metropolitan Level Tier 2
    • Cleveland: Insurance Law; Medical Malpractice Law, Defendants
    • Harrisburg: Medical Malpractice Law, Defendants
    • Orlando: Mediation
    • Philadelphia: Civil Rights Law
    • Pittsburgh: Legal Malpractice Law, Defendants
  • Metropolitan Level Tier 3
    • Harrisburg: Personal Injury Litigation, Defendants
    • Jacksonville, FL: Medical Malpractice Law, Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation, Defendants
    • Orlando: Insurance Law
    • Philadelphia: Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Legal Malpractice Law, Defendants

 

Teresa Ficken Sachs (Philadelphia, PA), Vice-Chair of the Appellate Advocacy and Post-Trial Practice Group, was selected as one of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s 2017 “Women of Distinction.” The program recognizes 30 female leaders in the Philadelphia region who are influential in their companies, industries, and communities and who have solid reputations based on their experience, integrity, leadership and accomplishments.

Teresa Ficken Sachs (Philadelphia, PA) was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers (AAAL) at the Academy’s 2017 Fall Meeting. The AAAL was founded in 1990 to recognize outstanding appellate lawyers and to promote the improvement of appellate advocacy and the administration of the appellate courts. Membership is limited to 500 lawyers in the United States and is reserved for accomplished appellate advocates who have demonstrated the highest levels of skill and integrity.

 

2018 Ohio Super Lawyers & Rising Stars

David J. Fagnilli and Stacy A. Starcher (Cleveland, OH) and David J. Oberly (Cincinnati, OH) have been selected to the 2018 edition of Ohio Super Lawyers magazine. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. David Fagnilli was recognized in the area of Insurance Coverage and Civil Defense Litigation. Stacy Starcher was recognized for Personal Injury – Medical Malpractice Defense. David Oberly was recognized in the area of Business Litigation; Professional Liability Defense; and Employment and Labor Defense. A description of the selection methodology can be found at http://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html.

 

Speaking Engagements

Tony Natale and Niki Ingram (Philadelphia, PA) were speakers at the 2017 Annual Human Resources Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania. A record-breaking crowd attended to discuss timely issues for human resources managers including workers’ compensation topics. Tony and Niki covered workers’ compensation issues germane to human resources personnel, including workplace parking lot injuries, case law surrounding the use of panel physicians and sexual harassment mental injuries.

David Shannon (Philadelphia, PA) presented at the National Conference of the Insurance Guaranty Funds in St. Louis, Missouri. David presented “Data Breach Claims What to Do?” Claims professionals with the Guaranty Associations attended the conference.

Danielle Vugrinovich (Pittsburgh, PA) was recently a speaker at the National Creditors Bar Association’s Fall Convention in Washington, D.C. She spoke on the topic of “Solving the ‘Meaningful Involvement’ Puzzle” as it relates to collection attorneys’ role in the collection process.

Victoria Scanlon (Scranton, PA) recently presented at The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s 64th Annual Meeting, held in Washington, D.C. The presentation was entitled “Mock Depositions: What the Child Psychiatrist Needs to Know Before Sitting in the Hot Seat.” Vicky played the role of defense counsel for the defendant psychiatrist. The presentation included depositions of the plaintiff-mother and defendant-psychiatrist, and a discovery deposition of the defendant’s expert witness.

 

Defense Digest, Vol. 24, No. 1, March 2018. Defense Digest is prepared by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin to provide information on recent legal developments of interest to our readers. This publication is not intended to provide legal advice for a specific situation or to create an attorney-client relationship. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING pursuant to New York RPC 7.1. © 2018 Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be reprinted without the express written permission of our firm. For reprints, contact tamontemuro@mdwcg.com.