Attorney Profile
G. Jay Habas
Areas of Practice
Contact Info
Overview
Jay Habas is the managing partner of the firm’s Erie office. As defense litigator and trial attorney, Jay has represented clients in federal and state courts as well as administrative agencies on a variety of matters involving employment, professional liability, civil rights, municipal liability, products liability and workers’ compensation.
A highlight of Jay's practice involves counseling and defending clients in employment disputes including hiring, termination, discipline, discrimination and disability, wrongful discharge, retaliation, premises liability, workplace violence, workers compensation, OHSA, civil rights, and wage and hour investigations throughout western Pennsylvania. Jay is also experienced in general liability liability matters, and he represents large and small manufacturers, retail establishments, family-owned businesses, health care organizations, construction companies, school districts, churches, municipalities and non-profit agencies in all types of litigation and liability claims. Jay also defends architects, accountants, property managers, attorneys, and municipal officials in errors and omissions cases brought against them.
Jay is a frequent speaker on workers' compensation and employment-related topics for employers and insurance professionals throughout Pennsylvania. He previously served as co-author of the firm's monthly publication, What's Hot in Workers' Compensation, and is a contributor to the year-end summary of the Top 10 Cases in Workers' Compensation. Jay is involved in a number of professional organizations, including the Lake Erie Claims Association, Northwest Pennsylvania Human Resource Management Association, Pennsylvania Defense Institute, and Americans Inns of Court.
An Erie native and graduate of Gannon University (where he was the recipient of the Medal of Honor), Jay received his law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School. He began his career in Chicago with a major Midwestern defense litigation firm and then worked for a defense firm in Pittsburgh before relocating home to Erie with Marshall Dennehey in 1997.
Results
Successfully resolved high-damage medical malpractice lawsuit involving the death of a three-month-old child where damages exposure was seven figures, with clear liability and potential punitive exposure for low six figures prior to trial on the basis of supportive expert testimony.
Won appeal of toxic chemical exposure workers' compensation case where the judge found an employee died of cancer due to exposure from Benzene in workplace and awarded substantial, lifetime widow's benefits in excess of $500,000. Award reversed on appeal to Commonwealth Court on basis of the argument that widow's claim was barred by application of statute of limitations.
Successfully appealed denial of hearing loss claim in workers' compensation case through extensive use of after-acquired evidence to demonstrate workplace exposure to noise did not rise to level of OSHA threshold limit.
Use of medical experts from seven different disciplines to mitigate exposure in medical malpractice claim involving three-month-old child.
Developed expert testimony from occupational medicine, toxicology, neurology, neuropsychology, industrial hygiene and psychiatry to defend alleged toxic chemical exposure in the workplace.
Obtained dismissal of a federal civil rights action on behalf of the County of Erie in which a grandmother asserted a constitutional right to the care and custody of a grandchild against the interests of an adoptive family with whom the child was placed by the court. Successfully argued that no court has recognized such a right on behalf of a grandparent.
Successfully obtained summary judgment in the U.S. District Court, and upheld on appeal, of a federal civil rights claim by a father alleging that a local children and youth agency negligently filed a report of suspected child abuse against him. The court agreed that the local agency acted consistent with the Child Protective Services Law and did not cause a deprivation of the parent’s rights.
Persuaded plaintiffs to voluntarily withdraw a complaint, which alleged that a county agency intentionally sabotaged the plaintiffs from adopting children placed in their custody, on the basis of absolute immunity under the Pennsylvania Subdivision Political Tort Claims Act.
Thought Leadership
#Me Too & Times Up: The Changing Landscape of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Human Resource Management Association Northwest Pennsylvania Conference, May 18, 2018
Medical Marijuana in Pennsylvania – Update on the Status of the Law and Its Impact on Employers, Human Resources Management Association of Northwest Pennsylvania, February 22, 2018
Cyber Liability, PCoRP Loss Control Workshop, County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, April 10, 2015
Data Breach -- Fighting the Cyber War and Social Media -- Landmine or Goldmine?, AIG, November 6, 2014
Data Breach -- Fighting the Cyber War and Social Media -- Landmine or Goldmine?, Assurex Global Loss Control and Claims Conference, October 23, 2014
Hot Topics in Employment, Assurex Loss Control & Claims Conference, October 22, 2014
Social Media & Cyber Breaches: the Internet's Impact on Your Business, The Graham Company, co-presenter, May 2014
Errors and Omissions: Limiting Your Exposure," Insurance Club of Erie County, January 15, 2014
Hot Topics in Employment, Marshall Dennehey Employment Seminar, Philadelphia, PA, October 10, 2013
Workplace Violence, Pennsylvania Association for Health Care Risk Management Fall Education Forum, September 13, 2013
Best Practices in ADA, FMLA and Workers' Compensation, Lorman Education Services, Erie, PA, August 27, 2013
Workplace Violence: Liability Issues, Pennsylvania Defense Institute Annual Conference, Bedford Springs, PA, July 18, 2013
Cyber Data Breach: The Latest Threat to Workplace Security, Human Resource Management Association of Northwest Pennsylvania Annual Conference, Erie, PA, May 30, 2013
Employment Liability in the Cyber Age, Marshall Dennehey Employment Seminar, Pittsburgh, PA, May 2, 2013
Workplace Violence - Concerns in the Insurance Industry, Insurance Club of Erie, January 16, 2013
Afforadable Care Act, American Inn of Court - Erie, PA, February 19, 2013
Municipal Liability, Pennsylvania County Commissioners Association, March 4, 2013
Labor and Employment, Adjunct Faculty, Gannon University
Act 57 Amendments to the Workers' Compensation Act
Impairment Rating Evaluations to Reduce Exposure to Total Disability Benefits
Maximizing an Insurance Carrier's Right to Subrogation
Employer Liability for Workplace Violence
Americans With Disabilities Act and its Interplay with Workers' Compensation
Family and Medical Leave Act
Employment, Workers' Compensation, Medical Malpractice, Insurance Agent E&O
Workers' Compensation Affecting School Districts
Pennsylvania and New Jersey Workers' Compensation
What's Hot in Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation, Marshall Dennehey newsletter, 2002-2013
"Natural Gas 'Gold Rush:' Injury and Occupational Exposure in Pennsylvania From the Marcellus Shale Gas Explosion," Energy Law Supplement, The Legal Intelligencer, July 2011
"Job Availability in Current Economic Crisis: Is It Time to Reconsider Funded Employment?," Workers' Compensation (PSIA Newsletter), March 2009
"Using Causation As A Defense To Negligence," Defense Digest, 2003
"Calculation of Average Weekly Wage for Employees on Leave of Absence or Unpaid Illness," Pennsylvania Self-Insurers' Association Newsletter, May 1998