Having started his career as a law clerk at the predecessor firm of Riley & DeFalice, Joe returns with a broad range of insurance defense experience.

 

For nearly the past two decades, Joe has managed and counseled numerous clients in asbestos defense litigation, both in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. This includes working closely with the client and national counsel on discovery and deposition strategy, expert retention and development, and all negotiations and court mandated appearances.

 

Additionally, for many years Joe has defended a manufacturer of playground equipment in personal injury matters, and, represents a national fitness facility in personal injury cases including injuries alleged to have been caused by personal trainers, exercise equipment, saunas, trip/slip and fall. Joe has successfully had cases dismissed based upon the waiver provision in the membership agreement.

 

Throughout his career, Joe has tried cases in various areas of the law, including UM/UIM, slip/trip and fall, electrocutions, garnishment actions, trespass/property damage, accidental fires, nursing home/hospital neglect cases. He has counseled mental health facilities pursuant to the Mental Health Procedures Act, immediately coordinating the investigation of physical injuries and deaths occurring to residents. Joe has also defended trucking companies regarding accidents involving traumatic brain injuries and fatalities. Additional experience ranges from automobile accident cases, premises liability, products liability. In defending a local municipality’s police department in an age discrimination case, the same was dismissed by the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and upheld by the U.S Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Likewise, a civil rights case on behalf of a local municipality was similarly dismissed by the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

 

Joe is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, West Virginia Bar Association and Defense Research Institute.

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