James is an associate in the Casualty Department and a member of the Aviation Litigation Practice Group where he assists in the handling of products, premises, and general liability matters affecting clients in aviation-related fields and their insurers.
James earned a B.A. in history from Lynchburg College in May 2001, graduating summa cum laude and earning highest honors in his major. Following college, he attended Widener University School of Law where he graduated, cum laude, in December 2004.
During law school James served part-time as a law clerk for Chief Justice E. Norman Veasey of the Supreme Court of Delaware. He also worked for a civil litigation firm where he assisted in the handling of consumer fraud matters.
Significant Representative Matters
Summary judgment in premises liability case. Prepared and argued motion for summary judgment on behalf of landlord in a slip and fall case. Plaintiff alleged knee injury resulting from slip and fall on ice outside landlord's building. Motion argued that suit against landlord should be dismissed as he was a landlord out of possession and the lease placed responsibility for removal of snow and ice on the tenant. The court agreed and dismissed the action.
Summary judgment in products liability subrogation action. Prepared motion for summary judgment in products case where Plaintiff sought to recover insurance proceeds expended when refrigerated semi-trailer was destroyed in a fire, alleging that the fire was caused by a manufacturing defect in one of the trailer's component parts. Plaintiff failed to preserve the allegedly defective part for examination by defense expert. Plaintiff's claim dismissed on spoliation grounds asserted in the motion.
Dismissal of two motor vehicle actions arising from same facts. Represented truck leasing company in case where one of its trucks was stolen while in possession of lessee. The stolen truck crashed into several cars. Occupant of one of the stricken vehicles filed a personal injury claim against the lessor which was dismissed for failure to properly serve the defendant. A second subrogation action was filed in Philadelphia Municipal Court seeking recovery of costs paid to repair one of the damaged cars. Plaintiff agreed to dismissal of that action upon learning that the truck was stolen.
Defense verdict in motor vehicle case before Magisterial District Judge. Represented bicyclist in matter brought by driver of an SUV who claimed that the bicyclist had struck the side of his vehicle while rounding a corner at an intersection. During cross examination at the hearing, the SUV driver admitted that he had several small dogs running loose in his vehicle at the time of the incident. Thus, it was argued that the incident was caused by his own inattentive driving. Verdict for bicyclist.
James W. Layne 
