Attorney Profiles

Paul F. Laughlin 
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Shareholder
phone(484) 895-2336
fax(484) 895-0208
emailpflaughlin@mdwcg.com

Paul F. Laughlin is a shareholder in the Bethlehem office of Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin. While Paul began his career as a prosecutor, in recent years he has focused his professional efforts on matters including medical/professional liability defense, corporate/commercial litigation, construction/real estate litigation, and civil rights litigation.

An active trial attorney, Paul has tried over 100 cases to a jury verdict. He has successfully defended countless professional liability matters, including a high percentage of medical malpractice matters and numerous legal malpractice cases. He has represented physicians, physician groups, nurses, psychiatrists, hospitals and long-term care facilities in medical liability matters and attorneys, law firms, and real estate agents in professional liability actions. He has also represented builders and contractors in construction cases, as well as government agencies in civil rights cases.

He received his undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame and his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center, where he was a business editor of The American Criminal Law Review. He then began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office where, as a member of the Homicide Unit, he was entrusted with significant cases including numerous capital murder prosecutions. Paul was also selected to serve as a Special Assistant United States Attorney to assist in the coordination of a joint federal and local arson task force which culminated in the successful investigation and prosecution of the Quaker Lace Factory Arson, which was subsequently selected as a model for arson investigations and prosecutions nationwide.

Paul maintains an active role in the community and has served as a member of the Advisory Board for the Lehigh County Office of Children and Youth.

Significant Representative Matters:

  • Secured defense jury verdict in medical liability case involving brain injury allegedly caused by forceps, with damages projected by economists in excess of $50 million.

  • Secured summary judgment in favor of client in a case involving an accident resulting in paralysis of a child. The verdict against remaining parties exceeded $30 million.

  • Obtained favorable development in juris prudence related to venue in medical professional lawsuits and in particular leading to removal of a Lehigh County health care providers from courts in Philadelphia.
  • Year Joined Organization:
    2003
    Areas of Practice:
    Medical/Professional Liability
    Civil Rights Litigation
    Construction/Real Estate Litigation
    Corporate/Commercial Litigation
    Employment Matters/Restrictive Covenants
    White Collar Crime
    Long-Term Care Defense
    Bar Admissions:
    Pennsylvania, 1990
    Education:
    Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, District of Columbia, 1990
    J.D.
    Law Review: American Criminal Law Review, Business Editor, 1989 - 1990


    University of Notre Dame, 1987
    B.A.
    Major:  Economics


    Published Works:
    "Ethics in Government Act", American Criminal Law Review, 5th Survey of White Collar Crime, Volume 26, No. 3, 1989


    Classes/Seminars Taught:
    Expert Witnesses, 1995


    Cross-Examination, 1997


    Death Penalty Litigation, 2001


    M-Care Act, Re: Expert Witness, 2003


    Lectures, Re: Closing Argument, Widener University and University of Pennsylvania Law School


    Patient Safety and Risk Management Seminar, Presentation for physicians at Easton Hospital, 2005


    Seminar on Disclosure and Reporting of Medical Errors, Presentation for physicians at Pocono Medical Center, 2005


    Seminar on Tort Reform and The Impact Upon Medical Practitioners, Presentation for physicians at Sacred Heart Hospital, 2005


    Mitigation and Litigation, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital, 2006


    CLE Seminar on Fraud and Abuse, Insurance Society of Philadelphia, 2006


    Anatomy of a Lawsuit, Sacred Heart Hospital, 2007


    CLE Trial Advocacy Seminar: Closing Arguments, 2008


    Honors and Awards:
    U.S. Dept. of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms - Service Recognition Award, 1995


    AV Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell


    Past Employment Positions:
    Philadelphia District Attorney's Office- Homicide Unit, Assistant District Attorney, 1990 - 1997


    U.S. Attorney Office, Special Assistant Attorney, 1995


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