Attorney Profiles

Arthur W. Lefco
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Shareholder
phone	(215) 575-2588
fax	(215) 575-0856
email	awlefco@mdwcg.com

Arthur W. ("Terry") Lefco has developed a reputation as one of the Philadelphia areas' most experienced and accomplished trial lawyers in professional liability, coverage, and commercial litigation cases. His fellow lawyers and their insurers routinely seek out his advice, counsel, and representation.

Terry's service to the bar and the public in law-related fields, such as the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board, the American Law Institute, the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Bar Associations, has been extensive. He has written and lectured often in the areas of lawyers' professional liability and professional responsibilities.

Terry has been named as a Best Lawyer in America for 2007, 2008 and 2009 as well as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer for 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010 in the area of Lawyer's Professional Liability Defense.

Significant Representative Matters

Atkinson v. Haug, 424 Pa. Super. 406, 622 A.2d 983 (Pa. Super. 1993) (Redefined implied attorney client relationship under PA Law.

Home Ins. Co. v. Powell, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6863 (E.D. Pa. 1996). Malpractice insurance coverage based on subjective / objective analysis of lawyer's knowledge

Oliver v. Sid Bernstein, Ltd., 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3276 (E.D. Pa. 1997). Jury verdict in favor of lawyer on fraud claim relating to escrow account.

Int'l Land Acquisitions, Inc. v. Fausto, 39 Fed. Appx. 751, 2002 U.S. App. LEXIS 13256 (3d Circuit Court of Appeals 2002). Plaintiff's expert testimony in legal malpractice case defective where no opinion on causation.

UA Theatre Circuit, Inc. v. Twp. of Warrington, 316 F.3d 392, 2003 U.S. App. LEXIS 515 (3d Cir. Pa. 2003).Established requirement in 3rd Circuit that denial of substantive due process requires conduct which shocks the conscience.

Nixon v. Fax.com, 196 F. Supp. 2d 920 (Ed MO 2002).Declared Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1992 unconstitutional in defense of First Amendment.

Capital Care v. Hunt, 847 A.2d 75 (PA Super. 2004).Restated standard for scope of attorney duty to client.

Year Joined Organization:: 2002

Areas of Practice:: Legal and Accounting Malpractice Defense; Civil Rights; Insurance Coverage; Commercial Litigation; D & O Litigation

Bar Admissions:: Pennsylvania, 1971; U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1972; U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1977; U.S. Supreme Court, 1984

Education:: University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1971
J.D.; Michigan State University, 1968
B.S.

Published Works:: Insurance Claim Information May Be Discoverable, ABA Journal, July, 2000

Representative Cases:: Atkinson v. Haug, 424 Pa. Super. 406, 622 A.2d 983 (Pa. Super. 1993); Home Ins. Co. v. Powell, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6863 (E.D. Pa. 1996); Oliver v. Sid Bernstein, Ltd., 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3276 (E.D. Pa. 1997); Int'l Land Acquisitions, Inc. v. Fausto, 39 Fed. Appx. 751, 2002 U.S. App. LEXIS 13256 (3d Circuit Court of Appeals 2002); UA Theatre Circuit, Inc. v. Twp. of Warrington, 316 F.3d 392, 2003 U.S. App. LEXIS 515 (3d Cir. Pa. 2003)

Classes/Seminars Taught:: Malpractice Avoidance Seminars - Delaware County Bar Association, Montgomery County Bar Association, Bucks County Bar Association, 2008; Numerous Malpractice Avoidance Seminars - Pennsylvania Law Firms, 2008; Malpractice Avoidance Seminar, Conference of County Bar Leaders, State College, Pennsylvania, March 4, 2005; Avoiding Malpractice Liability, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Reading, Pennsylvania, April 19, 2005; Special Problems of Lawyer Experts, Pennsylvania Bar Association Civil Litigation Section, Annual Retreat, April 11-13, 2003; Hot Topics in Business Litigation, Professional Education Systems, Inc., November 19, 2002; Legal Ethics in Pennsylvania, Lorman Education Services, September 18, 2002; Avoiding and Dealing With Tax Malpractice Cases, Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Greater Philadelphia Chapter, November 28, 2001; Wrongful Use of Civil Proceedings, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2000; "Successful Termination" in Wrongful Use of Civil Proceedings Cases, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, PBI No. 2000-2546 B; Common Causes of Legal Malpractice and How to Avoid Them, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, PBI No. 1999-2339

Honors and Awards:: Alumni Award of Merit, University of Pennsylvania Law School; AV Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell; Pennsylvania Super Lawyer (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010); Best Lawyers in America (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010); Philadelphia Best Lawyers (2009)

Professional Associations and Memberships:: American Bar Association; American Law Institute, Elected Member; Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers; Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Judge Pro Tempore, 1994 to present; Insurance Programs Committee, Philadelphia Bar Association, 1983 - Present. Past Chair; Pennsylvania Bar Association, Professional Liability Committee; Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board. Member, Heart Committee, 1998 - 2001. Chair, Hearing Committee, 2001 - 2004.; University of Pennsylvania Law School Alumni Society, 1995 - Present. Past President.

Past Employment Positions:: Cozen O'Connor, Senior Member, 1998 - 2002; Sherr, Joffe & Zuckerman P.C., Shareholder, 1994 - 1998; Mesirov, Gelman, Jaffe, Cramer & Jamieson, Associate to Partner, 1975 - 1994; Philadelphia Housing Authority, General Counsel, 1973 - 1975

Fraternities/Sororities:: Phi Sigma Delta

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