Attorney Profiles
Patricia A. Monahan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| Shareholder | |
| phone | (412) 803-1151 |
| fax | (412) 803-1188 |
| pamonahan@mdwcg.com | |
Patricia defends public entities and private employers from discrimination claims based on race, sex, religion, age, and disability. She defends employers from state whistleblower claims and public entities from these claims, as well as any employment claims brought under Section 1983, such as those arising under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Patricia has represented employers before the National Labor Relations Board and has successfully tried many cases before the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the EEOC, various county courts of common pleas, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the United States District Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Further, Patricia's experience also includes the defense of a wide range of claims including claims for intentional torts, civil rights violations, and any claim that may fall under a public entity's errors and omissions policy, employment policy, and general liability policy. She has tried numerous civil rights cases to verdict, including claims arising out of police pursuits, false arrests, excessive use of force, denial of due process, and zoning matters. As well, Patricia has substantial experience in representing insurance carriers in bad faith litigation. She is familiar with the complex discovery issues presented in bad faith lawsuits and has tried many cases to verdict in both federal and state court
Patricia received a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Florida in 1986, and in 1990, she achieved her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. She has been an active trial lawyer since 1990 and employed with Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin since 1995. She was elected shareholder in 1999. Her past experience also includes service in the role of solicitor to local municipalities. She is a frequent speaker on employment matters and has authored several articles for Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin's Defense Digest.
Significant Representative Matters
- Year Joined Organization:
- 1995
- Education:
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
1990
J.D. - University of Florida,
1986
B.S., With Honors
Major: Business Administration
- Published Works:
- Top Court Limits The Scope Of A Public Employee's First Amendment Retaliation Claim, Defense Digest, Vol. 12, No. 3, 2006-09
- The First Amendment's Rising Popularity In Municipal Employment Litigation, Defense Digest, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2004-06
- Is Every Worker With a Physical Impairment Afforded Protection Under the ADA?, Defense Digest, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2002-03
- The Anatomy of a Civil Rights Malicious Prosecution Claim, Co-Author, Defense Digest, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2002-03
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court Limits Employment At-Will, Defense Digest, Vol. 5, No. 1, 1999
- Representative Cases:
- Borough of West Mifflin v. Lancaster, 45 F.3d 780 ( 1995)
- Heller v. Fulare, 454 F. 3d 174 (3d Cir. (summary judgment granted, 2007 U.S. Dist. Lexis 43325) 2006)
- Keefer v. Durkos, 2006 US Dist LEXIS 68519 ( )
- Loughren v. USAA, 909 A.2d 896 (Pa. Super. 2006)
- Classes/Seminars Taught:
- Speaker on various topics including employment claims, civil rights litigation, federal practice and insurance bad faith
- Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Allegheny Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Past Employment Positions:
- Solicitor, various Pennsylvania municipalities