Defense Digest

On the Pulse ... Erie, Pa. Office To Celebrate 10 Years

Ten years ago this Fall, Marshall, Dennehey opened an office in Erie, Pennsylvania to service its clients in northwestern Pennsylvania. The Erie office started with a single lawyer and one staff member. Since then, this office has experienced steady growth in all areas of practice, and it now is staffed by four full-time lawyers, a paralegal and five staff members.

The Erie office of Marshall, Dennehey is the northernmost outpost of the firm and the only office situated on the Great Lakes. The Erie office completed the firm's efforts to provide local representation throughout Pennsylvania. Occupying the top floor of the historic Renaissance Centre in downtown Erie, the office overlooks rejuvenated Lake Erie and – on a clear day – southern Canada.

In its ten years in Erie, our firm has become a substantial part of the local legal community. We have represented all of the area hospitals, several key financial and educational institutions, many insurance companies and agencies, members of the healthcare community, all types of private employers, both the City and County of Erie, and other local municipalities in major litigation matters.

Our Erie office is capably staffed by four lawyers, each of whom brings unique talents to their representation of clients in litigation. G. Jay Habas, an Erie native with more than 20 years experience, is the managing partner in the office. He handles professional and employment cases, including workers' compensation. Mr. Habas has enjoyed success both as a civil trial lawyer and in administrative proceedings with his zealous advocacy. He is involved in civic activities, the local bar association and insurance associations. Mr. Habas recently completed a two-year stint as President of the Insurance Club of Erie County, whose members include insurance agents and brokers representing all of the major carriers.

Thomas Lent is a shareholder in the office who concentrates in medical malpractice defense. Mr. Lent has successfully tried dozens of malpractice cases to verdict in Northwestern Pennsylvania on behalf of local physicians in his more than 20 years of practice. He is respected in the medical and legal communities for his advocacy on behalf of healthcare professionals. Mr. Lent has also taught medical jurisprudence to students at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Patrick Carey is an experienced trial lawyer, having tried more than 80 cases to jury verdict. Mr. Carey is well-regarded for his strong trial and advocacy skills, honed by his more than a dozen years as an Assistant Erie County District Attorney. These talents have enabled Mr. Carey to obtain favorable results for his clients in several high-profile cases, including the defense of a local police officer in a federal court civil rights trial. Mr. Carey practices primarily in the areas of civil rights and municipality defense, as well as general litigation. He has participated in local bar association activities, including speaking to high school students.

Jennifer Martin-Singh is the newest attorney in the office, and she brings diverse experience and talents to our practice. Ms. Martin-Singh obtained a graduate degree in Pharmacology in Arizona before attending law school at the University of California – Hastings. A member of the firm's Health Care Department, Ms. Martin-Singh enjoys close family and professional ties to the medical field. She also is involved with the defense of employment and general litigation matters.

The Erie office, with its experienced, responsive and energetic attorneys and capable staff, looks forward to building on its first decade of service to clients in northwestern Pennsylvania. Please feel free to contact any of the attorneys in this office to assist you:

*Jay is a shareholder and the managing attorney of our Erie, PA office. He can be reached at (814) 461-7802 or gjhabas@mdwcg.com.