Defense Digest

How time flies! When I wrote this article at the beginning of the year, I set forth part of our Executive Committee's agenda for matters we hoped to accomplish in 2007. Reflecting back, I am pleased and proud to advise that the firm has made substantial strides in these areas. Please permit me to review these goals.

In order to better serve our clients, we again invested in technology. We have implemented such programs as video conferencing and bringing new web servers in-house so attorneys can attend CLEs and other functions in their offices.

Our most far reaching technological advancement was the implementation of an award winning software program which puts us well on our way to having a paperless matter management system. This will not only assist our attorneys, but it will also assist our clients when they need documents on a moment's notice. Additionally, we have created an active study group to evaluate our billing and accounting procedures, which we hope to improve, to better serve you, over the next 18 months.

The firm is pleased and very excited about numerous additions to its professional staff. Let me identify those who have joined Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin as shareholders and their areas of expertise.

Thomas P. Wagner (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Peter Lentini (Cherry Hill, New Jersey) joined us in January 2007. As many of you know, Tom shares a well-earned reputation as one of the finest defense litigators in our region. He brought with him a substantial case load and is now actively working on matters with traditional Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin clients. Peter joined with Tom and routinely works on matters for Tom's clients. Additionally, I am pleased to advise that Peter brought his own independent case load which includes his own clients. Peter has a national practice in defending products liability matters on behalf of tree stand manufacturers.

Due to increased demand from our medical malpractice clients, I am pleased to advise that Justin F. Johnson and Robert T. Evers joined our Roseland, New Jersey, office in June. These gentlemen have extensive experience in the medical malpractice arena, and while they brought a substantial amount of their own clients to the firm, they are actively working on traditional medical malpractice clients of the firm.

We were most pleased when Katherine M. Keefe joined the firm in July 2007. Katherine brought to the firm, for the first time, a healthcare practice which focuses upon regulatory issues, including Medicare fraud, medical reimbursement and governmental compliance matters. Katherine is in our King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, office.

In September 2007, J. Bruce McKissock joined our firm. Bruce will split his time between Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bruce brings an active aviation practice to our firm, and he also has a substantial commercial litigation practice. We are excited to join the aviation defense bar, and Bruce's experience in commercial litigation will add to our otherwise growing commercial litigation client base.

Also in September, the firm was pleased to have Gary Kaplan join our Wilmington, Delaware, office. Gary has in excess of 20 years experience handling toxic tort, construction and professional liability matters.

Shortly after Gary's arrival, we were pleased to announce the hiring of Michael Turner (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). Michael has tried in excess of 100 jury trials to verdict. He has tried toxic tort matters in more than 14 states for a number of different clients.

Finally, we were pleased to recently announce that Joseph Miele, Michael Packer and Ronald Armbrust have joined our Fort Lauderdale, Florida, office. These gentlemen essentially focus their practice to coverage matters, with Ron Armbrust also handling A&E and construction defects litigation in addition to coverage litigation. Their coming to the firm is a direct result of continuing client demands to increase our Florida coverage practice.

In summary, the firm has expanded its professional talent base which, of course, will enable us to better serve our valued clients. When you couple this with the enhancements made to our technology capabilities, we believe Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin will be in its finest position ever to serve you in 2008. We thank all of you for your continued support of our firm.

Finally, as the Holiday season is upon us, on behalf of all of the members of our firm, let me wish each and every one of you a happy, healthy and joyful holiday season.