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Attorney Profile

Brigid Q. Alford

Shareholder
4200 Crums Mill Road
Suite B
Harrisburg, PA 17112
(717) 651-3710
(717) 651-9630 - Fax
bqalford@mdwcg.com

Brigid concentrates her practice in various areas of insurance defense and civil litigation, including the defense of insurance coverage matters, the defense of first party automotive claims, arbitrations, and appeals. With more than 20 years of experience in the fields of insurance casualty and coverage, federal and state trial litigation, and appellate advocacy, Brigid's reputation, particularly in the central Pennsylvania Bar, is highly regarded.

In 1980 Brigid graduated, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Allegheny College. Thereafter, she earned her J.D. from The Dickinson School of Law in 1983 and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar that year.

Brigid has been very active on the Dauphin County Board of Arbitration as both Chair and Panel Member. She also serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor with Dickinson School of Law's award winning Trial Advocacy Program. Brigid is also active in the annual statewide High School Mock Trial Competition, sponsored by the Young Lawyer's Division of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

Significant Representative Matters

  • Defense verdict for business owner/insured in premises liability action, arguing no notice of defect.

  • Resolved multi-party, complex declaratory judgment actions in both state and federal courts involving various insurance coverage issues and exclusions.

  • Prevailed on summary judgment motion for co-defendant in action arising from motor vehicle accident that had resulted in death of back seat passenger.

  • Successfully presented motion to sever and bifurcate breach of contract and bad faith claims in Pennsylvania state courts.

  • Successfully presented motion to have federal court decline to exercise pendent jurisdiction over personal injury claim, raised as cross-claim by co-defendant in declaratory judgment action.

  • Resolved sexual harassment/intimidation action filed against defendant-insured in federal court; original complaint had included punitive damages claim.

  • Defense verdict after jury trial in favor of insurance company on breach of contract claim (PIP benefits); bad faith and UTPCPL claims dismissed pretrial via summary judgment motion.

  • Successfully represented insurers in evidentiary hearings before Pennsylvania Department of Insurance on complaints filed directly with DOI by insureds.

  • Successfully represented insured at hearing and argument on Petition to Open Default Judgment in case involving racetrack accident and resultant catastrophic injuries to driver, including quadriplegia.

Areas of Practice

Published Works

  • "Less is More: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Confirms Less Stringent Rules Apply to Lower UM/UIM Limits Than to Waive UM/UIM Coverage," Defense Digest, 2011-06, Vol. 17, No. 2

  • "Oh Tannenbaum, Oh Tannenbaum! Early Christmas Gift To UM/UIM Carriers From Pennsylvania Supreme Court," Defense Digest, Vol. 16, No. 3, September, 2010 

  • "UM/UIM Coverage in Pennsylvania: Establishing 'Occupancy' of Vehicle as Basis for Qualifying as an Insured," Defense Digest, Vol. 15, No. 2, June, 2009 

Classes/Seminars Taught

  • UM/UIM, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2010

  • Annual Auto Law Update, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2010

  • Trial Tactics, Tips & Techniques, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 1999; 2009

  • Presentations to clients on developments in Pennsylvania UM/UIM law, bad faith and various coverage issues

  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Trial Advocacy Program, The Dickinson School of Law

  • Annual Auto Law Update, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2007

  • Trial Preparation: The 100-Day Countdown, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2003

  • PL Coverage, Professional Liability Defense Federation, 2011

  • Insurance Coverage Issues Related to Sexual Molestation Claims, PBI, 2012

  • Innocent Third party and Contemporary SIU Coverage Issues, Marshall Dennehey Insurance Fraud Perspectives Seminar, Lafayette Hill, PA, June 2012

Education

  • The Dickinson School of Law, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 1983 J.D.

  • Allegheny College, 1980 B.A.

Defense Digest Article • June 1, 2011
Pennsylvania – UM/UIM , KEY POINTS: If the insured has signed the insurance application, and the application itself lists a dollar amount for UM/UIM coverage, that is sufficient to comply with the MVFRL. According to the..., Defense Digest, Vol. 17, No. 2, June 2011
Read More >>
Defense Digest Article • September 1, 2010
Pennsylvania -- Automobile Liability , Key Points: Statutory offset in Pennsylvania's Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law applied to disability benefits. Court refuses to limit scope of offset to health benefits..., Defense Digest, Vol. 16, No. 3, September 2010
Read More >>
Defense Digest Article • June 1, 2009
Pennsylvania -- UM/UIM , UM/UIM endorsements subject to Pennsylvania's Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law often define the "insured" to include not only the named insured, but also any other person "occupying" the covered motor vehicle...., Defense Digest, Vol. 15, No. 2, June 2009
Read More >>
Brigid Alford and Ed Schwartz (Harrisburg, PA) were featured speakers at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Professional Liability Defense Federation
October 1, 2011
Brigid Alford and Ed Schwartz (Harrisburg, PA) were featured speakers at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Professional Liability Defense Federation in Chicago recently.  The meeting was attended by both claims professionals and defense counsel from around the country.  Brigid spoke on Professional...

Areas of Practice

Education

  • Allegheny College (B.A., cum laude, 1990)
  • The Dickinson School of Law (J.D., 1983)

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania, 1983
  • U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1984
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1989
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1992
  • U.S District Court Western District of Pennsylvania, 2009

Associations & Memberships

  • Dauphin County Bar Association (Panel Chair, Board of Arbitration)
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • The Honorable William W. Lipsitt American Inns of Court, Master

Year Joined Organization: 2008

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