Christin L. Kochel

Obtained a successful defense award involving a significant claim. Plaintiff and his wife filed a claim against their insurer for underinsured motorist benefits after Plaintiff was struck as a pedestrian by a drunk driver. Plaintiff sustained several fractures of his body and also claimed neck and back injuries and significant damages, including future medical expenses. The case proceeded to a high/low Binding Arbitration. The Arbitrator awarded the low on the case, showing that Christin and the insurer properly evaluated the claim. 

Obtained a favorable defense verdict at a Philadelphia Common Pleas Arbitration. Plaintiff, a healthcare provider, filed suit against the insurance company for unpaid medical bills, punitive damages, interest and attorney’s fees, for treatment it rendered to the insured’s daughter. At the Arbitration, Christin argued that the insurance company properly evaluated the claim based on whether the insured’s daughter was entitled to benefits as it had not been determined that the daughter was residing with her mother at the time of the accident. Therefore, Christin argued that Plaintiff was not entitled to punitive damages, interest and attorney’s fees. The Arbitrators agreed and only awarded the Plaintiff health provider its past medical expenses, which Christin and the insurance company stipulated to. The Plaintiff was not awarded punitive damages, interest or attorney’s fees.

Settled a case at Mediation for less than a third of the settlement authority. The case involved a Plaintiff allegedly slipping and falling on a slippery substance in a parking lot in Philadelphia. After Christin obtained favorable defense opinions from both liability and medical experts, Plaintiff significantly reduced the value of her claim and settled the case.

Obtained a favorable decision dismissing all claims and cross-claims against her client in a motor vehicle accident case in Philadelphia via a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. The plaintiff filed a Complaint on April 1, 2022 alleging several injuries due to a motor vehicle accident. Plaintiff sued several defendants, including the rental car company that owned one of the vehicles involved in the accident. Citing to the rental agreement and the policies covering the rental vehicle, Christin argued that the rental driver was not authorized to operate the vehicle as he rented the vehicle under false pretenses, permitted an unauthorized driver to operate the vehicle, and operated the vehicle for hire in violation of the policies. The Court ruled in the rental company’s favor finding there was no coverage under the policies pursuant to Pennsylvania case law and the policy language cited by Christin in the Motion. All claims and cross-claims were dismissed against the rental company. 

Obtained a favorable jury trial award in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania in a motor vehicle accident case in which the plaintiff was claiming a low back injury with almost $1 million in claimed past and future damages. Liability was admitted. The jury awarded the plaintiff just $20,000 in future medical expenses and pain and suffering. The plaintiff's counsel tried to have the jury's decision dismissed, but the court denied the request.

Obtained a defense verdict in Berks County, Pennsylvania following an underinsured motorist coverage jury trial. Following the motor vehicle accident, the plaintiff sustained an injury to her left heel and foot consisting of a fracture that required a plate and screws to be placed in her foot. The plaintiff was requesting a significant amount for past and future pain and suffering and future medical expenses, including a future left foot surgery. The jury returned an award in favor of the plaintiff totaling $28,000. After applying the third-party credit, the jury award was reduced down to $0.

Motion for Summary Judgment granted in a Declaratory Judgment action in which the plaintiff was claiming his vehicle damage was covered by his insurance policy. At the time of the loss, the plaintiff did not have collision coverage on his vehicle, only comprehensive coverage. The plaintiff argued that his vehicle was still covered by the comprehensive portion of his auto insurance policy, claiming the vehicle that rolled down a hill and struck his parked vehicle was considered a "falling object." After arguing that Pennsylvania case law and the insurance policy language did not cover the plaintiff's losses, the court agreed and granted the insurance company's Motion for Summary Judgment.

Obtained a defense verdict in a jury trial in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in which the plaintiff was claiming a neck and low back injury after being involved in a rear end motor vehicle accident. Liability was admitted. Although the plaintiff had no prior history of neck or back injuries, the jury returned an award in favor of the defesne, finding that the plaintiff failed to prove he sustained an injury that was caused by the accident. The defense expert testified that the plaintiff's MRI films from after the accident showed pre-existing findings that were not caused by the accident. Further, although the jury did not have to reach a decision on the limited tort issue, the jury also found that the plaintiff's injuries did not breach limited tort.

Have obtained many favorable decisions granting Motions for Summary Judgment on limited tort throughout Pennsylvania, which decisions have been affirmed on appeal to the Pennsylvania Superior Court.