Christopher E. Dougherty

Significant Representative Matters

• Defended manufacturer of pepper spray in federal court in a product liability/police excessive force suit for wrongful death. Motion for summary judgment obtained. 

• Defended suit against an attorney wherein it was alleged the attorney improperly prosecuted the underlying action resulting in no recovery. Proved at trial that client attorney's tactical decisions were sound and judicious and underlying result not attributable to attorney neglect. 

• Defended suburban Philadelphia Economic Area Development Corporation in a breach of contract suit brought by land developer to recover $15 million in lost economic opportunities. Tried to verdict with $18,000 recovery only.

• Defending for over 17 years the manufacturer, designer and distributor of automobiles, ATVs, motorcycles and varied powered equipment in wrongful death, personal injury and breach of warranty actions.

• Defended manufacturer of carbon monoxide detector in wrongful death suit. Settled for nuisance value.

• Defended construction manager of major Philadelphia construction project at which worker fell off ladder to concrete two floors below. Settlement made with no money paid by our client.

• Coordinate pleadings and discovery for manufacturer of medical-surgical devices in national litigation. 

• Tried a breach of contract case for a utilities contractor versus Penn Dot, and prevailed, recovering in excess of $500,000.

• Tried a breach of contract/indemnity action for a construction manager versus one of its sub-contractors and prevailed in recovering in excess of $750,000.

Published Works

• "Acura Integra Coupe Is Not Intended For Truckin'," Pennsylvania Law Weekly, August 1999; Defense Digest, Vol. 5, No. 1, 1999

• "Hold Onto Your Defense Evidence If You Want To Move For A Non-Suit," Defense Digest, Vol. 5, No. 6, 1999

• "Plaintiff's Conduct May Be Admissible In A Products Liability Suit-It Depends On What You Call It," Originally published in the Winter 2002 Edition of Civil Litigation Update & reprinted in PBA's Civil, Litigation Section Newsletter, Winter 2002

• "Pennsylvania Superior Court Limits Use Of Frye When Seeking To Exclude Expert Scientific Evidence," Defense Digest, 2004

• "Shifting Indemnity to Sub-Contractor For Negligence Of Owner Or General Contractor: Perry/Ruzzi Doctrine Is Alive And Well In Pennsylvania," Pennsylvania Defense Institute, January 2006

Representative Cases

• Smith v. Honda, 846 F.Supp. 1217 (M.D. Pa. 1994) 

• Weiner v. Honda, 718 A.2d 305 (Pa. Super. 1998)

• Price v. Brown, 680 A.2d 1149 (Pa. 1996)

• Kukowski v. Homesburg S.C., 739 A.2d 597 (Pa. Super. 1999)

Classes/Seminars Taught

• National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), Faculty, Philadelphia, 2010

• Preventing Legal Malpractice Claims and Ethics Complaints in Your Law Practice, Union League, Philadelphia, October 2010

• Multistate Update on Insurance Agent and Brokers' Errors and Omissions Liability and Risk Management Issues, Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., Seattle, WA, September 2010

• Preventing Legal Malpractice Claims and Ethics Complaints in Your Law Practice, Union League, Philadelphia, October 2009

• National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), Faculty, Philadelphia, 2008

• Chairman, MDWCG Trial Advocacy Program, 2003 - Present

• Presented, Product Liability Defenses, Insurance Institute of Philadelphia, 1998

• Instructor, Trial Evidence, Coastal Carolina College, 1987

Past Employment Positions

• U.S. Marine Corps (active duty), 1978 - 1991 

• U.S. Marine Corps, Air Support Control Officer, 1979 - 1982 

• U.S. Marine Corps, Judge Advocate, 1985 – 1991

• U.S. Marine Corps, Navy Marine Corps Trial Judiciary, Military Judge, 1997 - 2002

Education

• Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg, Florida, 1985 J.D.

  Honors: magna cum laude

• United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, 1978 B.S., with honors