On the Pulse….Other Notable Achievements
Defense Digest, Vol. 25, No. 1, March 2019
2019 Shareholder Class and Special Counsel Promotions
We are pleased to announce that 13 associates and two special counsel have been elevated to shareholder. Additionally, the firm has promoted four associates to the position of special counsel. The new shareholders are:
- Philadelphia, PA: Mohamed N. Bakry, Nicholas D. Bowers, Raphael M. Duran, Sang Woo Lee and Daniel H. Tran
- Scranton, PA: Sarah E. Argo
- Harrisburg, PA: Allison L. Krupp
- Mount Laurel, NJ: Ashley L. Toth
- Roseland, NJ: Ryan Thomas Gannon and Timothy J. Jaeger
- Wilmington, DE: Sarah B. Cole
- Cleveland, OH: Jason P. Ferrante
- Fort Lauderdale, FL: Patrick M. Delong
- Orlando, FL: Andrea Diederich and Chanel A. Mosley
The firm’s new special counsel are:
- Adam Levy in Mount Laurel, NJ
- Scott A. Ginsberg in NY
- Karen ‘Missy’ E. Minehan in Harrisburg, PA
- Heather A. Tereshko in King of Prussia, PA
Marshall Dennehey Joins the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud
Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin has joined the membership of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, which is a national alliance of insurers, government agencies and consumer organizations dedicated to combating all forms of insurance fraud through advocacy, public education and research. James Cole (Philadelphia, PA) and Jeffrey Rapattoni (Mt. Laurel, NJ), co-chairs of the Fraud/Special Investigation Practice Group, have been working with the Coalition and its member organizations for several years. Both attorneys play a vital role in educating the Coalition’s membership about best practices in identifying, investigating and defending against insurance fraud claims.
Recognition
James P. Hanratty (Jacksonville, FL) has been inducted into the membership of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Membership is by invitation only and is reserved for trial lawyers who meet certain qualifications and have significant experience in leading civil jury trials to verdict.
Congratulations to Elizabeth Ferguson (Jacksonville, FL) for being recognized as a 2019 “Ultimate Attorney” in construction law by the Jacksonville Business Journal. The JBJ began this program five years ago to honor those who have helped elevate the legal profession and shape Jacksonville’s business community. Honorees are selected by members of the local legal community based upon their professional accomplishments and community involvement.
Best Law Firms
Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin has been named a “2019 Best Law Firm” in multiple practice areas, both nationally and across numerous regions of the country, by U.S. News - Best Lawyers®. Additionally, our Appellate Advocacy and Post-Trial Practice Group was ranked both nationally and in the Philadelphia region for the very first time as an outstanding practice. These rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in the field and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a 2019 ranking, a law firm must have at least one lawyer recognized in the 24th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America list for that particular location and specialty.
Ranked firms, presented in three tiers, are listed on a national and regional-based scale. Firms that received a tier designation reflect the high level of respect a firm can earn among other leading lawyers and clients in the same communities and practice areas. A description of the selection methodology may be found at http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/methodology.aspx.
- NATIONAL TIER 1
o Admiralty & Maritime Law
- NATIONAL TIER 3
o Appellate Practice
o Insurance Law
- METROPOLITAN TIER 1
o Harrisburg: Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
o Jacksonville, FL: Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
o New Jersey: Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
o New York City: Admiralty & Maritime Law
o Philadelphia: Commercial Litigation; Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
o Pittsburgh: Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
- METROPOLITAN TIER 2
o Cleveland: Insurance Law; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
o Harrisburg: Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
o Jacksonville: Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
o New Jersey: Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
o Orlando: Insurance Law; Mediation
o Philadelphia: Appellate Practice; Civil Rights Law
o Pittsburgh: Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
- METROPOLITAN TIER 3
o Jacksonville, FL: Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants;
o Philadelphia: Criminal Defense - White-Collar
Special Appointments
Matthew P. Keris (Scranton, PA) has been elected the Atlantic Regional Director of the Defense Research Institute, the country’s leading organization of defense attorneys and in-house counsel. Matt previously was DRI’s Pennsylvania State Representative and Membership Chair. He will serve a three-year term on the organization’s Board of Directors, to culminate in 2021.
Dana A. Gittleman (Philadelphia, PA) has been selected to serve as the 2019 Board Observer for the Support Center for Child Advocates as part of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation’s Board Observer program. The Board Observer program is a partnership between the Philadelphia Bar Foundation and the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division. Designed to provide young lawyers with the opportunity to develop leadership skills, learn about nonprofit governance and make connections in the nonprofit community, the program pairs attorneys with a Philadelphia nonprofit organization for a one-year time period.
Speaking Engagements
Jeffrey Rapattoni (Mt. Laurel, NJ) presented a webinar “Data Driven Major Case” on behalf of IASIU, New York Chapter. Data driven major case is fast and effective and keeps a carrier ahead of the curve when it comes to fraud loss. This presentation discussed the integration of Data and Major Case and where and how the two intersect. Also discussed was how the data is collected and how it can be accessed and used from investigation to pre-suit demand. The International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU) is a non-profit organization founded in 1984 by insurance fraud investigators.
Paul Johnson (Mt. Laurel, NJ) co-presented “New Jersey Recent Court Rulings Affecting the Asbestos Litigation: Proving Cross-Claims, Forum Non Conveniens, Bankruptcy Trusts, Bare Metal, etc.” at this year’s New Jersey Asbestos Litigation Conference hosted by Harris Martin Publishing.
Anthony Natale and Ashley Talley (Philadelphia, PA) presented “The Interplay Between Traumatic Brain Injuries and Fraud in Workers’ Compensation” at the Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Conference. In the workers’ compensation field, one of the biggest red flags for fraud is the nature of injury, and, more recently, injuries involving concussion, post-concussion or similar traumatic head injuries. Attendees gained insight into how to identify, manage and fight claims for traumatic head injuries that are diagnosed based upon subjective complaints alone. James Cole and Jennie Philip (Philadelphia, PA) also presented “The Real Housewives of Fraud.” The session explored the lives of some “real” housewives who find themselves in precarious insurance situations. Through their stories, Jim and Jennie addressed the effect a fraudulent insurance claim had on an innocent co-insured; investigated luxury contents; and probed the legal issues concerning mysterious disappearance claims.
Lary Zucker (Mt. Laurel, NJ) was a featured speaker at the 2018 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo in Orlando Florida. Lary led an educational panel and was a featured speaker at the annual New Jersey Amusement Association Breakfast Meeting.
Defense Digest, Vol. 25, No. 1, March 2019. Defense Digest is prepared by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin to provide information on recent legal developments of interest to our readers. This publication is not intended to provide legal advice for a specific situation or to create an attorney-client relationship. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING pursuant to New York RPC 7.1. © 2019 Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be reprinted without the express written permission of our firm. For reprints, contact tamontemuro@mdwcg.com.