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Marshall Dennehey Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Advanced Trial Advocacy & Mock Trial Program

July 15, 2025

Group photo of attorneys and judges from the 25th anniversary of the mock trial program.

Marshall Dennehey celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Advanced Trial Advocacy & Mock Trial Program this week, reflecting on an annual event that has become a cornerstone of the firm’s attorney development efforts and a hallmark of its commitment to excellence in courtroom advocacy.

Launched in 2000, the in-house program was founded by retired firm leader, Christopher Dougherty, who was inspired by his military-based trial training experience as a Marine Corps Officer. Drawing on the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) framework, the program was created to provide immersive, real-world trial training for attorneys preparing to take cases to verdict.

“From the beginning, the goal was to formalize trial training and ensure our attorneys were prepared for increasingly complex and high-stakes matters,” said Thomas Brophy, Marshall Dennehey’s retired, former President & CEO who championed the program’s development. “Chris brought a proven model and adapted it into something uniquely Marshall Dennehey.”

Each year, 8 to 12 attorneys from offices across the firm are selected to participate based on nominations from department leadership. The curriculum focuses on four essential trial components—opening statements, direct examination, cross examination, and closing arguments—and culminates in a full mock trial experience. Participants receive detailed critiques from seasoned trial lawyers and gain invaluable courtroom confidence.

Over the years, the program has been supported by a distinguished faculty of Marshall Dennehey trial attorneys, professional actors serving as expert witnesses, and summer law clerks acting as jurors. The firm’s Philadelphia headquarters features a dedicated mock courtroom designed to replicate live trial conditions.

“The mock trial program isn’t just about teaching skills,” Brophy added. “It’s about identifying future leaders and building strong connections across offices and practice groups.”

Marshall Dennehey’s President & CEO, G. Mark Thompson, reflected on the milestone. “This program embodies our belief that great trial lawyers are built through hands-on experience, mentorship, and support. We’re proud of its legacy and excited for what the next 25 years will bring.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Celebrating 25 Years: Marshall Dennehey’s 2025 Advanced Trial Advocacy & Mock Trial Program participants included (front row, left to right): Sean Reeves, Lauren Purcell, David Drake, Christian Weimann, Elias Hassinger, Heather LaBombardi, and Corey Setterlund. Faculty included (back row, left to right): James Hanratty, Craig Hudson, Dan Sherry, Thomas Brophy, Joan Orsini Ford, Joseph Santarone and Robin Snyder (not pictured).
 

Firm Highlights

blue facade of a hospital sign against blue sky

Result

Defense Verdict in Complex Medical Malpractice Trial

Thought Leadership

Fla. Workers' Comp Physician Dispensing Ruling Could Produce New Legislative Fight

In a significant decision issued on February 25, 2026, the First District Court of Appeal (DCA) ruled in Publix Super Markets, Inc., et al. v. Department of Financial Services, et al., 430 So. 3d 252 (Fla. 1st DCA 2026), that while injured workers have an absolute right to choose their own pharmacy or pharmacist, that right does not extend to physicians who dispense medications directly to their patients.  Read Blake's article in Insurance Journal: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2026/08/05/880229.htm. 

Thought Leadership

Appellate Division Affirms Dismissal of Legal Malpractice Counterclaim Against Martin Law Firm

In Martin v. Loury, 2026 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1617 (App. Div. July 15, 2026), Martin Law Firm represented Kirk Loury in an employment matter Mr. Loury filed against his former employer, Concord Equity Group Advisors LLC (“Concord”). The allegations included, among other things, that Loury was not fairly compensated for his employment with Concord. After a bench trial finding in Loury’s favor, the Appellate Division remanded this matter in February 2016 for a second trial. During the second trial, Concord CEO, Lee Argush, testified to lower compensation estimate than first trial. On remand, the second trial judge awarded Mr. Loury the same damages as the first judge, finding Mr. Argush not credible. After the findings during the second trial, Martin Law Firm filed an action against Mr. Loury to recover legal fees and costs of representing Mr. Loury in a second bench trial and Mr. Loury filed a counterclaim against Martin Law Firm for legal malpractice, alleging he should have received an even higher award in the second bench trial. In this allegation, Mr. Loury, through his expert, claimed that Martin Law Firm should have recalled Mr. Loury to the stand to rebut Mr. Argush’s testimony to allege an alternative theory of damages. Mr. Loury’s expert admitted that the second judge already rejected Mr. Argush's theory and accepted Loury's damages theory. The trial court barred Mr. Loury’s expert and dismissed Loury's counterclaim with prejudice before convening the collection trial, and the jury ruled in Martin Law Firm’s favor. Mr. Loury appealed the trial court's pretrial rulings barring his liability expert from testifying in support of his legal malpractice counterclaim, denying his motion for summary judgment on that counterclaim, and denying his motion to amend his counterclaim by adding attorney Joseph A. Martin as a codefendant. In affirming the trial court’s decision, the Appellate Division held that the trial court properly excluded Loury’s expert testimony in the counterclaim against Martin Law Firm because the expert could not explain how calling Loury as a rebuttal witness would have increased damages when the second judge already rejected Mr. Argush's testimony and accepted Loury's damages theory, making the expert’s causation opinion speculative. The Appellate Division also held that the trial court properly denied Mr. Loury's summary judgment motion on his malpractice counterclaim because reasonable minds could differ on whether Mr. Martin's alleged failures would have changed the second judge's damages award, given the judge already found Mr. Argush not credible, creating genuine factual disputes precluding summary judgment. Also, the Appellate Division held that the trial court properly denied Loury's May 2023 motion to add Joseph Martin individually because the statute of limitations expired in February 2022, six years after the 2016 appellate remand when Mr. Loury incurred new legal costs, and relation back did not apply because Mr. Loury knew Mr. Martin's identity throughout and strategically chose to sue only Martin Law Firm in his 2019 counterclaim.

Result

Summary Judgment Secured, Preserving $750,000 in Coverage for Insured in Major Trucking Liability Dispute

Ray Freudiger and Michael A. Roberts (both of Cincinnati) successfully obtained summary judgment on behalf of their client in a coverage dispute arising from a May 19, 2022, motor vehicle accident. A permissive driver operated a box truck for an interstate trucking company and caused severe injuries to two tort victims. Prior to the accident, the insured had procured a commercial auto policy for the trucking company with stated limits of $1,000,000. Following the accident, the insurer initiated a declaratory judgment action asserting that only reduced bodily injury limits of $25,000/$50,000 applied and later counterclaimed, alleging it would not have insured the driver had he been properly submitted for approval under the policy. After extensive discovery, briefing, and oral argument, the court rejected the insurer’s attempt to shift responsibility for the $750,000 in coverage it was legally required to provide for permissive drivers under Ohio law, granting summary judgment in favor of the insured and preserving $750,000 in liability exposure.

empty courtroom photo

Result

Summary Judgment Secured for Life Insurance Agent

Event

Pennsylvania Appellate Update 2025-2026

On August 21, 2026, Casey will serve as a panelist for the live webcast program, “Pennsylvania Appellate Update 2025-2026” presented by the Appellate Advocacy Committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and Pennsylvania Bar Institute. The program is divided into three parts—Criminal, Civil, and Administrative. Casey will serve as a panelist for the Civil portion, along with Christina McKinley of Blank Rome, Ben Baer of Injury Law Partners, John Masslon of Keller Postman, Jonathan Bruno of Bruno Litigation LLC, and moderator, Ezza Ahmed of Buchanan Ingersoll.  Registration and more information: https://www.pbi.org/product/pennsylvania-appellate-update-2025-2026/

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Thought Leadership

A Unified, Single Claim for Damages Requires Apportionment in a Joint Proposal: What the Decision in 'Trace Elements' Means for Property Insurance Claims

Kimberly and Seth, shareholders in the Insurance Services Practice in our Fort Lauderdale office, break down the Florida Supreme Court's decision in 'Trace Elements v. MacKensen' and what it means for property insurance claims in the state. Read the article here.