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Defense Digest

On the Pulse…Other Notable Achievements

Defense Digest, Vol. 30, No. 2, June 2024

June 1, 2024

RECOGNITION

Stephanie Andrade (Fort Lauderdale, FL) has been selected by The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division (YLD) as one of the Top “36 Under Thirty-Six” lawyers in the state. The professionalism award was bestowed upon 36 honorees, all under the age of 36, who were vetted through a rigorous review and selection process. According to the YLD, recipients display the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, “their character and integrity remain unwavering, and their dedication to raising the bar in the legal profession is unmatched.” Stephanie is a member of the firm’s Casualty Department where she represents local and national clients in a variety of civil litigation matters. 

Melanie Foreman (Philadelphia, PA) has been elected to the Board of Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA). PLA is dedicated to enforcing and protecting the rights of individuals and families by providing accessible, creative and high-quality legal assistance, and working collaboratively for systemic change. Melanie is also a board member of its sister organization, Community Legal Services (CLS), and co-chairs the CLS/PLA Development Committee. 

Congratulations to Michael Turner (Philadelphia, PA) on being inducted as a Fellow into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. The Academy’s purpose is to cultivate the science of jurisprudence, promote reforms in the law, facilitate the administration of justice, and elevate the standards of integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession. Membership in the Academy is highly selective and offered only to lawyers who have demonstrated skill and ability in jury trials, trials before the court, and in appellate practice, and to those who have attained the highest level of advocacy.

Congratulations to Kacey Wiedt (Harrisburg, PA) on his selection to the Central Penn Business Journal’s 2024 Power List for Law! The honorees are some of the Central Pennsylvania region’s most significant, influential, and respected leaders in their fields, as chosen by the CPBJ’s editorial leadership team and readers. Learn more here. 
 

PUBLISHED ARTICLES

Kimberly Berman and Gabrielle Wright (both of Fort Lauderdale, FL) authored the article, “Where Are We Now? Punitive Damages Claims in Fla. 2 Years Post-Interlocutory Review Rule Change,” which appeared in the Daily Business Review. Read the article here. 

Dana Gittleman’s and Tim Ventura’s (both of Philadelphia, PA) article “Words Matter: Shielding Against UTPCPL Claims with Subjective Verbiage” was published on March 14, 2024, on PLUSBlog.com. You can read their article here.  

Dana Gittleman also authored the article “Pennsylvania Strengthens Application of One-Year Statute of Repose Under Pennsylvania Home Inspection Law,” appearing in the April 30, 2024, issue of PLUSBlog.com. You can read her article here.

Writing for CLM Magazine, Jessica Wojcik Gordon (Mount Laurel, NJ) and Michelle Leighton, AIC, partner and national claim advocacy and consulting leader at Conner Strong & Buckelew, dive into the rise of artificial intelligence and its impact on workers’ compensation claims handling. Read their article here. 

Estelle McGrath’s (Pittsburgh, PA) article “Lessons from Accountant’s Age Discrimination Suit” was published in the Spring 2024 issue of the Pennsylvania CPA Journal. You can read her article here.

Jack Slimm’s and Jeremy Zacharias’ (both of Mount Laurel, NJ) article “Strategic Defenses to Appellate Malpractice Claims” was published on PLUSBlog.com on April 19, 2024. Read their article here.

Alesia Sulock and Josh J.T. Byrne (both of Philadelphia) published two articles recently. Their article “Risk Management in the Practice of Law” was published on February 27, 2024, on AttorneyProtective.com, which you can read here. On March 21, 2024, their article “Restricting Restrictions: When Attorney Employment Agreements Run Afoul of the Rules of Professional Conduct,” was published in The Legal Intelligencer. You can read this article here.

Ashley Toth (Mount Laurel, NJ) authored “Best Practices for Service Animals in the Workplace,” which appeared in the New Jersey Law Journal’s Employment Law Supplement. You can read the article here. 
 

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Mohamed Bakry (Philadelphia, PA) was a featured speaker at the 2024 Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) Winter Meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida. Mohamed, who also served as a host of the conference, was joined in a panel to discuss trending issues in leadership. 

Mohamed Bakry and Christina Gonzales (both of Philadelphia) spoke at the 2024 DRI Life, Health, Disability, and ERISA Seminar in Philadelphia. Their panel delved into the intricacies of modern law firms and their clients in a thought-provoking dialogue, unveiling the art of integrating innovative methodologies with well-established practices in order to cultivate diverse, high-performing teams. 

Heather Byrer Carbone and Linda Wagner Farrell (both of Jacksonville, FL) presented the webcast, “Motions to Dismiss and Motions for Summary Final Order,” for the Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Section.

Buck Buchanan, Jessica Wachstein, Jeremy Zacharias and Zac Ottoson hosted the Rutgers Law Minority Student Program (MSP) for an interviewing skills workshop held in our Philadelphia office. The program featured a panel presentation regarding strategies for maximizing summer clerkship interviews, as well as how to succeed during a summer clerkship program. The event was the second in a series of events the firm is hosting in collaboration with the Rutgers MSP program.

Josh J.T. Byrne (Philadelphia, PA) co-presented at the Montgomery Bar Association Women in the Law Committee’s seminar “The Importance of Civility in the Law.” This program provided attendees with the tools and information they need to ensure they are practicing with civility, responsibility, and professionalism while also avoiding ethical issues as they navigate cases with challenging opposing counsel, parties, and others.

Our Securities and Investments Professional Liability Practice Group took center stage at the Independent Broker Dealer Consortium, LLC 2024 Annual Risk Management Conference. Samuel Cohen (Philadelphia, PA), chair of the practice group, joined a panel to discuss protecting customers; Gerard Kowalski (Philadelphia, PA) explained the new expungement rule; and Ryan Friel (Philadelphia, PA) explored the differences between advisors and registered representatives, and the types of claims each face. 

James Cole (Philadelphia, PA) co-presented “This Is Jeopardy!!! Unfair Claims Practices” at the Property & Liability Resource Bureau’s 2024 Claims Conference in Boston. He also presented “Untying Tangle Titles – How Property Insurance Drives Fraud” at the 2024 Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Conference. This annual conference is hosted by the International Association of Special Investigation Units’ Delaware Valley and Greater Pittsburgh Chapters and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority.

Jack Delany (Philadelphia, PA) was a featured speaker at the 2024 Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) Winter Meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida. Jack and fellow speakers addressed how challenges, problems, and even disasters at trial can be transformed into opportunities and, ultimately, successful outcomes for clients. 

Elizabeth Ferguson (Jacksonville, FL) co-presented “The Ethics Escape Room: Finding the Way Out of Insurance Dilemmas” at CLM’s Annual Conference in San Francisco. Elizabeth also moderated a panel entitled “Views from the Bench: Complex Construction Litigation – Trials and the Run-Up” at The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section’s Construction Law Institute in Orlando. She also spoke on “Design Liability” at the Construction Review Course that runs alongside the CLI. 

Robert Fitzgerald (Mount Laurel, NJ) was a panelist for a presentation at the New Jersey Self Insurers’ Association Annual Conference in Atlantic City. Bob joined a group of industry professionals to discuss hot topics in workers’ compensation.

Ray Freudiger (Cincinnati, OH) gave a presentation to members of the Housing and Development Law Institute (HDLI) General Counsel Forum on “The Challenges in Administering Section 8 Project Based Vouchers.” Joining Ray in the presentation was the CEO and General Counsel for Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority. They discussed the jury defense verdict we won in federal court which was upheld by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. 

John Hare (Philadelphia, PA) presented the annual Appellate Review seminar for the Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform.

Kevin Hexstall (Philadelphia, PA) was a featured speaker at the Perrin Conferences asbestos conference. Kevin was part of a panel that presented “The Top Emerging Trends in Asbestos Litigation.” Kevin and panelists addressed filing trends, hot and emerging jurisdictions, and defense-plaintiff coordination. 

Rachel Insalaco (Scranton, PA) presented at the National Business Institute’s CLE, “Pennsylvania Police Liability Claims: A Primer.” Rachel’s presentation addressed qualified, absolute, and state tort immunity implications in cases concerning police departments.

Matthew Keris (Scranton, PA) participated in the following presentations: 

  • At the National Medical Professional Liability Association’s Dental Workshop in Savannah, Georgia, Matt presented “The New Liability Target: Forensic Patient Record Interactions.” 
  • At the American Legal Connections webinar, he presented “Voir Dire of an EMR/Audit Trail Expert.” 
  • At the DRI IRT Meeting in Chicago, IL, he was co-moderator of a roundtable on Social Inflation. 
  • At the Hospital Insurance Forum Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, AZ, he co-presented “Advice for the Efficient Integration of AI Into Medicine.” 
  • At the AALNC (American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants) Annual Forum, he presented “Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare.” 
  • At the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants annual Forum, held this year in Pittsburgh, PA, he presented “Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: An Introduction.”

Michael Packer (Fort Lauderdale, FL) was a featured speaker at the ALM/Property Casualty 360 Complex Claims & Litigation Forum in Las Vegas. In “Under Oath: What Claims Professionals Need to Know to Conduct an Effective EUO,” Mike focused on the most effective ways to prepare for and efficiently conduct Examinations Under Oath in both the personal lines and commercial lines context. 

Jeffrey Rapattoni (Philadelphia, PA) presented an Ethics session at the Rocky Mountain Association of Special Investigators Annual Insurance Fraud Conference.

Bradley Remick (Philadelphia, PA) and his son, Griffin Remick, presented a product liability update at the Dispute Resolution Institute’s annual Personal Injury Potpourri CLE.

Andrea Rock (Philadelphia, PA) was a panelist for a webinar hosted by the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association. In “Got Pain? How to Recognize and Assess Pain Including the Identification of Pain Generators in Work Injuries and Novel Treatment Options,” the panelists discussed the issues with pain generators, treatment options and their interaction in workers’ compensation litigation. 

In Season 2 of his podcast with the Professional Liability Underwriting Society, David Shannon (Philadelphia, PA) chatted with guest Stephen Ramey about the cybersecurity landscape for 2024. David and Stephen reflected on the persisting threat of ransomware and citing prevalent groups like LockBit, ALPHV/BlackCat, and Akira. Listen now! https://lnkd.in/eCwUwQdN 

Anthony Williott and Paul Krepps (both of Pittsburgh, PA) participated in a Mock Trial as a part of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants annual Forum. Paul participated in an exercise that demonstrated to Legal Nurse Consultants how an expert witness is prepared for deposition and trial by an attorney. Additionally, he served as the “judge” for the mock trial. In the trial, Tony defended the interests of “Hometown Hospital” in a case that involved the failure to timely diagnose sepsis in a patient. The case was designed to highlight the role of the Legal Nurse Consultant in medical malpractice cases.

Jeremy Zacharias (Mount Laurel, PA) participated in a panel discussion for Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business to prospective students joining the legal profession. Jeremy spoke about factors to consider in applying to law school, private practice, as well as strategies to effectively maximize law school performance. Jeremy is a recurring speaker at both Rutgers Law and Drexel University on professionals and topics, including ethics, the Rules of Professional Conduct, and the business of law.

Lary Zucker, Sara Mazzolla (both of Mount Laurel, NJ) and Alicia Caridi (Tampa, FL) presented a legal roundtable at the Roller Skating Association International’s annual convention. 

 

Defense Digest, Vol. 30, No. 2, June 2024, is prepared by Marshall Dennehey 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. © 2024 Marshall Dennehey. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be reprinted without the express written permission of our firm. For reprints, contact tamontemuro@mdwcg.com.

Firm Highlights

Jason Banonis Holds PDI Attorney of the Year Award with the PDI President

News

Jason Banonis Named Attorney of the Year by the Pennsylvania Defense Institute

Result

$19 Million Medical Malpractice Verdict Overturned

In this medical malpractice case, the trial court vacated $10 million of a $19 million verdict in post-trial motions and the Superior Court of Pennsylvania vacated the remaining $9 million on appeal.

Result

Federal Statute Declared Constitutional

In this products liability case, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania reversed the Superior Court and upheld the constitutionality of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which resulted in judgment as a matter of law for the defendant manufacturer.

Thought Leadership

Appellate Division Affirmed Trial Judge’s Orders Granting Summary Judgement for Defendants on COVID-19 Case

In Dunne v. Advanced Subacute Rehab Servs. at Sewell, LLC, et al., the plaintiffs appealed from two Law Division orders. By way of background, Louis Doto, Sr. (Doto) worked for BP & SC Services, Inc. (BP). BP leased Doto to Advanced Subacute Rehabilitation Center at Sewell, LLC (Advanced Subacute) and it had control of his work, paid wages, and had the power to hire or fire him. A BP employee was assigned to the facility to train and supervise him and BP was responsible for securing workers’ compensation coverage. Doto worked as an aide in the laundry department. Linen from COVID-19 residents were delivered in clearly marked bags and he had no direct contact with residents. A co-worker, Sheila Smith, was also an aide and she never contracted COVID-19 at the facility. Advanced Subacute did not require Doto to wear an N-95 mask, but instead a surgical mask, though N-95 masks were available to all employees. He was also required to attend period mandatory meetings with other high-risk employees, the last of which he attended was in November 2020. All employees were required to test for COVID-19 and there were no reported cases from June to October 2020. On December 23, 2020, Doto tested positive for COVID-19 and passed away on January 18, 2021. The last member of housekeeping that Doto may have encountered tested positive 22 days earlier. After his death, OSHA found two “serious” violations concerning the N-95 masks worn by housekeepers. In response, Advanced Subacute fit tested all non-clinical staff. Doto’s estate filed a workers’ compensation claim and named both BP and Advanced Subacute as his employer. The estate received an award. In July 2022, the plaintiffs filed a complaint in the Law Division, alleging wrongful death and survivor causes of action. In October 2024, the defendants moved for summary judgment, arguing: 1) immunity pursuant to the Emergency Health Powers Act: 2) the exclusive remedy provision of the Workers’ Compensation Act; 3) Doto’s inability to establish infection at the facility; 4) net expert opinions by the plaintiffs’ expert; and 5) inadmissibility of the OSHA report. The plaintiffs opposed and filed a cross-motion for summary judgment, arguing: 1) no immunity as Advanced Subacute engaged in gross negligent or willful misconduct; 2) no preclusion by the Workers’ Compensation Act as Doto was not Advanced Subacute’s employee; and 3) no net expert opinions. In February 2025, the judge issued a written decision granting the defendants’ motion. Specifically, he found Advanced Subacute’s COVID-19 immunity precluded the plaintiffs’ claim as no reasonable jury could find any gross negligence or utter disregard for Doto’s safety. He also addressed the other defenses for completeness. The plaintiffs moved for reconsideration and the judge issued another written decision denying the plaintiffs’ motion in April 2025. The plaintiffs then appealed both decision. The Appellate Division affirmed the orders for reasons stated by the judge in his written decisions. The Appellate Division only added: 1) Advanced Subacute acted consistently with the legislative grant of immunity; 2) there was no doubt Doto was an employee of both BP and Advanced Subacute and the latter may have inadvertently failed to follow some precautions; and 3) confirmed the plaintiffs’ experts did not identify a basis for their opinions. Ultimately, the Appellate Division found no reason to disturb the judge’s well-reasoned decisions and affirmed the judge’s orders.

Ellen C. Bodenmiller Joins Marshall Dennehey’s Tampa Office as Special Counsel in the Casualty Department

News

Ellen C. Bodenmiller Joins Marshall Dennehey’s Tampa Office as Special Counsel in the Casualty Department

Result

Statutory Employer Immunity Upheld

In this construction accident case that resulted in a $5 million verdict, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania upheld the Statutory Employer Doctrine, which immunizes general contractors and other contractors on construction sites when certain elements are satisfied.

Thought Leadership

Commonwealth Court Deemed Worker an Employee Despite Independent Contractor Agreement; Insurer Estopped from Denying Coverage

In this case, the claimant filed a Claim Petition for injuries sustained on October 28, 2019, naming J&S as his Employer, and alleging that the injuries occurred when he fell from a ladder while installing a satellite dish for Dish Network. Dish Network contracted with J&S to install satellite dishes. Subsequently J&S filed a Petition to Join Brickstreet Insurance Company and the claimant filed a Claim Petition against the Uninsured Employer Guaranty Fund. The Fund then joined Dish Network as another employer.  Before the Workers’ Compensation Judge (WCJ), the claimant testified that he was hired in 2015 by J&S and at the time signed an Independent Contractor Agreement (IC Agreement). J&S defended the case on the basis that the claimant was not an employee, but was an independent contractor, even after the IC Agreement expired. Additional evidence showed that, at the time of the October 28, 2019, work injury, J&S’ workers’ compensation insurance with Brickstreet had lapsed, even though a Brickstreet agent had been working to renew J&S’ policy and had a Certificate for coverage from September 25, 2019 to September 25, 2020 issued, with Dish Network listed as the Certificate Holder. A renewal policy was not in effect at the time the Certificate was issued and the agent learned on October 25, 2019 that Brickstreet was not going to renew their policy with J&S, due to an unpaid premium.    Ultimately, the WCJ found that the claimant was an employee of J&S at the time of the work injury and that J&S did not have a workers’ compensation policy in place at the time, due to their failure to pay the renewal premium to Brickstreet. The WCJ also found Dish Network was a Statutory Employer under Section 302(a) of the Act. The Claim Petition and the Guaranty Fund Claim Petition were both granted, as was the Guaranty Fund’s Petition to Join Dish Network. The WCJ also denied J&S’ Petition to Join Brickstreet, finding that neither J&S or Dish Network showed that Brickstreet was estopped from denying coverage. J&S and Dish Network appealed to the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (Board) and the Board affirmed. J&S and Dish Network appealed to the Commonwealth Court. The Commonwealth Court rejected J&S' argument that the claimant was an independent contractor. In doing so, the court noted that the claimant credibly testified that he worked for J&S full time, could not work for another company, and that J&S, scheduled his jobs, tracked him, and scheduled additional installations, if he finished early. Additionally, the court noted the claimant lacked discretion in the manner he performed his job, because all questions had to be referred to J&S.  As for Dish Network’s appeal, the court held that the WCJ erred in holding that Brickstreet was not estopped from denying coverage as to Dish Network. According to the court, the insurance agent was an authorized representative of Brickstreet and, at the direction of J&S, issued the Certificate of Insurance that he knew was not accurate at the time, and was aware would be presented as proof of coverage for J&S. Dish Network relied upon that information and continued to use J&S, ultimately leading to Dish Network being named as the Statutory Employer liable for payment of benefits because of J&S’ uninsured status. The court held that the Board erred in affirming the WCJ ’s conclusion that Dish Network did not establish that Brickstreet was equitably estopped from denying coverage, reversed the decision below, and remanded the case to the WCJ. 

News

106 Marshall Dennehey Attorneys Recognized in the 2027 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America

Marshall Dennehey is proud to highlight the firm’s 106 attorneys who have been recognized in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. Less than 6% of all practicing lawyers in the U.S. were selected by their peers for this recognition. Additionally, four of the firm’s attorneys received the Best Lawyers® 2027 “Lawyer of the Year” awards in their respective practice areas and demographic regions. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. For more information, please visit https://www.bestlawyers.com/. OUR 2027 LAWYERS OF THE YEAR Harrisburg, PA Christopher Reeser, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Kacey Wiedt, Workers Compensation Law - Employers Roseland, NJ Justin F. Johnson, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Leonard Leicht, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants   OUR 2026 BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA Philadelphia, PA Nicholas D. Bowers, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Josh J. T. Byrne, Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants Jefferey J. Chomko, Insurance Law James H. Cole, Insurance Law John J. Delany III, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Laurianne Falcone, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants John P. Gonzales, Employment Law - Management John Hare, Appellate Practice Daniel D. Krebbs, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Michele Punturi, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Bradley D. Remick, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Andrea Cicero Rock, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Robin M. Romano, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Daniel J. Ryan, Jr., Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Gary M. Samms, Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants Christopher N. Santoro, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation -Defendants Josh D. Scheets, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Robert P. Schenk, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Robert E. Smith, Insurance Law Robin Snyder, Litigation - Health Care Michael L. Turner, Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Claire Breaux Ventola, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Pittsburgh, PA Melissa Devich Cochran, Commercial Litigation; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants  John F. Deasy, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Daniel W. Deitrick, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Douglas C. LaSota, Litigation - Construction; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Joseph V. Lesinski, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants   Christian D. Marquis, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Patricia A. Monahan, Insurance Law; Litigation - Insurance Patrick T. Reilly, Commercial Litigation; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Brett C. Shear, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Teresa O. Sirianni, Education Law; Employment Law – Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment Stuart Sostmann, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Danielle M. Vugrinovich, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Scranton, PA Sarah E. Argo, Litigation - Insurance Michael J. Connolly, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants Matthew Keris, Litigation - Health Care; Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants John T. McGrath, Jr., Insurance Law; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants William J. McPartland, Insurance Law John R. Nealon, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Victoria Scanlon, Health Care Law; Litigation - Health Care; Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Michael A. Sebastian, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Thomas A. Specht, Insurance Law; Litigation - Insurance Suzanne Tighe, Litigation Insurance Harrisburg , PA Casey Alan Coyle, Administrative/Regulatory Law; Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation Brittany E. Bakshi, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Shannon P. Fellin, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Allison Krupp, Insurance Law John R. Ninosky, Litigation – Insurance; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Christopher Reeser, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Kacey Wiedt, Workers' Compensation Law – Employers King of Prussia, PA  Michael L. Detweiler, Construction Law Joseph L. Hoynoski III, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Gregory J. Kelley, Construction Law, Litigation - Construction Anthony Natale III, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Francis X. Wickersham, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers A. Judd Woytek, Workers' Compensation Law – Employers Erie, PA Patrick M. Carey, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Joel M. Snavely, Health Care Law; Insurance Law New Haven, CT Michael Wrona, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Bankruptcy  Mount Laurel, NJ David D. Blake, Litigation - Insurance Barbara Davis, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Lynne Nahmani, Litigation - Health Care John H. Osorio, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants John L. Slimm, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants Roseland, NJ Robert T. Evers, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Justin F. Johnson, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Julia Klubenspies, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Leonard C. Leicht, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Patricia M. McDonagh, Appellate Practice Sunny Sparano, Litigation - Construction Randall S. Watts, Health Care Law New York, NY Tonya M. Lindsey, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Tampa, FL Michael Archibald, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Lindsay G. McCormick, Litigation – Construction Orlando, FL Thomas F. Brown, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Dante C. Rohr, Commercial Litigation Fort Lauderdale, FL Kimberly Kanoff Berman, Appellate Practice Patrick M. Delong, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants Jacksonville, FL  Heather Byrer Carbone, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Linda Wagner Farrell, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Elizabeth B. Ferguson, Litigation - Construction James P. Hanratty, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants Wilmington, DE Sarah B. Cole, Litigation - Insurance Benjamin K. Durstein, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Maria R. Granaudo, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants  Keri L. Morris-Johnston, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Cincinnati, OH Timothy B. Schenkel, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants David E. Williamson, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Cleveland, OH Vincent E. Cononico, Litigation – Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Jillian L. Dinehart, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants David J. Fagnilli, Insurance Law Jason P. Ferrante, Health Care Law, Litigation - Health Care Andrew H. Isakoff, Transportation Law Leslie M. Jenny, Litigation - Health Care; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendant OUR 2026 BEST LAWYERS: ONES TO WATCH Jacksonville, FL Sean J. Reeves, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Orlando, FL Carolin A. Pacheco, Insurance Law Mount Laurel Stacey Gorin, Insurance Law Melville, NY Kimberly Gitlin, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants Matthew A. Gray, Insurance Law; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Philadelphia, PA Holli K. Archer, Health Care Law; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law Emily Pritchyk, Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Pittsburgh, PA Taylor E. Kosko, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Alana Staniszewski, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Michael D. Winsko, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; Transportation Law King of Prussia, PA Richard Lechette, Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Result

$1.09 Billion Products Liability Verdict Overturned

In this products liability crashworthiness case, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania reversed a Philadelphia jury verdict of $1.09 billion, the largest verdict ever overturned by a PA appellate court.  The court ordered a new trial based on deficient jury instructions, clarified important aspects of crashworthiness law, and confirmed that so-called standard jury instructions may be incompatible with Pennsylvania law. 

Thought Leadership

Florida Supreme Court Adopts Traditionally More Expansive Concept of Occupational Causation

The Florida Supreme Court issued a significant decision rebuking the First District Court of Appeal (1st DCA) in the high-profile case of Bouayad v. Normandy Insurance Co., a case addressing the compensability of workplace injuries resulting from assaults by third-party tortfeasors. The Judge of Compensation Claims (JCC) found the claimant was entitled to workers' compensation benefits, relying in part on the Florida Supreme Court's earlier decision in Strother v. Morrison Cafeteria from 1980. In Strother, the Court upheld an award of benefits to a cashier who was assaulted and robbed by individuals who followed her home from work under the mistaken belief that she was carrying restaurant cash deposits. In Bouayad, the 1st DCA concluded that the claimant's injuries were not compensable because they did not arise out of his employment. The Florida Supreme Court disagreed, holding that the 1st DCA applied too narrow an interpretation of the "arising out of employment" requirement. In doing so, the Court reaffirmed a broader and more traditional view of occupational causation than that recently adopted by the 1st DCA. The claimant in Bouayad was the general manager of a car rental business operating from a hotel near an airport. Around midnight, while walking along a covered outdoor walkway from the hotel's atrium, where the rental kiosk was located, to an office near the pool, he was shot multiple times by an unidentified assailant. As part of his regular duties, the claimant carried rental agreements and cash receipts from the kiosk to the office at the end of each shift. After the shooting, the claimant managed to return to the hotel atrium, where he stated that he believed "Robert" had shot him, referring to an individual who had threatened the claimant's son the previous day. The assailant, however, was never identified. Consequently, the Supreme Court analyzed the case as involving an unknown third party while the claimant was acting within the course and scope of his employment. The central issue therefore was whether the injury "arose out of" the claimant’s employment. At the final hearing, the claimant presented evidence regarding the risks and hazards associated with his employment, including the nature of his duties, his late-night work schedule, and the location of the business in a high-turnover hotel near a major airport. His expert opined that these factors exposed him to an increased risk of becoming the victim of a crime while at work. In contrast, the employer/carrier's expert characterized the shooting as a targeted attack rather than a robbery and asserted that the risk of violent crime was actually higher near the claimant's residence than at the hotel. Based on that analysis, the expert concluded that the claimant was not exposed to an increased workplace risk. The 1st DCA focused narrowly on the specific activity the claimant was performing at the moment of injury. According to the court, the claimant's “work performed” at the time of the shooting was simply "walking" between two employer-operated locations, and that act of walking did not itself cause the injury. The Florida Supreme Court found this analysis far too myopic and inconsistent with decades of workers' compensation precedent. Reaffirming longstanding principles of workplace causation, the Court explained that the proper inquiry is not whether the precise physical task being performed at the moment of injury directly caused the harm. Rather, the relevant question is whether the employment, viewed as a whole, exposed the worker to risks and hazards that contributed to the injury. The decision is significant because it reinforces a broader conception of work-relatedness in the “arising out of” compensability analysis. Instead of limiting the causation analysis to the employee's discrete physical activity at the time of injury, courts must consider the totality of the employment circumstances, including the employee's duties, work environment, hours, and occupational risks. Under that framework, an injury may arise out of employment when the employment places the employee in a position of increased hazard, even if the specific task being performed at the moment of injury is not itself the direct cause of the harm.