On the Pulse…Other Notable Achievements

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

David Shannon, chair of our Privacy & Data Security Practice Group, and William Cordio, director of incident response at Surefire Cyber Inc., discuss remediation v. forensic investigation after a cyber attack on the PLUS (Professional Liability Underwriting Society) podcast. Episode 2 of “Managing Cybersecurity Threats in 2025” explores current and emerging cybersecurity risks facing organizations today. The episode features expert discussions on new threat vectors, recent case studies, and practical approaches to strengthening digital defenses. Listeners will gain a clearer understanding of the evolving cybersecurity landscape and learn about effective strategies and tools for managing risks in 2025 and beyond. Hear their tips for minimizing costly business interruptions: Managing Cybersecurity Threats in 2025 Episode 2 – PLUS

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

On January 15, Mike Bradford (Tampa, FL) presented “Out with the Old and In with the New: Changes in Marine Technology” at the Tampa Bay Mariners Club Marine Insurance Seminar - Emerging Issues 2026.

On January 20, Ben Goshko (Philadelphia, PA) co-presented “Common Building Envelope Failures and the Lawsuits that Follow” to the Philadelphia Chapter of American Institute of Architects.

On February 8, Sara Mazzolla (Roseland, NJ) was a speaker at the NAFDMA (North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association) Agritourism Convention & Expo. In “Safety & Legal Prep: Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst – Waivers, Signage, Documentation,” Sara and her co-presenters spoke about how managing risk means being proactive and prepared.

On February 11, Rob Aldrich and Melissa Dziak (both of Scranton, PA) presented a webinar for the Pennsylvania Association for Health Care Risk Management (PAHCRM). In “Navigating the Digital Shift: Balancing The Benefits and Legal Risks of Patient Portals,” Rob and Missy discussed mitigation strategies for managing risks associated with the use of patient portals and how the reliance on patient portals impacts medical malpractice laws.

On February 4, Dana Gittleman (Philadelphia, PA) and Jeff Rapattoni (Mount Laurel, NJ) co-presented at Temple University’s Gamma Iota Sigma Chapter’s H. Wayne Snider Distinguished Guest Lecturer series. In this presentation “Hot Topics in Insurance Risk Mitigation,” they discussed risk mitigation best practices, insurance agents and brokers, what to do if you get sued, and insurance fraud (stats, various types, recent trends).

On February 4, Ariel Brownstein and Jonathan Magpantay (both of Mount Laurel, NJ) presented “Modern Staged Accidents & Provider Fraud” at the NICB Mid-Atlantic Region 2026 Training Event held in Philadelphia.

PUBLISHED WORKS

November 25, 2025 – Lisa Maeyer (Wilmington, DE) authored the article, “Delaware Supreme Court Examines Whether Liability Waiver Covers Injuries Based on Implied Agency Relationship,” appearing in The Legal Intelligencer’s Personal Injury Supplement. The article discusses how the court’s ruling may impact how future personal injury cases are litigated. 

Winter 2025 – Jeff Rapattoni (Mount Laurel, NJ) and Adam Calvert (New York, NY) authored the article, “Staged Accidents, Real Consequences: Combating Crash-for-Cash Schemes in Commercial Auto,” published in the Winter 2025 issue of SIU Today. 

January 2026 – John Hare’s (Philadelphia, PA) article, “What Lawyers Can Do to Protect and Promote Judicial Independence,” was published in the January 2026 issue of Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly. The article addresses the responsibilities of lawyers to protect and promote judicial independence and was written as a companion to an article by the Honorable Jordan Yeager about what trial courts can do to protect and promote judicial independence. 

January 26, 2026 – Dana Gittleman and Tim Ventura (Philadelphia) authored the article, “Pennsylvania Superior Court Rejects Breach of Oral Contract Claim Against Insurance Agent," appearing in the January issue of PLUS Blog. In the article, they discuss how the court's ruling strengthens existing case law in favor of insurance agents and brokers on both negligence and breach of contract claims.

RECOGNITION

At the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition (PLDIC) Annual Members Meeting on November 12, Stu Sostmann and Pat Reilly (both of Pittsburgh, PA) were elected to leadership positions. Stu was elected to a three-year term on the Board of Directors, and Pat is the incoming Retention Committee Chair.

Sarah Cole (Wilmington) has been elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). ABOTA is 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 invitation-only and is reserved for trial lawyers who meet certain qualifications and have significant experience in leading civil jury trials to verdict.