Defense Digest, Vol. 26, No. 2, June 2020

On The Pulse...Other Notable Achievements

Speaking Engagements

Mary Kate McGrath, Adam Fulginiti (Philadelphia, PA), Matt Keris (Scranton, PA) and Robin Snyder (King of Prussia, PA) presented the webinar “Telehealth and Documentation in the Time of COVID-19: Information and Best Practices to Protect Patients and Clinicians.” ​The webinar focused on the expanded access and delivery capabilities of telehealth and telemedicine services during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the changing landscape with respect to litigation and potential liability during this unprecedented time.

Brad Remick (Philadelphia, PA) recently co-presented a webinar, “Investigating Claims During COVID-19.” ​This webinar reviewed the legal issues as well as the technical and logistical challenges clients may be facing when investigating claims in the COVID-19 era. Topics included Review Loss Process Under Normal Conditions, Loss Process Under Current Conditions - How Has Life Changed with COVID-19? What Does the Future Hold?

Heather Carbone and Kelly Scifres (Jacksonville, FL) twice presented the webinar “5 Hour Law & Ethics Update.” ​They covered topics including regulatory awareness, licensing requirements, Florida workers’ compensation case law updates and ethics. All licensed Florida adjusters are required to take the course every two years.

Linda Farrell (Jacksonville, FL) presented at the Workers’ Compensation Claims Professionals’ Board Certification Course for Adjusters in Orlando, Florida.

Jack Slimm (Mount Laurel, NJ) served as moderator and principal lecturer for the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education 2020 Legal Malpractice Conference. ​This conference was presented by video teleconference and was attended by over 120 attorneys. Jack, in addition to serving as moderator, spoke, along with Judge Berman, on the conduct of the trial of the case-within-a-case and the procedural requirements which New Jersey requires in connection with the same.

Tara Nalencz (Philadelphia, PA) spoke to the Temple University Beasley School of Law State Court Honors Interns at the invitation of Judge Sheila Woods-Skipper and Judge Annette M. Rizzo (Ret.). ​Her lecture, “Anatomy of a Civil Case: Everything You Need to Know from Pre-Trial Motions to Closing Arguments,” focused on trial preparation and presentation with an emphasis on trial tactics and the use of technology. This is her eighth year participating as a presenter at this event.

Jeremy Zacharias (Mount Laurel, NJ) was a panelist at the Rutgers School of Law and spoke about the importance of networking and branding. ​Jeremy’s discussion centered on networking, approaching networking early in your career, strategies for networking, best networking tips and advice, and growing your personal and professional network as careers expand and change. Jeremy also discussed certain organizations within the legal community, as well as interdisciplinary organizations that law students could join to expand their network beyond the legal setting. These networks include organizations focused for CPAs, MDs, the insurance industry, and various other professional organizations that will lead to potential contacts in the future. Jeremy has been asked by the Rutgers School of Law to serve as a repeat speaker in connection with the law school’s professional development program for first and second year law students.

Jeremy Zacharias also served as a judge in the Vincent J. Apruzzese Mock Trial Competition held at Rutgers School of Law. ​This mock trial competition was sponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation with the cooperation of the Camden County Bar Association. Jeremy served as judge alongside various Superior Court judges in Camden County, as well as practitioners throughout Camden, Gloucester, and Burlington Counties.

David Shannon (Philadelphia, PA) was a lead presenter in the A.M. Best Webinar, “Speaking Up On Silent Cyber.” ​The webinar examined how cyber claims are evolving, where coverage areas are shifting, and emerging areas of liability exposure. The webinar is free, but registration is required.

Recognition

Congratulations to Michele Punturi (Philadelphia, PA), director of our Workers’ Compensation Department, who was a finalist in the CLM Professionals of the Year Awards in the category, “Outside Defense Counsel.”

Appointments

Mohamed Bakry (Philadelphia, PA) has been elected to membership in the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC). ​Membership in the FDCC is limited, selective and by nomination only. The FDCC comprises U.S. and international civil defense litigators, senior corporate counsel, and insurance claims executives and is dedicated to promoting knowledge, fellowship, and professionalism for lawyers and other professionals striving to achieve a balanced justice system in the defense of civil lawsuits.

Rachel Ramsay-Lowe (Roseland, NJ) has been elected to be a member of the Executive Committee for the Workers’ Compensation Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. ​She will serve a three-year term after being sworn in at the May meeting.

Jay A. Hamad (New York, NY) has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Marine and Insurance Claims Association (MICA). Jay’s position is effective immediately and has no term limit. MICA was founded in 1944 during World War II, in an effort to resolve and mitigate marine claims with least impact to the war effort. Today the organization remains focused on the resolution of maritime claims in the most reasonable and efficient manner. Recognized as a Proctor in Admiralty by the Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA), Jay’s legal experience encompasses all aspects of maritime law, marine construction, construction-related litigation, commercial litigation, property damage litigation, New York Labor Law, and transportation law. He defends clients in maritime law claims involving the Jones Act, Longshore and Harbor Workers Act, and complex medical malpractice matters.

Brandon Jordan (Philadelphia, PA) has been selected to join the Widener University Commonwealth Law School Dean’s Diversity Board. This advisory board oversees the diversity initiatives of the law school and advises the Dean, Director of Admissions, and other school departments on executing initiatives related to bringing greater diversity to the school and legal profession.

2020 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Seven attorneys from our New Jersey offices and ten attorneys from our Florida offices have been selected to the 2020 editions of New Jersey Super Lawyers and Florida Super Lawyers magazines. A Thomson Reuters business, New Jersey Super Lawyers is a rating service of lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected as Super Lawyers and no more than 2.5 percent are selected for Super Lawyer Rising Stars. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. A description of the selection methodology can be found at http://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. 

Marshall Dennehey attorneys selected to the 2020 New Jersey Super Lawyers list include:

  • John L. Slimm, Professional Liability Defense.
  • Lary Zucker, Personal Injury Defense and Entertainment & Sports Defense.

Marshall Dennehey attorneys selected to the 2020 New Jersey Super Lawyer Rising Stars list include:

  • Ariel Brownstein, Insurance Coverage.
  • Christopher DiCicco, Transportation/Maritime Litigation.
  • Julie Dorfman, Civil Litigation Defense.
  • Ryan Gannon, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice Defense.
  • Heather LaBombardi, Medical Malpractice Defense.

Marshall Dennehey attorneys selected to the 2020 Florida Super Lawyers list include:

  • Michael J. Bradford, Civil Litigation Defense.
  • Michael J. DeCandio, Construction Litigation.
  • Elizabeth B. Ferguson, Construction Litigation.
  • Alan C. “A.C.” Nash, Civil Litigation Defense.

Marshall Dennehey attorneys selected to the 2020 Florida Rising Stars list include:

  • Julie Cunningham Aiello, Transportation & Maritime.
  • Kimberly Kanoff Berman, Appellate.
  • Ryan D. Burns, Personal Injury Defense.
  • Lindsay G. McCormick, Construction Litigation.
  • Amanda J. Podlucky, Personal Injury Defense.
  • Irene Thaler, Insurance Coverage.

New York Maritime Litigation Practice Group Ranked in Chambers USA 2020 – McDermott and Radzik Cited as “Notable Practitioners”

The Maritime Litigation Practice Group in our New York City office has once again been recognized among the top national maritime practices in the 2020 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Recognized in the Nationwide: Transportation: Shipping: Litigation (New York) category, the firm was called out for its “solid practice in marine liability and subrogation expertise. Areas of particular ability include personal injury, wrongful death and product liability cases, as well as collision and construction damage claims on behalf of a range of insurers, manufacturers and marine engineering companies.”

Daniel G. McDermott, co-chair of the firm’s maritime practice, and Edward C. Radzik, of counsel within the group, were cited as “notable practitioners” in the Chambers ranking. While both attorneys have received Chambers recognition in this area several times before, this year Mr. McDermott was specifically cited for his work “across the broad spectrum of shipping and maritime law, acting on behalf of contractors and vessel owners. He advises on matters at the intersection between maritime law and New York labor law.”

Mr. Radzik was noted for his “handling of complex admiralty and maritime claims with a particular focus on cargo issues. He handles a range of maritime casualty cases including collisions, groundings and fires. He is also adept at mediations and arbitrations.”

Chambers and Partners rank lawyers and law firms on several factors and considerations, all of which are investigated by a large team of more than 200 researchers. They are employed full-time in Chambers and Partners central London office and work throughout the year contacting lawyers and clients directly by telephone and email.

Published Articles

Christopher Conrad (Harrisburg, NJ) authored the article “Educating Pennsylvania’s Special Needs Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which appeared in a recent issue of The Legal Intelligencer.

Mary Kate McGrath and Adam Fulginiti (Philadelphia, PA) authored the article “Why It’s Time to Embrace Telehealth as the New Normal,” which appeared in the recent Medical Malpractice supplement of The Legal Intelligencer. Their article “Navigating NJ Telehealth and Telemedicine in the Climate of COVID-19,“ appeared in a recent issue of the New Jersey Law Journal.

Matthew Keris (Scranton, PA) authored “EMR Documentation Issues During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which appeared in the April 20, 2020, edition of Physicians News Digest.

Heather Carbone (Jacksonville, FL) authored the article “COVID-19 and Workers’ Compensation Claims: How Can a Person Prove They Contracted the Illness on the Job?“ ​The article appeared in the Jacksonville Daily Record.

Kimberly Kanoff Berman (Fort Lauderdale, FL) authored the article, “Transitioning From In-Person to Remote Oral Arguments in Fla. Appellate Courts,” which was published in the April 28, 2020, issue of Daily Business Review. She also authored “Florida Supreme Court Hosts Historic Remote Oral Arguments During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” appearing in the Spring/Summer 2020 issue of the Historical Review—the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society’s biannual magazine.

​Wendy O’Connor (Allentown, PA) contributed the article, “Cell Phone Usage and Motor Vehicle Litigation,” appearing in the April issue of Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly. She also contributed “Winning the ‘Safety Sweep-Stakes’: The Impact of Inspection Protocols on Retailer Slip-and-Fall Litigation“ to the January issue of Counterpoint.

Ashley Eldridge (Philadelphia, PA) co-authored the article, “Handling Traumatic Brain Injury Claims: Managing Exposure and Limiting Fraud in Mild Cases,” appearing in CLM Magazine.

Ryan Krescanko (Pittsburgh, PA) authored the article, “Defending Depositions Against Dying Deponents in Asbestos Litigation,” appearing in The Legal Intelligencer’s Product Liability, Mass Torts & Class Action supplement.

Patrick Furlong (Philadelphia, PA) published the article, “Pa. Supreme Court Opinion Rocks First-Party IME Requirements,” in the January 7 issue of Pennsylvania Law Weekly.

Courtney Schulnick (Philadelphia, PA) authored “This Case Is Killing Me,” which was published in April 2020 issue of For the Defense.

Jack Slimm and Jeremy Zacharias (Mount Laurel, NJ) authored “The Liability of Trial Counsel for Strategic and Tactical Judgments Made During Trial,” which was published in the January 13, 2020 edition of New Jersey Law Journal.

 

Defense Digest, Vol. 26, No. 2, June 2020 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. © 2020 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.