Attorney Profile
James P. Cullen
Areas of Practice
Contact Info
Overview
As a member of Marshall Dennehey’s Casualty Department, James focuses his efforts on defending clients in general liability matters, including cases involving products liability, premises liability, and automobile liability. James has successfully defended clients in all aspects of litigation in both state and federal court, including obtaining defense verdicts at the magistrate court level and favorable arbitration rulings before the Allegheny County Arbitration panel. His jury trial experience includes second chair defense counsel in a premises liability case involving a defective stairway and landing in Allegheny County. Additionally, James was an integral member of a litigation team that achieved a Voluntary Stipulated Dismissal on behalf of a product distributor client from national multidistrict litigation (MDL) arising from the manufacture and sale of medical devices. Further, James was a member of a trial team that obtained a defense judgment in a product liability claim involving damages alleged in excess of $30 million.
Before joining Marshall Dennehey, James gained litigation experience at a medium-sized civil defense firm as well as experience representing clients in mass toxic tort matters in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
James graduated sixth in his class from Capital University Law School in 2018. During law school, he served as both a Staff Member and Associate Board Member of the University's Law Review, where he sharpened his legal research and legal writing skills to prepare for his career after graduation.
James also interned at the Pennsylvania Superior Court for the Honorable Mary Jane Bowes in 2017, where he researched and drafted memorandum opinions while working closely with the Judge’s staff. In 2018, James interned at the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office where he worked directly with Assistant District Attorneys preparing for trial.
James is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and West Virginia and is also an active member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, often volunteering to serve as a judge/juror for high school mock trial competitions. James is also a member of the American Bar Association.
Results
Successful defense in $30 million product liability trial. Served as second chair in a high-stakes product liability trial, obtaining a major defense result for our client. Plaintiff’s final pre-trial demand was $22 million with claimed exposure exceeding $30 million. Plaintiff alleged that compressor systems designed and sold by our client caused weld debris and excess lubricating oil to contaminate a natural gas pipeline, leading to multimillion-dollar losses at a power plant. Through material testing and expert testimony, the defense demonstrated that the weld debris allegations were unfounded and that Plaintiff’s own design, maintenance lapses, equipment failures, and poor system response were the more likely causes. The Court found Plaintiff failed to meet its burden of proof, and our client paid nothing despite the significant claimed exposure.