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Burns White attains ten rankings in the 2016 U.S. News Best Law Firms Survey

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 3, 2015 — Burns White earned ten rankings in the 2016 U.S.News Media Group and Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” survey. Most notably, the firm received a national first-tier ranking in railroad law for the sixth year running and a national tier three ranking in mass tort litigation/class actions — defendants.

Other results included the following metropolitan rankings for Pittsburgh:

Tier 1: Mass tort litigation/class actions — defendants, personal injury litigation — defendants and railroad law

Tier 2: Commercial litigation, litigation — labor & employment, media law and workers’ compensation law — employers

Tier 3: Medical malpractice law — defendants

Rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes a collection of client and lawyer evaluations and peer review from leading attorneys in their fields nationwide. Those surveyed provided feedback on the individual practice group’s expertise, responsiveness, understanding of business needs, cost-effectiveness, civility, integrity and likelihood of referral.

To be eligible for a ranking, a firm must have a lawyer listed in The Best Lawyers in America© listing, which recognizes the top four percent of practicing attorneys in the United States. The 2016 list was based on more than 5.5 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers and contained 52,488 attorneys in 120 practice areas. Click here for more information on the six Burns White attorneys included in The Best Lawyers in America© 2016.

A complete listing of law firm results is available online: http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com, while the national first-tier rankings will be published in the “Best Law Firms” Legal Issue, and national and metropolitan first tier rankings will be featured in the “Best Law Firms” General Counsel publication.

For more information on Burns White and its 21 practice areas, including Employment, Healthcare and Long-Term Care, Litigation, Products Liability and Toxic Tort, Professional Liability, Transportation and Workers’ Compensation, visit the firm’s website at www.burnswhite.com.

Burns White LLC is a full-service law firm that provides corporate and litigation counsel to clients operating across a broad spectrum of industries nationwide. Harnessing the collective skill of more than 120 attorneys, the law firm operates offices in Cherry Hill, N.J., Cleveland, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Princeton, N.J., Wheeling, W.V., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. and Wilmington, Del.

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Burns White and Dapper, Baldasare, Benson, Behling & Kane to merge

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 27, 2015 — Burns White LLC announced today that all 11 attorneys and six support staff from Pittsburgh-based Dapper, Baldasare, Benson, Behling & Kane, PC will be joining its Pittsburgh office, effective Jan. 1, 2016.

The addition of the Dapper Baldasare attorneys will bring to Burns White two new practice offerings in the areas insurance coverage and extra contractual litigation, and trucking litigation. It will also further enhance the firm’s existing complex litigation, professional liability and workers’ compensation litigation practices.

“We look forward to welcoming the highly regarded attorneys and staff of Dapper Baldasare,” said Executive Committee Member David B. White. “As a strategic growth initiative, the blending of our two firms is a natural fit, offering us new ways to serve our clients while deepening our bench strength.”

For Dapper Baldasare, Burns White’s geographic footprint and wide-ranging experience in complex litigation was part of the appeal. “Burns White has talented litigators of varying experience levels practicing in locations like Eastern Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio which will be of great benefit to our team,” said Robert E. Dapper, Jr., a Founding Shareholder of Dapper Baldasare. “We are greatly anticipating working with our new firm and the increased service offerings we can provide to our clients.”

Nine partners, two associates and six legal support staff from Dapper Baldasare will be joining Burns White at its North Shore location. As announced previously, Burns White will be moving its corporate headquarters in spring 2017 to a newly constructed building at 3 Crossings in the Strip District. The merging of the two firms will result in Burns White having more than 86 attorneys in Pittsburgh and more than 130 attorneys firm wide across 23 practice areas.

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Dorothy Wolbert selected for Allegheny County Bar Foundation 2015 Young Lawyer Fellow program

Associate Dorothy C. Wolbert was named to the Young Lawyer Fellows program. The program recognizes and honors attorneys who have shown a commitment to excellence in charitable, community, professional and/or public service activities, as well as a level of professional distinction in the legal community based on significant contributions.

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John Steidle and Stuart T. O’Neal receive a voluntary dismissal for a healthcare system in a medical malpractice dispute

Burns White Members Stuart T. O’Neal, III and John M. Steidle recently obtained a voluntary dismissal for a healthcare system client and its related entity in a medical malpractice suit in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The plaintiff, a guardian of a deceased child, sued our client along with the hospital and several medical providers.

Burns White attorneys filed a motion for non-involvement, arguing that our clients were improperly named in the suit and that there was not a good faith basis to support their inclusion. After initial discovery, the counsel for the plaintiffs agreed to a voluntary dismissal.

Note: The results obtained in a particular case are heavily dependent on the facts and the law specific to that case.

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Matthew Chapman co-authors a two-part legislative update for West Virginia Law Review

Associate Matthew Chapman, along with Judge Joseph K. Reeder, published a two-part update on West Virginia laws impacting the legal community in 2015 for the West Virginia Law Review. Part one discusses several of those laws—including election of judges, the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, Premises Liability and the Medical Professional Liability Act—and the possible effects. Part two focuses on the limitations on punitive damages, deliberate intent, choice of law in products liability suits, comparative fault, wrongful/retaliatory discharge, and the Wage Payment and Collection Act. Click here to read part one. And click here to read part two.

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Transportation Group secures defense verdict for two major railroad clients in a repetitive stress injury case

Members Daniel J. Hampton and T.H. Lyda obtained a defense verdict for two major railroad clients in a week-long jury trial in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County. The claim, brought under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), involved a 59-year-old former railroad employee, who alleged that his 39 years of work as a trackman, welder and machine operator caused him to develop degenerative arthritis and other injuries in his lumbar spine and knee. Plaintiff alleged that his conditions were caused by our clients’ negligence, and that as a result, he was disabled from his railroad employment. The defense team elicited testimony from the plaintiff’s treating physicians that his conditions were more likely related to aging, genetics, and a history of smoking, and presented evidence that the railroads provided the plaintiff with a reasonably safe workplace. After approximately four hours of deliberation, the jury found that neither railroad was negligent, and returned a defense verdict in favor of both clients.

Note: The results obtained in a particular case are heavily dependent on the facts and the law specific to that case.

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Burns White strengthens its Professional Liability Practice with the addition of two Members in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 25, 2015 — Burns White hired James R. Schadel and Scott R. Eberle, both formerly of Weinheimer, Schadel & Haber, P.C., as Members to the firm’s Pittsburgh headquarters. Both attorneys have established practices in professional liability defense with an emphasis on legal malpractice defense.

“We are thrilled to have Jim and Scott join our growing professional liability practice,” said Executive Committee Member David B. White. “Their additions will add significant bench strength to our legal liability defense team.”

Mr. Schadel, who was a Founding Member of Weinheimer, Schadel & Haber, said that Burns White’s geographic footprint, size and practice variety were an attractive benefit. “I think Scott’s and my experience will be a nice complement to Burns White’s existing professional liability practice,” he said. “We’re pleased to offer our clients a greater breadth of resources and service offerings.”

Mr. Schadel has a 36-year practice spanning professional liability, general liability, auto, contracts, construction and products liability. The majority of his practice involves defending lawyers and other professionals such as accountants, real estate agents, insurance agents and design professionals in professional liability matters. Mr. Schadel often counsels lawyers, pre or post claims, on professional ethics and professional responsibility matters, including those facing disciplinary charges before the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. In addition, Mr. Schadel assists a wide range of clients with the drafting of ethics opinions. He is also a frequently requested speaker on legal malpractice avoidance, lawyer ethics and risk management by various bar associations and legal organizations. Mr. Schadel graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

For more than 13 years, Mr. Eberle’s practice has focused on professional liability defense, with an emphasis on the defense of lawyers and other professionals such as real estate agents, insurance agents and design professionals. Complementing his litigation practice, Mr. Eberle regularly counsels lawyers, pre or post claims or suits, on professional ethics and professional responsibility matters, including those facing disciplinary charges before the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. Mr. Eberle also represents lawyers with regard to Pennsylvania Lawyers Fund for Client Security claims. He is a frequently requested speaker on legal malpractice avoidance, lawyer ethics and risk management by various bar associations and legal organizations.

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Burns White welcomes five Associates to offices in Pa.

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 18, 2015 — Burns White LLC welcomes five associates with practices spanning energy, healthcare and long-term care and workers’ compensation to its offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Pittsburgh

Energy

Eileen M. Fairlie’s energy practice involves due diligence, title curative measures and certified title opinions for oil and gas clients. Since graduating from Duquesne University School of Law in 2010, the majority of Ms. Fairlie’s experience lies in oil and gas title examination. Prior to joining Burns White, she held associate positions at two energy law firms in Canonsburg, Pa. and was a final review title attorney at Rice Energy.

Brandon M. Spleen focuses his practice on a wide range of transactional matters in the oil and gas industry, including due diligence review, title curative measures and certificated title opinions for clients operating in the Marcellus and Utica Shale. Before Burns White, Mr. Spleen worked as a Lead Abstractor for Chain of Title Land Services and as an Oil and Gas Title Review Analyst at Rice Energy. He graduated from Duquesne University School of Law.

Philadelphia

Healthcare and Long-Term Care

Courtney C. Barbacane is a seasoned trial attorney defending doctors, hospitals and long-term care facilities in medical malpractice and professional liability matters throughout state and federal courts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. With experience in both initiating and defending claims, Ms. Barbacane has a background in handling complex personal injury actions involving medical and nursing malpractice. She received a J.D. from Widener University School of Law.

Katherine “Kate” E. Senior’s practice involves defending physicians and hospitals against professional liability claims. An experienced litigator serving the healthcare industry, Ms. Senior has handled medical malpractice and professional liability claims throughout Pennsylvania for nearly ten years. She graduated from Villanova University School of Law.

Workers’ Compensation

Daivy P. Dambreville represents self-insured employers, insurance companies and third-party administrators, and aims to provide solutions to reduce their workers’ compensation exposure. Prior to joining Burns White, he was a Litigation Associate with a focus on financial services practices and contractual disputes. Mr. Dambreville graduated from the Dickinson School of Law at the Pennsylvania State University.

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Six firm attorneys receive Best Lawyers in America ranking and Best Lawyer of the Year recognition

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 17, 2015 — Michael W. Burns and Members David A. Damico, Daniel B. Donahoe, T.H. Lyda, Patrick L. Mechas and D. Scott Newman were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2016. In addition, Mr. Burns was named the Best Lawyers’ 2016 Pittsburgh Railroad Law “Lawyer of the Year.”

First published in 1983, Best Lawyers® is based on a peer-review survey where more than 52,000 attorneys cast nearly 5.5 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas and geographic locations.

A Founding Member of Burns White, Mr. Burns, who currently serves as Of Counsel to the firm, has more than 40 years of litigation experience representing individuals, businesses and governmental agencies in catastrophic loss personal injury, toxic tort and railroad defense, and has been involved in all aspects of media work his entire career.

Mr. Damico, Founding Member and Co-Chair of the Transportation Group, brings more than 30 years of litigation experience coupled with business acumen to his corporate clients. He serves as National Trial Counsel to multiple railroad companies and has tried numerous occupational illness, toxic exposure and catastrophic personal injury cases. In 2014, Mr. Damico was named Best Lawyers’ Pittsburgh Railroad Law “Lawyer of the Year.”

Mr. Donahoe concentrates his practice in the defense of occupational illness cases in both federal and state courts throughout the country. With a primary emphasis in FELA litigation, he has also performed defense work in the areas of products liability, automobile insurance and personal injury.

Mr. Lyda, who Co-Chairs the Transportation Group, was named Pittsburgh Railroad Law “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in 2013. A litigator with more than 20 years of experience, he is well versed in occupational disease, toxic tort and products liability litigation, as well as entertainment law. Mr. Lyda also handles OSHA citation contests and inspections for clients in several industries and is an invited speaker on the topic at national conferences.

Co-Chair of the firm’s Healthcare and Long-Term Care Practice Group, Mr. Mechas has more than 20 years of legal experience defending professional negligence claims on behalf of medical and healthcare professionals, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, long-term acute care hospitals and management services companies. In addition to his extensive healthcare practice, he has defended numerous products liability and general liability matters on behalf of businesses from a variety of industries.

Mr. Newman joined the firm in 1990 and is Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Group. He represents both self-insured corporations and insurance companies before workers’ compensation judges, the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board and the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Mr. Newman maintains a secondary concentration in the practice of administrative law under the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act and Black Lung Benefits Act.

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