Our Team

Motor vehicle and premises liability, UM and UIM cases, insurance coverage and defense of bad faith actions.

Representation of surety companies, property owners, design professionals, and contractors in various issues, including payment and performance issues and disputes.

Appellate practice.

AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Education

• Undergraduate:

   University of Pittsburgh, B.A. (cum laude) 1980

• Law School:

   Duquesne University School of Law, 1984

Admissions

• Pennsylvania
• Ohio
• United States District Courts for all Districts of Pennsylvania and Ohio
• United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Memberships

• Allegheny County Bar Association

Venue Experience

• State trial courts and administrative bodies in Pennsylvania and Ohio
• Pennsylvania appellate courts, including many arguments before Pennsylvania Supreme and Superior Courts
• Federal District Courts of Pennsylvania and Ohio
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Previous Positions/Experience

• Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh School of Law 2005 to 2017.
• President of Zimmer Kunz, 2008-2013

Significant Matters

1. Schaper vs. Friedl, (Beaver County, Pennsylvania, July 2016), secured a defense verdict in an admitted liability case where the Plaintiff underwent extensive back surgery following the accident.  Evidence was presented to the Jury that the Plaintiff would have needed to have the back surgery regardless of the accident and that the accident did not aggravate or hasten the need for back surgery.
2. Unis vs. Progressive, et al. (Beaver County, Pennsylvania, January, 2014), secured a defense verdict for an underinsured motorist carrier in a lawsuit filed against it by an insured who sustained significant injuries in a motorcycle accident. A stipulation was entered into as to damages and the case was tried on liability only and the jury returned a defense verdict within thirty (30) minutes.
3. Greene County vs. Jenkins Trucking, (Greene County, Pennsylvania, November, 2011), secured a jury verdict for the Defendant in an amount equal to the offer prior to trial and three times less than demanded by the Plaintiff to the jury. The Defendant drove a 33 ton truck over a 3 ton bridge causing it to collapse and be destroyed. The issue arose as to the replacement cost of the bridge and we secured a very favorable Pretrial Trial ruling for the Defendant that depreciation could be applied to the bridge even though it was “ unique” government property.
4. Blood vs. Old Guard, (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2007) secured a ruling in favor of the insurance carrier in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania as to whether an insurance carrier had to have an insured sign a new request for underinsured motorist limits in amounts less than liability coverage when the insured decreased his liability coverage.