Newsroom
Andre J. Webb Presents at ALFA International’s GIG Economy Regional Seminar – 2024
This week at the ALFAI 2024 Gig Economy Regional Seminar Partner, Andre J. Webb will moderate a discussion on AI & The Legal Profession: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges. Artificial intelligence is not a new invention, but it may well be the most rapidly evolving technology, disrupting almost all sectors of the economy. This evolution offers both vast opportunities and risks at the same time. From a legal perspective, this presentation is intended to highlight the recent developments of artificial intelligence in three areas: corporate advice, litigation, and in-house legal counseling. Whereas corporate counsel may fear their replacement by more efficient software, attorneys with a focus on litigation might have to challenge their trust in images and videos, and in-house counsel might be able to hope for a much more efficient way to search and find data already available in the company. The panel will offer specific examples of AI tools that may ease the burden of litigation while also addressing the potential harms of the tools, including how the plaintiff’s bar is utilizing AI to assist in litigation.
GGM is pleased to announce its newest Litigation Associate Evan Baker
GGM is pleased to announce the addition of a new litigation associate, Evan Baker. At GGM she will focus her practice on the defense of medical malpractice matters. Prior to joining German, Gallagher & Murtagh, Evan worked as an associate at a boutique firm where she represented individuals in personal injury cases, specifically in vaccination injury claims. She has assisted with trials, prepared expert and lay witnesses for hearings, presented oral arguments in court, and has significant drafting experience, including briefs and motions.
Evan is a graduate of Penn State University where she received her B.A. in Sociology, magna cum laude, with a minor in French and Francophone Studies. Evan then earned her Juris Doctorate from The Villanova Charles Widger School of Law. During her time at Villanova Law School, Evan was an SBA Class Representative, SBA Student Group Liaison, Student Admissions Ambassador, and a member of the Professor Selection Committee.
Jacob C. Lehman and Michael G. Balabon Obtain Dismissal of Plaintiff’s Appeal to New Jersey Supreme Court for National Marine and Vehicle Brokerage Firm
Jacob C. Lehman and Michael G. Balabon obtained the successful dismissal of a Plaintiff’s Petition for Certification to the Supreme Court of New Jersey in a lawsuit alleging fraud and breach of contract against their client, a National Marine and Vehicle Brokerage firm. The appeal concerned Plaintiff’s challenge to the validity of a forum selection clause in a contract executed between the parties. Plaintiff , who utilized the services of Defendant for the sale of a recreational vehicle, commenced the action in the Superior Court of New Jersey, alleging breach of contract and fraud by the Defendant. We successfully moved to dismiss this action, as the contract in question contained a forum selection clause which mandated that any lawsuit filed related to the contract would have to take place in Florida. Plaintiff then filed an appeal with the Appellate Division, claiming that the contract was an invalid contract of adhesion. The Appellate Division disagreed, and our office was again successful in dismissing this action. Following dismissal by the Appellate Division, Plaintiff initiated an Appeal with the Supreme Court of New Jersey by filing a Notice of Petition for Certification. Plaintiff then filed a Petition for Certification, which we opposed. Taking all of the pleadings into account, the Supreme Court ultimately agreed with the arguments presented by the GGM team, and denied Plaintiff’s Petition for Certification.
Mr. Lehman and Mr. Balabon regularly handle commercial litigation matters such as this one in the trial and appellate courts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. If you would like more information please contact Mr. Lehman at lehmanj@ggmfirm.com
Jeff Laudenbach Honored to be a Speaker on the Panel at ALFA International Regional Workers’ Compensation Seminar 2024
Jeff Laudenbach was a speaker at the ALFA International Regional Workers’ Compensation Seminar in St. Louis entitled: LET’S GET THE ZAMBONI ON THE ICE: TIPS AND TOOLS FOR
RESURFACING RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR TPA. The panel discussion focused on developing collaborative team efforts between employers, counsel and TPA to improve handling claims.
Defense Verdict Resulting in the Dismissal of a Claim Petition
Jeff Laudenbach and Brian Sumner obtained a defense verdict resulting in the dismissal of a Claim Petition arising from an alleged unwitnessed workplace injury. Claimant alleged a cervical spine injury with immediate onset of radiating pain that resulted in a two level cervical spine disc replacement surgery. Through factual and medical evidence, Jeff and Brian were able to establish a recent pre-existing medical history of similar complaints and inconsistent histories for the mechanism of injury. Employer witnesses had documented communications details with Claimant surrounding the time of the alleged accident to support their testimony and the expert discovery identified additional inconsistencies in the mechanism of injury. The documented inconsistent statements and history significantly boosted the impact of the defense testimony resulting in a favorable outcome.
GGM is pleased to announce our new team member Cassidy R. Page
GGM is pleased to announce our new team member Cassidy Page, in our firm’s professional and product liability and catastrophic injury team. Before joining GGM Cassidy worked at a Pennsylvania firm where she represented individuals in personal injury, toxic tort, nursing home abuse, as well as motor vehicle matters. Cassidy has assisted with trail, argued various motions in court as well as taken and defended lay and expert witness depositions.
Cassidy, graduated from The Pennsylvania State University, Penn State Law where she earned her Juris Doctorate. Cassidy is also a graduate Northern Illinois University where she received her B.S. in Marketing.
GGM is pleased to announce its newest Litigation Associate Kate M. Hurley
Our GGM team continues to expand with our new Workmen’s Comp associate Kate Hurley. Kate’s recent experience was working as a Judicial Law Clerk in The First Judicial District of PA, were she drafted memoranda related to cases, as well as observed and conducted relevant research in court, read an prepped for custody, PFA and PFA violation cases. She has previous law experience drafting and editing wills, POAs, ADHC and trust amendments, as well as drafted and edited complaints for motor vehicle and slip and fall accidents.
Kate graduated from Drexel University, Thomas R. Line School of Law. Kate received the Rising Advocate Scholarship, and Excellence in Workers Compensation Law Award. Prior to laws school Kate attended James Madison University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Psychology.
Jacob C. Lehman Presents at ALFA’s Business Litigation Regional Seminar in Philadelphia
On December 7th, Partner Jacob C. Lehman presented at ALFA’s Business Litigation group regional seminar in Philadelphia. Entitled “Protecting In-House Counsel’s Attorney-Client Privilege”, the presentation focused on relevant law and best practices for corporate legal departments in structuring communications in order to ensure attorney-client privilege is protected in litigation.
For more information or materials please contact Mr. Lehman (lehmanj@ggmfirm.com).
Andre J. Webb and Francis V. Bovio Obtain Successful Transfer of Case Out of Philadelphia County
Andre J. Webb and Francis V. Bovio obtained the successful transfer of a case from Philadelphia County to Delaware County via Preliminary Objections to a Complaint for improper venue. The Complaint alleged that their client, a Pennsylvania business entity, regularly conducted business in Philadelphia County as a basis for proper venue in Philadelphia County. Plaintiff argued that the client received funds from a Philadelphia County entity for its business operations as a basis for venue. Following a court-ordered discovery period and several oral arguments on the issue, a Philadelphia County judge transferred the matter from Philadelphia County, as Andre and Francis showed that the quality and quantity of their client’s contacts with Philadelphia County were incidental to its operations, and the Court held that the client did not regularly conduct business in Philadelphia County.
Andre J. Webb and Francis V. Bovio Obtain Successful Dismissal of Client via Preliminary Objections
Andre J. Webb and Francis V. Bovio obtained the successful dismissal of a client, a regional chain of convenience stores, via Preliminary Objections to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. The Complaint alleged that the client was responsible for a defective sidewalk which caused the Plaintiff injuries. Andre and Francis argued that the sidewalk was not the responsibility of the client and, following extensive briefing and oral argument on the issue, the Court agreed, dismissing the client from the case before having to engage in discovery and protracted litigation.
