News: FHMS News > Speaking Engagements & Articles
Fowler Presents at Transportation and Liquor Liability Seminars
Joseph Fowler, joined by Liz Loperfido and Gracemarie Mende, presented at the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) Spotlight: Transportation seminar. His panel, Immediate Response and Accident Investigation: Why it Matters, addressed post-accident procedures and how post-accident investigations can preserve critical information, avoid spoilation, and put a company in a favorable position to have an… Read More ❯
Jury net verdict $700 in liability case with expert estimated medical expenses of $285,000
Restaurant franchise obtains $700 net verdict in difficult liability case where Plaintiff’s future care expert estimated Plaintiff’s future medical expenses could exceed $285,000. Attorneys Gregory Hirtzel & Benjamin Novak Plaintiff sustained a non, or minimally, displaced fracture to her left elbow and soft tissue injuries when she fell in the lobby of the Defendant… Read More ❯
Eckell and Gallagher Secures Order for Summary Judgment
Lee Eckell and Megan Gallagher secured an Order for Summary Judgment on behalf of their client, a general contractor, in a case in which the Plaintiff, an employee of a subcontractor, injured himself on a work site with a chain saw. The motion for summary judgment argued that the subcontractor was required under the terms… Read More ❯
2022 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Congratulations to our FHMS attorneys who were named 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars: Joseph Fowler – Super Lawyer Gregory Hirtzel – Super Lawyer Joseph McNulty – Super Lawyer Andrew Spaulding – Super Lawyer Francis X. Simpson – Super Lawyer Dennis Chow – Rising Star Alison Fleming – Rising Star Zachary Fowler – Rising Star Benjamin Novak – Rising Star Matthew Vodzak – Rising Star Super… Read More ❯
2022 FHMS Summer Law Clerks
FHMS is excited to announce that Temple Law students, Daisy Mase and Arjun Nair will be joining the third year of our firm’s clerkship program. FHMS’ summer clerk program is led by Partner, Alison Fleming, to give future lawyers the opportunity to experience every aspect of litigation. Under supervision of our attorneys, the law clerks… Read More ❯
Jury Verdict of $8,670 With $31,000 Boarded in Disc Herniation Trial
Jury returns net verdict of $8,670 in case of clear liability where plaintiff was alleging cervical disc herniation and Boarded $31,000. Greg Hirtzel, with the assistance of Ben Novak, recently had a jury in West Chester, Pa., return a verdict in the gross amount of $10,200 reduced by the assessed comparative negligence of the wife… Read More ❯
Preliminary Objections Granted in Liability Case
In the matter of Eisenhower v. Pottsgrove School District, et al., Plaintiff student alleged injuries to her surgically repaired foot when she jumped off the back of the school bus during a required school bus evacuation drill run by an independent third party bus company. FHMS filed Preliminary Objections on behalf of the District arguing… Read More ❯
Spaulding and Vodzak Discusses OSHA’s Expected Emergency Temporary Standard Regarding the Pandemic
Partners, Andrew J. Spaulding and Matthew D. Vodzak, provide a brief overview of the federal government’s recently announced plan to direct the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issue an Emergency Temporary Standard for all employers with 100 or more employees to require vaccines or negative COVID-19 test. Click here to read the full article.
Fowler Recognized in 28th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
Partner, Joseph Fowler, was nominated and recognized for his professional excellence in the 28th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in personal injury defense litigation. The Best Lawyers in America highlights the top 6% of private practicing attorneys in the U.S. and is based on more than 8 million evaluations and… Read More ❯
Fowler Presents at CLM Alliance Conference
FHMS Partner, Joseph Fowler, joined Michelle Leighton, David Cades, Daniel Deitch and John Messersmith for the annual Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) Conference in Atlanta to present the human factors edge in reviewing videos in liability cases. The panel addressed post-accident investigations, how to protect and preserve evidence and response times. For more information… Read More ❯
2021 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Congratulations to our attorneys who were named 2021 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars: Joseph Fowler – Super Lawyer Gregory Hirtzel – Super Lawyer Joseph McNulty – Super Lawyer Andrew Spaulding – Super Lawyer Jeremy Abidiwan-Lupo – Rising Star Dennis Chow – Rising Star FHMS attorneys have been recognized as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars… Read More ❯
Matthew Vodzak Appointed as Co-Chair of the Amicus Committee of PADC
Matthew Vodzak was recently appointed as Co-Chair of the Amicus Committee of the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel (PADC). PADC is a nonprofit association of approximately 300 lawyers from the five-county Philadelphia area. Organized in 1947, PADC is the oldest continuously operating local defense organization in the United States. PADC protects and advances the interests… Read More ❯
Hirtzel and Novak’s Manifestation Rule Publicized on The Gavel
FHMS partner Gregory Hirtzel and associate Benjamin Novak‘s article, A Case for Why the First Manifestation Rule Should be Applied in Construction Defect Cases, was recently selected for publication on The Gavel. The Gavel is a National claims defense network that provides verdicts, news, and resources for claims and risk professionals. Click here to read… Read More ❯
Eckell and Spaulding Present Webinar on Premises Liability Law
FHMS partners Lee Eckell and Andrew Spaulding presented a webinar on the basics of premises liability law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The webinar provided attorneys and insurance industry claims handlers with basic knowledge on how to defend premises liability claims. Mr. Eckell and Mr. Spaulding used real case examples to discuss topics such as… Read More ❯
Lettieri, Chow, and Molotsky Present Webinars to Insurance Professionals
Last month, FHMS partners Frances Lettieri, Dennis Chow, and Allan Molotsky presented two webinars to insurance professionals. The first webinar was given on December 15, 2020. Ms. Lettieri, Mr. Chow, and Mr. Molotsky presented the latest case law updates and discussed coverage litigation trends. On December 16, 2020, Ms. Lettieri, Mr. Chow, and Mr. Molotsky… Read More ❯
Lettieri and Chow Present Webinar on Condominium and Homeowners Associate Claims
FHMS partners Frances Lettieri and Dennis Chow presented a webinar to insurance professionals reviewing Director and Officer’s coverage for condominium and homeowners associations. This presentation was designed as a training program to provide an overview for the handling of such claims.
Pennsylvania Superior Court Fast Tracks Personal Jurisdiction Case on Consent
By: Matthew Vodzak The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will decide whether Pennsylvania’s long arm personal jurisdiction statute is constitutional. That statute permits Pennsylvania to exercise general personal jurisdiction over foreign companies that are registered to do business in Pennsylvania. FHMS Partner Matt Vodzak provides insight on how the Pennsylvania Supreme Court might rule. Click here to… Read More ❯
Fowler Presents Webinar to Lancer Insurance Company
On Tuesday, December 8th, FHMS Partner Joseph Fowler presented a 2-hour webinar to Lancer Insurance Company. Mr. Fowler was joined in presenting the webinar by David Farina, Esq. of Cray and Huber of Chicago, Il. Mr. Fowler and Mr. Farina discussed how to effectively use biomechanics experts to defend cases, how to document and preserve… Read More ❯
Fowler Presents Webinar to Carolina Casualty Insurance Company
On Friday, December 4th, FHMS Partner Joseph Fowler participated in a live webinar presentation to commercial vehicle insurance company, Carolina Casualty. Fowler was joined by six other members of the Gavel Network. The CLE-accredited webinar featured three sessions and ended with a trucking potpourri. Fowler, alongside Michael Hostetter of Nall & Miller, led the first… Read More ❯
Hirtzel, Chow, and Novak Present Webinar on Auto Case Law and UM/UIM Coverage
On Thursday, December 3rd, Gregory Hirtzel, Dennis Chow, and Benjamin Novak presented a lunchtime webinar on some of Pennsylvania’s most recent court decisions regarding auto case law and UM/UIM coverage. The topics discussed included coverage election forms, UM and UIM coverage exclusions, whether the admissibility of future medical bills are subject to the MVFRL’s cost… Read More ❯
Hirtzel and Lettieri Present Webinar on Reservation of Rights
On Thursday, November 19th, partners Gregory Hirtzel and Frances Lettieri presented a webinar on Reservation of Rights. Hirtzel, a seasoned litigator in all manner of high exposure casualty claims whose practice crosses over into risk transfer and insurance coverage matters and Lettieri, a partner in the firm’s Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith practice, provided a… Read More ❯
Fowler to Present Webinar for Northfield and Northland Insurance Companies
FHMS Partner Joseph Fowler will participate in a live webinar presentation to Northfield and Northland insurance companies on Wednesday, October 28. The webinar will include six attorneys from the Gavel Network. In addition to Fowler, John Messersmith (Kalbaugh Pfund & Messersmith), Daniel Santaniello (Luks Santaniello Petrillo & Cohen), Derrick Dewitt (Dewitt Paruolo & Meek), Michael… Read More ❯
Fowler and Taranto Present Webinar on Catastrophic Incidents
Joseph Fowler and Damian Taranto of FHMS, along with Justin P. Schorr, Ph.D., Lt. Col. Bryan J. Smith, P.E., and Robert Kinder, Jr. of DJS Associates, recently presented a webinar on catastrophic incidents. The three-hour webinar educated attendees on how to avoid, prepare for, and react to these incidents. The speakers used data, collection technology,… Read More ❯
PA Supreme Court Rules on Uber Driver’s Demand for Unemployment Benefits in Lowman v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review
On July 24, 2020, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania decided a matter of first impression: whether an otherwise eligible claimant seeking unemployment benefits is “self-employed” and therefore ineligible for those benefits while working as an Uber driver. The Court’s opinion analyzed the appropriate test for determining self-employment under the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Law (“Act”)[1] and… Read More ❯
Greg Hirtzel and Cody Kauffman Win Summary Judgment in PA First Amendment Case
FHMS attorneys Greg Hirtzel and Cody Kauffman secured summary judgment in favor of their clients in a case that turned on whether a school board and school district violated the plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and association. This was the first opinion of its kind issued by Judge Jennifer P. Wilson of… Read More ❯
Fowler, Campbell, and Vodzak Win Post-Trial Motion in Philadelphia: Judgment Entered for Defendants
In October 2019, Joe Fowler and Jacqui Campbell obtained a defense verdict after eight days of trial in Griffin v. Advanced Disposal Services, a Philadelphia County case with contested liability and catastrophic injuries. The plaintiffs filed a Motion for Post-Trial Relief claiming 20 different errors warranted a new trial. Among other things, the plaintiffs’ challenged… Read More ❯
Matthew Vodzak Presents Webinar on COVID-19 and Liability Waivers
Matthew Vodzak and Bryan Schwartz of Odell Studner Group, LLC presented a lunchtime webinar on COVID-19 and liability waivers. The presentation provided an overview of Pennsylvania and New Jersey law regarding pre-injury liability waivers and how courts might evaluate them. The use of pre-injury liability waivers is an emerging trend in light of the potential… Read More ❯
FHMS Attorneys Named 2020 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Congratulations to our FHMS attorneys who were named 2020 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars: Joseph Fowler – Super Lawyer – Personal Injury Gregory Hirtzel – Super Lawyer – Transportation Joseph McNulty – Super Lawyer – Civil Litigation Defense Andrew Spaulding – Super Lawyer – Construction Litigation Dennis Chow – Rising Star – Insurance Coverage… Read More ❯
Joseph Fowler Presents Webinar with NSM Insurance and Forty Two Group
Joseph R. Fowler presented a webinar with NSM Insurance Group and leaders in the school bus industry. The webinar discussed ways in which school bus operators have been affected by the pandemic and how to proactively plan for a post-COVID landscape. The topics included navigating COVID-19, negotiating with school districts, potential claims and issues to… Read More ❯
Making History & Moving Forward: What Bostock Means for You, Your Company & Inclusiveness in the Workplace Presentation
Please join Ashley R. Lynam, co-Chair of the firm’s Sexual Misconduct Liability Practice Group, for a presentation on July 13, 2020 at 12:00pm ET titled, “Making History & Moving Forward: What Bostock Means for You, Your Company & Inclusiveness in the Workplace,” where she will discuss the monumental Supreme Court decision which ensured Title VII… Read More ❯
Matthew Vodzak Files Amicus Brief in Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Matthew Vodzak recently filed an amicus curiae brief in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on behalf of the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel. PADC is a nonprofit association of approximately 300 lawyers from the five-county Philadelphia area. PADC protects and advances the interests of civil defendants and their counsel, shares knowledge within the defense trial bar,… Read More ❯
Pennsylvania Superior Court Clarifies Standard for Reservations of Rights
April 30, 2020 On Friday, April 24, 2020, a divided Pennsylvania Superior Court panel decided Selective Way Ins. Co. v. MAK Services, Inc. 2020 PA Super 103. This case has important implications for insurance carriers who issue, and defend insureds subject to, reservations of rights. Partners, Allan C. Molotsky, Frances A. Lettieri, Dennis Chow, and… Read More ❯
How to Prepare for Potential COVID-19 Claims
Fowler Hirtzel McNulty and Spaulding have been closely monitoring the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the various orders and guidance issued by our local, state and federal government. In accordance with the “stay-at-home” order, many businesses are closed, however, the life sustaining businesses remain open. We anticipate that there may be employees or consumers who will… Read More ❯
PA Senate Bill 1114 Seeks to Extend Insurance Coverage Due to COVID-19
On April 15, 2020, the COVID-19 Insurance Relief Act, Senate Bill 1114 was introduced in the Pennsylvania Senate. Senate Bill 1114 is the Pennsylvania’s first legislative attempt to respond to property and business interruption claims arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. SB 1114 would require insurance policies covering property damage, including business interruption insurance, to… Read More ❯
Pennsylvania Court Closures Extended
Recently, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a supplemental order extending the Pennsylvania court closures through April 30, 2020. Along with this extended closure comes important considerations related to time computations, the Statute of Limitations, and case management deadlines. FHMS remains committed to keeping our clients abreast of these considerations to best protect our clients’ interests… Read More ❯
FHMS Fully Functional
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the City of Philadelphia has ordered a shutdown of all non-essential businesses starting on March 17th and continuing until March 27th. All Philadelphia Courts will be closed until April 6th. Please note that the counties in PA do not have uniformity in this crisis. Some courts are open and others… Read More ❯
Joe Fowler Speaks At Churchill Casualty’s Risk Control Workshop
Joe Fowler along with Frank Flatch, from Silvi Group Companies, presented at Churchill Casualty’s Risk Workshop earlier this month. This discussion identified the best way to collect data from an accident scene and the types of procedures to establish for post-accident response. The best practices presentation demonstrated the effects of implementing technology to a practice…. Read More ❯
Joe Fowler and Jacqueline Campbell Receives The Golden Gavel
Westfield Insurance recognized Joe Fowler and Jacqueline Campbell with their Golden Gavel Award. They showed recognition to Joe and Jacqueline’s success in a lawsuit that was handled on Westfield’s behalf in Philadelphia County. This lawsuit consisted of the Plaintiff sustaining permanent injuries from a tractor that he hot-wired running over his foot. There were claims… Read More ❯
Joe McNulty and Randy Keiser Obtain Summary Judgment
Joe McNulty and Randy Keiser obtained summary judgment for a supermarket in a slip and fall case in Pennsylvania. The plaintiff claimed that she fell near a ramp in the sidewalk adjacent to the supermarket. Joe and Randy argued that the fall occurred in a common area as defined in the lease and that the… Read More ❯
Andrew Spaulding & Matthew Vodzak Attain Dismissal in Underinsured Motorist Matter
Andrew Spaulding and Matthew Vodzak recently obtained dismissal of an underinsured motorist claim filed against FHMS’s clients. FHMS represented a nationwide building-materials company and its insurer. A company employee claimed that he was injured while operating a work vehicle and sued seeking underinsured motorist benefits. FHMS counterclaimed for declaratory relief that no underinsured motorist coverage existed since… Read More ❯
FHMS Awarded 2019 Top Gavel – Best Business Practices Partner
Annually, Westfield Insurance presents the Top Gavel – their Best Business Practices Partner award, to one of their partners. This award is the sole Golden Gavel given for the month of December. For 2019, Westfield Insurance has selected the FHMS team as the winner of the Top Gavel. This award honors the firm that was… Read More ❯
Joe McNulty Receives Golden Gavel Award
For his success in acting as counsel to a head injury matter, Joe McNulty was recognized and awarded the accredited Golden Gavel. The Golden Gavel is a formal monthly recognition program in which Westfield Insurance recognizes outstanding achievement by their outside counsel. McNulty’s expertise and guidance were utilized by Westfield in this particular lawsuit where… Read More ❯
Joe Fowler & Matthew Vodzak Litigated Successful Appeal in Delaware Supreme Court
Joe Fowler and Matthew Vodzak recently won an appeal in the Delaware Supreme Court. FHMS represented a construction subcontractor sued when a single-car accident occurred in a roadwork zone. The teenage driver was seriously injured, and her passenger died in the accident. After discovery but before expert reports were exchanged, FHMS entered into a settlement… Read More ❯
Dennis Chow Presents E&O Webinar
Dennis Chow, a member of the firm’s Insurance Coverage & Bad Faith practice group, recently presented a webinar on errors and omissions and statutory regulatory liability coverage under garage/auto dealer policies. The webinar provided training to insurance professionals for claims under the Truth in Lending Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Federal Regulation 455, and… Read More ❯
Spaulding, Fleming & Vodzak Obtained Dismissal
Andrew Spaulding, Alison Fleming, and Matthew Vodzak recently obtained dismissal of a subrogation action filed against FHMS’s clients, a commercial landlord and property manager. A tenant’s insurance company filed a subrogation action in Philadelphia state court action against FHMS’s clients for claims from a fire loss. FHMS successfully argued that the terms of the lease… Read More ❯
Molotsky and Vodzak Obtained Summary Judgment
Allan Molotsky and Matthew Vodzak recently obtained summary judgment in Philadelphia in an insurance coverage action. FHMS represented an insurance company that insured a restaurant under a general liability policy. One of the restaurant’s employees killed a co-employee while at work. The deceased employee’s estate sued the restaurant, and the restaurant sought insurance coverage from… Read More ❯
Matthew Vodzak Litigated Successful Appeal
Matthew Vodzak litigated a successful appeal in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in a slip-and-fall case. The plaintiff was at the home of FHMS’s client for a personal-training session. The plaintiff slipped and fell on an icy sidewalk, and fractured her leg. FHMS successfully obtained summary judgment in the trial court, and the plaintiff appealed…. Read More ❯
Justin Boehret Obtains Defense Verdict
Justin Boehret obtained a defense verdict in a jury trial in Bucks County. Mr. Boehret, who practices in FHMS’s Allentown office, represented a driver in a contested intersectional accident. The jury found our client free of any negligence.
Spaulding Presented Civility in Civil Litigation CLE
Founding FHMS partner, Andrew J. Spaulding, and Roy DeCaro of Raynes Lawn Hehmeyer presented a CLE on Friday, November 1, 2019 titled “Civility in Civil Litigation”.
Fowler and Campbell Obtain Defense Verdict in Philadelphia Trial
Joe Fowler and Jacqui Campbell obtained a defense verdict after 8 days of trial in Griffin v. Advanced Disposal Services in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas before Judge Messiah Jackson on October 30, 2019. The case was tried over 8 days. Plaintiff’s demand at the start of trial was $5 million. At the end… Read More ❯