Walsh Pancio Proudly Supports Our Community Partners.
On January 12, 2023, Walsh Pancio attorneys were once again proud to participate in the Montgomery Bar Association (“MBA“) Annual Business Luncheon, which took place at The Country House at Bluestone Country Club in Blue Bell, PA.
The firm congratulates Immediate Past President Sarinia M. Fenman on a tremendous year in charge of the MBA. The firm also congratulates newly installed President Justin Bayer on his position and looks forward to a terrific year under his direction.
The firm is proud to announce that its Founding Partner The Honorable Joseph P. Walsh was installed as the Secretary of the MBA and will serve alongside MBA President Bayer, President-Elect Lisa Shearman, Vice President Seth Wilson, Treasurer Colin O’Boyle, and Executive Director Denise Vicario. He will continue his role as Chair of the MBA’s influential Government Relations Committee.
Founding Partner and Past MBA President Bruce Pancio will continue to serve as Co-Chair of the Council of Past Presidents and will continue to serve on numerous MBA committees including the Bench Bar Committee, Judiciary Committee, Managing Partners Committee, Membership/Development Committee, and Rules of Civil Court Committee.
Attorney Mike Lyon will serve as Chair of the Law Reporter Committee and Treasurer of the Trial Lawyers Section and will continue to serve on numerous MBA committees including the Bench Bar Committee, Federal Court Practice Committee, Fee Dispute Committee, Judiciary Committee, and the Rules of Civil Court Committee.
Attorney Chelsea Dearden will serve as Co-Chair of the esteemed Women in the Law Committee and will Chair the Social Committee of the Young Lawyers Section. In addition to her leadership rules, she will continue to serve on numerous MBA committees.
Attorney Jason Edwards will serve as Chair of the Young Lawyers Section and Co-Chair of the Membership/Development Committee. In addition to his leadership rules, he will continue to serve on numerous MBA committees.
All the firm’s attorneys will remain active members of the MBA’s Trial Lawyers Section.
The firm is grateful for these opportunities to serve the MBA and looks forward to a terrific year.
Walsh Pancio Attorney Jason Edwards obtained summary judgment resulting in the dismissal with prejudice of a negligence suit in Berks County against a local commercial property owner.
Plaintiff’s negligence claims against the local commercial property owner arose from an alleged slip and fall on the hills and ridges of the uncleared, unshovelled, unremediated, and concealed ice in February 2019 on a sidewalk adjacent to the apartment complex owned by the local commercial property owner where she lived. Plaintiff sought extensive damages for her injuries.
Jason litigated this matter over several years. Jason extensively investigated Plaintiff’s claims against the local commercial property owner and established that that was no evidence to establish Plaintiff’s claims against the local commercial property owner. In fact, Plaintiff’s own deposition testimony assisted in establishing a defense under the Pennsylvania “hills and ridges” doctrine.
Jason filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on behalf of the client and argued that the local commercial property owner was not liable for Plaintiff’s injuries under the Pennsylvania “hills and ridges” doctrine which provides that, unless snow or ice has accumulated in ridges or elevations of such size and character as to unreasonably obstruct travel and constitute a danger to pedestrians, the property owner has no duty to remove the ice or snow.
Following oral argument in September 2022, the Court agreed with Jason’s arguments and granted the Motion for Summary Judgment dismissing with prejudice all claims against the client.
Walsh Pancio congratulates founding partner, Hon. Joseph Walsh, who served as the lead trial counsel for the Plaintiff in the matter of Elliott Greenleaf PC v. Richard Demarco. The Montgomery County lawsuit involved competing claims to an $11.3 million referral fee for a personal injury settlement. Both parties filed Declaratory Judgment Actions seeking a Court declaration of their entitlement to the referral fee.
Following a non-jury trial before the Honorable Richard P. Haaz and post-trial submissions by the parties, the Court issued a written decision finding in favor of the law firm of Elliott Greenleaf and against its former employee, attorney Richard Demarco.
The Court ruled that Elliott Greenleaf was entitled to receive the entire referral fee of $11,330, 804 pursuant to a legally enforceable referral fee agreement with the law firm who settled the catastrophic injury case several years prior. The Court also found that Richard Demarco was not a party to that referral fee agreement and did not have an equitable or legal interest in the referral fee. The law firm who settled personal injury case agreed that it owed a referral fee and had held the amount in escrow pending the outcome of this case.
The case represents an important decision applying well-settled law pertaining to the enforceability of referral fee agreements between attorneys in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Walsh Pancio Attorney Jason Edwards was recently published in the Montgomery Bar Association Sidebar Summer 2022 Issue. As a recent graduate of the Montgomery Bar Association’s 2021 Leadership Academy, Jason had the opportunity to have a conversation with Montgomery Bar Association President Sarinia M. Feinman, Esquire about her focus on wellness and the bar association’s wellness initiatives.
Congratulations to our own Hon. Joseph P Walsh who was just appointed to serve on the Nominating Committee for the Montgomery County Public Defenders’ Office Oversight Board. Judge Walsh was selected to serve on this Committee along with four other community leaders. The Nominating Committee was established by the Board of Commissioners for Montgomery County based upon the Analysis and Recommendations of the Sheller Center for Social Justice at Temple University. The Committee will assist in the recommendation, nomination, and selection of candidates for the position of Chief Public Defender for Montgomery County. Judge Walsh is honored to be appointed to this very important Committee and have the ability to work with such a prestigious group of community leaders.
Montgomery County President Judge Carolyn T. Carluccio recently re-appointed the Honorable Joseph P. Walsh Chair of the Montgomery County Board of View for a three (3) year term effective January 23, 2022.
The Montgomery County Board of View is appointed by the Court to assess the value of the condemned property at the time of the taking if the Condemnor and Condemnee are unable to agree upon the just compensation for the property being taken pursuant to Montgomery County Local Rule 953.
The Board of View is comprised of a realtor and engineer who sit and hear evidence and ask questions of witnesses if necessary. As Chair, Joe Walsh serves as the hearing Judge. Following the close of evidence, the Board deliberates. All three members participate in the deliberations and have an equal vote. Following their deliberation, a Final Order and Decision is entered of record by the Board.
Joe Walsh is grateful to have been selected by the President Judge and looks forward to working with the members of the Board of View.
On January 7, 2022, Walsh Pancio attorneys were once again proud to participate in the Montgomery Bar Association’s (“MBA“) Annual Business Luncheon, which was held in-person at Normandy Farms in Blue Bell, PA after being held virtually for the first time in 2021.
The firm congratulates Immediate Past Jacqueline Reynolds on a tremendous year in charge of the MBA. The firm also congratulates newly installed President Sarinia M. Feinman on her position and looks forward to a terrific year under President Feinman’s direction.
Continuing the firm’s dedication to and strong relationship with the MBA, Walsh Pancio attorneys are privileged and honored to serve in multiple leadership capacities and on several committees and sections within the organization:
Both Jason and Chelsea were also selected to serve on the MBA’s Ad-hoc Wellness Committee as a result of their work with the Leadership Academy in 2021 which focused on wellness within the legal community.
The firm’s attorneys will also remain active members of the MBA’s Trial Lawyers Section.
The firm is grateful for these opportunities to serve the MBA. and looks forward to a terrific year.
On January 8, 2021, Walsh Pancio attorneys were once again proud to participate in the Montgomery Bar Association‘s (“MBA”) Annual Business Luncheon, which was held virtually for the first time. The firm congratulates Immediate Past President Patrick Kurtas on a tremendous year in charge of the MBA. The firm also congratulates newly installed President Jacqueline Reynolds on her position, and looks forward to a terrific year under President Reynolds’ direction.
Continuing the firm’s dedication to and strong relationship with the MBA, Walsh Pancio attorneys are privileged and honored to serve in multiple leadership capacities and on several committees and sections within the organization:
– The Honorable Joseph P Walsh, past President of the MBA’s Trial Lawyers’ Section, has been re-named as co-chair of the MBA’s influential Government Relations Committee, and will again serve on the MBA’s Pro Bono Committee and Government Relations Committee.
– Past MBA President Bruce Pancio will serve as Vice Chair of the Council of Past Presidents, and has also been re-named to the Nominating Committee, Bench Bar Committee and Managing Partners Committee. He will also continue serving on the MBA’s important Judiciary Committee.
– Past Young Lawyers’ Section chair Mike Lyon will continue his second year of a three-year term on as a Director on the MBA’s Board of Directors. He was also -appointed as a member of the MBA’s Executive Committee, Law Reporter Committee, and Fee Dispute Committee.
– Chelsea Dearden was selected for the MBA’s prestigious Leadership Academy. She was also re-appointed to the Steering Committee of the MBA’s Women in the Law Committee and will serve as a liaison within the Young Lawyers Section.
– Jason Edwards will join Chelsea as a member of this year’s Leadership Academy. He will also serve again on the MBA’s Solo and Small Firm and Criminal Defense Committees, and as a liaison within the Young Lawyers’ Section.
The firm’s attorneys also will remain active members of the MBA’s Trial Lawyers’ Section.
The firm is grateful for these opportunities to serve the MBA. and looks forward to a terrific year.
In a unique matter involving a claim in Bucks County, Walsh Pancio attorney Mike Lyon obtained a defense verdict following a compulsory arbitration.
The Plaintiff alleged a trip and fall on his own property that he blamed on tree roots from our clients’ property, which was adjacent to the Plaintiff’s own land. The Plaintiff alleged that our clients’ failure to treat the trees and roots led to overgrowth and encroachment on to his property, and he claimed that he tripped over that overgrowth and sustained serious lower body injuries as a result.
During discovery and arbitration, Mike was able to demonstrate that the clients had not acted negligently in maintaining their own property, and thus were not responsible for the Plaintiff’s injuries. An arbitration panel in Bucks County unanimously agreed and found in favor of our clients. The Plaintiff chose not to pursue an appeal of that decision, which is now final.
The Honorable Joseph P. Walsh was recently appointed as a member of the Access to Justice Task Force by W. West Allen, President of the Federal Bar Association.
Joe Walsh will serve for a term ending September 30, 2021.
The focus of the task force will examine ways in which the Federal Bar Association can increase access to justice in the federal courts for all litigants.
The task force was created by the Honorable Michael J. Newman in 2017. “Access to justice, put simply, means that all litigants have equal access to the federal courts, and that barriers to such access are removed,” said Judge Newman when he announced the task force.
Joe Walsh is grateful to have been selected by the President Allen and looks forward to working with all members of the Committee.
Walsh Pancio attorney Mike Lyon was recently appointed as a Judge Pro Tempore (JPT) for the Dispute Resolution Center of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County (Philadelphia, PA).
As a JPT, Mike will conduct pre-trial settlement conferences in an effort to assist parties in reaching amicable resolutions to cases prior to trial or further court proceedings. Mike’s appointment as a JPT continues and enhances the firm’s well-established Arbitration and Mediation practice.
In addition to Mike, Walsh Pancio attorneys Joseph P Walsh and Bruce Pancio are frequently called on by plaintiffs, defendants, commercial entities, individuals, families, estates, and their attorneys to assist in resolving disputes of many different types. The firm continues to utilized enhanced videoconferencing technologies to conduct alternative dispute resolutions remotely.
For more information on Walsh Pancio’s Arbitration and Mediation practice, as well as our other practice areas, please visit our Web site.
To schedule an arbitration or mediation, or other dispute resolution proceeding, contact any of our attorneys or the office.
On October 7, 2020, Walsh Pancio LLC was honored to participate in the Pennsylvania Bar Association Minority Bar Committee’s annual diversity summit. For the first time, the PBA/MBC partnered with the Montgomery Bar Association (MBA) to deliver a virtual day of programming dedicated to collaborative and innovative methods of promoting diversity within the profession of law and in society as a whole. The Honorable Joseph P Walsh was privileged to be a panelist in the session during the Summit entitled “Tough Talks and Crucial Action,” a series of three, candid, TED-style talks exploring the responsibilities and challenges associated with advancing diversity, equity and inclusion from a variety of perspectives. Judge Walsh, alongside his wife, Nancy O’Connor Walsh of tbdNOW, LLC, spoke of their individual and shared experiences as diversity allies both through the MBA and in their community. The panel was very well-received and appreciated by a number of attendees. Several firm attorneys also assisted as small group facilitators after Joe and Nancy’s panel. We will update this page if pictures, video, or links from the Summit become available for further viewing. Walsh Pancio congratulates the PBA/MBC and MBA on an interesting, important, and insightful programming and thanks all for the privilege of participating!
We are very excited to announce that the Honorable Joseph P Walsh recently achieved a directed verdict in favor of his client following jury selection in the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County. This was one of the first jury trials held in Bucks County following the courthouse re-opening after closing due to COVID-19. Joe successfully argued that his client, a snow removal contractor, had no liability to a plaintiff who claimed to have slipped and fallen in a parking lot. Through effective cross examination and impeachment, the Plaintiff admitted that our client had done its job properly and within the applicable standard of care at all times. At the conclusion of the evidence, the trial judge granted Joe’s motion for a directed verdict, finding that the jury could not find that the client was negligent on the evidence presented during trial.
We are very pleased to have achieved a tremendous result for our clients in their ongoing lawsuit against Montgomery County Commissioner Joseph C. Gale in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Following months of litigation and settlement negotiations, Commissioner Gale agreed to immediately cease blocking individuals from following his social media accounts, and further agreed to immediately cease deleting comments that he solely finds unfavorable made to those accounts.
The agreement, signed by all parties, was approved in an order signed by the Honorable Timothy J. Savage of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The order is nothing less than a thorough victory for our courageous clients, who achieved each of their desired outcomes in this litigation and ensured that their Constitutional rights–and those of Commissioner Gale’s constituents and followers everywhere–will be honored.
Walsh Pancio is proud to stand with our clients to have protected the First Amendment. Walsh Pancio is privileged to have worked with Mudrick & Zucker, P.C. in Blue Bell and the Philip Press Law Office in Norristown in the prosecution of this case.
See article from Pottstown Mercury for more.
The Honorable Joseph P. Walsh is honored to have been selected by the Honorable Thomas DelRicci, President Judge of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, to serve on the ad hoc Jury Trial Committee.
The Jury Trial Committee has been tasked with developing Jury Trial protocols for the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas so that this vital Court function can resume during these precarious times as the threat of COVID-19 persists.
Safety is priority in Montgomery County. The Committee will formulate and implement protocols to ensure the safety of the jurors, witnesses, courthouse staff, attorneys, and presiding judges while at the same time allowing litigants to have their day in court.
Judge DelRicci selected Joe Walsh to serve on the Jury Trial Committee along with a group of Montgomery County Judges, Court Administration, the District Attorney’s Office, the Office of the Public Defender, and Jury Marshalling.
Joe Walsh is grateful to have been selected by the President Judge and looks forward to working with all members of the Committee.
Walsh Pancio Proudly Supports Our Community Partners.