| A verdict for the Plaintiff was recently entered by a Westmoreland County jury in a case presented by Merle Kramer Mermelstein. Her client had been the victim of a homeowner's negligence and had suffered severe and permanent injuries to her arm after being injured on a trampoline. Delays in completing the construction of a cast-in-place, post tensioned concrete parking garage in Akron, Ohio was the subject of a 7 day trial handled by Jay Silberblatt before the American Arbitration Association. Preparation for the trial required a complete understanding of construction and engineering methods utilized in the project, as well as the assistance of experts from across the country. Jay's case was presented using his laptop computer and an LCD projector, providing the arbitrators with a stimulating, visual experience.
Merle Mermelstein has completed her one year term as Chair of the Allegheny County Bar Association Civil Litigation Section. This is the largest of the ACBA's many sections and committees. During her year as Chair, the Section held monthly meeting with the Judges from the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County and held numerous educational programs on a variety of legal topics. The President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association has appointed Jay Silberblatt to serve on the PBA's Professional Liability Committee. This committee monitors the law that pertains to the legal profession and conducts educational forums throughout the state on legal malpractice. As a member of the committee, Jay has been travelling across the state lecturing to lawyers about methods of improving their practices so as to avoid incidences of legal malpractice. Because of his extraordinary efforts, he has been awarded a Special Achievement Award by the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Merle Kramer Mermelstein has been elected to the Board of Governors of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County. As a leader in this organization comprised of the County's top trial lawyers, Merle will be responsible for the Academy's numerous programs designed to provide continuing education for trial lawyers and foster good relations between the Judges of Allegheny County and members of the bar. A trial in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County has resulted in a verdict in favor of Jay Silberblatt's client in a commercial dispute involving the construction bidding for one of the new structures being built on Pittsburgh's South Side. Several interesting legal issues were in play during the three day trial presented to Judge Judith Friedman. A settlement worth close to $2M was negotiated by Merle Kramer Mermelstein in a complex medical malpractice case in Westmoreland County. With the assistance of world-renowned anesthesiologist who consulted on the case, Merle mastered complex medical principles that enabled her to effectively advocate her client's case culminating in the settlement. Wrongful Use of Civil Proceedings was the topic of Jay Silberblatt's presentation at the annual Pennsylvania Conference of County Bar Leaders meeting in Hershey. This continuing legal education program was designed to inform lawyers from across the state about this new area of litigation while, at the same time, teaching them about avoiding the pitfalls of wrongful litigation practices. Merle Kramer Mermelstein successfully negotiated a six-figure, policy limits settlement of an auto accident case. Her client, working out-of-state for his company was involved in a serious crash that resulted in significant personal injuries. Merle will now proceed to make claims for under-insured motorist benefits on behalf of the client.
The settlement of a case docketed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania involving an automobile/ tractor trailer collision was recently concluded by Jay Silberblatt. Our client, a resident of Westmoreland County, suffered a traumatic brain injury that will affect his ability to work. A creative settlement plan, including a lifetime tax-free annuity was negotiated into the settlement. The total expected payout from the settlement will approach $2 million.
Merle Kramer Mermelstein successfully negotiated a six figure settlement for a client who was a passenger in an automobile whose driver fell asleep and ran off the road. Our client had serious spinal injuries that required a long period of hospitalization and rehabilitation. Analyzing and understanding the client's medical records was the key to Merle's successful settlement of the case.
Jay Silberblatt has completed his two year term as President of Temple Sinai, a Reform Jewish congregation of 860 families. During his tenure, Jay presided over monthly Executive Committee and Board Meetings and spearheaded a successful $4 million dollar endowment campaign for the congregation. Jay Silberblatt concluded the six figure settlement of a Juniata County motor vehicle death case. Working with an accident reconstructionist, Jay was able to demonstrate that the collision was caused by the negligent conduct of two separate drivers and obtained policy limits coverage for the decedent's surviving children. A Clearfield County case involving chiropractic malpractice was recently concluded by Merle Kramer Mermelstein. The six figure settlement was reached only after Merle was able to produce expert's opinion demonstrating that the client had received chiropractic treatment that fell below the applicable standard of care.
Jay Silberblatt is not only a frequent contributor to legal periodicals, many of his articles have appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. HIs most recent article, dealing with medical malpractice reform dispelled a number of myths about "tort reform" and was greeted with great interest. His article on releases dealt with a complicated subject in a straight-forward manner. A six figure settlement of a tragic case from Elk County was recently concluded by Merle Kramer Mermelstein. A young man was killed by a tractor trailer on Route 219. The young man's parents hired Merle to determine how the tragedy occurred and who was responsible. After a detailed investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident, a lawsuit was commenced against the tractor trailer operator who had struck the young man who was standing along the side of the roadway. The case was successfully settled prior to trial in United States District Court. A Washington County death case was recently concluded with a seven figure, policy limit settlement by Merle Mermelstein. Pursuit of the case required a detailed investigation and accident reconstruction. A creative settlement plan will provide periodic tax-free benefits for the decedent's children. Avoiding legal malpractice has been the topic of a continuing legal education program that Jay Silberblatt developed for the Pennsylvania Bar Association. The program has been presented in every county across the state as part of the PBA's Professional Liability Committee. Jay Silberblatt has been elected to a three year term to the House of Delegates of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. The House of Delegates is the policy-making body of the state-wide bar. Silberblatt Mermelstein is involved in cases against nursing homes and assisted living facilities based on their neglect and mistreatment of their elderly and disabled residents. One such case was recently settled by Merle Kramer Mermelstein for a substantial amount. At the conclusion of the settlement, a special needs trust was established for the benefit of our client and to otherwise assure that the client would not lose government sponsored benefits because of the settlement. A six-figure settlement was successfully negotiated in an automobile death case in which the precise cause of the accident had to be demonstrated by an expert accident reconstructionist. At first blush, there did not appear to be a valid case. However, with a substantial amount of research, accurate measurements, a detailed investigation including interviews of all witnesses, and the application of the laws of physics, Jay was able to affirmatively demonstrate that our client's son was needlessly killed by the careless driving of the defendant.
At its annual meeting held in Hershey, the Pennsylvania Bar Association honored Jay Silberblatt with the President's Award for his tireless efforts advocating the PBA's position on frivolous litigation. Jay's work for the PBA culminated with the adoption of amendments to Rule 1023 by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. This new rule will provide a new "weapon" for lawyers and judges in the battle against frivolous litigation. Travelling to Bradford County, Jay Silberblatt was successful in settling an automobile case for policy limits. The head-on collision caused our client to sustain serious personal injuries that resulted in substantial medical bills and wage loss. A six figure settlement of a complicated medical malpractice case was recently concluded by Merle Kramer Mermelstein in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. The trial, which would have included two expert witnesses from different parts of the state, was set to begin trial when a last-minute conference with the Judge resulted in an amicable resolution. Jay Silberblatt testified before the Judiciary Committees of the Pennsylvania Senate and the Pennsylvania House of Representative on the issue of joint and several liability. Although both legislative bodies are considering changes to the law, Jay advocated the position of the Pennsylvania Bar Association to maintain our present law that assures full compensation to injured victims.
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