Armand concentrates his practice in the defense of products liability, toxic tort, asbestos personal injury litigation and general negligence cases. He has tried over 100 cases to verdict in the state and federal courts of Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Armand graduated from Georgetown University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in Government. He was selected for Phi Beta Kappa and received the Connecticut Medal for Government. He attended Villanova Law School and graduated in 1980. From 1980 to 1981, Armand clerked for the Honorable Charles A. Lord of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
He joined Krusen Evans and Byrne in 1981, became a partner in 1986 and was later elected to the firm's management committee in 1988. Armand was a founding partner of Kelley Jasons McGuire & Spinelli in 1989 and started its Delaware office in 1990, which he managed until he left the firm in 2005.
Armand is a past president of the Pennsylvania Defense Institute, having served in that capacity from September 2008 to September 2009. He has served in numerous capacities, including chair of the Products Liability, Legislative and Judicial Selection committees. Armand has also written numerous articles for its quarterly publication, Counterpoint, and has lectured at many CLE and other seminars. He has been involved in leadership roles with the Defense Counsel of Delaware and currently serves as its vice president and representative to the Defense Research Institute.
He has long been active with his alma mater, St. Joseph's Prep, having served as past president of the Alumni Board of Governors, member of the Board of Trustees and co-chair of its Hawktion. He remains active with the alumni board, the Hawktion and other fundraising activities.
Significant Representative Matters
· Defended two asbestos clients in claims with demands to each client in excess of $1 million. Our clients initially were represented to be target defendants. After pretrial preparation and investigative work, we were able to demonstrate that our clients had significant defenses to plaintiff's claims and were able to settle case for 10% and 20% of original demands, well below what other target defendants paid.
· Defended target defendant in alleged illegal police pursuit case. Initial demand was $15 million. Successfully tried the case for four weeks in U.S.D.C., M.D. PA. and was able to settle case at that point for 10% of original demand.
· Successfully tried over 100 asbestos cases to verdict in Pennsylvania and Delaware, many with defense verdicts.
Published Works
· "Product Liability Update," Counterpoint, 1985 to 1995
· "Recent Developments in Spoliation," Counterpoint, June, 1999
· "Parks v. Allied Signal, Inc.: The Admissibility of Evidence of Plaintiff's Conduct in 402A Cases," Counterpoint, September, 1997
· "The Product Line Exception to the Law of Successor Liability," Counterpoint, October, 1993
· "Whether a Person Suffering Allergic Reactions Can Recover Under Strict Liability - A Review of PA & National Law," Counterpoint, January, 1992
Classes/Seminars Taught
· Significant New Case Law in Asbestos Litigation in Delaware, Harris Martin sponsored seminar, February 2008
· Asbestos Litigation in Delaware - Past, Present & Future, National Business Institute, December 2007
· Insurance Coverage Issues in Auto Cases, December 2000
· CLE Seminars on Product Liability, Pennsylvania Defense Institute & Phila. Assn. of Defense Counsel, June 1999, April 1997, October 1996, January 1995, March 1994, August 1992
· Preparing Witnesses for Deposition and Trial, December 1998
· Pennsylvania Insurance Law - Bad Faith Claims, September 1994 & 1995
· Pennsylvania and Delaware Auto and Bad Faith Law, August 1993
Past Employment Positions
· Kelley Jasons McGuire & Spinelli, 1989 - 2005
· Krusen Evans and Byrne, 1981 - 1989
Associations & Memberships
· American Bar Association, 1981 - Present
· Pennsylvania Defense Institute, President 2008-09
· Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel, 1990 - Present
· Philadelphia Bar Association, 1981 - Present
· Defense Research Institute, Delaware State Representative, 2010 -Present
Honors & Awards
· AV® Preeminent™ by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
· Pennsylvania Super Lawyer (2004, 2005)
Year Joined Organization: 2005