Dina Relles concentrates her practice in complex tort litigation with particular emphasis on matters arising from aviation accidents, airport premises liability, products liability and personal injury/wrongful death actions.
Representative Matters
ˇ Trial experience as part of defense team that obtained favorable verdict following eight-week federal jury trial in which autopilot manufacturer was completely exonerated after being sued by pilot, passengers and ground property owners following 1999 crash.
ˇ Secured dismissal of aircraft manufacturer in collection of lawsuits arising from crash of airliner off the coast of Miami in December 2005.
ˇ Secured dismissal of airport authority in wrongful death lawsuit alleging nuisance and negligent traffic control procedures in conjunction with air show presentations.
ˇ Successfully argued before Pennsylvania trial court, which granted summary judgment in favor of airport in premises liability action.
ˇ Successful representation of major airline in state court premises liability arbitration.
ˇ Currently representing component part manufacturer in major international air disaster involving multidistrict litigation.
ˇ Representation of manufacturers, major airlines, and airports/municipalities in various products liability, negligence, and/or premises liability matters involving aircraft accidents or personal injuries allegedly sustained on municipally-owned or airline-leased premises.
ˇ Trial team participation in various medical malpractice representations of hospitals and physicians culminating in defense verdicts.
Community Service & Affiliations
Ms. Relles is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Philadelphia Bar Association, and the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association.
Ms. Relles received the Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award during law school in recognition of her pro bono work. She has served as a legal intern in various public defender offices, including the Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Defender Association in Philadelphia, PA, and has performed extensive research on the lethal injection execution method and related death penalty matters. Ms. Relles is involved with Books Through Bars, a non-profit organization that sends quality reading material to prisoners nationwide and creates opportunities for dialogue about the criminal justice system.
Memberships
Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Philadelphia Bar Association
Events
CRIMINALIZATION OF AVIATION DISASTERS: WHAT GOAL, IF ANY, IS BEING ACHIEVED
[Event]
45th Annual SMU Air Law Symposium
Omni Mandalay Hotel at Las Colinas
April 1, 2011
Dina L. Relles and Elaine D. Solomon
Publications
BRIS GUILT: CLAIMING THE MOTHER'S ROLE IN A RITUAL CIRCUMCISION
[Article]
The Atlantic
December 16, 2011
Dina L. Relles
CRIMINALIZATION OF AIR DISASTERS: WHAT GOAL, IF ANY, IS BEING ACHIEVED?
[Article]
Journal of Air Law and Commerce (76 J. Air L. & Com. 407)
Summer 2011
Dina L. Relles and Elaine D. Solomon
THE CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS ACT: HOW TO MAKE THE NEW VICTIMS' RIGHTS LEGISLATION WITH TEETH MORE THAN JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT
[Article]
New Jersey Lawyer
June 2008
Nicholas C. Harbist and Dina L. Relles
Cases and Deals
DEFENSE VERDICT FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL
[Case]
September 2008
Mark R. Zolfaghari and Dina L. Relles
The jury verdict found no negligence for St. Luke's Hospital in a medical malpractice suit alleging that a pulmonologist failed to intubate a patient in a proper and timely manner.
DEFENSE VICTORY FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL AND AFFILIATES
[Case]
August 2008
Mark R. Zolfaghari and Dina L. Relles
Blank Rome successfully defended a general surgeon, his group practice, and St. Luke's Hospital in a medical malpractice suit, alleging a delay in the diagnosis of breast cancer.
MICRONETWORK PRODUCER OF "OBAMA GIRL" VIDEO SOLD
[Deal]
October 19, 2007
David M. Perry, Louis M. Rappaport, Jennifer Hale Eagland, Cory G. Jacobs and Dina L. Relles
Barely Political LLC in the formation, intellectual property agreements, and sale to Next New Networks.