Jessica is the supervising attorney for the firm's Workers' Compensation Department in Delaware. She concentrates her practice in workers' compensation and, to date, has handled several hundred workers' compensation matters. Jessica has represented numerous cases involving car manufacturers and government agencies. She has taken more than 150 cases before the Industrial Accident Board, of which one-third received defense verdicts and a large number of which resulted in verdicts or ultimate resolutions substantially below the settlement demands. Jessica has also handled several successful carrier/employer disputes.
In one of her cases, Jessica successfully argued before the Superior and Supreme Courts that Huffman damages do not begin to accrue until at least 44 days from the date of a settlement, giving the employer an initial 14-day period to satisfy the settlement and 30 days to cure any default for the failure to pay timely.
Jessica is a graduate of the University of Delaware, where she received her degree in international relations and economics. She later attended Widener University School of Law. During her education at Widener, Jessica was employed by PNC Bank as a credit analyst.
After receiving her juris doctor in 1997, Jessica worked as an associate with the law firm of Herrmann, Silverman & McDonald. Her practice consisted of workers' compensation claimant matters.
Jessica is the Delaware state liaison for the Defense Research Institute and a member of the Defense Counsel of Delaware. She is the former chair of the Workers' Compensation Section of the Delaware State Bar Association. Jessica has presented many in-house seminars and has spoken on various workers' compensation matters before members of the Bar.
Published Works
· "Death, Be Not Proud: Benefits Continue," Defense Digest, 2006-12, Vol. 12, No. 4
Past Employment Positions
· Law Office of Philip E. Herrmann, associate
· PNC Bank, Delaware, credit analyst
Associations & Memberships
· Delaware State Bar Association (Workers' Compensation Section, Chairperson, 2009-2010)
· Defense Counsel of Delaware
· Defense Research Institute (Delaware State Liaison, 2007)
Year Joined Organization: 1999