Joan concentrates her practice in toxic tort and mass tort matters, and also handles consumer credit disputes. Additionally, Joan has experience in defending personal injury matters. Prior to joining the firm in 2004, Joan was associate and then partner at the firm of Kelly, McLaughlin & Foster, where she maintained a casualty practice. She has tried bench trials and arbitrations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Joan graduated cum laude from Widener University School of Law, where she was research editor for the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law. During law school, Joan worked as a real estate and corporate paralegal at the firm of Kassab, Archbold and O'Brien in Media, Pennsylvania. Joan's legal experience actually began when she served as a frequent court witness during her years as a caseworker with Chester County Children, Youth & Family Services. As an attorney, she has drawn on her caseworker experience in handling pro bono matters.
Significant Representative Matters
· Defense verdicts in 25-30 bench trials and arbitrations involving personal injury and consumer credit matters.
· Second chair jury trial experience in catastrophic personal injury matters involving premises or product liability claims. These cases were ultimately resolved for significantly less than the original multi-million dollar demands.
· Success in resolving 50-60 consumer credit disputes prior to trial via settlement or by way of dispositive motion.
Past Employment Positions
· Kelly, McLaughlin, Foster
Associations & Memberships
· American Bar Association
· Philadelphia Bar Association
Honors & Awards
· AV® Preeminent™ by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
Year Joined Organization: 2004
Fraternities/Sororities
· Phi Delta Phi