Practice Areas & Industries: Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin

Practice/Industry Group Overview

Serving our clients' needs in the transportation field is one of the oldest areas of practice at Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman and Goggin. Our group practices in the state and federal courts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Ohio, and Florida. The Trucking & Transportation Liability Practice Group is composed of attorneys concentrating in representing clients and their carriers in complex tort and coverage litigation involving all type of common and private carriers. The members of this practice group include shareholders and associates who have handled cases for large common carrier transportation fleets engaged in interstate trucking, railroads, waste hauling, taxicab, shuttle and bus operators, rental vehicle fleets, and ambulance services. These attorneys have represented both insurers and self-insureds in personal injury, cargo, environmental, hazardous materials, indemnification and insurance coverage issues within this area of practice and are keenly aware of the sophisticated issues and the interrelationships of the parties which can arise in the handling of such matters.

From the inception of our firm, we have handled complex litigation involving the shipping of goods over waterways, highways and rail. With today's emphasis on the proper handling of hazardous materials while they are being shipped, many of our transportation attorneys have been also cross-trained in environmental and toxic tort matters. In addition, we have the full support of our appellate and toxic tort environmental sections to draw upon in the handling of any transportation matter.

In conjunction with the firm's Insurance Coverage and Appellate Advocacy practice groups, we also represent insurance carriers in coverage matters which arise from underlying transportation cases and in which a thorough knowledge of the underlying transportation case is crucial in addressing the coverage issues.

We are aware of today's focus on securing sound legal services at reasonable fee levels. Our firm has grown because of our sensitivity in this area. This is especially true in the transportation industry where many of our clients have large self-insured retentions which necessitate close control of legal costs and expenses. Our trial lawyers take a practical, results-oriented approach to the cases with which they are entrusted. The firm maintains competitive rates through task-appropriate delegation which is consistent with the overall close supervision and client responsiveness required in transportation matters. We are also very willing to discuss, develop and implement alternative billing formats wherever possible.

The members of the Trucking & Transportation Liability Practice Group are active participants in a number of the major transportation law organizations including the Trucking Industry Defense Association, the ATA Litigation Center, the ABA Transportation Megaconferences, RIMS, the Defense Research Institute, and the Association of Transportation Practitioners.

Our firm would be pleased to work with you in the handling of your transportation matters. We are also available to give presentations or conduct training seminars on transportation matters at your location or ours.