Brett C. Shear

Throughout his legal career, Brett has appeared and argued before courts throughout the United States. He has also successfully tried cases before juries, courts and arbitrators. His practice has included representing a pharmaceutical company in nationwide product liability actions, as well as other clients in the areas of professional liability, securities, environmental, personal injury and property damage.

Brett graduated cum laude from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He went on to attend law school at the University of Pittsburgh. While in law school, Brett clerked for a local judge and for the Office of the Public Defender. He graduated cum laude and received his law degree in 2003.

Honors & awards

The Best Lawyers in America, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
2025-2026

Year joined

2014

Results

Defense Verdict Won in Medical Malpractice Case

Health Care Liability
April 23, 2025

We received a defense verdict for our client, a general surgeon, who performed carpal tunnel surgery on the plaintiff’s left hand. Following surgery, the plaintiff continued to complain of tingling, numbness and weakness in his hand. He went on to have two additional surgeries, performed by two different surgeons. During the third surgery, the surgeon found a median nerve injury. The plaintiff claimed that this nerve injury was caused by the defendant cutting the median nerve during his initial operation.

Defense Jury Verdict Won in a Medical Malpractice Case

Health Care Liability
July 5, 2024

We obtained a defense jury verdict on behalf of a cardiologist. The patient came to the hospital with chest pain radiating to his arm and shortness of breath. The attending physician ordered a stress test, which was performed by the defendant cardiologist, that was interpreted as normal. The patient was then discharged from the hospital and died from a heart issue within two weeks. An autopsy found significant narrowing of all of the arteries of the heart, including a 90% narrowing in the LAD (i.e. the “widowmaker”).

Defense Verdict for Primary Care Physician

Health Care Liability
May 11, 2017

Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a primary care physician. The plaintiff alleged the physician failed to order a blood test that would have detected a rare blood disorder called TTP. Five days after seeing our client, the decedent’s condition rapidly declined, and two days later, he died. Prior to trial, the plaintiff’s demand was almost $1 million. The defense was multifaceted. First, our client directed the decedent to the hospital where a blood test would have been performed, but the decedent refused.

Thought Leadership

98 Marshall Dennehey Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America

August 20, 2025
Marshall Dennehey is proud to highlight the firm’s 98 attorneys who have been recognized in the 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. Less than 6% of all practicing lawyers in the U.S.

Classes/Seminars Taught

Uncovering and Proving Financial Fraud, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, February 2014