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About O’brien & Ryan
Skill and Tenacity in all Aspects of Representation
For decades, O’Brien & Ryan, LLP, has represented entities and individuals in state and federal courts throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as in administrative tribunals and various alternative dispute forums covering a diverse range of legal matters from complex litigation to simple personal cases. We remain on the leading edge of technological advances in both the office and courtroom settings. We are comprised of attorneys selected for their wide range of legal experience and strong commitment to their clients. The size of the firm allows each client to enjoy personal and consistent attention.
Our clients range from major hospitals, educational institutions and Fortune 500 companies to individual professionals and smaller commercial enterprises. O’Brien & Ryan has a well-deserved reputation as a firm that is rich in trial experience. Clients look to O’Brien & Ryan because our willingness to take cases to trial consistently yields superior results.
O'Brien & Ryan News
Defense Verdict in Favor of Orthopedic Surgeon
Heather Hansen and Paul E. Peel recently obtained a defense verdict in favor of an orthopedic surgeon in a medical malpractice action in Delaware County. Plaintiffs' allegations of negligence related to the care rendered following the performance of a total knee...
Defense Verdict on Behalf of Surgeon and Hospital
Marshall L. Schwartz and Brett M. Littman recently obtained a verdict on behalf of a surgeon and hospital in a four day jury trial involving allegations of negligence in the performance of a laparoscopic hernia repair. This case involved a patient who first underwent...
Defense Verdict on Behalf of Thoracic Surgeon
Marshall L. Schwartz and Brett M. Littman recently obtained a defense verdict in a medical malpractice case on behalf of a thoracic surgeon and hospital following a six-day jury trial. In June 2008, after being diagnosed with lung cancer, the patient presented for...
Directed Verdict Obtained on Behalf of Orthopedic Surgeon
Heather Hansen recently obtained a directed verdict in favor of an orthopedic surgeon in the Superior Court of New Jersey-Atlantic County. The plaintiff had sustained a work-related knee injury and had an arthroscopy prior to seeing the defendant orthopedic...
Superior Court Reverses Jury Verdict in Cardiologist’s Favor Following Appeal
Paul E. Peel recently prevailed on an appeal to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania from a judgment entered against an interventional cardiologist, his employer, and several affiliated entities. In Emery v. Groh, M.D., et al., the plaintiff’s decedent...
Pennsylvania House of Representatives Approves Punitive Damages Cap in Nursing Home Cases
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently approved an amendment to the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act, which would limit the amount of punitive damages that could be awarded in lawsuits involving medical malpractice in nursing...
UPDATE – Superior Court Clarifies Ruling Regarding Third-Party Beneficiaries of Physician-Patient Relationship
The following is an update to an earlier posting, found HERE. In an unreported memorandum opinion, Judge J. Brian Johnson denied a defendant physician’s motion for summary judgment and found that the defendant physician owed a duty of care to a non-patient where...
Discovery Rule in New Jersey Does Not Toll Statute of Limitations Pending Review of the Medical Records
The New Jersey Supreme Court recently held that the discovery rule – which can delay the accrual date of a medical malpractice action until a party discovers or should have discovered an actionable claim – is not a license for plaintiff's attorneys to endlessly search...
Court Says Skilled Nursing Care Centers Not “Purely Public Charities”; Upholds Decision Revoking Tax Exempt Status
In the case of Menno Haven, Inc. v. The Franklin County Board of Assessment and Revision of Taxes, No. 1051 C.D. 2006 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2007) two skilled nursing care centers lost their tax exempt status because they did not function as purely public charities. Menno...
PA Superior Court Rules on Informed Consent and Jury Selection
In Shinal v. Toms, 2015 Pa. Super. 178 (Aug. 25, 2015), The Pennsylvania Superior Court affirmed the trial court’s decision not to strike four prospective jurors for cause based on their relationship with defendant medical facilities because...
Dan Ryan presents at 2018 Health Law Institute
On March 13-14, 2018, Dan Ryan presented Informed Consent After Shinal, discussing the significant decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, for the 2018 Health Law Institute, held in Philadelphia.
Heather Hansen inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers
O’Brien & Ryan is pleased to announce that Heather Hansen has been named to the American College of Trial Lawyers. The American College of Trial Lawyers is recognized as the preeminent organization of trial lawyers in North America, dedicated to maintaining and improving the standards of trial practice, professionalism, ethics and the administration of justice. Fellowship is by invitation only, and trial lawyers are invited to become Fellows only after an extremely careful vetting process.
Heather Hansen to Speak at Healthcare Technology Conference
On March 6, 2018, Heather Hansen will present Lessons from Lawsuits: How to Use Health IT to Avoid Being Sued and Improve Healthcare Teams at the HIMSS Conference & Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her presentation at the annual Health IT conference will highlight the humanity in patient care / engagement, and using it in tandem with technology to allow healthcare teams to reach their highest potential.
Dan Ryan is Panelist for PBI
On December 5, 2017, Dan Ryan participated as a panelist for Lights, Camera, Evidence!, a course outlining the rules of Pennsylvania evidence for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute in Philadelphia.
Dan Ryan Named to International Academy of Trial Lawyers
O’Brien & Ryan is pleased to announce that Dan Ryan has been named to the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. The Academy is a group of truly elite trial lawyers representing both sides of the Bar: prosecutors and defense lawyers in criminal cases, and plaintiffs’ and defense counsel in civil litigation. While the majority of the Fellows come from the U.S., the Academy includes lawyers from more than 30 countries. Fellowship is by invitation only, and trial lawyers are invited to become Fellows only after an extremely careful vetting process.
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