After forty plus years as a trial lawyer and judge, and while still actively litigating cases, Tom now focuses his practice in alternative dispute resolution – mediation, arbitrations and early neutral evaluations. The experience Tom has gained as a judge and trial lawyer enhances his ability as a neutral as he understands the complexities and risks of litigation and has a sense of what the parties can expect if the case proceeds to trial.
As a judge for the Mercer County Court of Common Pleas for ten years, Tom presided over hundreds of jury trials and conciliated and resolved many more. As an advocate, Tom has secured preliminary injunctions stopping the theft of customer lists, enforced contract provisions for natural gas producers, and successfully represented his clients in Pittsburgh and throughout western Pennsylvania in state and federal court. His litigation practice has included representation of businesses, nursing homes, oil and gas companies, financial institutions, a title insurance company and injured individuals.
Since beginning to serve as a neutral in 1997, Tom has become a well-regarded mediator and arbitrator who provides services to attorneys in state and federal courts throughout Pennsylvania. His alternative dispute resolution practice focuses on commercial and business disputes, oil and gas cases, medical malpractice and other professional negligence, products liability, employment issues and personal injury matters.
In addition to his experience serving as a neutral, Tom has enhanced his mediation skills by successfully completing forty-hour mediation certification training at Duke University, as presented by Beason & Ellis Conflict Resolution, LLC. This training is also in compliance with the requirements for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania’s alternative dispute resolution program. Tom conducts mediations in the firm’s North Hills and Pittsburgh locations as well as traveling throughout Pennsylvania. He has also served as a neutral in Ohio, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey and Illinois.
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