Brian L. Calistri, Esq.

Founding Partner

T 215-588-4869
bcalistri@cm-defense.com
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Practice Areas

  • Manufacturing
  • Retail
  • Staffing Companies, Employment Agencies and PEOs
  • Transportation

Education

  • University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 1990
  • Bucknell University, B.A., 1984

Admission

  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
  • New York

Court Admissions

  • United States District Court Eastern, Middle & Western Districts of Pennsylvania
  • United States District Court District of New Jersey
  • United States Court of Appeals Third Circuit
  • United States Supreme Court

Brian’s successful trial experience over the last 20 years in Philadelphia County and other venues includes:

  • Jury defense verdicts in multiple retail and premises liability claims;
  • Jury defense verdicts in multiple elevator accident claims;
  • Jury defense verdicts in product liability claims involving allegedly defective equipment, facility structures and elevator systems; and
  • Jury defense verdicts in medical malpractice, Maritime and motor vehicle claims.

Brian manages a multi-state litigation team of attorneys for a Fortune 500 company’s portfolio of premises and property claims for the Mid- Atlantic region.

Brian also serves as general counsel for the Elevator Contractors' Council of Associated Builders & Contractors.

Brian is a Martindale-Hubbell "AV Preeminent" rated lawyer and been selected as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer every year since 2010.

Experience

  • Obtained a jury defense verdict for an elevator contractor after a passenger alleged an elevator malfunction caused extensive personal injuries and total disability; after a six-day trial, the Philadelphia jury rejected the plaintiff’s claim and found in favor of the elevator contractor.
  • Obtained a jury defense verdict for a manufacturer in a suit alleging defective design and installation of a parking booth that collapsed on the plaintiff at a major sports-entertainment arena. Damages claimed exceeded $5 million but a Philadelphia jury found the booth manufacturer not liable.
  • Obtained a jury defense verdict for a contractor responsible for maintaining an elevator whose machinery allegedly severely shocked a passenger, permanently disabling her. After a seven-day trial, the Philadelphia jury found that Brian’s client was not negligent.
  • Obtained a jury defense verdict for a national fitness center against claims that it had not properly moored and stabilized equipment and that its instructor had not provided proper direction on machine use; the jury rejected the plaintiff’s contention that the failures had led to her knee surgery and inability to work.
  • Obtained a jury defense verdict for a national port terminal operator sued for personal injuries sustained by a longshoreman during vessel unloading. The alleged incident caused him to sustain multiple surgeries and three years of total disability. After a five-day trial, the federal jury found in favor of Brian’s client.
  • Obtained a jury defense verdict for an elevator service contractor after its elevator doors closed on the plaintiff necessitating arm surgery and permanently disabling her. After a seven-day trial, the Philadelphia jury found in favor of the elevator service contractor.
  • Obtained a jury defense verdict for a medical doctor sued for allegedly failing to predict and diagnose a stroke which left plaintiff totally disabled. After a two-week trial, a Philadelphia jury found in favor of Brian’s physician client.
  • Obtained a jury defense verdict for a national restaurant chain whose waitress had spilled hot coffee on the lap of a customer, who claimed resulting massive skin burns and total disability. After a six-day trial, a Philadelphia federal jury found in favor of Brian’s client.

Professional Community

  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
  • Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel (PADC)
  • Philadelphia Bar Association
  • Associated Builders and Contractors, Elevator Contractors Council

Calistri McLaughlin is a client-focused civil litigation defense law firm. We provide the highest standard of legal representation to businesses, insurance companies, manufacturers, construction and telecommunications companies.

Calistri McLaughlin
Pennsylvania | New Jersey I New York
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