Our clients are insurers, self-insureds and property owners in cases involving every type of incident and injury occurring on commercial and residential properties, including those alleging deficient property maintenance, inadequate security, and negligent facilities design. Our clients include telecommunciations companies, parking garage operators, equine recreation facilities, health and fitness centers, and hospitality providers. Exposure assessments in premises cases often turn on, not only threshold issues of liability and damages, but also on insurance, contracts and lease provisions. For this reason, we evaluate the relevant policies and paperwork for risk transfer obligations that may inure to the benefit, or the detriment, of our clients. Our recommended litigation plans – whether for trial, mediation, arbitration, dismissal-focused motion practice, or immediate settlement negotiations – are concise and committed. We believe a well-established plan of action, and one that is followed-through on by an aggressive but focused, result-oriented litigator, will produce the desired outcome in a cost-effective manner.
Our clients are manufacturers, suppliers and distributors in product liability matters ranging from industrial machinery to consumer products, from fitness club equipment to home appliances. Our lawyers have significant experience defending claims of alleged product defects, breach of warranty, and failure to warn. Our representations have given us extensive experience in the complexities of the manufacturer/distributor relationship, as well as vendor endorsements, indemnification and additional insured obligations - and the inevitable risk transfer opportunities arising from them. We have also defended a broad range of fire losses allegedly resulting from defective industrial machinery, consumer products, home appliances, and recreational equipment. While we emphasize timely resolutions and dismissals, we appreciate that in the most challenging matters experienced lawyers prepared to try cases to verdict often achieve the best outcomes.
Few firms practicing in the mid-Atlantic region have more trial and litigation experience defending elevator constructors, suppliers and contractors. With extensive jury trial and appellate court experience in elevator liability matters, Calistri McLaughlin is a recognized leader in the defense of the vertical transportation industry. Since the 1990s we have defended and litigated elevator and escalator negligence claims, as well as breach of contract allegations, arising from the use or maintenance of vertical transportation equipment. Our litigation attorneys have defended hundreds of elevator and escalator claims, including successful jury trials and summary judgment dismissals in the state and federal courts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Brian Calistri also serves as general counsel for the Elevator Contractors' Council, a division of the Associated Builders and Contractors.
Construction and work site accidents typically involve, not only an interplay of trades, sub-contractors and theories of liability, but also complicated insurance and contractual issues that require careful focus on risk transfer options and related exposures. We represent owners, general contractors, sub-contractors and construction managers in construction and work site accident cases. These claims frequently involve workers’ compensation defenses such as borrowed servant and statutory employer issues as well contractual indemnity and additional insured obligations. We understand the challenges of complex construction cases – including the need for skillful and persuasive expert witnesses and consultants to aid in the defense of our clients. Having litigated these matters throughout the region, our attorneys know which experts make the most compelling trial witnesses and provide the opinions and reports that factfinders will consider most credible.
We defend automobile and trucking liability claims ranging from catastrophic and fatal matters to routine intersectional accidents and automobile property damage defense. In all matters, our goal is prompt, targeted investigation and evidence preservation, followed by a clear litigation strategy, leading preferably to resolution where possible but also to trial if necessary. Whether involving tractor-trailers, commercial trucks or personal motor vehicles, these claims carry complex challenges – ranging from insurance coverage and excess exposures to the nuanced defense of insureds and their drivers. Our representations, which are with national and local carriers and the managers and drivers they employ, cover personal injury and property damage matters in the state and federal courts throughout the region.
Calistri McLaughlin
Pennsylvania | New Jersey I New York
Copyright 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Legal Disclaimer
Design by NexFirm