Profile

Education

  • Washington & Lee University School of Law, JD, 1983
  • Cornell University, BA, 1980

Ralph is a partner in the Philadelphia office and an active trial attorney, handling large, complex commercial, insurance coverage and general liability matters. His trial experience includes many major jury and non-jury trials taken to verdict, as well as more than 100 matters tried before panels of arbitrators. Ralph has litigated and tried complex multi-party insurance coverage and bad-faith disputes venued in jurisdictions throughout the country, as well as cases in state and federal courts involving allegations of liability arising from products, premises (including design defects), and restaurant operations (including dram shop liability).

Insurers, privately-held companies, and non-profit organizations regularly seek Ralph’s counsel, advice, opinion and representation on matters ranging from insurance coverage questions, compliance with statutes and regulatory schemes, lease disputes, licensing issues, and service agreements. As a former Treasurer and Board Member of a community association, Ralph has counselled community clubs and associations on legal duties, potential liabilities and insurance issues, and litigated matters involving municipal zoning.

Earlier in his career, Ralph served as an Assistant City Solicitor in the Litigation Division – Appellate Unit of the City of Philadelphia Law Department. In that capacity he handled post-trial motions and appeals, including numerous oral arguments before the Superior and Commonwealth Courts of Pennsylvania, and the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, many involving governmental immunity and civil rights issues.

Recognized by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2008-2022)

Qualifications and admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • US Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
  • US District Court, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Pennsylvania

Market recognition

  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2008-2022)

Work highlights

  • Litigated and tried a multi-party, multi-issue, multi-million dollar insurance coverage and “bad faith” lawsuit in the Southern District of New York from 2000 to 2021; the case generated and resolved many coverage issues of first impression under New York law.
  • Litigate all phases of insurance coverage and “bad faith” actions venued in state and federal courts throughout the United States.
  • Advise insurance clients on third-party and first-party policy coverage issues in complex non-litigated coverage matters.
  • Represented Certain London Market Insurers in a policyholder’s corporate dissolution proceeding challenged by asbestos claimants.
  • Represented an insurer in a “bad faith” suit brought by a hotel involving losses arising from Hurricane Sandy, tried before a Pennsylvania state court jury.
  • Represented an insurer in “bad faith”/subrogation matter tried before a Maricopa County, Arizona jury.
  • Serve as outside counsel to a third-party administrator handling trucking claims worldwide.
  • Serve as outside counsel to an app developer in negotiating service agreements with third parties.
  • Represent a restaurant franchisee in Philadelphia-area commercial real estate and liquor licensing matters.
  • Represent an international movie theater chain in personal injury suits litigated and tried in Pennsylvania state and federal courts.
  • Represented an international restaurant chain in personal injury and death cases arising from the service of alcohol and alleged dangerous conditions on premises.
  • Represented a nightclub in consolidated double-death dram shop cases.
  • Represented a private school in a suit brought by a school employee alleging wrongful termination.
  • Represented owners of an apartment complex in a death case involving elevator maintenance and configuration.
  • Represented a paratransit vehicle manufacturer in a suit alleging that defective design of the vehicle structure and restraint systems caused death and serious personal injury.
  • Represented a lawn mower manufacturer in a product liability suit involving serious personal injury.
  • Represented an installer of an automobile cruise control device in a product liability suit involving serious personal injury.