EDUCATION: University of Pittsburgh, School of Law, Pittsburgh, PA, Juris Doctor (1980) University of Notre Dame, B.A. (1976)
ADMISSIONS & APPOINTMENTS: Admitted to practice in Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Western District Court, Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Appointed Deputy Attorney General - April, 1983. Appointed to Board of Directors (Secretary) Port Authority Transit - January, 1996, Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court Hearing Committee July 1,1996 Appointed Chair 1998. Southwest Pennsylvania Commission Public Participation Panel, 2001; Allegheny County Transportation Transition Committee, 2000. Rated Highly Recommended for Judge by Allegheny County Bar Association; Nominated for Prothonotary by Governor of Pennsylvania.
LEGAL EXPERIENCE: BERRY & ASSOCIATES, Pittsburgh, PA March 2000-Present Principal Attorney: Handles a wide variety of litigation, including commercial, employment, business, personal injury, insurance defense, toxic tort and asbestos, Orphan’s Court estate and trust litigation. Handles transactional matters ranging from counseling boards of non-profits to drafting various legal documents. Areas of practice include business incorporation and advice, commercial and residential real estate, representation of churches and non profits, estate and trust drafting, administrative hearings and appeals, before EEOC, PHRC, Pgh. Commission on Human Relations, Unemployment Compensation Board, Public Utility Commission and Workers Compensation referees and Appeal Board, serves as underwriters counsel on bond issues, serves as trustee on estate and trust matters, serves as counsel to various boards of non profits and community based groups. Handles appellate litigation and argument before, Commonwealth Court, Superior Court, PA. Supreme Court and Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C.,Pittsburgh, PA June 1990-March 2000 Partner/Shareholder/Director: Duties included litigation in a number of practice areas in state and federal courts. Counsel small businesses non-profits and individuals. Areas of concentration included insurance defense and auto liability cases, commercial litigation, product liability litigation, employment litigation and civil rights law, health care, dental and medical malpractice, toxic tort and asbestos litigation, dram shop litigation, general corporate advise and consult. Office of Attorney General, Pittsburgh, PA March 1983-June 1990 Senior Deputy Attorney General: Duties included handling all phases of trial and appellate litigation in State and Federal Court on behalf of Commonwealth agencies under the Sovereign Immunity Act and the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act. Wide variety of cases ranging from medical malpractice, engineering design and highway defect cases, defamation, civil rights and contract/construction cases. Faderewski & HerringtonPittsburgh, PA 1981 - 1983 Specialized in handling Workmen's Compensation cases, Civil Litigation and Arbitrations. Some General Practice. Served as in-house counsel for the Travelers Insurance Co. Travelers Insurance Co.Pittsburgh, PA 1980 - 1981 Serious Injury Representative: Duties included Investigation, evaluation, negotiation and settlement of claims. Also, performed paralegal and law clerk functions. Allegheny O.I.C. McKeesport, PA 1980 Part-time. Legal research/writing, drafting articles of incorporation, by-laws for Community Development Corporations/ Non-Profit Corporations, handled I.R.S. 501(c)(3) applications. Jones & Laughlin Labor Relations Dept. Aliquippa, PA 1977-1978 Part-time. Investigated labor disputes, researched and drafted memoranda, trial of arbitration disputes.
COMMUNITY SERVICE: Board of Directors Boy Scouts of America; Board of Directors Auberle; TECHI Board(The Extended Courthouse); Allegheny County Academy of Trial Lawyers; Special Master of Court of Common Pleas; Chairman Supreme Court Disciplinary Committee 4.01; Full-time Faculty University of Pittsburgh, Intensive Course on Trial Advocacy; PA Bar Institute lecturer; Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association lecturer; National Business Institute, lecturer; Member: Pennsylvania Bar Association, National Bar Association, American Bar Association, Pennsylvania Defense Institute (Former Director, and Co- Chair, Judicial Selection Committee), Allegheny County Bar Association, Committee on Opportunities for Minorities in the Legal Profession, Judiciary Committee, Coach Mock Trial Competition), University of Pittsburgh Law Alumni Association(Former Board of Governors and Secretary), American Judicature Society, lecturer and participant of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary's Metro-Urban Institute; Co-Organizer International- Reconciliation Council; National Association of Minority Contractor's Recognition Award. Former member: University Club, Civil Litigation Section (3 yr. council), Rules Subcommittee, Chairman of Ad Hoc Committee for South African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC); Homer S. Brown Law Association (Former Vice-President and Chairman of Community Service Committee) Former Trustee/Legal Advisor of First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh, Macedonia Baptist Church and Faith Restoration Ministries. Present counsel to Covenant Church of Pittsburgh.
PUBLICATIONS: “Superior Deposition Strategies in Pennsylvania Civil Practice”, “ The Automobile Injury case for Paralegals in Pennsylvania” “The Automobile Injury case for Paralegals in Kentucky”
EDUCATION: University of Maryland, B.S. International Business (2009) -Minor: Spanish -Concentration: Psychology
LEGAL EXPERIENCE : Berry & Associates, Legal Assistant/Paralegal, June 2009 – Present Duties include: Review documents for discovery, enter data for litigation files, assist in filing civil and criminal court documents, prepare correspondence, fax information to clients and appropriate governmental agencies and corporate entities. Interface with clients and assist attorneys in litigation and in preparation of documents for trial/arbitration/mediation, assist attorneys in litigation and in preparation of transactional documents. Also, assists in the preparation of incorporation documents, real estate closings, title searches. Managerial experience with corporate entities handling corporate defense of EEOC/PHRC claims, workers compensation, unemployment compensation and general litigation.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY: Sports and Exhibition Authority, Economic Development Summer Associate Coro Center for Civic Leadership, Community Problem Solving Fellow Adelphi/Langley Family Support Center, Student Researcher
EDUCATION: University of Pittsburgh, M.S. Information Science (1988) University of Pittsburgh, B.S. Information Science (1984) University of Pittsburgh, B.S. Economics (1976) Duquesne University, Journalism Certificate (1971)
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY: Berry & Associates, Office Manager, March 2000 – Present United Nations General Assembly: Law of Sea Conference NY, NY. Pittsburgh National Bank (PNC), Community Banking Officer Shepherd’s Guide Business Directory, Business Owner U.S. Congressman Santorum, Economic Development Assistant U.S. Senator Santorum, Special Assistant COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Former Board Member of Metro Theatre Former member of PESHA (Homeschoolers' Organization) Former Sunday School Teacher (Covenant Church of Pittsburgh)
