As a shareholder in the firm's Professional Liability Department, Jeffrey concentrates a significant portion of his practice in defending errors and omissions claims directed to insurance agents and brokers, investment professionals, real estate professionals, appraisers and home inspectors in the State and Federal Courts of Pennsylvania. He also represents these professionals before state securities and insurance commissions, real estate commissions, and other regulatory forums, including the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and Commonwealth Regulatory Agencies. These matters involve licensure issues, administrative and regulatory litigation, and responding and defending against complaints and inquiries.
Jeffrey also defends funeral industry professionals, including funeral directors and cemeteries. Jeffrey has litigated bench and jury trials involving complex insurance, securities, commercial, real estate and burial disputes. He has represented insurance agents, securities brokers, real estate agents, title agents, home inspectors, banks, condominium boards, property management companies, and other commercial entities. He also has a strong background defending both general liability and casualty matters from the most basic to the most complex.
Jeffrey practices in both the state and federal courts of Pennsylvania, regularly representing clients in Pennsylvania State Courts, and the Federal District Court for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania. Jeffrey has entered PRO HAC VICE in multiple lawsuits in other jurisdictions, including Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia. He has a strong command of state and federal procedural rules and is well versed in the intricacies of local, state, and federal practice. In addition to litigating matters, he often utilizes the mediation and arbitration process to resolve complex disputes, including AAA Arbitration and through private mediators.
Throughout his career, Jeffrey has successfully litigated/handled hundreds of civil matters resulting in many defense verdicts, dismissals, or favorable settlements in both judicial and non-judicial forums. As a former registered representative, his understanding of the workings of the financial services industry and markets, as well as his familiarity with all types of insurance and investment products, has enabled him to efficiently and effectively handle complex insurance and securities disputes. His knowledge of residential and commercial real estate and the burial industry also allows him to successfully litigate these matters.
A graduate of Villanova University and Boston College Law School, he frequently presents to clients and industry groups on insurance and real estate related issues. His most recent presentation was 'Best Practices for Insurance Agents and Brokers.'
Year joined
2004
Results
Defense Award Following Six-Week FINRA Hearing.
Securities & Investments Professional Liability
March 21, 2024
We obtained a defense award on a six-week FINRA hearing where our client, a General Agent, faced an alleged defamation/conversion/wrongful termination claim. The claimants contended that our client not only wrongfully discharged them after discovering their involvement in a bank-owned life insurance transaction, but also converted their trails and commissions, and defamed them on their U-5 form published through FINRA BrokerCheck. Damages totaling $15 million and punitive damages were sought by the three claimants.
Investigation against home appraiser shut down by defense.
Miscellaneous Professional Liability
November 3, 2022
We successfully defended a home appraiser in a regulatory investigation undertaken by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Bureau of Enforcement relating to the appraisal of a five-acre parcel of property. The complainant contended the valuation arrived at by the appraiser (as part of a divorce proceeding) was artificially low given the fact the parcel was sub-dividable. We convinced the investigator that the appraisal number arrived at was in line with comparable properties in the area, particularly given some of the ingress issues involved in accessing the property.
Successful representation of home appraiser in regulatory investigation.
Miscellaneous Professional Liability
November 3, 2022
The investigation was undertaken by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Bureau of Enforcement relating to the appraisal of a five-acre parcel of property. The complainant contended the valuation arrived at by the appraiser (as part of a divorce proceeding) was artificially low given the fact the parcel was sub-dividable. We convinced the investigator that the appraisal number arrived at was in line with comparable properties in the area, particularly given some of the ingress issues involved in accessing the property.
Defense shuts down investigation of life insurance agent.
Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability
April 22, 2022
We effectively shut down a Maryland Insurance Department investigation of a life insurance agent who was the subject of a customer complaint. The complaint alleged the agent oversold life insurance to a couple who contended the amount of insurance was excessive, unsuitable and unnecessary.
Dismissal of lawsuit against insurance agent.
Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability
April 22, 2022
We successfully argued for the dismissal of an action in Wyoming County on a matter involving the sale by an agent of a number of mutual funds (with IRA retirement funds). In this case, the plaintiff contended the mutual funds were excessive and unsuitable. We convinced the trial court judge that plaintiff’s counsel’s lack of activity for several years on the case, and his failure to respond to long-outstanding discovery, warranted dismissal of the lawsuit.
Thought Leadership
On the Pulse...Our Real Estate E&O Liability Practice Group
Real Estate E&O Liability
December 1, 2022
Our Real Estate E&O Liability Practice Group has a long history of representing real estate professionals. Defense Digest, Vol.
Protecting Yourself Against Professional Liability Lawsuits
Philadelphia - Headquarters
Miscellaneous Professional Liability
June 1, 2016
Legal Update for Securities
Securities & Investments Professional Liability
March 20, 2015
Recent Litigation Victories The material in this law alert has been prepared for our readers by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.
