The Pennsylvania Defense Institute

PDI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
2026-02-11 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-08 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-17 10:00 - 12:00 UTC

PAHCRM/PDI WEBINAR - "Navigating the Digital Shift: Balancing the Benefits and Legal Risks of Patient Portals"
2026-02-11 12:00 - 13:30
Robert J. Aldrich, Esquire and Melissa A. Dziak, Esquire from the Health Care Department of Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin will be presenting important information regarding “Navigating the Digital Shift: Balancing The Benefits and Legal Risks of Patient Portals”. As healthcare providers continue to prioritize digital engagement and patient-centered care, the adoption of patient portals has become a key tool for improving patient communications. However, the integration of these platforms also brings new legal and clinical risks that must be carefully managed. Misinterpretations of information/data, reliance on the patient portal as the sole method of patient communications, or patient transmission of urgent/emergent messages via the portal can all lead to delayed care and/or poor medical outcomes that may ultimately result in medical malpractice lawsuits. As litigation continues to heavily focus on audit trail and metadata issues, the electronic footprint in the patient portal audit trail can be either a shield or a sword when defending medical malpractice claims. The presenters will discuss mitigation strategies for managing risks associated with the use of patient portals and how the reliance on patient portals impacts medical malpractice laws.

PACHRM has invited PDI Members to attend this important webinar at no charge. PDI has made arrangements with PACLE to provide 1.5 CLE credits for attendance at this webinar. This will be a very informative webinar providing important information in the new digital age.
Download the PDF form here >>

PDI LUNCH TIME WEBINAR - PRODUCTS LIABILITY COMMITTEE PRESENTS "Recent Product Liability Pretrial and Trial Experience in Pennsylvania (State and Federal Courts)
2026-02-17 12:00 - 14:00
PDI Products Liability Committee will present “Recent Product Liability Pretrial and Trial Experience n Pennsylvania ( State and Federal Cases)”. A well seasoned panel experience in products liability cases will discuss the trial of product liability cases in the wake of Tincher v. Omega-Flex. The panel will be moderated by William “Bill” Ricci, Esquire, Ricci Tyrrell Johnson & Grey, and include: C. Scott Toomey, Esquire, Littleton Joyce Ughetta & Kelly, Bradley Remick, Esquire, Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin, James M. Beck, Esquire, Reed Smith, Dennis Ziemba, Esquire, Bowman Brooke. The panel will discuss actual trial and pretrial (in limine) experiences with: ffers of Industry Standards and Government Regulations Compliance Evidence in the aftermath of Sullivan v. Werner and the success/failure of defense counsel’s requests to have trial judges charge juries that it is their role to determine whether a product was unreasonably dangerous at the time of its sale as a new product. Do not miss this valuable webinar. It is anticipated that this will be 1.5 PACLE substantive credits.
Download the PDF form here >>

PDI Lunch Time Webinar 02/17/2026
"Recent Product Liability Pretrial And Trial Experience in Pennsylvania (State & Federal Courts)"

EmailThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.1st Attendee Name*

First

Last

2nd attendee Name

First

Last

3rd attendee Name

First

Last

Email*

Phone*Address*

Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State / Province / Region

ZIP / Postal Code

Attendees*

PDI Member Free

Non-Members ($35)
Number of Attendees*Total
$0.00

PDI/PADC LAW STUDENT CAREER CONFERENCE - Drexel School of Law
2026-02-17 17:00 - 18:30
A panel of attorneys representing PDI and PADC will meet with law students at Drexel School of Law to discuss the practice of law and possible career paths in the defense of cases on behalf of insurance companies, corporations, and individuals as a viable alternative. The panel will answer questions raised by the students and give a practical perspective of the practice of law.

PDI WEST DISTRICT - LAW STUDENT CAREER CONFERENCE - UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - Tuesday, February 24, 2026 @ 12:00 P.M.
2026-02-24 08:00 - 17:00
PDI West District will host a Law Student Career Luncheon and Conference for law students at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 @ 12:00 P.M. A panel of attorneys will meet with law students and discuss the practice of law with an emphasis on the civil defense practice. This gives the law students information regarding a career alternative on the civil defense of matters.

PDI/PADC LAW STUDENT CAREER CONFERENCE - Temple School of Law
2026-02-25 17:00 - 18:30
A panel of attorneys representing PDI and PADC will meet with law students at Temple School of Law to discuss the practice of law and possible career paths in the defense of cases on behalf of insurance companies, corporations, and individuals as a viable alternative. The panel will answer questions raised by the students and give a practical perspective of the practice of law.

PDI LUNCH TIME WEBINAR - "Protecting Minors or Enforcing Contracts: Enforceability of Parent-Signed Arbitration Agreements in Pennsylvania"
2026-03-12 12:00 - 13:00
Nicole Cramer, Esquire, Sweeney & Sheehan, will focus on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s recent decision in Santiago v. Philly Trampoline Park, LLC, Nos. 24 EAP 2023, 24 EAP 2023, 2025 Pa. LEXIS 1501 (September 25, 2025), where the Court decided as a matter of first impression whether a parent can bind their minor child to litigate their claims in arbitration when they sign an agreement on behalf of their minor child. She will also discuss any cases in which there is a reliance upon Santiago that exist at the time of the presentation. WATCH OUT FOR REGISTRATION MATERIALS TO BE PROVIDED IN THE FUTURE.
Download the PDF form here >>

PDI Lunch Time Webinar 03/12/2026
"Protecting minors or enforcing contracts: enforceability of parent-signed arbitration agreements in Pennsylvania"

NameThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.1st Attendee Name*

First

Last

2nd attendee Name

First

Last

3rd attendee Name

First

Last

Email*

Phone*Address*

Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State / Province / Region

ZIP / Postal Code

Attendees*

PDI Member Free

Non-Members ($35)
Number of Attendees*Total
$0.00

PDI BOARD MEETING
2026-03-18 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-13 10:00 - 12:00

PDI MIDDLE DISTRICT NORTH OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS PRESENT "March Madness Watch Event" - DAVE & BUSTERS SCRANTON - THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026 @ 1:00 P.M
2026-03-19 13:00 - 15:00
PDI Officers and Directors invite you to attend and enjoy a few hours of Tournament Basketball with the opening of the NCAA National Tournament (MARCH MADNESS), good conversation, and cordial camaraderie with fellow attorneys at DAVE & BUSTER’S, 6000 Shoppes Boulevard, Moosic, PA on Thursday, March 19, 2026 starting at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Enjoy some refreshing drinks and appetizers as you root on your favorite teams. Also enjoy meeting and networking with PDI Statewide Sponsors. This will be an enjoyable and relaxing event with friends and colleagues. MAKE YOUR RESERVATION NOW. RSVP ON OR BEFORE TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2026.
Download the PDF form here >>

PDI Lunch Time Webinar 03/19/2026
"North District Madness at Dave & Busters"

InstagramThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.1st Attendee Name*

First

Last

2nd attendee Name

First

Last

3rd attendee Name

First

Last

Email*

Phone*Address*

Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State / Province / Region

ZIP / Postal Code

Attendees*

PDI Member Free
Number of Attendees*

PDI LUNCH TIME WEBINAR - "Commercial Vehicle Accident Analysis" - APRIL 22, 2026 @ 12:00 P.M.
2026-04-22 12:00 - 13:00
Tracie Eckstein Jones, ACTAR, CFEI from RIMKUS will present this webinar designed to describe the necessity for commercial vehicle accident reconstruction and the methodologies involved in conducting a successful commercial vehicle accident reconstruction. She will use case studies to illustrate and demonstrate the methodologies utilized and presented.
Ms. Jones holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Psychology and served as a police officer for 20 years and during her tenure as a police officer has investigated hundreds of serious and fatal vehicle collisions for the Baltimore County Police Department involving motor vehicles, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and pedestrians. She is a certified Child Seat Safety Technician proving her with special knowledge in the inspection of child safety seats.
Ms. Jones’ areas of expertise include private motor vehicle, commercial motor vehicle, motorcycle, and pedestrian/bicycle v. vehicle crash reconstruction. She is experienced in Event Data Recorder analysis for passenger vehicles and heavy truck engines, seatbelt analysis, and rollover crash reconstruction. She also has extensive training and experience with crash scene mapping using a total station and a 3D laser mapping system.
DO NOT MISS THIS VERY INFORMATIVE WEBINAR. GET 1 PACLE CREDIT. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR REGISTRATION MATERIALS TO BE SENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

PDI WEST DISTRICT OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS AND VERSED SPRING FLING HAPPY HOUR
2026-04-29 15:00 - 18:30
PDI West District Officers and Directors and PDI sponsor VERSED invites you to a Spring Fling Happy Hour on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 @ City Works, 2 PPG Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Come join your colleagues and friends for a late afternoon of good conversation, relaxation, and refreshing beverages and food. PDI thanks VERSED for proving this great event. BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION THAT WILL BE PROVIDED CLOSER TO THE EVENT.

PDI BOARD MEETING AT ANNUAL CLE & CONFERENCE - OMNI BEDFORD SPRINGS RESORT
2026-07-29 18:00 - 20:00

PDI ANNUAL CLE & CONFERENCE
2026-07-30 08:00 - 17:00

PDI ANNUAL CLE & CONFERENCE @ OMNI BEDFORD SPRINGS RESORT
2026-07-31 08:00 - 12:00
