The Pennsylvania Defense Institute

PDI LUNCH TIME WEBINAR - "VENUE AND FORUM NON CONVENIENS: NAVIGATING PENNSYLVANIA'S LATEST UPDATES"
2025-05-06 12:00 - 13:00 UTC
Jonathan B. Stepanian, McQuaide Blasko, will present “Venue and Forum Non Conveniens: Navigating Pennsylvania’s Latest Updates”. This program provides an overview of recent legal developments regarding venue and forum non conveniens in Pennsylvania. Attendees will gain insights into key case law updates, strategic considerations for defense counsel, and pratical implications for raising venue defenses, including in medical professional liability cases.
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PDI LUNCH TIME WEBINAR - FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2025 @ 12:00 P.M. - PDI WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMITTEE PRESENTS "Significant Workers' Compensation Case Law Developments and Trends" -
2025-06-20 12:00 - 13:30
Neil M. Dombrowski, Esquire, The Dombrowski Group, P.C., Co-Chair of the PDI Workers’ Compensation Committee, will moderate a distinguished panel of Workers’ Compensation practitioners including: Jane A. Lombard, Esquire. Swartz Campbell, Co-Chair of the PDI Workers’ Compensation Committee, Katherine M. Richardson, Esquire, The Dombrowski Group, and Stephen F. Moore, Esquire, Peters & Wasilefski. The panel will discuss the most significant and recent case law developments and trends on subjects such as payments, counsel fees, notice to report injury, employment status, petitions and other issues with recent developments. Do not miss this very informative presentation. Free to PDI Members and $35.00 non-members. 1.5 PACLE substantive credits
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PDI LUNCH TIME WEBINAR - WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2025 - MICHAEL E. GOLDBERG, CONSULTING ENGINEERS & SCIENTISTS PRESENTS "The Role of Industrial Hygiene & Safety in Litigation"
2025-09-17 12:00 - 13:00
Michael E. Goldberg, CIH, CSP, a Certified Industrial Hygienist and Certified Safety Professional, from Consulting Engineers & Scientists, Inc., will discuss the role of a safety professional in the evaluation of safety processes and procedures as they relate to injuries and hazard exposure. Using case examples, Mr. Goldberg will discuss how the individual facts of the incident, the nature of the injury and the Safety Professional’s investigation can bring all facts together to determine responsibility of various parties and potential liability. This is an important presentation that will provide attorneys another view in determining whether or not there is potential responsibility and/or liability. Do not miss this Webinar. REGISTER NOW!!!
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PDI LUNCH TIME WEBINAR - CONSUMER FINANCE DEFENSE COMMITTEE WEBINAR
2025-10-02 12:00 - 13:00
John Berry, Esquire, Dinsmore & Shohl, will present a webinar on FCRA identity theft issues and the impact identity theft claims have n data furnishers’ investigation and potential coverage issues related to these claims. Be on the lookout for registration materials that will be sent via PDI Listserv in September.

PDI LUNCH TIME WEBINAR - "Premises Liability Cases - Practical Tips to Avoid Tripping Up Your Case"
2025-10-07 12:00 - 13:00
David Littlewood, P.E., David H. Fleisher, P.E., and Lee Elsey, AIA, of PDI sponsor FLEISHER FORENSICS will provide a presentation that will enhance your understanding of premises cases from the perspective of professionals, which include engineers, architects, construction administrators and managers, and scientists.
Join the experts from FLEISHER FORENSICS for an invaluable session where they will share insights, codes, standards and practical tips for handling premises liability cases. This event offers an opportunity to deepen your knowledge of design, construction, and maintenance considerations, with expert analysis of walkway surfaces such as stairways, sidewalks, floors and decks. DO NOT MISS THIS COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION LED BY A SEASONED TEAM!
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PDI LUNCH TIME WEBINAR - PDI WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMITTEE - "UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS AND THE PA WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT"
2025-12-12 12:00 - 13:00
PDI Workers’ Compensation Committee will present a one hour webinar on the issue of undocumented workers and the Pa. Workers’ Compensation Act. Stephen F. Moore, Esquire of Peters & Wasilefski will moderate a discussion with Neil T. Dombrowski, Esquire of The Dombrowski Group and Daniel P. Ryan, C.P.A., Certified Forensics Accountant, DABFA, CGMA. The panel will address the legal implications of an individual being an undocumented workers as related to the Pa. Workers’ Compensation Act and the Employer’s burden to establish that the individual is ineligible to work and its impact upon a Claimant’s claim for benefits. Mr. Ryan has served as an expert and has document review expertise. He has testified in numerous workers’ compensation proceedings on whether or not a given individual is work eligible in the United States. The presentation will address both legal requirements and strategy and the nuances of presenting expert testimony n this topic. This presentation is beneficial for workers’ compensation practitioners, claims professionals, and risk managers.
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PDI LUNCH TIME WEBINAR - THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 @ 12:00 P.M. - TERESA M. HEARN, MS, CRC, CLCP, IPEC, CVE, Premier Vocational Experts presents - "A Vocational Expert's Guide to Earnings Capacity and Household Services Loss"
2026-01-08 12:00 - 13:30
Teresa M. Hearn, MS, CRC, CLCP, IPEC, CVE, Premier Vocational Experts, LLC, will present important information related to the difference between a forensic vocational expert and a forensic economist (who, what, when to use one or the other) and how a forensic vocational expert makes an assessment of future earning capacity, including and specifically with regards to an injury to a minor. Additionally, Ms. Hearn will provide information as to how a vocational expert values loss of household services in the assessment of losses to an injured person.
Ms. Hearn is a certified life care planner and certified vocational expert who has been providing comprehensive vocational employability and earning capacity assessments and services for individuals with varying levels of disability for over a decade. She has something to share for seasoned attorneys and newer attorneys working with personal injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI), medical malpractice, product liability, long term disability, employment law, and matrimonial cases as examples of her work.
Do not miss this important and enlightening presentation from an experienced forensic vocational expert.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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PDI LUNCH TIME WEBINAR - EXPONENT PRESENTS "Surgical Robotics and Litigation"
2026-06-11 12:00 - 13:00
Jessica Isaacs, Ph.D., P.E., Managing Engineer – Biomechanics/Exponent, Lisa Lallo, Ph.D., CPP, Senior Managing Engineer-Mechanical Engineering/Exponent, and Collin Stabler, Ph.D., P.E., RAC, Senior Managing Engineer – Biomedical Engineering and Sciences/Exponent will discuss product liability implications for surgical robotics, encompassing areas of life sciences, biomechanics, and mechanical performance.
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