Biography
I am a dedicated, diverse, accomplished attorney practicing in a broad spectrum of civil matters with professional level-headedness and integrity. My background: I was raised in Robinson Township, a western suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Upon graduating from Montour High School in 1980, I attended the North Carolina State University for a year, and then the Pennsylvania State University, from which I graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering. I then worked for four years as an engineer for the Naval Ordinance Station, south of Washington, D.C. I entered the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1988, graduated in May 1991, and began my 29-year legal career with Bonya Gazza & DeGory, LLP in Indiana, Pennsylvania. I was mentored by several seasoned practitioners who taught me to be courteous and professional, to clients and adversaries alike. I became a partner in 2001. BG&D was a general practice, eight-lawyer firm, with an emphasis in corporate and business law, and energy and mineral law (coal, oil and gas). Our areas of focus included civil litigation in the state and federal courts; business formations, restructuring, and mergers and acquisitions; commercial and personal real estate transactions; title resolutions (quiet title, declaratory judgment and specific performance actions); condemnation/eminent domain actions (for condemnor and condemnee); mineral ownership disputes and transactions, leasing, and title opinions; estate planning, probate, and guardianships; and municipal law. The primary areas of my practice were litigation, real estate, condemnation/eminent domain cases, municipal law, and employment law. In July 2020, I moved to and became licensed in Georgia, and began practicing with the Dell Law Firm. My current primary focus is civil litigation. Over my 31-year career as a practitioner in Georgia and Pennsylvania, I have had several jury trials, multiple bench trials, and countless hearings, covering a wide range of matters, including contract disputes, real estate disputes (including boundary line and title disputes), condemnations, estate/will contests, and personal injury and insurance defense cases.
Practice Areas
- Civil Litigation 100%
Bar Admissions
- Georgia, 2020
Education
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- J.D. - 1991
- Pennsylvania State University
- B.S. - 1984
- Major: Aerospace Engineering
Professional Associations
- Georgia Bar, Licensed Attorney, 2020 to Present
- Pennsylvania Bar, Licensed Attorney, 1991 to 2020
- North Carolina Bar, Licensed Attorney, 1998 to 2001
Representative Cases
- Gallaher v. Riddle and Dalessio, Pa Superior Court, 850 A.2d 748, 2004
- In re Estate of Anna Pettenati, 760 A.2d 1229, Pa Commonwealth Court, 2000
- Lick Trucking, Inc. vs. PA Unemp. Comp. Board, 667 A.2d 454, Pa Commonwealth Ct, 1995
- Giannnilli v. NSRC and the City of Latrobe, Pa Commonwealth Court, 2014 WL 929488
References
- Judge Thomas M. Bianco, Indiana County, PA, COC
- Stevan Schott, President/CEO, Calgon Carbon Corporation
- Daniel Bevevino, CFO (Retired), Respironics, Inc.
- The Reverend Douglass Dorsey
Past Positions
- Bonya, Gazza & DeGory, LLP, Attorney, 1991 to 2000
- Naval Ordinance Station, Engineer, 1984 to 1988
Pro-Bono Activities
- Member, Board of Directors, Indiana County Endowment
- Member-at-Large, Board of Directors, Indiana Area Lacrosse Club
- Youth Coach, Indiana Little League
- Program Coordinator & Coach, Indiana Area Soccer Boosters, Pee Wee Soccer Program
- Program Coordinator & Team Representative, Indiana Area High School Boys Lacrosse
- President and Member, Board of Directors, Indiana Area Lacrosse Club
- Member, Development Advisory Board, St. Bernard School
- Chair, St. Bernard School Education Improvement Tax Credit Program
- VP and Member, Board of Directors, Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Indiana County
- Treasurer and Member, Board of Directors, Birthright of Indiana County
Languages
- English