News & Events

Wade Clark Mulcahy LLP Expands on Long Island with Addition of Steven F. Goldstein LLP

Wade Clark Mulcahy is pleased to announce the expansion of its Long Island presence with its merger with Steven F. Goldstein LLP.  In addition to Steve Goldstein, who will be Of Counsel to WCM, Partner Gina Arnedos and associate Patrick “PJ” Argento will join WCM, and current WCM Partner Brian Gibbons will serve as the managing partner of the Long Island office. They will focus primarily on liability defense, fraud investigation, and professional liability.  Arnedos, Goldstein, and Argento strengthen the firm’s robust litigation expertise. With the opening of the Long Island Office at the former site of Steven F. Goldstein LLP at 1 Old Country in Carle Place, NY, the firm will better serve its clients in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. “We are thrilled to open our Long Island Office and be able to better serve our clients,” says Bob Cosgrove, a member of Wade Clark Mulcahy Executive Committee. “Gina, Steve, and PJ are experienced trial lawyers, and we are ecstatic to have them join the firm.”   “Steve and I picked a jury together a few years back and hit it off immediately – I’m excited to work with Steve, Gina and Patrick going forward,” says Brian Gibbons. Steve Goldstein has spent over three decades representing clients, including department stores, camps, gyms, rock climbing facilities, horse farms, nursery schools, youth sports organizations, construction companies, and all manner of business and individual clients. He has vast trying and appealing cases in all New York State and Federal Courts. “We are pleased to join WCM and to offer more resources to our clients, both in the greater New York City area, and in other jurisdictions where WCM has a strong presence.” Gina Arnedos is a skilled trial attorney with 35 years’ experience litigating in New York. She has amassed extensive experience in guiding clients on risk management issues and evaluating cases for settlement, motions for summary judgment, appeals, and trials. Gina has litigated premises liability cases for a multitude of clients over the years, including department stores, camps, gyms, rock climbing facilities, horse farms, nursery schools, and all manner of business and individual clients. Since graduating from Argento Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University in 2017, PJ Argento has gained experience litigating in State District Courts and Supreme Courts all over the State of New York. He began his career with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in 2016, while still attending law school. Under a practice Order from the Appellate Division, Second Department, Patrick prosecuted cases as a Law Assistant in Suffolk County District Court. Argento just recently tried his first case in upstate New York. If you’d like any additional information about our new addition or the Long Island office in general, feel free to contact Brian Gibbons.Read More

Happy Holidays from Wade Clark Mulcahy

Another year in the books!    2022 saw in person litigation begin to come back in earnest (thank goodness), but looking forward, we won’t be cancelling our Teams/Zoom accounts any time soon — some degree of remote conferencing is certainly here to stay.    WCM continues to enjoy growth, in large part due to the loyalty of our friends and clients within and without the United States.   We look forward to our continued collaboration in 2023 and beyond.   And a special thanks to the support staff at our WCM offices, who keep the WCM train on its tracks every day. Please accept our Holiday E-Card, and our best wishes for a a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!Read More

WCM Associates all Pass New York Bar Exam

As attorneys, through all the wins and losses we experience in our careers, few victories match the sheer relief one experiences upon passing the bar exam.  And some new WCM attorney got to experience that feeling this week. Wade Clark Mulcahy LLP’s new class of first year associates who sat for the New York Bar Exam in July all received some good news Thursday morning — all 5 passed the NY bar exam!   Congratulations to Chris Palmieri, Rebecca Pasternak, Lauren Howard, Yifan “Sherry” Lin and Alexander Rabhan.  Enjoy the weekend, perhaps an adult beverage or two, and then get back to work on Monday!   Congratulations on a job well done.Read More

WCM Achieves Defense Verdict and Favorable Verdict in Harrisburg, PA Jury Trial

WCM Partner Bob Cosgrove obtained a defense verdict and favorable verdict in a four day jury trial in Harrisburg, PA.  In the case of Joel and Barbara Turk v. Susquehanna Township EMS and Beth Miles, Joel Turk, a dentist, was being transported to the hospital by Susquehanna Township EMS and its EMT Beth Miles.  During the course of the transport, Beth Miles lost control of the ambulance and crashed into two trees and one pole – the accident was so significant that Beth had to be cut out of the ambulance with the jaws of life.  Joel Turk claimed that the accident exacerbated pre-existing back injuries that rendered him unable to return to work as a dentist and caused him more than $500,000 in past and future lost wages.  His wife Beth made standard loss of consortium claims.  Plaintiffs claimed that Susquehanna Township EMS was negligent in its hiring, training and supervision of Beth Miles and that Beth Miles was negligent in her operation of the ambulance. After hearing all of the evidence, the 12 person jury unanimously determined that Susquehanna Township EMS was not negligent, but found that Beth Miles was 100% negligent.  The jury rejected, however, the plaintiffs’ claims that the injuries suffered in the accident were life altering.  They awarded total damages of $31,165.01 – an award that included $2,804.46 in stipulated out of pocket medical expenses and $6,860.55 in stipulated incidental expenses.  No money was awarded for the loss of consortium claim, $15,000 was awarded for a loss of past income and $6,500 was awarded for pain and suffering. For more information about this case or WCM’s trial practice, please contact Bob Cosgrove.Read More

Introducing WCM’s 2022 First Year Associates

We are pleased to introduce WCM’s newest team of first year associates, who are starting with us this week across our New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania offices. New Jersey Harry Harnitchek is a graduate of Rutgers Law School and was a staff editor on the Rutgers Journal of Law and Public Policy.  Harry completed undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh.  Prior to joining WCM, Harry was a judicial intern for various magistrate judges and interned with the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office.  Harry is an avid gardener and chess player. Yifan (Sherry) Lin is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School and was president and founder of the International Law School Organization and member of the ADR Honor Society.  Sherry completed undergraduate studies at Rutgers University.  Prior to joining WCM, Sherry interned with an immigration firm and was a judicial intern for a New York County Supreme Court judge. Sherry is native proficient in Mandarin, and elementary proficient in Japanese and Italian. New York Alexander Rabhan is a graduate of Benjamin Cardozo School of Law and was president of the mentorship program for the first years and senator of the Student Bar Association.  Alex completed undergraduate studies at the University of Miami.  Prior to joining WCM, Alex interned with several civil litigation firms and with the New York Legal Assistance Group. Christopher Palmieri is a graduate of Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center and was an editor on Law Review.  Chris completed undergraduate studies at Pennsylvania State University.  Prior to joining WCM, Chris interned with a commercial litigation firm, interned with a Nassau County Supreme Court judge, and worked as a legal assistant. Lauren Howard is a graduate of St. John’s University School of Law and was a staff member of the New York Real Property Journal.  Lauren completed undergraduate studies at SUNY Geneseo.  Prior to joining WCM, Lauren interned with a civil litigation firm, an employment and labor litigation firm, and participated in a litigation clinic that focused on consumer justice for the elderly. Rebecca Pasternak is a graduate of St. John’s University School of Law and was an editor on the New York International Law Review.  Rebecca completed undergraduate studies at SUNY Binghamton.  Prior to joining WCM, Rebecca was an MLB salary arbitration intern and an intern with the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’s civil appeals mediation program. Pennsylvania Brenna Jeffries is a graduate of Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and was a member of its Moot Court Board.  Brenna completed undergraduate studies at Townson University.  Prior to joining WCM, participated in internships that focused on elder law and with the Philadelphia Legal Assistance. Erin Gallagher is a graduate of Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law and was a staff editor on Temple Law Review.  Erin completed undergraduate studies at Brown University.  Prior to joining WCM, Erin interned with the US Department of Education – Office for Civil Rights and was a legal research assistant for various professors.  Erin is fluent in German. Erin Russell is a graduate of Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and was on the Moot Court Board.  Erin completed undergraduate studies at Franklin & Marshall College.  Prior to joining WCM, Erin interned with a commercial litigation firm and was a judicial intern with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.  Erin is an avid softball player. Haley Matthes is a graduate of Widener University Delaware Law School and was a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Society.  Haley completed undergraduate studies at Lafayette College.  Haley was a summer intern at WCM and prior to that interned with the Northampton County Court of Pleas, with The Office of Pennsylvania Attorney General, and was selected as the only intern to serve The Office of Roderick Stewart, MP in London, England. Jean Scanlan is a graduate of Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and was a member of the St. Thomas Moore, Pro Bono and Family Law Societies.  Jean completed undergraduate studies at Temple University.  Jean was a summer intern at WCM and prior to that was a judicial extern with the Court of Common Pleas – Civil Division. Sarah Polacek is a graduate of Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and was an editor on Law Review.  Sarah completed undergraduate studies at the University of Delaware.  Prior to joining WCM, Sarah interned with civil litigation and family law firms and was a judicial intern with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Stephen Kerstein is a graduate of Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law and was a staff editor on Temple Law Review and president of the Jewish Law Students Association.  Stephen completed undergraduate studies at Indiana University.  Prior to joining WCM, Stephen interned with a civil litigation firm, was a class and research assistant for two professors and interned with a congressman in the US House of Representative.Read More

WCM is Pleased to Announce that James W. Scott, Jr. has been Promoted to Partner

Effective July 1, 2022, Jim Scott, who works in our Philadelphia office, has been promoted to partner.  Jim is the current President of the Pennsylvania Defense Institute and a past-President of the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel.  As such he is the only attorney ever elected president of both defense organizations.  Jim is a graduate of Duke University and Temple University School of Law.  With 28 years of experience, Jim focuses his practice on the defense of construction defect, construction accident, premises liability, and products liability claims.  Prior to becoming an attorney, Jim was the Assistant Director of Operations with the largest fabricator/erector of structural steel in the Delaware Valley.  As such, his construction defect practice has been substantially enhanced by significant real world experience.Read More

(Knock on Wood) — NY Courts Lift Facemask and 3-Foot Physical Distancing Requirements

Effective June 16, 2022, New York courthouse visitors, lawyers, judges, and staff will no longer be required to wear masks, with proof of vaccination, in light of receding COVID rates. Also being lifted in the courthouses is the three-foot physical distancing requirement.  (The policy identifies a vaccination card or a New York State Excelsior Plus Vaccination Pass as proof of vaccination.) These steps are part of an effort to return the Court to full operations and are a return to the model that was in place throughout the Unified Court System last summer. The changes come as welcomed news to some practitioners who found it difficult to hear statements in Court, have their statements heard, or speak discretely to their clients. Masks also interfered with measuring a witness’ credibility or the ability to develop a rapport with jurors. On the civil side, with many appearances remaining virtual with some exceptions, mask or no mask is of little consequence.  But in person, we’re getting closer to normalcy. A color-coded system will be in place within the Courthouse Courts with court visitors receiving a white pass and an attorney/agency a green pass that will permit entry without a health safety screening and without wearing a facemask. These passes must be worn on the outermost piece of clothing. The attorney/agency pass will be valid for six months from the issuance date or one year from the date of last vaccination or booster dose, whichever is shorter. Judges and employees of the Unified Court System will display a valid, unexpired orange card to enter all areas of the court without a facemask.     Local and national COVID trends will remain closely and thoughtfully monitored, to provide a public compelled to enter the space with the utmost protections and considerations. We will refrain from calling this development “the beginning of the end” of COVID, because, well, we’ve done that before, and believe in jinxes!   Thanks to John Diffley for his contribuition to this post.  Please email Brian Gibbons with any questions.Read More

Overturning Armando Galarraga’s “Imperfect Game”

Sixteen students at Monmouth University are taking a shot at righting an  historic wrong in sports history. In 2010 Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was denied a perfect game, because of an erroneous call by first base umpire Jim Joyce, when Galarraga was an out away from joining a very exclusive list. Major League Baseball’s commissioner refused to overturn the call even though the umpire admitted the call was wrong, thereby denying Armando Galarraga the 21^st perfect game in the sport’s 134-year history. The students submitted an 82-page report to Major League Baseball’s headquarters in February, and have cited to precedence in sports history to support their argument in favor of awarding Galarraga the perfect game. In 1983, baseball’s commissioner reversed an umpire’s ruling that Kansas City Royals George Brett was out because he used too much pine tar on his bat when he hit a home run. MLB has also changed the status of a historical achievement 32 years after, removing Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Harvey Haddix from the no-hitter list. But the students did not just stop at sports history precedence. They cited court decisions supporting the concept that “a wrong suffered without a remedy is a blot upon the sound administration of justice.” Westinghouse Eletric Corp. v. United Electrical Co., 1946. We’ll see if Rob Manfred and MLB gives the students’ application any real consideration here.   To be sure, no party will be “opposing” this application, but MLB may be leery of creating new precedent to have blown calls officially overturned after the fact.   We will keep tabs on this one — as will Armando Galarraga! And as an aside, if you want to see a lesson in sportsmanship, the day after Jim Joyce’s blown call, Joyce and Galarraga met at home plate to present the lineup cards for the next day’s game.  In the preceding 24 hours, it had become apparent that Joyce made the wrong call, and effectively removed Galarraga’s name from the history books.  Both handled the emotional meeting with absolute class. Thanks to Jennifer Tuz for her contribution to this post, and please email Brian Gibbons with any questions.Read More

Philip Pizzuto Joins WCM as Partner in New York & New Jersey Offices

WCM is pleased to announce that Philip Pizzuto has joined us as a partner.  Phil is a trial lawyer with nearly 25 years of experience representing insureds, corporations, municipalities and individuals in the New York metro area. He has tried numerous cases to verdict in the New York, New Jersey, and Federal courts in a variety of cases including employment, general liability, toxic torts, personal injury and municipal disputes. Phil also provides advice and guidance on disputes involving toxic tort, employment and ADA claims. Phil was recently a partner with a large general practice firm in New Jersey and New York before joining Wade Clark Mulcahy LLP, and previously worked at a large New York City firm where he concentrated on toxic tort and other liability matters.  Phil is licensed to practice law before the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Bars. He is a graduate of Temple University School of Law.Read More

In Memory of Jeff Weston

We at WCM mourn the untimely passing of our long-time friend and London Market representative Jeff Weston on February 19, 2022.  Jeff was felled by a heart attack during a skiing holiday in Finland with his dear wife Irina and their two lovely young girls, Sienna and Lucia. In the midst of pain and deep sorrow for a life tragically cut short, we give thanks for knowing Jeff and enjoying the great pleasure of his company. While our grief is hard felt, our aim here is to celebrate the life of a man who gave his all to his family and friends. We also pay tribute to a consummate insurance professional who, with a big grin, a welcoming handshake, a wooden leg and a deep knowledge of the insurance industry, made all around him feel better about themselves—and the undertaking of the moment. While we suffer the loss of our friend, we shall continued to be sustained by Jeff’s spirit—and his always sunny outlook on life’s journey even during our golfing misadventures.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Jeff’s wife and daughters. We will provide any further public details as they become available.  Read More