Whether defending clients in high-profile product liability cases or setting precedent in business litigation matters, Joe is sought after for his litigation experience in complicated tort and commercial cases in both state and federal courts. He counsels clients in response to government investigations and subpoenas, and has secured multimillion-dollar verdicts for clients in national and international matters.
Joe was selected as one of Pennsylvania's Top Rated Lawyers for his excellence in commercial litigation and tort litigation, having achieved AV Preeminent Peer Review Ratings on Martindale-Hubbell. For his work in commercial litigation, labor and employment and personal injury, Joe was also recognized as one of New Jersey's Top Rated Lawyers.
A graduate of the Temple University Beasley School of Law, Joe's passion for trial work began during his early years as a police officer and lieutenant in the suburbs of Philadelphia. With first-hand experience in investigations, interrogations and courtroom presentation and more than 25 years of civil litigation experience, he is particularly well equipped to evaluate and present strong cases on his clients' behalf.
Attuned to client needs at a time of stress, Joe listens closely to his clients to determine their ultimate goal, whether it is a quick resolution or trying a case to verdict. He excels at discovering and organizing information, and cutting through the clutter to identify and present the key testimony, documents and evidence that will be effective at trial.
A strong advocate for the National Kidney Foundation, Joe was named chair of the board of directors for the organization's chapter serving the Delaware Valley for the 2014-2016 term. The National Kidney Foundation serving the Delaware Valley supports kidney disease and transplant patients through research, patient support groups, educational programs and transportation reimbursement funds for low-income patients.
Representative Matters
Joe successfully argued a motion to dismiss a federal court product liability action in which plaintiffs alleged that their cattle died as a result of his client’s multi-purpose vaccine. Joe argued that the Idaho state law failure to warn and design defect claims were preempted under the Viruses, Serums, Toxins, and Analogous Products Act (VSTA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) promulgation of regulations governing vaccine products.
Joe successfully represented an animal health company in a matter alleging that a feed additive failed, leading to a parasitic outbreak in a herd of 50,000 cattle.
In a national engineering company defense matter alleging that negligent supervision of an airport project led to the plaintiff’s catastrophic injuries during the removal of equipment at a de-icing station, Joe secured a favorable defense verdict for the client.
In a matter alleging the plaintiff contracted Stevens-Johnson syndrome resulting in catastrophic injuries from an over-the-counter product, Joe successfully represented his client, a pharmaceutical company.
In a matter alleging that the steering mechanism locked, causing the plaintiff’s vehicle to cross the centerline resulting in a head-on collision involving catastrophic injuries, Joe secured a favorable outcome for his client, an automobile manufacturer.
In a matter alleging that a live vaccine failed to prevent a virus, leading to the death of millions of chickens on commercial ranches, Joe successfully represented an animal health company.
Joe successfully represented an automobile manufacturer in a matter alleging that an electrical short behind the dashboard of a vehicle caused a residential fire.
Joe served as defense liaison counsel in a product liability matter in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Mass Tort Program.
In a case in which Joe won enforcement of the arbitration provision of a contract on behalf of his client, an international furniture manufacturer and distributor, in a dispute with a former executive, Joe convinced a federal district court judge to set aside state law in favor of the Federal Arbitration Act, avoiding a court trial. Nicholas L. Zammer v. Herman Miller, Inc., Civ. No. 10-922, 201 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 62220 (E.D. Pa. June 22, 2010).
Joe secured a $1.85-million verdict on behalf of his client in the widely-reported case of Joseph and Terry Dwek v. Sun National Bank, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey, Adv No. 07-1697.
Joe successfully prosecuted and settled a matter on behalf of a New Jersey manufacturer against a Hong Kong-based receiver for breach of contract and tort claims. This included successfully conducting depositions and discovery in Southeast Asia.
Publications
Joseph Blum & Sean Wajert, “Consent” to Jurisdiction by Registering to Do Business, American Bar Association Product Liability Litigation newsletter, Summer 2022.
Joseph Blum & Sean Wajert, I Do? Mallory v. Norfolk Southern Railway Company and the General Jurisdiction Consent Battle, Mealey's Litigation Report, February 23, 2022.
Joseph Blum, John Lyons & Sean Wajert, Corporations: Are You Voluntarily Consenting to General Jurisdiction in Pennsylvania?, Westlaw Journal: Corporate Officers & Directors Liability, July 10, 2017.
Joseph Blum & John Lyons, Court Rejects 'Res Ipsa Loquitur Dressed Up as Expert Opinion,' The Legal Intelligencer, February 9, 2017.
Joseph H. Blum & Erin Loucks, Legal Implications of the N.J. Trade Secrets Act, New Jersey Law Journal, April 15, 2013.
Joseph H. Blum, Non-Competes Losing Favor as the Economy Continues to Stumble, Pennsylvania Law Weekly, December 20, 2011.
Joseph H. Blum & Erin Loucks, The Risk of Retaliation: Local Businesses and New Jersey Civilian Criminal Citations, New Jersey Law Journal, August 8, 2011.
Joseph H. Blum & Christine C. McGuigan, Employee Substance Abuse: A Disability Under New Version of the ADA?, The Legal Intelligencer, June 20, 2011.
Joseph H. Blum & Inez M. Markovich, Foreclosure Rescue Transactions: Advice For the Commercial Lender In a Consumer-Focused Environment, The Legal Intelligencer, February 8, 2011.
Joseph H. Blum, Inez M. Markovich & Arthur R. Armstrong, Deepening Insolvency: Losing Its Luster As A Theory of Lender Liability, The Secured Lender, September, 2010.
Joseph H. Blum, Inez M. Markovich & Arthur R. Armstrong, District Court Refuses To Recognize Deepening Insolvency Cause of Action, New Jersey Law Journal, June 28, 2010.
Selected Presentations
Joseph Blum, Erin Leffler and Kate Mowll, Personal Jurisdiction Post-Daimler: Recent Developments and Looking to the Future, Jenkins Law Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 29, 2017.