David is a seasoned trial lawyer and risk counselor with extensive litigation and consulting experience in product liability litigation, warranty development and claims, environmental harm and health effect litigation, class actions, high-exposure personal injury lawsuits and toxic tort litigation including asbestos, benzene, glyphosate, PCBs, PFAS and plastics (macroplastics, microplastics and nanoplastics).
David is both a risk counselor and a trial lawyer. He advises leading global product manufacturers on risk assessment and liability mitigation strategies, and he is adept at crafting creative resolutions when his clients prefer to avoid litigation. However, when early claims resolution is neither desirable nor feasible, David has successfully defended his clients at trial in courtrooms across the U.S.
He chairs civil arbitration panels in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. He also has been recognized by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers since 2005. Outside the office, David is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys soccer, skiing, cycling and triathlons. As an undergraduate at Amherst College, he was captain of a nationally ranked soccer team. He has coached a premier-level travel soccer team and served on the board of directors of the Philadelphia Area Girls Soccer League and A Better Chance.
Representative Matters
Environmental and Toxic Tort Litigation
Defended Monsanto against allegations that a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) product caused plaintiffs’ cancer. The jury returned a defense verdict for Monsanto. Dublin v. Monsanto (Mo. Cir. Ct., St. Louis Cty., 2016).
Defended Monsanto against allegations that a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) product caused plaintiffs’ cancer. The jury returned a defense verdict for Monsanto. Smith v. Monsanto (Cal. Super. Ct., Los Angeles Cty., 2014).
Business Litigation
Represented plaintiff Leonetti’s Frozen Foods, Inc., in an action against Maglio Fresh Food alleging unfair competition in the distribution and sale of frozen stromboli. After a two-week jury trial, a 12-person jury found in Leonetti’s favor, awarding $2 million in compensatory damages and $555,000 in punitive damages. Leonetti’s Frozen Foods v. Maglio Fresh Food d/b/a Maglio’s Sausage Co. (Pa. Ct. Common Pleas, Philadelphia Cty., 2012).
Automotive
Defended automaker Hyundai against product liability and lemon law claims involving allegations of a powertrain defect. Following a week-long trial, the jury returned a full defense verdict for Hyundai and the court ordered the plaintiff to reimburse a portion of the client’s trial costs. Paich v. Hyundai Motor America (Pa. Ct. Common Pleas, Allegheny Cty., 2016).
In a product liability case that had potentially broad implications for the auto industry, obtained a motion for summary judgment against a novel statutory claim that would have created a new class of lawsuits against automotive manufacturers. Edwards v. Hyundai Motor America (Pa. Ct. Common Pleas, Philadelphia Cty., 2015).
Obtained a defense verdict in favor of Subaru in a bench trial involving product liability and lemon law claims. Wert v. Subaru of America (Pa. Ct. Common Pleas, Philadelphia Cty., 2013).
Obtained a jury defense verdict in favor of Hyundai in a product liability and lemon law case. Matson v. Hyundai Motor America (N.J. Super. Ct., Burlington Cty., 2012).
Obtained a jury defense verdict in favor of Subaru in a product liability and lemon law case. Ricciardi v. Subaru of America (N.J. Super. Ct., Camden Cty., 2012).
Obtained a bench verdict in favor of Hyundai in a product liability and lemon law case. Hidock v. Hyundai Motor America (N.J. Super. Ct., Luzerne Cty., 2011).