Mediator Resume

Litigated, adjudicated, arbitrated, and mediated scores of complex disputes, including commercial, class action, mass tort, pharmaceutical, employment, ERISA, insurance, antitrust, securities, intellectual property, civil rights, and personal injury cases in multiple federal and state courts.

Stevens & Lee - Of Counsel

Attorney, Arbitrator, Mediator, Board Member, Educator

Of Counsel/ Co-Chair of law firm's Neutral Services and Appellate Practice Groups, Stevens & Lee, 2019 - Present; Appellate Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2010 - 2019; Adjunct Professor of Law, Penn State Dickinson School of Law, 2006 – 2019; Member of the Judicial Conference of the United States/Chair of the District Judge Representatives to the Judicial Conference, 2003 - 2005; Chair (2005-2008)/Member of the Information Technology Committee, Judicial Conference of the United States, 2001 - 2008; Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1999 - 2006; Member/Co-Chair (Information Technology and Re-Entry Court Committees), Third Circuit Judicial Council, 1999 - 2006; District Judge, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1994 - 2010; Partner, Elliott, Vanaskie & Riley, 1992-1994; Partner (1986-1992)/Associate (1980-1986), Dilworth Paxson, LLP, 1980-1992; Law Clerk, Hon. William J. Nealon - U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1978-1980.

Extensive experience in complex commercial disputes involving large publicly owned companies and closely held family businesses in energy, insurance, technology, construction, oil and gas, pipelines, and professional sports industries. Tried a host of non-jury cases, preparing detailed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. Served as a court-appointed neutral (sometimes referred to as a "Special Master") in complex multi-district litigations ("MDLs") in several federal District Courts, preparing Reports and Recommendations on dispositive motions and orders on discovery motions, conducting hearings when necessary, both in person and via remote communications technology.

Conducted numerous mediations in multiple jurisdictions, both in person and via remote communications technology, such as Zoom and Teams. Disputes have concerned contract interpretation, business break-ups of closely held companies, and large multi-national companies in the chemical industry.

Contract, insurance coverage, products liability, discovery, confidentiality, employment law, healthcare law, personal injury, False Claims Act claims, fraud and unfair business practices, and consumer protection laws.

Facilitator of candid and fulsome disclosure of strengths and weaknesses. Parties are required to submit confidential mediation position statements. Almost all discussions are handled in private caucuses. Preference is for in-person mediation sessions supplemented by phone calls and email exchanges between a party and the mediator. Legal authority cited by the parties will be reviewed as will all materials provided by counsel, including expert witness reports, deposition transcripts, and other discovery items. Thorough preparation is the rule.

Extensive use of Zoom and Teams, and comfortable with document sharing platforms, like Kite.

Dickinson School of Law (J.D., cum laude - 1978); Lycoming College (B.A., magna cum laude - 1975).

Admitted to the Bar: Pennsylvania (1978); U.S. District Court: Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Pennsylvania; U.S. Court of Appeals: Third Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court.

American Bar Association; Pennsylvania Bar Association; Lackawanna Bar Association; Federal Bar Association; Past member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Judges Association; Founding member of the Federal Courts' Working Group on the Online System for Clerkship Applications and Review ("OSCAR"); Former Co-Chair of the Chambers Functional Requirements Group for the Next Generation of CM/ECF; Former Chair of the Federal Judicial Center’s Appellate Judges Education Committee; 2020 to Present: contributing member of the Sedona Conference Working Group 1 on Electronic Document Retention and Production and Working Group 11 on Data Security and Privacy Liability; 2009 to present: member of the Court-Assisted Re-entry (C.A.R.E.) program for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, a program designed to assist offenders who have completed their prison terms and our re-entering our communities.

Frequent lecturer on appellate practice and use of technology in the practice of law; panelist at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's 38th Regulatory Information Conference in March of 2026; Panelist at the Greater Philadelphia Association of Corporate Counsel In-House Counsel Conference, April 20, 2023.

Hourly Rate: $900.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $900.00/hr Cancellation: $4,500.00/Day Cancellation Period: 5 Days Comment: Compensation rates, established by the AAA, are set forth in the applicable Consumer Mediation Procedures.

English

United States of America

Scranton, Pennsylvania