Gwyneth R. Schrager

Partner
Cherry Hill, New Jersey

856-420-5300

gschrager@mcda-law.com

PRACTICE AREAS

Employment Law

Premises Liability

Products Liability

Premises Security

BAR ADMISSIONS

Pennsylvania, 2014

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2015

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 2015

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, 2019

New Jersey, 2014

U.S. District Court for the District of  New Jersey, 2015

EDUCATION

Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, J.D. 2014

University of Pittsburgh, B.A., 2010

•  Dean's List

ASSOCIATIONS

The National Association of Women Lawyers

The National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms

AWARDS

Best Oral Advocate, Second Place

Gwyneth R. Schrager

Partner
Cherry Hill, New Jersey

856-420-5300

gschrager@mcda-law.com

PRACTICE AREAS

Employment Law

Premises Liability

Products Liability

BAR ADMISSIONS

Pennsylvania, 2014

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2015

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 2015

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, 2019

New Jersey, 2014

U.S. District Court for the District of  New Jersey, 2015

EDUCATION

Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, J.D. 2014

University of Pittsburgh, B.A., 2010

•  Dean's List

ASSOCIATIONS

The National Association of Women Lawyers

The National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms

AWARDS

Best Oral Advocate, Second Place

Gwyneth focuses her legal practice in the areas of employment law, premises liability, and products liability for corporate clients. Gwyneth's employment law practice encompasses cases involving allegations of race, sex, age, and national origin discrimination under both federal and state law. Gwyneth also handles cases involving allegations of discrimination based on permanent and temporary physical and mental disabilities. In addition, Gwyneth’s cases have involved allegations of wrongful termination, retaliatory demotion, and failure to promote based on protected characteristics and activities. She has also handled cases alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, hostile work environment, and medical leave violations.

Gwyneth also handles premises liability matters for corporate clients. Gwyneth has handled cases involving simple slip and falls as well as more significant personal injuries cases. Gwyneth has also handled cases involving common law and contractual indemnification issues, as well as cases involving allegations of negligence per se and vicarious liability. Gwyneth handles all aspects of her cases through arbitration and/or mediation. Gwyneth has obtained beneficial outcomes for her clients at mandatory arbitration and has negotiated numerous advantageous settlements for a “Fortune 500” Company. Gwyneth is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and regularly appears in Pennsylvania and New Jersey state courts, as well as the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and District of New Jersey.

Gwyneth graduated from Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law, where she participated in the Moot Court Board, Labor & Employment Law Society, and the Jewish Law Students Association. Gwyneth was awarded the Best Oral Advocate, Second Place, at the Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Competition in New Orleans, Louisiana. While attending law school, Gwyneth completed a co-op program at Spector, Gadon & Rosen, P.C., where she worked on matters involving employment law, defamation, and corporate transactions. Gwyneth also interned at Uebler Law LLC and assisted individuals with matters regarding workplace discrimination. Gwyneth is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where she was on the Dean's List.

Gwyneth is a member and participates in events hosted by the National Association of Women Lawyers. Gwyneth also attends events hosted by the Young Lawyers’ Division of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Gwyneth is also an active member of the Brandeis Law Society.

Gwyneth recently obtained summary judgment in a corporate client’s favor in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The plaintiff alleged a trip and fall on an unattended object placed in a grocery store aisle. Based on testimony she developed during the plaintiff’s deposition, Gwyneth was able to argue that, despite the plaintiff’s claim that she did not subjectively appreciate the condition, a reasonable person in her position would have seen and avoided it. Therefore, Gwyneth prevailed in arguing that the condition was open and obvious, absolving her client of liability.

Gwyneth recently obtained summary judgment in her client’s favor in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The plaintiff alleged a slip and fall on a condition that he claimed was present over a period of time and the retailer defendant had failed to remedy. The plaintiff lacked clear and contemporaneous proofs but attempted to create a dispute of fact based on purported evidence spoliation. Gwyneth successfully argued that the plaintiff failed to meet his burden to establish spoliation and had failed to adduce sufficient evidence of notice. Therefore, summary judgment was granted in her client’s favor, and it was upheld on a subsequent motion for reconsideration.

Ms. Williams recently tried a case in Philadelphia County on behalf of a major retailer where the plaintiff claimed that the retailer provided an allegedly defective motorized ambulation scooter that caused the plaintiff injury. Ms. Williams succeeded in obtaining a partial directed verdict on the scooter defect claim based on fact-specific testimony regarding the scooter's operation gleaned during direct examination of her client. Due to Ms. Williams' thorough pursuit of the plaintiff's extensive medical history during discovery, the jury ultimately found that the plaintiff was unable to causally connect her alleged injuries to the scooter incident in question versus pre-existing medical conditions. Judgment was entered in the defendant's favor and the plaintiff received no damages.

Ms. Williams recently tried a case in Gloucester County, New Jersey involving an alleged fall on a slippery condition in a grocery aisle on behalf of a major retailer. Although the client had limited evidence to refute the plaintiff's factual contentions, Ms. Williams was able to convince a jury that the plaintiff's story wholly lacked credibility based on repeated inconsistencies in the plaintiff's deposition transcript, trial testimony, and medical records. After a 15-minute deliberation, the jury found no negligence on behalf of the retailer and entered judgment in the defendant's favor.

Ms. Williams recently succeeded in dismissing a high value premises liability matter that was filed against her client, a major retailer. The plaintiff claims she slipped and fell on a condition in a retail store, which allegedly resulted in severe chronic pain syndrome and multiple back surgeries. Upon Ms. Williams’ motion for summary judgment, the Court dismissed the complaint in its entirety based on inconsistent facts and admissions that Ms. Williams developed during discovery and the plaintiff’s deposition.

Ms. Williams represented a corporate client in a premises liability matter where the plaintiff argued that her client, a major retailer, was negligent for failing to post signs advising customers to ask for assistance when seeking to obtain merchandise stored on a high shelf. Ms. Williams successfully argued at arbitration that the plaintiff primarily caused her own injury when she climbed a shelving unit to reach an object rather than take reasonable measures to seek assistance. Ms. Williams obtained a defense verdict in her client’s favor.

Ms. Williams obtained early dismissal of a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress filed by a patron against a retail corporation. The plaintiff claimed that the retailer’s employee made discriminatory comments based on race and ethnicity. Upon Ms. Williams’ filing of a motion to dismiss, the Court found that the claims alleged did not rise to the level of severity required to support a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress and dismissed the claim with prejudice.

Ms. Williams achieved early dismissal of a case brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act where the plaintiff claimed her employer failed to provide an accommodation that would have enabled her to pass its mandatory training program. After filing a motion to dismiss, the Court entered an order that the plaintiff had failed to toll the statute of limitations by properly exhausting her administrative remedies and dismissed the action with prejudice.

Lectures/Presentations

In September 2023, Gwyneth presented a panel CLE Presentation at the Annual Meeting for the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF). The presentation provided methods for conducting effective investigations of adverse parties and witnesses. Gwyneth’s individual presentation focused on utilizing publicly available or obtainable information to discover relevant litigation history, prior claims, criminal background, and other facts and data that can be used to dispute a claim or impeach a witness’s credibility. Gwyneth also provided guidance for determining the best use of such information in a way that is beneficial to clients, and exercising sound judgment to ensure compliance with applicable civil and ethical rules.

Publications

““Reefer Madness – Navigating Conflicting Federal and State Marijuana Laws”. Darpino, A., Williams, G. National Association of Women Lawyers General Counsel Institute Materials, November 3-4, 2016.

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The Law Offices of McDonnell & Associates serves clients throughout Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey in communities such as Philadelphia, King of Prussia, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Reading, Allentown, Scranton, Cherry Hill, Camden, Millville, and Atlantic City

Metropolitan Business Center
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King of Prussia, PA, 19406
Phone: 610-337-2087
Fax: 610-337-2575

500 Marlton Pike West
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Phone: 856-429-5300
Fax: 856-310-7900