J. Michael Kvetan has over 25 years of civil litigation experience. His practice encompasses all aspects of civil litigation and trial work in the practice areas of premises liability, product liability, municipal liability, construction, trucking, and premises security. Mike has tried over 70 jury trials to verdict including cases for one of the largest retailers in the country.

In addition to directly representing corporate litigants, Mike has extensive experience representing the insurance industry and their customers in all manners of general liability and property subrogation. Prior to attending law school, Mike worked as a Casualty Claims Adjuster where he investigated claims, made coverage determinations, and negotiated settlements. Mike also managed outside counsel in litigated matters. His broad experience gives him insight into the difficulties and risks faced by all parties to a dispute. Mike has an extensive record of leveraging his knowledge of how plaintiffs, defendants, and indemnitors analyze and manage risk exposure inside and outside the courtroom to achieve favorable results for his clients.

Brocollo v. Temple University, Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, #200702146. Mr. Kvetan was Lead counsel in defense of a personal injury matter arising from a trip and fall on a deteriorated concrete sidewalk where the plaintiff sustained a fractured elbow. Mr. Kvetan obtained a defense verdict after discrediting plaintiff’s liability expert and demonstrating that his client did not create the condition that caused plaintiff’s injuries as was claimed.

Dos Santos v. Boyle Construction, Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County, #2016-C-2841. Mr. Kvetan served as lead counsel in defense of personal injury matter arising from an above-the-knee amputation of worker’s leg crushed during operation of an over-terrain forklift. Mr. Kvetan was successful in having the case dismissed on a Motion for Summary Judgment where he established that, as a matter of law, plaintiff failed to come forward with evidence sufficiently connecting his client to the incident that caused plaintiff’s injuries.

Brubaker v. Mid Atlantic Machinery, Court of Common Pleas of York County, #2015-CV-2394. Mr. Kvetan served as lead counsel in defense of a personal injury matter arising from a crush injury sustained by a steelworker while using a hydraulic vice on an industrial horizontal band saw. Mr. Kvetan was able to negotiate a favorable settlement for his client prior to trial by exposing unsafe workplace practices and product design deficiencies that shifted liability exposure to other parties.

Howard v. Eastown Township Police Department, USDC EDPA, #19-1697. Mr. Kvetan served as lead counsel in defense of 1983 claims arising from alleged racially motivated arrest and prosecution of a minor. The complaint was dismissed on a 12(b)(6) motion that capitalized on plaintiff’s inability to plead the facts necessary to support a cause of action.

Jenkins v. Adult Day Services, Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, #170104592. Lead counsel in defense of personal injury matter brought by 91-year-old geriatric patient who sustained a fractured leg allegedly due to negligent care. Mr. Kvetan was successful in having the case dismissed on a Motion for Compulsory Nonsuit at the close of plaintiff’s case. After cross examination of plaintiff’s expert witnesses, the Court agreed with Mr. Kvetan that the plaintiff had failed to establish that his client breached a standard of care.

Spectra Audio Research v. Steve S. Chon, et al, Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, Index No. 651953/2010. Mr. Kvetan served as lead trial counsel where he obtained a $367,825 verdict for plaintiff plus interest of $200,000 for property damage and lost business arising from frozen water supply pipes that leaked above a high-end consumer electronics store in Manhattan. The case was hotly litigated prior to trial, and Mr. Kvetan obtained a reversal of trial court’s dismissal of the complaint when he argued that the trial judge improperly applied a subrogation waiver in a lease agreement and misinterpreted the real party at interest provisions of CPLR §1004.

Allstate Indemnity Company a/s/o Victor Martinez v. Ramos Fuel and Trucking, LLC, Judicial District of Fairfield Connecticut at Bridgeport, DOCKET NO. FBT-CV-08-5013229-S. Mr. Kvetan served as lead trial counsel in a property subrogation matter arising from a fire that consumed an apartment building in Hartford CT. Causation of the fire was at issue, and was complicated by an antiquated furnace, numerous building code violations, and a delivery of fuel oil that accidentally pressurized an abandoned supply line that channeled raw fuel into a mechanical room.

Publications

Indemnity and Insurance Agreements in Construction and Service Contracts, Selective Insurance Claims Seminar, December 2016.

Effective Litigation Cost Control, Greater Valley Forge Chapter of the Society of CPCU, April 24, 2003

Effective Management of Assigned Counsel, Insurance Society of Philadelphia, I-Day, December 10, 2003