Dana A. Gittleman

Shareholder

    When professionals are faced with claims and lawsuits alleging professional negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and more, Dana provides a vigorous response and defense. As a member of the Professional Liability Department, she routinely defends claims and lawsuits brought against insurance agents and brokers, attorneys, real estate professionals, financial entities, large product manufacturers, lenders, directors and officers and other professionals.

    Dana understands the disruption and angst professionals experience when claims are brought against them. With over 10 years of civil litigation experience, she approaches each matter with empathy and a strong determination to efficiently resolve the actions brought against her clients. A typical day in her practice might involve securing court dismissals on dispositive motions, mitigating risk via alternative dispute resolution, or collaborating with clients on defense strategy for swift case resolution.   

    Committed to mentorship and providing guidance to younger attorneys, Dana is also a member of the firm's Executive Committee Advisory Council, a distinguished group of firm leaders whose purpose is to enhance the communication between the Executive Committee and younger members of the firm's professional ranks, including associates, special counsel and junior shareholders.

    Dana is a member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) and frequently contributes articles to PLUS Blog. She is also an active member of the Philadelphia Bar Association and previously served on its Young Lawyers Division Executive Committee. She has been recognized by the Best Lawyers organization as a Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch since 2021, and she has been selected a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Rising Star since 2019. 

    A graduate of Emory University, she received her juris doctor from the Villanova University School of Law where she was a Dean's Merit Scholarship recipient. While at Villanova, Dana served as a managing editor for student work for the Villanova Sports & Entertainment Law Journal
     

    Significant Representative Matters

    Obtained a defense verdict in a Fourth Amendment civil rights trial in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.​ The plaintiff alleged that a public agency violated his Fourth Amendment rights by searching and seizing his personal property after his vehicle was impounded. The defense witnesses each testified that the vehicle was never searched by the public agency and that the public agency does not have a policy or custom of searching vehicles once they are impounded, which was an essential element of the plaintiff's constitutional violation claim. After less than 15 minutes of deliberation, the jury unanimously found that the plaintiff failed to demonstrate that the public agency violated his constitutional rights, granting judgment in favor of the public agency defendant. 

    Obtained dismissal with prejudice in Federal Court, Middle District of PA, for insurance broker client in a case involving liability / commercial insurance coverage claims related to lost business income as a result of government mandated closures triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Secured voluntary withdrawal with prejudice of all claims against law firm client in action alleging legal malpractice, breaches of fiduciary duties and breach of contract.

    Developed factual and legal bases for successful Motion for Summary Judgment for our attorney/law firm client, dismissing a complex legal malpractice action involving claims of professional negligence and fraudulent inducement, arising from an underlying personal injury litigation which concluded with a $700,000 settlement. Following discovery in the professional malpractice action related to coverage and liability issues, the court granted our motion dismissing the complaint in its entirety against the law firm and individual attorney defendants. For further details, click here.

    Achieved dismissal of real estate agent in action seeking litigation costs and fees for purported failure to disclose a contractual term encumbering plaintiff’s property.

    Secured voluntary withdrawal of civil suit alleging negligence and fraud against insurance broker following filing of Preliminary Objections.

    Prevailed on Preliminary Objections on behalf of home inspector client in litigation alleging breach of contract, negligence, and breach of express and implied warranty claims.

    Defended insurance agency in Chester County Court of Common Pleas action alleging negligence and breach of contract arising from damage to large landscaping equipment. Following discovery and before trial, settled suit on behalf of client with nominal payment, a fraction of the total exposure and settlement demand.

    Extricated school district client from litigation alleging negligence for personal injury incident occurring on school bus with no settlement offered or tendered on behalf of client.

    Obtained voluntary dismissal with prejudice of insurance broker client at suit inception. 

    Obtained dismissal with prejudice of large automobile manufacturer on Preliminary Objections.  The case involved product liability/product defect claims against our client, which were dismissed on procedural and substantive bases.

    Assisted first chair counsel in successful jury trial in Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on behalf of large automobile manufacturer/distributor.  

    Obtained dismissal of large automobile manufacturer on Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings in breach of warranty claim. 

    Obtained defense verdict at arbitration involving claims for breach of contract/indemnification sought for hail/storm related roof damage.

    Classes/Seminars Taught

    Defending Home Inspector Claims - Prevention and Defense, Client Webinar, March 26, 2024

    Defending Home Inspectors Claims - Prevention and Defense, Client Webinar, March 6, 2023

    You Passed the Bar, Now What? How to Succeed in Your First Year as an Attorney, and How to Gain Experience, Philadelphia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Bootcamp, October 28, 2016

    Published Works

    "4 Terms to Avoid When Advertising Your Insurance Agency," Independent Agent magazine, February 8, 2023

    "Palek v. State Farm Offers Lessons for Agents," Insurance Agents & Brokers Newsletter, February 23, 2022

    “Pennsylvania Supreme Court Adopts a ‘Strict Liability’ Standard for UTPCPL ‘Catch-All’ Claims,” Defense Digest, June 2021, Vol. 27, No. 3

    “’Loose Lips Sink Ships’…But Not If Judicially Privileged: Protecting Attorney Pre-Litigation Communications,” Defense Digest, Vol. 26, No. 1, March 2020

    "Pandemonium in the Time of Pandemic: Potential Shift in Insurance Agent and Broker Standard of Care in the Wake of Covid-19," The Voice, DRI Newsletter, June 10, 2020

    "Utilizing Your Alumni Network for Personal Development," The Legal Intelligencer, May 14, 2015

    Home Field Advantage: Determining the Appropriate "Turf" for Williams v. National Football League and Clarifying Preemption Precedent, 19 Vill. Sports & Ent. L.J. 203 (2012)

    Admissions
    Pennsylvania
    2012
    New Jersey
    2013
    U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania
    2014
    Education
    Villanova University School of Law (J.D., 2012)
    Emory University (B.A., 2008)
    Honors & awards
    The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®, Insurance Law; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
    2021-2025
    Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star
    2019-2022
    Associations & memberships
    Philadelphia Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division Executive Committee (2015-2017); YLD Treasurer (2016), Vice Chair (2017)
    Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS)
    NovUs, the Young Alumni Chapter of the Villanova University School of Law, Former President
    Year joined
    2013