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PDFJoe is a litigator and advisor with a nearly 20-year track record of using legal expertise, business judgment, and common sense to achieve excellent results for clients.
A partner in the firm’s Catastrophic Loss & Tort Defense, Product Liability, and Transportation practice groups, he cut his teeth working on large losses for excess carriers, and by taking a lead attorney role in a very active general liability and transportation practice in cases across the Commonwealth of Virginia. He brings that blended experience to work for all his clients no matter the size of the claim.
Those who work with Joe describe him as a problem-solver and relationship builder. A hands-on attorney who understands that his clients want to reach the optimal result in the most efficient and cost-conscious manner. This requires planning and execution to drive the claim to a preferred resolution (settlement, dispositive motion, or trial).
Clients often call on Joe to coordinate emergency response investigations to large fire and explosion losses, product liability incidents, industrial and workplace accidents, OSHA/VOSH investigations, trucking and commercial auto accidents, and other incidents involving significant property damage, injury, or death. He has worked with consultants and experts to investigate the cause of the incident and to preserve evidence to defend the potential claim. In addition, Joe has significant experience handling complex risk transfer issues, including indemnity, additional insured, and other contractual provisions.
Joe is also an active member of the Themis Advocates Group, a national network of leading civil defense attorneys and law firms located throughout the United States. The Themis network includes 27 firms with over 700 attorneys, representing clients in 45 states, with the combined mission of providing clients across the nation with professional, high-end, cost-effective legal services. Themis provides several events throughout the year, including educational conferences, the Annual Mock Trial, and various webinars on cutting-edge issues and innovations.
Joe holds Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent© rating—the highest possible—in both legal ability and ethical standards. He has also been peer-recognized for inclusion in the lists by Virginia Business magazine’s Legal Elite and Virginia Super Lawyers. In addition, Joe does pro bono legal work through the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia.
Practice Areas
Experience
Joe’s Experience Includes Representing:
- Fortune 500 companies in defense of product liability claims, including coordinating fire and explosion investigations using NFPA 921 guidelines.
- REITs, owners, and property management companies in defense of premise liability claims at apartment complexes, office buildings, shopping centers, and retail stores.
- Restaurants and food service providers in a variety of claims, including general liability, premises liability, burns, and food borne illness/safety claims.
- Retailers and stores in general liability, premises liability, products liability, negligent hiring/retention, and assault and battery claims.
- Businesses in consumer complaints and lawsuits brought under Virginia’s consumer protection laws, including the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (VCPA).
- National and regional trucking companies in defense of property damage and personal injury claims.
- National and regional brokers and trucking firms in defense of property damage lawsuits, including cargo claims.
- Large construction companies in construction defect claims and accidents involving substantial property damage, bodily injury, and wrongful death claims.
- Contractors on large road projects in negligence claims and accidents involving serious bodily injury and wrongful death claims.
- Employers in wrongful termination and employment discrimination matters.
- Companies in OSHA investigations, including contesting citations and penalties.
- Insurance companies in defense and prosecution of insurance coverage disputes.
- Virginia counsel for large American manufacturing company best known for plumbing products in defense of product liability and subrogation claims.
- Virginia counsel for large company that produces and distributes electronic products in defense of general liability and products liability claims.
- Virginia counsel for largest privately held passenger transportation contracting firm in U.S. in defense of personal injury and property damage lawsuits.
- Virginia counsel for North America’s largest tank truck hauler transporting fuel and chemicals in defense of personal injury and property damage lawsuits.
- Former Law Clerk, Virginia Circuit Court, Fourth Judicial Circuit, City of Norfolk.
- Former Legal Intern, Virginia Circuit Court, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Fairfax County and Fairfax City.