Employment

Stephen R. Miller leads Pond Lehocky Giordano’s Pittsburgh office. Since his admission to the Pennsylvania Bar in 2000, Mr. Miller has dedicated his practice to workers’ compensation law and has litigated countless cases throughout central and western Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller spent the first 15 years of his legal career as a workers’ compensation defense litigator, representing employers and insurance companies at a large regional firm where he quickly advanced to partner. These many years of defense practice and corporate consultation provided Mr. Miller with extensive knowledge of Pennsylvania workers’ compensation law and how the insurance industry manages claims. In 2016, Mr. Miller concluded that he wanted to advocate for injured workers and left his long-time position to open Pond Lehocky’s Pittsburgh office. Since then, he has exclusively represented claimants. Mr. Miller speaks regularly on workers’ compensation issues. He has been selected as a Super Lawyers® Rising Star and Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® on multiple occasions and was named to the Best Lawyers in America® 2018 and 2019 lists.

During the course of his career Attorney Aaron Rihn has helped his clients recover in excess of $40 million dollars in verdicts and settlements. He has tried cases to verdict in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and argued before a number of the highest appellate courts including both the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Rihn leads the firm in complex litigation matters, including class actions, wage and hour collection actions, pharmaceutical cases, civil rights cases, and other product liability cases, as well as appellate matters. Mr. Rihn was appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Federal Prempro MDL. He has been selected as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association, and is a former Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Rising Star. Aaron is also a member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multimillion Dollar Advocates Forum. Aaron wanted to be an attorney ever since he saw Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch has likely been an inspiration to generations of lawyers who are the conscious of the nation, and, along with the press, the best and last defense against tyranny. Aaron approaches his practice by getting to know his clients and understanding their motivations and expectations. He is dedicated to treating each and every one of his clients with respect, regardless of their background or education, and is very passionate about the law, and about his clients. Attorney Rihn tries to infuse that passion into everything he does - to resonate with a jury. Aaron grew up in Tarentum, Pennsylvania, a mill town just north of Pittsburgh. Like many other working parents, his free time is spent hopping from extracurricular activity to extracurricular activity with his three children, and he loves every second of it.

Michael J. Parker earned his undergraduate degree in history from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2001 and went on to receive his J.D. from The Dickinson School of Law of The Pennsylvania State University in 2004. Mr. Parker has focused his practice on advocating for the disabled for almost fifteen years. He is a board-certified Social Security Disability Advocate by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification, an American Bar Association accredited organization. Mr. Parker has been recognized for his legal expertise as a Super Lawyers® Rising Star, which represents the top 2.5 percent of all attorneys under the age of 40 in 2010-2017. In January of 2018, Mr. Parker spearheaded the formation of our Pond Lehocky’s Long-Term Disability Department. Mr. Parker has taken his passion for representing disabled individual and applied to helping disabled individuals who are wrongfully denied insurance benefits. He is very involved in the legal community and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Lackawanna County Bar Association, the Pike County Bar Association and the National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives. Mr. Parker is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Affairs and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Kevin E. Harchar is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and is a member of both the American and Pennsylvania Bar Associations. Mr. Harchar is based out of Pond Lehocky’s Scranton office. Prior to joining Pond Lehocky Giordano's workers compensation department, Mr. Harchar practiced as a workers’ compensation defense attorney from August 2009 to October 2013 at a prominent Scranton, PA law firm, where he handled all aspects of workers’ compensation claims from beginning to end, including hearings, depositions and WCAB and Commonwealth Court appeals. Mr. Harchar also practiced at an insurance defense law firm from April 2008 to August 2009. Mr. Harchar has been selected a Super Lawyers® Rising Starfrom 2013 to 2016. He was also honored with the Lackawanna Bar Association’s 2011 Exemplary Service Award, given in recognition for his efforts in developing and instituting the Wills For Heroes Program in Lackawanna County. Wills for Heroes is a non-profit organization that provides first responders with important legal documents at no-charge. Mr. Harchar has co-authored an article entitled “Resignation’s Lasting Effect on Future Benefits” which was published in the April 17, 2012 issue of The Legal Intelligencer. Additionally, he has spoken at several seminars and panel discussions related to workers’ compensation as well as other areas of the law. Mr. Harchar is actively involved with Lackawanna Bar Association, including the Law Day, Public Relations, and Family Law Rules committees. He is also a Lackawanna Pro Bono Fundraising Gala Committee Member as well as the co-chair for Wills for Heroes. Mr. Harchar obtained his J.D. from Widener School of Law, graduating in 2008. During his time in law school, he was a law clerk at the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and a law clerk at a Harrisburg, PA criminal/insurance defense firm. Mr. Harchar was also a certified legal intern at the Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and at the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Attorney Adam D. Meshkov is an accomplished and experienced Easton personal injury lawyer who also handles Social Security disability, employment discrimination, unemployment compensation, and civil rights cases. Adam became an attorney because he wanted a career that would allow him to contribute to society by helping people solve their legal problems. He firmly believes that the world needs more attorneys who are willing and able to work for ordinary, everyday people who have found themselves in difficult situations. When people are harmed, they are often out-resourced; Adam seeks to provide those resources his clients need to fight back against an often unjust and imbalanced system. His goal is to stand in the way of powerful interests who wish to take advantage of regular people in unfortunate circumstances. Adam received his Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in History from Pennsylvania State University. Adam went on to attend the Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctorate. Adam is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He is an active member of the Northampton Bar Association and the Lehigh County Bar Association, as well as the prestigious Trial Lawyers College, of which he is a graduate. Outside of his professional activities, Adam is a family man who enjoys spending time with his three children and his partner in law and marriage, Attorney Eleanor M. Breslin. He is also an avid fly fisher, devoted outdoorsman, and active member of Trout Unlimited.

Keld R. Wenge is a graduate of the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America where he received his J.D. in 2007. While in law school, Mr. Wenge served as editor of CommLaw Conspectus: Journal of Communications Law and Policy. He was a 2011 participant in the Columbus Community Legal Services program, which was ranked #17 nationally among clinical programs. Mr. Wenge joined Pond Lehocky Giordano in June 2013 where he dedicates his practice to Workers’ Compensation matters and serving injured workers in Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Pond Lehocky, he practiced at a regional trial firm and represented the interests of injured Pennsylvania plaintiffs in state and federal major jury and arbitrational claims, including, but not limited to, construction site accidents, industrial accidents, OSHA violations, insurance bad faith, products liability, premises liability, workers’ compensation and Social Security disability matters. After joining Pond Lehocky, Mr. Wenge co-authored an article with Samuel Pond that was published in the Legal Intelligencer titled “A Subrogation Setback Provides a Framework for Lien Waivers.” He has presented to Temple University Legal Society’s law students on various occasions regarding the practice of law. Mr. Wenge is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, U.S.D.C.- Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and is a Certified Arbitrator of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

Dennis J. Gruenke, Esq. was selected as Main Line Today’s “Personal Injury Attorney of the Year” in 2007. He is a 1987 graduate of Villanova University, where he double majored in Political Science and History. He received his law degree in 1990 from the University of Maryland, School of Law. He was admitted to the Maryland State Bar in 1990 and to the Pennsylvania State Bar in 1991. Mr. Gruenke practices in both state courts and federal courts, and is a member of three local bar associations: Lehigh, Montgomery and Delaware.

Melissa R. Chandy is a Partner with Pond Lehocky and has focused her practice exclusively on Pennsylvania workers’ compensation law since graduating from Penn State – Dickinson School of Law. Ms. Chandy was born and raised in Canada where she attended the University of Toronto and was accepted into a highly competitive Specialist Program in Commerce and Finance. Following law school, Ms. Chandy served as a law clerk for two Commissioners on the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board. She then joined a leading regional firm, where she developed her legal writing and trial advocacy skills. When Ms. Chandy joined Pond Lehocky, she continued to devote her time to protecting the rights of injured workers. While working at Pond Lehocky, Ms. Chandy earned the title of Partner. Additionally, she manages the brief writing department in the law firm. In this role, Ms. Chandy uses her knowledge to train and teach new associates the nuances of the brief writing processes, to ensure that from start to finish, Pond Lehocky cases are passionately and articulately argued. Ms. Chandy also plays an active role in Pond Lehocky’s Summer Associate and Clerkship Program.

Jerry M. Lehocky is a partner at Pond Lehocky Giordano, LLP. Mr. Lehocky has been a litigator of workers' compensation and Social Security since being admitted to practice in 1985. Initially, his practice involved representing employers and insurance companies. In 1991, Mr. Lehocky began representing claimants exclusively in the areas of workers' compensation and Social Security disability. A former chairman of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Workers' Compensation Section (for 12 consecutive years), Mr. Lehocky served as a consultant to several Pennsylvania governors as well as numerous state senators and representatives on workers' compensation issues. He co-authored “House Bill 2738,” which created the Uninsured Employers Guaranty Fund. This fund provides workers' compensation benefits to injured workers whose employers do not carry workers' compensation insurance. The bill was signed into law by Governor Rendell on November 9, 2006, and was the first piece of workers' compensation legislation in favor of injured workers to become law in over 30 years. Mr. Lehocky continues to serve on the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice and the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, and was previously on the Board of Directors of the Volunteers for the Indigent Program. Mr. Lehocky is also a member of the Workplace Injury Litigation Group and a committee member of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Mr. Lehocky is a former president of The Pennsylvania Association for Justice, the first workers' compensation attorney in the organization’s history to hold that position. Mr. Lehocky has been selected for inclusion in the Super Lawyers® Top 100 in Pennsylvania and Super Lawyers® Top 100 in Philadelphia lists. Mr. Lehocky was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2012-2016. Mr. Lehocky received the 1997 Legal Leader Award from Philaposh for distinguished service to injured workers of Pennsylvania and has also received an accommodation of dedicated service from the State Senate of Pennsylvania for his efforts on behalf of injured workers in Pennsylvania. Mr. Lehocky also received the Joe Hand Gym's 2014 Good Guy Award for his support of urban youth athletics. Mr. Lehocky has written numerous articles and publications on workers' compensation and lectures extensively on various workers' compensation issues. Mr. Lehocky has appeared on many different television shows to discuss workers’ compensation issues, and has been interviewed by National Public Radio to address the crisis of injuries to healthcare workers in America.

Samuel H. Pond has concentrated his practice in the area of workers' compensation litigation since his graduation from Temple University School of Law in 1984. He is a founding and managing partner of Pond Lehocky Giordano. Mr. Pond’s advocacy for his clients has resulted in some of the largest settlements in Pennsylvania and the nation. Mr. Pond is a member and past president of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association and the current treasurer of the organization’s political action committee, the Committee for a Better Tomorrow. Mr. Pond is the past chair of the Workers' Compensation Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association, past chair of its Education and Ethics Committee and its Workers' Compensation Section Executive Committee. Mr. Pond was appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to serve on the Board of Law Examiners. He also served on the Board of The Pennsylvania Federation of Injured Workers, the Pennsylvania Association for Justice and the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Charitable Foundation. Mr. Pond was appointed by the Speaker of the House of Pennsylvania to the Workers' Compensation Advisory Board. He is a current board member of the Pennsylvania Alliance and the USC Shoah Foundation's Next Generation Committee. He sits on and has served on numerous other boards. Mr. Pond is also president of Union Services Access, a legal consulting services network for unions and their members. In addition to his practice as a workers' compensation attorney, Mr. Pond is a frequent author and lecturer in workers' compensation matters. His Martindale-Hubbell rating concerning Legal Ability and Ethical Standards has been given the highest grade. Mr. Pond was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® from 2007-2016. Mr. Pond has also been selected for inclusion in the Super Lawyers® Top 100 in Pennsylvania and Top 100 in Philadelphia lists for consecutive years. Through lectures and seminars, Mr. Pond educates union members and employees throughout the region on their rights under the Workers' Compensation Act. His charitable contributions are extensive and focused on children and education; they include the Union Services Access Scholarship Fund, The Pond Lehocky Trial Advocacy Scholarship and The Pond Lehocky Legal Studies Department Head Office at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business. He also created the Marie Pond Scholarship Fund in honor of his mother, which is a yearly scholarship awarded to a member of the Torresdale Boys Club.