Litigation

Ron is partner in the firm based in the Butler office. He represents both public and private clients in general litigation, personal injury, real estate litigation, and business and corporate litigation. Ron is a former prosecutor having tried well over one hundred serious criminal cases to verdict including capital murder, rape, burglary and drug related offenses. Ron has also represented clients to verdict in many civil matters including construction litigation, personal injury, and real estate litigation cases. Ron earned his B.A., summa cum laude, in English from the University of Pittsburgh and earned his J.D. from the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Law. During law school, Ron clerked for the Honorable Carol Los Mansmann of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and for Ila Jeanne Sensenich of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. After law school, Ron clerked for the Honorable Charles R. Alexander of the Court of Common Pleas of Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Ron has also served in various capacities in the court system including as an Assistant District Attorney for Clarion County, a special master in domestic relations cases, and as an Arbitrator in both Butler and Clarion Counties. Ron is a member of the Butler County Bar Association, the Allegheny County Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Trial Lawyers Association. He is admitted to practice in all Pennsylvania state courts, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Ron has personally handled cases in all Pennsylvania Courts, including the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to practicing law, Ron is an avid bicyclist and has served in numerous capacities over the years for public and private organizations. He also served on the boards of various charitable and civic organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors of the Zelienople Rotary Club. He is also a recipient of the Pennsylvania Game Commission Sport Ethics Award.

Brian Gaddy is a principal attorney with the Gaddy Law Firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He practices law in Texas and New Mexico and represents individuals suffering injuries caused by others. Mr. Gaddy has extensive experience with personal injury litigation. With over 17 years of experience as a Claims Counsel with Professional Claims Managers and a Claims Attorney with the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool, his focus was litigation and pre-suit claims involving municipal law enforcement and public officials’ liability. Specifically, he dealt routinely with claims and litigation involving 42 U.S.C. Sections 1981, 1983, and 1985, Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Texas Whistleblowers Act. Independently, he has consulted on litigation involving professional liability, copyright and trademark infringement, and Section 1983 unreasonable use of force. Prior to Professional Claims Managers, Mr. Gaddy adjusted claims involving claims involving 18-wheelers. These claims ranged from light fender benders to serious wrongful death. Mr. Gaddy’s focus was claims in the continental United States. Mr. Gaddy created and was part of the Rapid Response Team for one major trucking organization requiring he be at the site of a death within 24 hours of the occurrence. Mr. Gaddy has spoken at several conferences on topics involving civil rights, claims adjusting, and litigation management. Mr. Gaddy received his law degree from Texas Wesleyan School of Law in 1994. He is a member of the State Bars of Texas and New Mexico and is admitted to practice law in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas. He is also a licensed insurance adjuster.

For the first seven years of his legal career, Philip maintained a general civil trial practice, concentrating on personal injury defense and commercial litigation. In personal injury cases, he defended businesses and individuals facing claims involving premises liability, products liability, motor vehicle accidents, and general negligence. His commercial litigation work included defending businesses against allegations of breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, and insurance coverage disputes. In 2008, Philip shifted his practice away from representing corporations, insurance companies, and insureds, turning his focus to family law. Since that time, he has handled hundreds of family law cases, addressing matters such as divorce, the modification and enforcement of divorce decrees, paternity actions, termination of parental rights, domestic adoptions, grandparent access, premarital agreements, and separation agreements. Philip’s background in civil litigation, combined with his deep understanding of procedural and evidentiary rules, allows him to effectively advocate for clients when family law disputes require courtroom litigation. Philip earned his law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law in 2001, after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Houston-Downtown in 1998. He has remained active in his community, coaching boys' basketball teams and mentoring Plano middle school students through the annual Collin County Mock Trial competition. Philip is married to Kelly Moore, and together they are raising three children in a blended family. Having experienced divorce personally, Philip recognizes the importance of delivering meaningful results for his clients while minimizing unnecessary conflict in their lives. For divorce legal help in Collin County, Denton County, and Dallas County, contact Frisco family law attorney Philip W. Moore at 214-764-8033.

For over a decade he has shown an unwavering commitment to clients who were seriously injured by major accidents and industrial catastrophes. During that time he has earned the reputation as one of America’s most aggressive Dallas personal injury lawyers by achieving noteworthy recoveries from judges and juries, as well as substantial settlements prior to trial, the majority of which contained negotiated confidentiality agreements at the request of the defense. When asked about these cases, Mr. Herbert has said that each case not only justified the recovery level, but that no one would trade places with any one of these victims in return for any amount of money, once they know the facts and severity of the injuries and tragedy involved. According to Mr. Herbert, “there can be no substitute for passion, preparation and persistence in the practice of law”. He is known not only for this tenacious preparation, but also for his imagination in the courtroom. He is passionate and persistent in seeking to obtain the maximum case value for each individual client at trial or through settlement, while reducing the stress of litigation on his clients. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Mr. Herbert enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after high school and later received an Honorable Discharge. After the Marines, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Texas A&M University, then a Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. There he graduated in the top of his class and became an eternal Sooners Football fan. Aaron has worked as a zealous advocate for injured clients at several boutique personal injury litigation firms where he amassed numerous jury verdicts. After spending a year as the top earning litigation attorney at a firm that frequently tops verdict search as one with the highest number of trial wins in Texas, Aaron accepted a position as a the managing pre-litigation attorney at another Dallas personal injury firm. Over the next seven years he transitioned to the managing litigation attorney, and that firm grew to one of the largest personal injury firms in Dallas. In 2010 he formed the Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert, to get back to a focus on developing each individual case and maximizing case value for each client. Mr. Herbert practices law with the belief that a well taken care of, highly engaged and motivated team of employees working in a cooperative team environment will result in superior representation and great results for clients in Dallas. As a certified personal injury attorney, he believes in always setting a goal of achieving the best possible results for each and every client.

Attorney Shaun Hodge has handled both state and federal cases throughout the State of Texas and the United States. He has also represented clients in administrative hearings, arbitrations, and mediations. Shaun has handled many types of cases, including first-party insurance claims, personal injury cases, maritime matters, commercial litigation, residential and construction litigation, as well as general litigation matters. He has handled numerous natural disaster litigation claims, including the litigation of hundreds of residential and large commercial insurance claims following Hurricane Ike. Following Hurricane Ike, which struck the Gulf Coast on September 13, 2008, Shaun was hired by numerous entities up and down the gulf coast to handle their insurance claims. These entities included cities, school districts, a college, as well as a county. Government entities across the gulf coast have selected Shaun as their lead attorney because of his proven results, as well as his leadership and experience in litigating large complex insurance claims. Shaun has also handled numerous insurance claims related to the Bastrop wildfires of 2011, as well as the Possum Kingdom wildfires of 2011. In addition to wildfire claims, Shaun has handled a large number of various claims related to a number of hailstorms, including the McAllen hail storms of 2012, as well as several other major damaging wind and hail storms throughout the region. Shaun Hodge is a Texan and has been a resident of Galveston County since 1995. He is happily married to Natalie Hodge and they are the proud parents of two precious children, Nessa, and Slade Hodge.

Jack E. "Bobby" Truitt was born in Texas, but raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. After graduating from Jesuit High School of New Orleans, he attended Louisiana State University where he obtained a business administration degree with a minor in political science. He then obtained his J.D. from Loyola University School of Law and has been licensed in Louisiana and Texas since. He is admitted to practice in all Louisiana State and Federal District and Appellate Courts and has been admitted to the United States Supreme Court as well. Mr. Truitt began his practice with a small defense firm that practiced primarily admiralty, worker's compensation, and general casualty litigation. However, he soon joined a larger insurance defense firm in Metairie, Louisiana where he began trying many cases on behalf of major national clients such as Kmart, Cox Cable, Tonti Properties, and Walgreens; there, he obtained numerous "zero verdicts" in bench and jury trials. Mr. Truitt soon became a partner in this firm, but was dissatisfied with the "big firm" mentality, so he formed his own firm with two assistant district attorneys, who thereafter returned to practicing criminal law on a full-time basis. The Truitt Law Firm continued with the association of Jack E. Truitt, Bobby's father, who has since passed, and others. The firm continues to represent major national clients successfully at the trial and appellate levels. The firm has significant experience in the areas of pharmaceutical defense, automobile litigation, premises liability, construction litigation, worker's compensation, business litigation, and criminal defense. Mr. Truitt has been a presenter at many continuing education seminars for other lawyers, paralegals, and claims professionals. He is also a former member of the Louisiana Bar Association House of Delegates, the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, and the prestigious Defense Research Institute. He has achieved the highest rating from his peers in Martindale Hubbell, and the firm recently was awarded the distinction of approval by A. M. Best Insurance Ratings. Mr. Truitt serves on the Board of Directors for the West St. Tammany YMCA and is involved in other organizations benefitting the community. Mr. Truitt resides in Covington, Louisiana with his wife and three boys.

Attorney Jim Vieh earned his undergraduate degree, cum laude, in Government from Harvard. He earned his law degree, as well as an MBA in Finance, from Cornell University. After graduation, he worked for a prominent Phoenix civil litigation firm practicing insurance defense in civil litigation and auto accident cases. He opened his own practice in 1982 & has focused on personal injury and commercial litigation, with additional emphasis on civil litigation & automobile cases. Over the years, his practice has expanded to the areas of business, real estate and commercial litigation. Mr. Vieh is an AV Rated attorney and is admitted to practice before the Arizona State Courts, the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association and the Arizona State Bar and serves as a judge pro tem on the Maricopa County Superior Court. In addition to his legal work, he served two terms on the Paradise Valley Town Council, one term as vice-mayor & formerly served as the Chairman of the Board of the Valley of the Sun School and Habilitation Center, which provides housing & care for persons with disabilities.

His peers have recognized Michael Strain as one of South Dakota’s outstanding trial lawyers. In 1995, he was selected as South Dakota Trial Lawyer of the Year. He has also been labeled as “Super Lawyer” by the Great Plains Super Lawyers Magazine. Mr. Strain has developed a stellar record as a trial attorney in civil and criminal jury trials throughout his career, trying over 100 cases to verdict and bringing numerous others to settlement. His litigation practice has ranged from minor car accidents to civil rights litigation, medical malpractice cases, business litigation cases, and murder trials. Mr. Strain has obtained numerous “not guilty” verdicts in criminal trials and has brought many substantial civil verdicts and settlements. His litigation practice is focused on business litigation, civil rights, personal injury, medical malpractice, and criminal law. From 2002 to 2007, Mr. Strain won 19 civil jury trials in a row.

Since his admission to the Louisiana Bar in 1988, J. Douglas Sunseri has practiced in diverse areas of the law. From 1990-1994, J. Douglas Sunseri worked under Attorney J. William Becknell, the legal counsel for Mr. John Mecom, Jr. and his affiliated companies. Mr. Mecom was the initial owner of the New Orleans Saints and had numerous holdings in oil & gas, hotels, real estate, professional sports and related businesses. As a result, Mr. Sunseri was fully educated in broad areas of law and business. Mr. Sunseri has participated in litigation involving employees, insureds, employers, insurers, and self-insured funds for property/casualty, employers' liability, employment discrimination, sexual harassment and worker's compensation claims. Other areas of practice consist of personal injury, insurance coverage, flood claims, hazard claims, wind-driven rain claims, business interruption, errors and omissions liability for insurance agents/insurance companies. Mr. Sunseri's practice also encompasses commercial litigation, mergers and acquisitions, incorporations, corporate agreements, employment contracts, licensing for intellectual property, leases, real estate, estate planning, wills, trusts and successions. Since Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Sunseri has specialized in a broad range of insurance issues including disaster litigation, insurance coverage, and business interruption. Also, Mr. Sunseri has concentrated in construction law, federal / state contracts, government contracting, licensing and information technology (IT). Mr. Sunseri's litigation experience includes jury trials in state and federal court. Mr. Sunseri also practices before worker's compensation judges with the Louisiana Department of Labor, administrative law judges and Special Masters assigned by the National Football League. He has directed litigation to the United States Supreme Court in connection with the National Football League and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). Mr. Sunseri has conducted numerous seminars on topics involving Hurricane Katrina, government contracting, land contracting, construction, employment issues, worker's compensation and estate planning. Also, Mr. Sunseri serves as legal counsel for the Gulf Coast Government Contractors Association (GCGCA), a trade association for securing government contracts in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region. Recently, Mr. Sunseri was named as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Louisiana by Louisiana Attorney James "Buddy" Caldwell.

A Louisiana native, Stephen Babcock has developed a reputation for taking on high-profile cases involving catastrophic personal injury matters and business disputes. Born and raised outside of Ruston, La., Stephen attended Louisiana Tech University, where he received a B.S. in marketing in 1997. Already a licensed real estate agent at the time, his intention was to go to law school and become a title attorney. However, not long after he began his studies at Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Babcock changed his mind and realized he wanted to be a trial lawyer instead. Read more below… After receiving his J.D. in 2000, he launched his legal career, joining Allstate Insurance Co., as an in-house trial attorney. A year later, he joined the law firm of McKay Williamson Lutgring & Cochran as an associate attorney handling mostly personal injury cases. In 2003, he ventured out to create his own firm, which would inevitably become Babcock Trial Lawyers. Babcock has been serving the legal needs of clients from his Baton Rouge office ever since. His practice focuses solely on litigation and he has tried cases in state and federal courts throughout Louisiana. A licensed pilot, Babcock often flies to his destinations to more efficiently make use of his time for clients. Although he never turns down the chance to try cases before juries, Babcock is also a strong proponent of alternative dispute resolution and participates in mediations and arbitrations as much as possible. His high-profile cases have included a nearly $2 million arbitration award for a hotel manager against the owner of a Hilton Hotel. He also represented the sportsmen’s organization Ducks Unlimited in a million-dollar federal lawsuit involving a New Orleans artist’s prints. Babcock filed motions for summary judgment in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on behalf of his client, and the case resulted in a voluntary dismissal. He also made the national news in early 2008 when LSU played Ohio State for the BCS National Football Championship game. Babcock — an ardent LSU football fan — was successful in convincing a state judge to delay a trial that was scheduled to occur at the same time as the game (which LSU won, 38-24). Babcock’s work has earned the recognition of a number of professional organizations. They include being named a Top Ten Personal Injury Attorney Baton Rouge by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys, selection by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers of America for personal injury law and commercial litigation, a “Superb” rating in the Avvo legal directory, and “Rising Star” status by SuperLawyers magazine. In addition, Martindale-Hubbell Ratings has given Babcock its coveted Client Distinction Award, for excellence in client service. Stephen has always aspired to provide superior client service, including a 30-day client-satisfaction guarantee. Babcock is an avid outdoorsman and strong supporter of Ducks Unlimited and the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana.