Stradley Ronon's Joseph McHale Scores Defense Verdict for PhillyCarShare

IADC member Joseph McHale, a partner at the Philadelphia-based law firm Stradley Ronon and chair of the firm's products liability/life sciences practice group, secured a defense verdict on behalf of PhillyCarShare after a five-week jury trial in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

The plaintiffs brought claims against PhillyCarShare, a non-profit organization, and Central City Toyota following a single-car auto accident in which a minivan owned by PhillyCarShare and inspected and serviced by Central City Toyota rolled over several times following a failure of the van's right front ball joint. The driver and all passengers sustained injuries in the crash.

After viewing Mr. McHale in action in videotaped depositions, plaintiffs' counsel decided to focus their case on Central City Toyota, agreeing that they would not present evidence against PhillyCarShare at trial if Mr. McHale, along with associate Jennifer Neilio, agreed to focus on defending against Central City Toyota's cross-claim. During the trial, the Stradley Ronon team prosecuted their case through cross-examination as Central City Toyota vigorously pursued its cross-claim against PhillyCarShare.

The jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs with an aggregate damages award of $15.7 million dollars, but found no liability as to PhillyCarShare.

"We were able to present evidence that PhillyCarShare met all of its obligations and provided the appropriate service to its members," Mr. McHale said to The Legal Intelligencer following the jury verdict.