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Leanne A. Waldie waldie@nicolsonassoc.com |
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PRACTICE Back to top
Leanne Waldie maintains an active insurance recovery practice dedicated to maximizing the recovery of insurance benefits and proceeds owed to policyholders. In addition, Ms. Waldie assists clients in minimizing the risk of uninsured losses by identifying insurance needs and potential gaps in insurance coverage.
Ms. Waldie also has represented a number of private and public schools in matters involving school administration, transportation, student safety and liability. She has been practicing law since 1991 and has successfully litigated many cases in the federal and state courts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, California, Texas and Massachusetts.
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE Back to top
- Substantial experience in the representation of individuals and commercial entities involved in disputes with insurance companies over insurance coverage and insurance proceeds.
- Advising individuals and commercial entities with respect to insurance coverage for home and business.
- Litigation of significant insurance coverage matters on behalf of nationally and internationally recognized insurance companies in state and federal courts.
- Product liability litigation involving the use of recreational vehicles and claims of design defect, manufacturing defect and improper warnings.
- Representation of nationally known title insurance companies in residential and commercial real estate transactions.
- Representation of lenders and relocation companies in the purchase and sale of residential and commercial properties.
- Experience in the representation of independent schools in matters involving school policies and procedures, student and faculty handbooks, vehicular liability, student safety, privacy and discipline.
- Representation of public schools in matters involving student safety, vehicular liability, school policies and procedures, student supervision and premises liability.
Significant representative matters include:
- Obtained numerous dismissals of insurance producer professional malpractice cases in state court based upon the 2002 amendment to N.J.S.A. 2A:53A-26 Affidavit of Merit Statute, which requires plaintiffs to obtain an affidavit from a qualified professional to support a cause of action against an insurance producer.
- Successfully defended insurance broker in case requiring interpretation of the “step down” provision of a commercial UM/UIM endorsement, Pinto v. New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co., and the 2007 amendment to N.J.S.A. 17:28-1.1, prohibiting the use of “step down” provisions in motor vehicle liability policies issued to business entities to lower uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage for employees to the limits of coverage available to the employees under their personal policies.
- Successfully defended insurers and insurance brokers in myriad coverage and bad faith litigation filed pursuant to Pennsylvania common law and 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 8371.
- Researched and prepared summary judgment motion on behalf of insurance carrier in $8,000,000.00 insurance coverage and bad faith case. On appeal insurance carrier prevailed in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on grounds that commercial liability policy does not cover insured contractor’s defective work product.
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of school district where family alleged school bus driver was negligent in entering intersection and striking another school bus resulting in the death of their son, a passenger in the bus.
- Successfully litigated product liability action involving use of recreational vehicle where it was alleged that improper design caused control instability resulting in accident leaving young man brain damaged and burned. Significant written discovery and depositions in Japan pursuant to the Hague Convention.
- Litigated significant civil rights case on behalf of plaintiff involving non-fatal police shooting in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
- Obtained advantageous settlement on behalf of independent school alleged to have breached school policy in expelling student for inappropriate conduct involving another student.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES Back to top
Delaware County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Mock Trial Competition, Coordinator, 1997 – 1998
Ridley High School Mock Trial Team, Attorney Advisor, 1999 – 2000
PBA Legal Services for Exceptional Children, Committee Member
PBA Women in the Profession, Committee Member
PaAJ Women Lawyers, Committee Member
Advancing Civics Education in Philadelphia Public Schools, Volunteer
MEMBERSHIP Back to top
American Bar Association
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Delaware County Bar Association
Pennsylvania Association for Justice
EDUCATION Back to top
J.D. cum laude, Stetson University College of Law
1990 Recipient of the American Jurisprudence Book Award, 1990
B.S., Lesley College, 1983
ADMISSIONS Back to top
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court, District of New Jersey
United States Supreme Court