Robert is a versatile litigator with a broad base of experience gained during decades of practice in Pennsylvania and West Virginia state and federal courts. Throughout the course of his career, Robert has handled matters for a diverse set of clients in the following industries: manufacturing, mining and energy; chemicals; pharmaceutical; and healthcare and senior care areas. While based in Litchfield Cavo LLP’s Pittsburgh office, he serves clients in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia jurisdictions.
Robert’s representative clients includes insurers and insurance brokers in coverage disputes and against extra-contractual claims. He has represented a variety of small businesses and professionals including attorneys, engineers and physicians. Robert’s practice covers considerable complex litigation, having been involved in the defense of multiple class and other mass litigation actions. An engineer by education, Robert commonly brings an analytical approach and a quick understanding of technical issues to the matters he handles.
Robert has substantial experience in the appellate arena, in both civil matters and as deputy attorney general while directing West Virginia’s Criminal Appellate Division. During this time, he led a staff of attorneys and presented written and oral arguments to West Virginia’s highest court in criminal and habeas corpus matters. Robert has presented to attorneys on a variety of topics over the years, and also previously served as an adjunct instructor at Marshall University where he taught a law-oriented graduate course on engineering management.
Practices
- Defended facility management client against class action involving statutory Consumer Protection Act claims asserted on behalf of residents of certain West Virginia assisted living residences.
- Managed and led the legal defense strategy in a large class action involving environmental toxic tort claims against a major chemical manufacturer, including property and medical monitoring claims asserted on behalf of tens of thousands of class members, as well as numerous personal injury claims.
- Obtained dismissal for a law firm client in a legal malpractice action arising from the drafting of a will via the successful disposition of certified questions before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
- Secured complete indemnity, including reimbursement of attorney fees and costs, for an engineering firm sued in a wrongful death action arising from a construction accident.
- Represented landowners threatened with citizen suits based on the alleged discharge of selenium and other pollutants from old valley fills created by the activities of past surface mining operators.
- Supported the defense of a nationwide class action brought by physician-insureds and arising from an insurance company’s withdrawal from the medical professional liability insurance business.
- Investigated and developed the factual defense of a contract mining company subjected to multiple wrongful death and personal injury claims arising from a well-known mining disaster.
- Defended and negotiated a substantial settlement on behalf of a small, local contractor in a United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) enforcement action involving Clean Water Act violations.
Education
- Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary, JD, 1992
- Virginia Tech, BS, Aerospace Engineering, 1989
Admissions
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
- United States District Courts: Western District of Pennsylvania, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia
- United States Court of Appeals: Fourth Circuit
Languages
- English