Christopher J. Conrad

Chris is a member of the firm's Professional Liability Department, and he devotes a significant portion of his practice to the representation and defense of licensed and certified professionals, including attorneys, accountants, architects, engineers, surveyors, real estate agents and brokers, real estate appraisers, insurance agents and brokers and home inspectors. He also represents public and private employers and their directors, officers, management and employees in a wide variety of employment practices litigation under federal and state law, including defending claims of harassment, discrimination and retaliation, as well as whistleblower claims. Additionally, Chris defends school districts, intermediate units, career and technology centers and other academic institutions in civil rights litigation and in all phases of special education litigation.

Chris is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University and The Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law. During law school, Chris clerked for the Hon. Robert J. Woodside in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.Chris also served as judicial law clerk for the Hon. Ronald B. Graves in the Civil Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey.

Outside of the office, Chris is an adjunct instructor for Penn State Dickinson Law. He also devotes a portion of his time as a volunteer for the Wills for Heroes Program.

Honors & awards

AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell

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Susquehanna Valley Select Lawyers
2014

Year joined

2006

Results

Successful defense of financial planning/investment firm.

Securities and Investments Professional Liability
March 1, 2020

We were successful on a motion to dismiss an action against a financial planning and investment firm and its employee, a certified financial planner, filed in Federal District Court in Maryland. The plaintiffs claimed that the financial planner advised them to purchase a life insurance policy that was indexed to the stock market and that he made certain representations about the expected return on investment, which never came to fruition.

Ex-teacher’s age discrimination claims dismissed.

School Leaders Liability
July 25, 2019

The defense prevailed on a motion for summary judgment in the Middle District of Pennsylvania on behalf of a local school district. The plaintiff, a former teacher, asserted claims of age discrimination and retaliation under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. The defense argued in their motion that the plaintiff failed to establish a prima facie age discrimination claim or retaliation claim because she could not establish that she suffered from an adverse employment action.

Successful defense of school district superintendent.

School Leaders Liability
July 25, 2019

We successfully defended a superintendent of a Pennsylvania School District. The elementary teacher plaintiff was disciplined following an investigation into allegations that she struck a student. The plaintiff raised claims against the superintendent for intentional infliction of emotional distress, loss of consortium, and violation of procedural due process. The defense argued that, as a superintendent, he was afforded high public official immunity and, therefore, the court dismissed the intentional infliction of emotional distress claim.

Defense Prevails on Behalf of an Intermediate Unit in a Federal Civil Rights Action

School Leaders Liability
December 1, 2017

The plaintiff claimed she was sexually abused by her former music teacher, an employee of the plaintiff’s school district. During 9th grade, the plaintiff was placed in an emotional support classroom, which was operated by the intermediate unit but located in the school district’s high school building. The plaintiff made a disclosure to her emotional support teacher (also an intermediate unit employee) of abuse by the music teacher. The emotional support teacher shared the report with her immediate supervisor.

Dismissal of Claims Against Special Education Hearing Officer

School Leaders Liability
May 11, 2017

Successfully defended a special education due process hearing officer in a civil rights action filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The parent of a child with special needs initially filed a due process complaint against the local school district, alleging violations of the student’s rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

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Thought Leadership

Defending Claims for Breach of Fiduciary Duty in Maryland

Harrisburg
Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability
February 1, 2020
Edited by Timothy G. Ventura The material in this law alert has been prepared for our readers by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.

Defense Verdict for Insurance Agency and Owner in Professional Negligence Case

Harrisburg
Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability
January 1, 2019
Edited by Timothy G. The material in this law alert has been prepared for our readers by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.

A Primer on Insurance Agents and Brokers Liability in Maryland

Harrisburg
Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability
July 6, 2018
Edited by Timothy G. The material in this law alert has been prepared for our readers by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.

This Is Exhausting! Parents of Special Needs Children Who Allege Educational Harm Must Exhaust Administrative Remedies Under the IDEA Before Filing Lawsuit

Harrisburg
School Leaders Liability
March 1, 2017
Defense Digest, Vol. 23, No. 1, March 2017by Christopher J. Conrad, EsquireKey Points Defense Digest, Vol. 23, No. 1, March 2017. Defense Digest is prepared by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin to provide information on recent legal developments of interest to our readers.

The IDEA Statute of Limitations (Finally!) Explained

Harrisburg
Public Entity and Civil Rights Litigation
December 1, 2015
By Christopher J. Conrad, Esq.* Key Points: Defense Digest, Vol 21, No. 4, December 2015

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Classes/Seminars Taught

Federal Law and the Art of Email Maintenance: When Must Emails Be Produced Under IDEA and FERPA, PBI Exceptional Children Conference, October 2019

Navigating the Bermuda Triangle: The Intersection of Workers' Compensation, the FMLA and the ADA, County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, March 2019

The Risks of Failing to Report School Leaders Liability Claims, Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, October 2017

The Thin Blue Line in School, Lehigh University Special Education Law Conference, May 2017

Dyslexia: Much More Than What We Thought, Lehigh University Special Education Law Conference, May 2016

Advanced Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Support Plans, PBI Exceptional Children Conference, October 2015

Successfully Handling Disciplinary Actions for Special Needs Students, National Business Institute, December 2014

Best Practices for Technology and Social Media in the Workplace, Estate Planning Council of Central Pennsylvania, Inc., February 2014

Insurance Agents and Brokers Best Claims Practices in Claims Administration and Underwriting, Liberty Mutual Insurance, December 2013

Avoiding Liability in Special Education, Central Dauphin School District, August 2013

PBA Malpractice Avoidance Program, Perry County Bar Association, April 2013

Avoiding Legal Malpractice, PBA Malpractice Avoidance Program, Adams County Bar Association, April 2012

Avoiding Liability as Sellers' Agents in Residential Real Estate Transactions, Particularly with Regard to the Disclosure of Material Defects in the Property, Educational Development School of Real Estate, March 2012

Malpractice Avoidance Program, PBA Malpractice Avoidance Program, Mifflin and Juniata County Bar Associations, October 2011

PBA Malpractice Avoidance Program , Dauphin County Bar Association, August 2011

Avoiding Liability in Special Education, Pottsville Area School District, August 2011

Avoiding Liability in Special Education, Palmyra Area School District, August 2010