Michael J. Connolly

A member of the firm’s Casualty Department, Mike primarily handles matters involving premises liability, automobile, and general liability. Mike has defended a number of industrial workplace accident cases, and regularly deals with matters involving Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations and standards.

Mike has handled wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases, surface mining accidents, motor vehicle, product liability and UIM claims. He has also presented seminars within the hotel and hospitality industry concerning risk management and how to address claims common to the industry. Mike’s civil litigation experience previously included representing insurance carriers and their insureds in the firm’s professional liability department in the field of municipal and civil rights litigation.

An honors graduate of the University of Scranton, Mike then received his juris doctor from Drexel University with distinction in the field of Insurance Law. Mike clerked for the Honorable Chester T. Harhut, former President Judge of Lackawanna County and worked for the Lackawanna County District Attorney. Admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Mike is also a member of the American Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association and Lackawanna County Bar Association. Mike previously worked with the Law School Admission Council as an administrator of the Law School Admission Test for prospective law students, as well as with the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners on the Multi-state Professional Responsibility Exam. Mike regularly volunteers assistance to community leaders within his hometown on legal matters.

Honors & Awards

Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2015-2019

Year Joined

2010

Results

Summary Judgment for Marshall Dennehey Client Only, in Multi-defendant Action.

General Liability
May 11, 2018

We obtained summary judgment in a general liability case in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The plaintiff was an employee of a recently-renovated resort when a solid wooden panel fell down and struck her in the head, causing serious injuries. The plaintiff alleged improper design, manufacture, and installation of the panel against a number of the defendant contractors and subcontractors. It was unclear as to which defendant actually installed the panel.

Thought Leadership

Expert Medical Evidence Mandatory on Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Claims

Scranton
General Liability
December 1, 2016
Defense Digest, Vol. 22, No. 4, December 2016 By Michael J. Connolly, Esq.*Key Points: Defense Digest, Vol. 22, No. 4, December 2016. Defense Digest is prepared by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin to provide information on recent legal developments of interest to our readers.