Ralph P. Bocchino

A member of the firm since 1980, Ralph P. Bocchino is a senior shareholder and the Chair of Casualty Group I in Philadelphia. In this role he oversees the workflow and administration of files for 15 attorneys and support staff.

Ralph has litigated a plethora of civil defense matters in the areas of product liability, premises liability, construction law and defect litigation, and motor vehicle liability including truck and bus accidents. Ralph was formerly the Chair of the firm's Amusement, Sports & Entertainment Litigation Practice Group and, as such, represents amusement parks and entertainment venues.

In addition to his many achievements in the Casualty Department, Ralph has also litigated defamation and legal malpractice cases. He has represented universities, special needs schools, and institutions in claims alleging sexual, physical, and emotional abuse on behalf of the Elwyn Institute and a number of 501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations, individual schools and entities in all types of liability, including but not limited to child molestation and abuse. He has also counseled nursing homes in elopement and sepsis cases.

When Ralph started at the firm, he was assigned to handle asbestos matters. At the time, the firm represented Johns Mansville Corporation, the largest producer of asbestos, and Ralph was the youngest attorney in the nation to successfully defend the company. His work earned him the Order of the Salamander Award for litigation excellence from Johns Mansville. (Coger v. Johns Mansville Corporation, et al.)

Ralph frequently lectures for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and the Young Lawyers Association of Philadelphia on current civil procedure and legal issues. Ralph has also lectured at LaSalle University where he taught Real Estate, Business Law and Corporation courses. He has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer consecutively since 2006 and holds an AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell rating for more than 20 years.

If Ralph is not in the office or in a courtroom, he can be found coaching various youth sports teams. Ralph is a licensed soccer coach and licensed referee. He has been coaching soccer for more than 25 years. He is the President of the Hunter Soccer Club, a non-profit youth organization in Glenside, Pennsylvania. Ralph and all of the volunteers at Hunter were honored by the Abington Community Task Force for Hunter's service to youth since 1962. Ralph was elected to the Bishop McDevitt High School Hall of Fame for more than 30 years of coaching, referring and umpiring youth sports in the community.

Honors & awards

AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell

Pennsylvania Super Lawyer
2006-2019

Honored Member of Whos Who in Practicing Attorneys
1990

Order of the Salamander Award, 1990

Year joined

1980

Certification

OSHA 10-Hour Construction Certification

Results

Defense Defeats $2.6M Slip-and-Fall

General Liability
December 6, 2016

The plaintiff had four surgeries to a severely broken ankle after a fall on ice and snow. The plaintiff sued the landlord, PSDC and the snow removal company. Demands were in excess of the policy for $2.6 million. We represented the landlord and argued the Hills and Ridges Doctrine. In a rare occurrence, the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas agreed with us

Summary Judgment in Dog Bite Case

General Liability
December 6, 2016

A young girl was bitten in the face by a pit bull. The plaintiff sued the dog owner, a tenant in a house, and the property owner. We represented the landlord and argued that a landlord out of possession has no duty to a tenant’s invitee, especially when she has no knowledge of the pet’s violent propensities. The court agreed and granted summary judgment.

Thought Leadership

Marshall Dennehey Launches Social Services & Human Services Liability Practice Group

Social Services & Human Services Liability
October 31, 2016
Marshall Dennehey announced today the launch of a Social Services & Human Services Practice Group within the firm's Casualty Department.

MAP-21 and the Role of Black-Box Recorders in Discovery

Philadelphia - Headquarters
Automobile Liability
June 5, 2012
The Legal Intelligencer, June 5, 2012

Classes/Seminars Taught

Hills and Ridges Doctrine and discussion of Collins v. Philadelphia Suburban Development Co., Client Seminar, May 2018

Lights, Camera, Evidence!, Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI), Philadelphia PA, December 5, 2017

Accident Prevention and Investigation: Strategies for Risk Mitigation, Client Presentation, April 2017

Risk Shifting and Indemnity and Additional Insured Status, Ohio Casualty, April 2013

Nuances of the Political Subdivision Torts Claims Act, Ohio Casualty, April 2013

Dram Shop Liquor Liability, Markel Insurance Co. and Markel International Insurance, August 2011

The New Fair Share Act, Markel Insurance Co. and Markel International Insurance, August 2011

Comparative Negligence Act of Pennsylvania; Alternatives in Discovery; Jury Verdicts and Jury Issues in Philadelphia and Outlying Counties, Ohio Casualty, April 2010

Potpourri, The Black Box, discuss varying topics including computer chips and information, equipment in various vehicles, automobiles, and trucks (2005/2007).

Discovery, Rules of Civil Procedure and Bad Faith in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Bar Institute

Releases and Uniform Contribution Among Joint Tortfeasors Act, LaSalle Alumni Law Luncheon

Discovery Techniques and Trial Techniques, Young Lawyers Association of Philadelphia