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PDFJoe is a partner in the Catastrophic Loss & Tort Defense and OSHA & VOSH Defense practice groups.
Joe has two decades experience defending commercial transportation and other businesses in complex litigation and potentially high exposure claims, including traumatic brain injuries, paraplegia/quadriplegia, burn injuries, fire losses, drownings, and wrongful deaths.
Joe is panel counsel in Virginia for national commercial transportation companies, road construction contractors, and product manufacturers. In these roles, Joe has significant experience handling complex risk transfer issues, including indemnity, additional insured, and other contractual provisions.
In addition, Joe and his team provide clients with 24/7 rapid response to serious accidents across Virginia and surrounding areas. He has significant experience working with consultants and experts to investigate the cause of the incident and to preserve evidence to defend the potential claim. He is also called on to represent clients in OSHA and VOSH inspections and audits, as well as contesting citations and penalties.
Joe is an active member of the Themis Advocates Group, a national network of leading civil defense attorneys and law firms located throughout the United States. The Themis network includes 27 firms with over 700 attorneys, representing clients in 45 states, with the combined mission of providing clients across the nation with professional, high-end, cost-effective legal services. Themis provides several events throughout the year, including educational conferences, the Annual Mock Trial, and various webinars on cutting-edge issues and innovations.
Joe holds Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent© rating—the highest possible—in both legal ability and ethical standards. He has also been peer-recognized for inclusion in the lists by Best Lawyers in America,® Litigation-Insurance, Virginia Business magazine’s Legal Elite and Virginia Super Lawyers. In addition, Joe does pro bono legal work through the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia and is a member of the Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association's Pro Bono Committee.
Practice Areas
Experience
Joe’s Experience Includes Representing:
- Fortune 500 companies in defense of product liability claims, including coordinating fire and explosion investigations using NFPA 921 guidelines.
- REITs, owners, and property management companies in defense of premise liability claims at apartment complexes, office buildings, shopping centers, and retail stores.
- Restaurants and food service providers in a variety of claims, including general liability, premises liability, burns, and food borne illness/safety claims.
- Retailers and stores in general liability, premises liability, products liability, negligent hiring/retention, and assault and battery claims.
- Businesses in consumer complaints and lawsuits brought under Virginia’s consumer protection laws, including the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (VCPA).
- National and regional trucking companies in defense of property damage and personal injury claims.
- National and regional brokers and trucking firms in defense of property damage lawsuits, including cargo claims.
- Large construction companies in construction defect claims and accidents involving substantial property damage, bodily injury, and wrongful death claims.
- Contractors on large road projects in negligence claims and accidents involving serious bodily injury and wrongful death claims.
- Employers in wrongful termination and employment discrimination matters.
- Companies in OSHA investigations, including contesting citations and penalties.
- Insurance companies in defense and prosecution of insurance coverage disputes.
- Virginia counsel for large American manufacturing company best known for plumbing products in defense of product liability and subrogation claims.
- Virginia counsel for large company that produces and distributes electronic products in defense of general liability and products liability claims.
- Virginia counsel for largest privately held passenger transportation contracting firm in U.S. in defense of personal injury and property damage lawsuits.
- Virginia counsel for North America’s largest tank truck hauler transporting fuel and chemicals in defense of personal injury and property damage lawsuits.
- Former Law Clerk, Virginia Circuit Court, Fourth Judicial Circuit, City of Norfolk.
- Former Legal Intern, Virginia Circuit Court, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Fairfax County and Fairfax City.