Michael J. Wozny

Widener University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude)

Cabrini College (B.A., summa cum laude)

The Nuts and Bolts of Autonomous Vehicles and Crash Avoidance Technologies 2017, Presenter, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, presented in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Allentown, and Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

Autonomous Vehicle Regulations 2022, Presenter, Webinar for National Business Institute, September 2022

Completed and recognized for outstanding achievement and performance during 2016 International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy, Stanford University

Pro Bono Award, First Judicial District, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

Michael is on the forefront of legal issues surrounding the development and introduction of autonomous vehicle technology from product liability and warranty litigation perspectives. He authored the Defense Perspective on Autonomous Vehicle Design Defect Allegations and the Evolving Landscape: How Can a Thinking Vehicle Be Defective, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, June 14, 2017

Arbitrator for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Compulsory Arbitration Program.

Taught Legal Writing Course, Masters of Jurisprudence Degree Program at Widener University School of Law, DE

Baker v. Mercedes, Sussex County, Delaware- Served as co-counsel in this post-collision fuel-fed fire wrongful death and burn jury trial, which lasted about four weeks and resulted in a defense verdict.

Davis v. Volkswagen, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania- Co-tried five-week post-collision fuel fed fire wrongful death jury trial, which resulted in a defense verdict.

Napolitano v. Nissan, Ocean County, New Jersey- Co-tried two-week jury trial that involved a rollover accident mechanism during which the plaintiff sustained cervical fractures and paralysis, requiring surgery. The Plaintiff’s claim targeted a first collision suspension/stability and handling defect theory. The case resulted in a defense verdict.

Hogan v. Toyota Motor Sales, Chester County, Pennsylvania- Served as lead trial counsel in this single-day consumer fraud bench trial. The case resulted in a defense verdict.

Fernandez v. Toyota Motor Sales, Camden County, New Jersey- Served as lead trial counsel in this jury trial that resulted in a settlement after Plaintiff’s experts were precluded from testifying after two days of argument on motions in limine.

Hankerson v. Tesla, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania- Served as lead trial counsel in this single day bench trial that involved breach of warranty and consumer fraud claims relating to the installation of a photovoltaic solar system on Plaintiff’s residence. The case resulted in a non-suit at the close of Plaintiff’s case.

Cornetti v. Tesla, Bergen County, New Jersey- Served as lead trial counsel in this single-day consumer fraud bench trial. The case resulted in a defense verdict.

Friedlander v. Tesla, AAA, New Jersey- Served as lead counsel in this binding arbitration matter that involved lemon law, breach of warranty, and consumer fraud claims that targeted Tesla’s auto-pilot technology and safety. The arbitration lasted four days. The case resulted in a defense award.

Stahl v. Tesla, AAA, New Jersey- Served as lead counsel in this binding arbitration matter that involved lemon law, breach of warranty, and consumer fraud claims that targeted services performed by Tesla and several alleged safety related non-conformities. After a two-day evidentiary hearing, the case resulted in a defense award.

Turco v. Tesla, AAA, Pennsylvania- Served as lead counsel in this binding arbitration matter that involved lemon law, breach of warranty, and consumer fraud claims that targeted alleged non-conformities with the operation of the front driver’s window and prevention of water ingress. After a two-day evidential hearing, the case resulted in a defense award.

Belani v. Tesla, AAA, New Jersey- Served as lead counsel in this binding arbitration matter that involved two consolidated cases involving lemon law, breach of warranty and consumer fraud claims. After a three-day evidential hearing and substantial post hearing briefing, this case resulted in a defense award.

Erlichman v. Tesla, AAA, Pennsylvania- Served as lead counsel in this binding arbitration matter that involved lemon law, breach of warranty and consumer fraud claims. The allegations targeted NVH issues. The case lasted one day but was followed by substantial briefing on complex warranty issues. The case resulted in a defense award.

Kamineni v. Tesla, AAA, New Jersey- Served as lead counsel in this binding arbitration matter that involved an alleged suspension defect. This case had significant liability issues, and led to a $6,000 award, with no award of attorney fees. The bottom-line settlement demand prior to arbitration was $85,000.

Arbitrated more than 30 non-binding state court arbitration cases.

Singer v. Toyota Motor Sales, Bergen County, New Jersey, NJ Appellate Division- Served as lead trial counsel in this matter that resulted in summary judgment in favor of Toyota. The trial court accepted our argument and adopted case law from an unrelated California case regarding the relevance of recalls without physical manifestation of the recall condition towards a lemon law and breach of warranty claim. On appeal, the NJ Appellate division upheld the trial court. The decision was reported and is now cited in the standard New Jersey Jury Instructions for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Warranty Act. Responsible for brief writing and argued the appeal.

Strassburger v. Nissan, Queens County, New York; NY Appellate Division, 2nd Dept. – In this forklift design defect case, the trial court denied our motion for summary which was premised upon the sophisticated user doctrine and its application to optional equipment. On appeal the Appellate Division reversed the trial court and granted summary judgment. Responsible for brief writing and assisted with preparation for the argument.