Category: News - Maron Marvel

PITTSBURGH, PA — June 12, 2025 — Maron Marvel is pleased to announce the addition of Allyson Bertin as a Partner in its growing Pittsburgh office. This strategic hire enhances the firm’s capabilities in the Mid-West region and reinforces its long-standing commitment to delivering exceptional legal representation nationwide.

With nearly 15 years of experience in products liability litigation, Allyson has successfully represented suppliers, manufacturers, contractors, and premises owners throughout Allegheny County and neighboring jurisdictions. She is widely respected for her client-centric approach, strategic legal acumen, and consistent success in high-stakes matters.

“We are thrilled to welcome Allyson to Maron Marvel,” said Terry Schrock, Managing Attorney of the Pittsburgh office. “Her depth of experience and leadership make her an outstanding addition to our team and a valuable resource for our clients in this key market.”

Allyson earned her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and her B.S. from Carnegie Mellon University and is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania.

About Maron Marvel
Since 1996, Maron Marvel has delivered innovative litigation strategies and forward-thinking legal solutions in risk management, mass and toxic torts, insurance disputes, environmental law, and complex commercial litigation. With 14 offices across the U.S., the firm serves as national, regional, and trial counsel to clients navigating some of the country’s most dynamic and high-risk legal landscapes.

Strategic Growth Enhances Regional Strength and National Trial Capabilities


Wilmington, Del. – May 8, 2025
– Maron Marvel, a leading national litigation firm focusing on risk management, mass and toxic tort litigation, insurance-related disputes, environmental law and commercial litigation, proudly announces the strategic addition of a highly respected team of trial lawyers from Lavin, Cedrone, Graver, Boyd & DiSipio, effective July 1, 2025.

Known for their deep trial experience in high-stakes general liability and toxic tort litigation, the Lavin Law team will join Maron Marvel’s Philadelphia office, reinforcing the firm’s ability to deliver consistent, strategic outcomes for clients nationwide. Their integration also brings expanded trial capacity in some of the nation’s most dangerous jurisdictions, including Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.

The Lavin Law team consists of 15 attorneys, along with paralegals and support professionals, who collectively bring decades of experience in complex automotive crashworthiness cases, product liability actions, toxic torts, commercial disputes, and high-stakes civil litigation. Led by Gerard Cedrone and Christine Boyd, the team includes Howard Donahue, Edward Finch, Lee Kellner, Leona McFadden, Jo Peifer, and Michael Wozny.

“We are proud to welcome this outstanding group of professionals to our firm,” said Scott Henry, Managing Shareholder of Maron Marvel. “Their reputation for excellence, trial acumen, and commitment to client service align seamlessly with our core values. Their addition strengthens our platform and supports our continued national growth.”

This expansion reflects Maron Marvel’s broader strategic growth plan, focused on attracting top-tier talent and delivering comprehensive litigation solutions across multiple jurisdictions. With 14 offices and more than 115 attorneys, the firm continues to serve as trusted counsel to businesses operating in some of the most challenging legal environments in the country.

“This transition offers great opportunities for our clients and our team,” said Gerard Cedrone, a Vice President and founding member of Lavin Law. “Maron Marvel’s national reach, diverse talent, exceptional client service, excellence in trial advocacy, and unwavering commitment to winning align perfectly with our values. We’re proud to be joining such a respected organization.”

Christine Boyd, a member of Lavin Law’s Board of Directors, said “We also applaud Maron Marvel’s commitment to hiring highly qualified women and diverse legal professionals. It is an honor to be joining them.”

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About Maron Marvel
Since 1996, Maron Marvel has been at the forefront of innovative litigation strategy, delivering forward-thinking legal solutions in risk management, mass and toxic torts, insurance disputes, environmental law, and high-stakes commercial litigation. With 14 offices nationwide, we partner with clients as national, regional, and trial counsel—navigating complex legal challenges in the most dynamic and high-risk jurisdictions across the U.S. Discover how we’re redefining litigation at maronmarvel.com.

Maffei v. A.O. Smith Water Prods. Co. (In re N.Y.C. Asbestos Litigation), 2025 N.Y. Slip Op. 1425 (N.Y. App. Div. 2025)

Valuing asbestos cases can sometimes be complicated but on March 13th, 2025, the NY Appellate Court gave a little clarity on what it is willing to overturn after a verdict in New York, in the Maffei v. A.O. Smith Water Prods. Co. (In re N.Y.C. Asbestos Litigation), 2025 N.Y. Slip Op. 1425 (N.Y. App. Div. 2025) decision.

The Court unanimously affirmed the 2024 ruling of trial Judge Rosado for Plaintiffs Romeo Maffei and Rosa Maffei[1] finding that, among other things, the verdict was not against the weight of the evidence and did not need to be reduced as excessive.

Mr. Maffei was 66 years old at the time of the verdict. He claimed that his lung cancer was caused by asbestos exposure and a jury agreed entering a $38 million verdict against Burnham LLC (“Burnham”). In September 2024. The verdict included $6.6 million for past pain and suffering, $19.9 million for future pain and suffering, $6.5 million in punitive damages, and an additional $2 million for past loss of consortium, and $3 million for future loss of consortium.  The Court affirmed that the verdict amounts did not deviate from what would legally be considered reasonable compensation.

The Court also noted that Judge Rosado did not abuse her discretion in precluding Burnham from eliciting testimony from plaintiffs’ thoracic surgeon of alleged asbestos exposure from other tortfeasors. In determining this, the Court held that Burnham failed to demonstrate specific causation against any other potential tortfeasors.[2]  

Also of note, this decision cited to a similar decision by the Appellate Court in the 2024 McWilliams case[3], in which Plaintiff, James McWilliams, was awarded $13 million and $10 million in past and future pain and suffering, respectively. Citing the same case, the court in Maffei found the testimony of Plaintiff’s experts were found sufficient to establish specific causation under the applicable standard.

It appears that the reasonableness analysis was unaffected by the fact that the Plaintiff in the Maffei case had an extensive smoking history, smoking until his lung cancer diagnosis.  The jury apportioned 15% of the fault to Maffei, and 85% to Burnham, which the Appellate Court found was not against the weight of the evidence.[4] This NY Appellate Court decision will likely prove valuable in future analysis of asbestos case proofs and damages awards.


[1]  Maffei v. A.O. Smith Water Prods. Co. (In re N.Y.C. Asbestos Litigation), 2025 N.Y. Slip Op. 1425 (1st Dept 2025).

[2] Citing Matter of New York City Asbestos Litig. (Idell), 164 AD3d 1128, 1129 (1st Dept 2018)].

[3] Matter of New York City Asbestos Litig. (McWilliams), 224 A.D.3d 597, 597-598 (1st Dept 2024).

[4]  See generally Lolik v Big V Supermarkets, 86 NY2d 744, 746 [1995]). It was entirely within the jury’s province to assess the credibility of the parties and their witnesses and to determine what to credit in rendering its verdict.

for more information

Kijon Roberts is an associate in Maron Marvel’s Jersey City, NJ office and admitted to practice law in New York. Kijon concentrates his practice on products liability and toxic tort matters, including asbestos litigation. [email protected] | 201.839.2070

Timothy Coughlan is a partner in Maron Marvel’s Jersey City, NJ office and admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York. Tim is a member of Maron Marvel’s Mass and Toxic Tort Core Legal Division with decades of experience in asbestos litigation in New Jersey and New York. [email protected] | 201.839.2062

Dwight Kern is a shareholder and the Office Managing Partner for Maron Marvel’s Jersey City, NJ office. Dwight’s wide-ranging practice includes toxic torts, environmental litigation, products liability, premises liability, construction defect, general liability and related practice areas Dwight the chair of the firm’s Environmental Litigation Core Legal Division. [email protected] | 201.839.2063

Onofrio “Reno” de Gennaro is a shareholder and the chair of the Mass and Toxic Torts Core Legal Division. Based in Wilmington, Delaware, Reno coordinates the firm’s Mass and Toxic tort practice including the defense of claims concerning alleged exposure to asbestos, benzene, hair relaxers, PFAS, silica, talc, and numerous other chemicals. [email protected] | 302.472.1731

Maron Marvel is proud to announce that two associates, Gabrielle Morrison and Joshua Salley, have been named to The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 list for 2024. The listed attorneys are peer nominated and include some of the most talented black attorneys from each state or region who are under the age of 40. Attorneys are rigorously vetted to meet certain criteria including having an outstanding reputation among peers, the judiciary and the public.

The National Black Lawyers was created to celebrate legal excellence by promoting our attorneys as subject-matter experts, developing a strong national network of top African American attorneys, and facilitating the exchange of timely information to enable our members to maintain their status as leaders.

Gabrielle Morrison is an associate in the firm’s Philadelphia office and defends clients in the areas of premises liability, personal injury and mass tort claims for clients with operations in Pennsylvania. She also has experience handling business litigation and contractual disputes.

Joshua Salley is an associate in the firm’s Charleston office and focuses on complex civil litigation. He works to innovate by taking his learned life experience and applying it to his client’s legal issues. Josh’s primary goal is to ensure that his client’s receive tailored strategies that fit their unique situation, rather than repeating tired strategies from an old playbook.

For more information on The National Black Lawyers, visit their website.

Wilmington, Delaware – March 4, 2025 – Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC proudly announces the appointment of Scott Henry as the firm’s Managing Shareholder, succeeding Catherine Pyune McEldowney who will remain as firm President and Executive Committee Chair.

Henry, a seasoned litigator and longtime leader within the firm, has been instrumental in shaping Maron Marvel’s national presence. With over 25 years of experience, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to client advocacy, operational efficiency, and fostering a collaborative culture within the firm.

“Scott is a strategic leader who is dedicated to the continuing success and growth of Maron Marvel,” said McEldowney. “His commitment to the firm’s core values and our investment in exceptional people will ensure that we continue to reach higher, smarter, and faster in the legal practice to deliver creative and strategic solutions for our clients.”

McEldowney, who led the firm as Managing Shareholder since January 1, 2022, played a pivotal role in expanding the firm’s reach and capabilities. Her compulsive commitment to win and obsession for excellence strengthened Maron Marvel’s position as a premier national firm.

“I am honored to succeed Cathie, who made history as the first woman and first Korean American to lead the firm,” said Henry. “Maron Marvel has a tremendous team of talented attorneys and professionals, and I look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence while embracing new opportunities for innovation and growth.”

About Maron Marvel
Founded in 1996, Maron Marvel is a nationally recognized litigation firm with offices across the United States, serving as national, regional, and trial counsel to companies with operations located in the most dangerous plaintiff jurisdictions in the country. For more information, visit maronmarvel.com.

Indianapolis, IN – March 3, 2025 Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC is proud to announce the opening of its 14th office in Indianapolis, further strengthening its national presence and commitment to serving clients across key markets.

The new Indianapolis office marks a significant milestone in Maron Marvel’s strategic growth, allowing the firm to better serve clients in the Midwest with its comprehensive legal services. The expansion reflects Maron Marvel’s dedication to providing top-tier litigation defense counsel across industries, including toxic and mass tort litigation, business and commercial litigation, environmental, general liability and casualty litigation, and national litigation risk management.

“We are thrilled to establish a presence in Indianapolis, a city with a dynamic business environment and a thriving legal community,” said Scott Henry, Managing Shareholder of Maron Marvel. “This expansion underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional legal services where our clients need us most. We look forward to becoming an integral part of the Indianapolis business and legal landscape.”

The Indianapolis office will be led by Brian Brenn, who brings more than a decade of experience handling complex medical and professional liability matters. He has argued numerous dispositive motions before Indiana courts throughout his legal career, demonstrating his deep understanding of professional liability cases. His adept negotiation skills have led to the successful settlement of over 60 cases in various areas of law, such as premises liability, auto accidents, and construction defect claims.

Maron Marvel has built a strong reputation for client-focused representation, innovative legal strategies, and a collaborative approach. The firm’s expansion into Indianapolis is part of a broader growth strategy aimed at enhancing its service offerings and deepening client relationships across the country.

For more information about Maron Marvel and its Indianapolis office, please visit maronmarvel.com.

About Maron Marvel
Founded in 1996, Maron Marvel is a nationally recognized litigation firm with offices across the United States, serving as national, regional, and trial counsel to companies with operations located in the most dangerous plaintiff jurisdictions in the country.

Media Contact:
Lauren Kornsey
Marketing & Business Development Director
[email protected]

Maron Marvel is pleased to announce that director Audrey O. Anyaele has been named a Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow for 2025.

The LCLD Fellows Program is an intensive, yearlong professional development course that connects mid-career attorneys of diverse backgrounds with leading general counsel and managing partners. It is designed to give high-potential lawyers leadership training and tools to propel their careers further. LCLD Fellows have distinguished themselves within their organizations by being deeply engaged, indispensable to key clients and teams, invested in attorney mentoring and professional development, and on a trajectory toward leadership positions.

Antoinette Hubbard, Maron Marvel’s DEI director, expressed her enthusiasm about the opportunity, stating, “Being selected as an LCLD Fellow is a prestigious honor, and I am confident that Audrey will make the most of this incredible chance to engage with industry leaders and further develop her leadership skills. Audrey has already demonstrated strong leadership abilities, and I have no doubt that she will continue to inspire and make a meaningful impact on others.”

Audrey litigates environmental, mass toxic tort, product liability, and construction-related matters in New Jersey and New York. Her years of experience in litigating environmental cases have been instrumental in her achieving successful resolutions of complex toxic and hazardous materials suits.

The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity is an organization of more than 400 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners—the leadership of the profession—who have pledged themselves to creating a truly diverse U.S. legal profession. https://www.lcld.com/

Founded in 1996, Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC is a national law firm serving as national, regional, and trial counsel to companies with operations located in the most dangerous plaintiff jurisdictions in the country. Our killer team of attorneys are focused on winning by being fearless, loyal, efficient, and steadfast. To learn more, visit maronmarvel.com.

Maron Marvel is pleased to announce five attorneys from our Chicago office have been named to the 2025 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Included in this year’s Super Lawyers list are members Melissa M. Fallah and Adam J. Jagadich.

Melissa M. Fallah

Member

Class Action / Mass Torts: Defense 

Adam J. Jagadich

Member

Products Liability: Defense

Additionally, three attorneys were recognized as Rising Star Honorees

Leslie A. Federer

Associate

Products Liability: Defense

Alyssa P. FleishcMan

Associate

Personal Injury – Products: Defense 

Alexandra N. Reitzner

Associate

Personal Injury – General: Defense

Congratulations to all the firm’s named attorneys on this accomplishment.

Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to the Super Lawyers list and no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected to the Rising Stars list.

Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com.

Maron Marvel is excited to announce the elevation of Liana Nobile to a firm director, effective January 1, 2025. This election is in recognition of Liana’s superior legal skills, commitment to the firm, respect by clients and peers, and dedication to serving the needs of our clients and the firm.

Liana Nobile is based in our Jersey City, NJ, office. She vigorously defends her clients in premises liability disputes and provides advice on insurance coverage matters. Before becoming a defense attorney, Liana was an attorney at a plaintiff’s personal injury firm. Her experience on both sides of the aisle has given her useful insight into resolving cases efficiently.


Maron Marvel serves as national, regional, and trial counsel to companies with operations located in the most dangerous plaintiff jurisdictions in the country. Our killer team of attorneys have a passion for superior work product, a distinctive culture rooted in mass tort litigation, and an obsession with exceptional client service. To learn more, visit www.maronmarvel.com.

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Maron Marvel ranked as a national first-tier law firm in mass tort litigation in the 2025 edition of the U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms.” Additionally, the firm once again achieved top rankings across several practice areas, including mass tort, product liability, personal injury, and commercial litigation on behalf of defendants in multiple metropolitan areas.

Earlier this year, Maron Marvel was recognized by their peers in the 2025 Best Lawyers in America and Ones to Watch survey, which ranked 49 of our attorneys.

National Tier 1

Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Metropolitan Tier 1

Charleston, SC
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants

Delaware
Commercial Litigation

Houston
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants

Jackson, MS
Litigation – Insurance
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

Pittsburgh
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants

Metropolitan Tier 2

Charleston, SC
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

Dallas/Fort Worth
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

Delaware
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

New Orleans
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

Philadelphia
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Metropolitan Tier 3

Dallas/Fort Worth
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Jackson, MS
Environmental Law

Pittsburgh
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

A program of U.S. News – Best Lawyers®, “Best Law Firm” rankings are determined through a rigorous evaluation process involving the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process.
 
The highest honor, a Tier 1 ranking, is based on a firm’s overall evaluation. This is derived from a combination of the firm’s clients’ impressive feedback, the high regard that lawyers in other firms in the same practice area have for the firm, and information that firms provide to Best Lawyers via a survey.

To be eligible for a “Best Law Firm” ranking, a firm must have at least one lawyer named in The Best Lawyers in America©. Attorneys are neither required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed. 

Maron Marvel is pleased to announce that Delaware Today has named five of its attorneys as “Top Lawyers” for 2024. Delaware Today produces a new list each year by polling other Delaware attorneys for their votes.

Maron Marvel’s “Top Lawyers” include:

To view the 2024 list, visit Delaware Today’s website.

Maron Marvel is proud to announce that it has achieved Mansfield Certification for 2023–24!

Mansfield is a year-long, structured certification process focused on ensuring all firm talent has a fair and equal opportunity to advance into leadership. The focus is on opening the door wider and ensuring that opportunities for advancement are transparent and inclusive for everyone. By asking that at least 30% of our talent pools considered for leadership roles consist of underrepresented groups and that our advancement processes are transparent, Mansfield creates a level playing field for all.

Data shows that firms that remain committed and accountable to the Mansfield Certification process year-over-year are making substantial progress in creating inclusive talent practices and diversifying their leadership ranks. Maron Marvel remains committed to taking measurable actions to ensure that our processes are — and remain — inclusive.

Maron Marvel is proud to stand with the 360+ firms that have achieved Mansfield Certification to advance a core value in the legal profession: the belief that everyone should have a fair opportunity for career advancement. The firm believes that by making our workplace one where everyone can succeed, we can better serve our clients and communities.

If you are interested in learning more about Mansfield Certification, please visit: Mansfield Certification – Diversity Lab