Camp Experience

Overnight Camp

Client’s Issue: Lawsuit arising out of e-mail sent by camp owner.  Retailer claimed e-mail was defamatory and interfered with contractual relations.

Sherr Law Group Approach: Aggressively negotiated matter, strongly asserting defenses and lack of case.

Result: Had matter postured for an extremely favorable settlement.

School District

Client’s Issue: Client sued because of an alleged hazardous condition on the playground.  A child fell off a playground apparatus and the claim was that the surface was unsafe and constituted a hazard.

Sherr Law Group Approach: We conducted discovery and a defense was asserted that the surface was not the cause of the accident and it was not negligent to have the surface.  We employed a national expert on playground safety to testify.

Result: Defense verdict at trial.

Municipality

Client’s Issue: Municipality was sued by a person who fell off a bleacher at a ballfield while trying to step off the bleachers.  The allegations of defects were substantiated in that the bleachers were not adequately secured.

Sherr Law Group Approach: Concentrated on damage claim as liability was not much of an issue.

Result: Entered into a favorable settlement.

Borough

Client’s Issue: Lawsuit in Federal Court in Harrisburg, alleging on behalf of nine known or unknown minor girls, that Borough police officer was having sex and using drugs with these under-aged girls.  Officer had been criminally indicted.  Client concerned with costs involved, poor publicity and the erosion of public trust.  Allegations against the Borough were for negligent hiring, supervision, and training of the officer.

Sherr Law Group Approach: Quickly deposed the alleged victims to give them their say, and to establish the scope of the problem.  Widely praised for sensitivity in dealing with the victims.

Result: Negotiated a favorable settlement after matter was pending only a few months.  Minimal publicity arose out of the matter.  Borough, through our advice, acted definitively in taking steps forward regarding hiring and training practices.

Township

Client’s Issue: Lawsuit against the Township and individual supervisors claiming that an existing supervisor was defamed during an election by accusations that he was guilty of theft of services by using Township resources for his campaign.

Sherr Law Group Approach: Aggressively defended matter on basis of truth of the assertions made against the plaintiff, lack of publication of alleged defamatory statements and privilege.

Result: Summary judgment granted for defendants affirmed on appeal by Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Individual

Client’s Issue: Client was a Borough Council Member accused of defamation by a Borough police officer because, among other things, the Council Member allegedly made statements to Borough residents and to the State Police about the misdeeds of the officer including sex with under aged girls.

Sherr Law Group Approach: Aggressive defense.  Filed Preliminary Objections to original Complaint and four Amended Complaints.  Asserted privilege and factual defenses.

Result: Case settled for small nuisance value, which was a small fraction of what was being requested.

Wrongful Death – Township

Client’s Issue: Township sued by the estate of a 10 year old boy who died as a result of a sledding accident on a hill owned by the Township.  Allegations were that the Township was liable for allowing a dangerous condition to exist.  Liability was also alleged to be predicted upon failure of the Township to close the hill due to extremely icy conditions.

Sherr Law Group Approach: Aggressively defended matter on basis that father allowing child to sled in obvious dangerous conditions was the cause of the accident and that the drainage culvert was not a dangerous condition given its location.

Result: Matter settled for a favorable amount because of reluctance of Plaintiffs to try the case.

Wrongful Death – Township

Client’s Issue: Three teenage fatalities in an auto accident alleging Township liable for allowing dangerous condition of the road.

Sherr Law Group Approach: Multi-defendant case with voluminous discovery. Depositions revealed the driver may have been impaired.

Result: Summary judgment on our client’s behalf.

Wrongful Death – Builder

Client’s Issue: Client sued in a wrongful death case of a 14 year old in the backseat of her mother’s car.  Allegations were that the client was negligent in monitoring the construction zone with signage and distances.

Sherr Law Group Approach: Conducted extensive discovery to position the matter for summary opposition.

Result: Settlement reached.

Wrongful Death – Manufacturer

Client’s Issue: Client manufactured several products during and after World War II which contained asbestos.  There were over 5,000 cases pending with about a quarter of them involving wrongful death claims.

Sherr Law Group Approach: We tried 10 individual cases a month for a three-year period asserting that deceased cause of death was not asbestos related.

Result: Many more defense verdicts than adverse monetary verdicts.

Federal Court Experience – Municipality

Client’s Issue: Client sued in civil rights and other constitutional matters.

Sherr Law Group Approach: Very aggressive approach to Federal Court litigation as a result of short time periods and strict oversight by the Court.  Attorney Anthony Sherr has tried over 20 cases to verdict including defense of police officers and prison guards in civil rights suits, discrimination employment claim, land use matters, and products liability claims.

Result: Almost all defense verdicts in jury determinations.  All defense verdicts in a plethora of non-jury matters including the first three years of Anthony Sherr’s career which was spent at the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., handling Federal Court tort claims actions against the United States.  There are many reported decisions on these cases