Joanna K. Budde
Shareholder
Joanna has been a full-time litigator for over 30 years. During this time, she has been involved in litigating a variety of matters in the courts and administrative agencies of Pennsylvania. She is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the Pennsylvania Defense Institute.
Practice Areas
- Duquesne University School of Law, J.D.; Duquesne Law Review, Member; Duquesne Law Review, Associate Recent Decisions Editor
- Rutgers University, B.A.
Admissions
- Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
Ratings
- Obtained favorable defense verdict in motor vehicle personal injury trial, for which plaintiff damages were originally calculated at $1.2 million
- Obtained motion for summary judgment on the eve of trial in a motor vehicle case in which the plaintiff was bound by the limited tort option and the medical evidence showed that he had a pre-existing low back injury
- Obtained favorable verdict in jury trial in a motor vehicle case in which the defendant was found negligent, but the negligence was not a factual cause of plaintiff’s alleged injuries
- Obtained favorable ruling in compulsory arbitration in a motor vehicle case in which the plaintiff was bound by the limited tort option and the medical evidence showed that he had a pre-existing neck injury
- Obtained favorable ruling in compulsory arbitration in a motor vehicle case in which the plaintiff was bound by the limited tort option and required two surgeries for a shoulder injury
- Obtained favorable verdict in jury trial in a motor vehicle case in which the plaintiff claimed she suffered facial scarring from the accident and the defendant was found not negligent
- Argued before PA Supreme Court regarding issues related to insurance/limited tort
- Obtained numerous summary judgments on behalf of clients regarding limited tort issues and Dead Man’s Act
- Assisted clients in obtaining guardianship of elderly or disabled individuals in order to protect their person and estate
- Successfully defended an automobile insurance company against a $1.8 million accident case that resulted in a verdict of only $1,000
- Obtained numerous defense verdicts in automobile accident cases in Erie, Crawford, Warren and McKean Counties.
- AV Preeminent - Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance Law, 2013
Community and Professional Service
- Northwestern Legal Services, Board Member
- Mercy Center for the Arts, Board Member
- Cambridge Springs High School Mock Trial Team, Advisor 2010-2016
- First United Methodist Church of Cambridge Springs, Trustee/Board Member, 2012-2016
Professional Affiliations
- Erie County Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section, Chair (2018) and former Vice Chair (2017)
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Defense Institute
Speaking Engagements
- Firm's Litigation & Workers’ Compensation Seminar