Daniel E. Cummins

Daniel E. Cummins, Esquire is an AV-rated partner in the Clarks Summit (Scranton area), Pennsylvania law firm of of Cummins Law with over 22 years of litigation experience in Northeastern Pennsylvania, including insurance defense work in the Poconos area and the surrounding counties.

Attorney Cummins has focused his practice on defending motor vehicle accident liability cases and UIM/UM arbitration matters along with premises liability and products liability cases. Mr. Cummins is also routinely summoned by his clients to handle matters involving insurance coverage questions and insurance subrogation claims.

Mr. Cummins has been selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America Directory every year since 2015 and has been named a Super Lawyer over the same time period.

Attorney Cummins was selected as the 2014 Distinguished Defense Counsel of the Year by the Pennsylvania Defense Institute.

Attorney Cummins practices in the state and federal courts that cover the Northeastern Pennsylvania counties that include, but are not limited to, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Sullivan, Bradford, Monroe, Northampton, Carbon, Lehigh, Schuylkill, Columbia, Northumberland, Montour, and Lycoming.

Mr. Cummins is a cum laude graduate of Villanova University ('90, B.A., English) after which he attended the Dickinson School of Law ('93, J.D.) and completed his law school studies at the University of London in London, England (Spring, '93).

After graduating from law school, Mr. Cummins served as the Senior Law Clerk for the Honorable Harold A. Thomson, Jr. in the Pike County Court of Common Pleas for two years before going into private practice, where he has focused on handling civil litigation matters ever since.

In addition to practicing law, Mr. Cummins is an award-winning civil litigation columnist for the Pennsylvania Law Weekly and is the creator and writer of the nationally recognized Tort Talk blog (www.TortTalk.com).

• Insurance Claims
• Insurance Defense
• Medical Malpractice
• Products Liability
• Personal Injury

• Car Accidents
• Insurance Bad Faith

• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  Currently accepting new clients along with referrals as local counsel, defense arbitrator, mediator, or otherwise

Pennsylvania

Since 1993

Managing Partner

Cummins Law

2020 - Current

Managing Partner in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania law firm. Focus on insurance defense matters with an emphasis in motor vehicle accident cases and slip and fall matters. Tried many cases to jury verdict in both state and federal court. Strives to provide client satisfaction through prompt and regular status reporting and making all efforts to amicably resolve cases reasonably in the most cost-efficient manner possible.

Blogger

www.TortTalk.com

2009 - Current

Creator and writer of nationally honored legal blog that provides updates on important cases and trends in Pennsylvania civil litigation matters.

Columinist on Civil Litigation matters

Pennsylvania Law Weekly

1996 - Current

Columnist for statewide legal news publication, writing articles providing updates on important cases and trends in Pennsylvania civil litigation matters.

Partner

Foley, Cognetti, Comerford, Cimini & Cummins Law Firm

1999 - 2019

Partner in Scranton, Pennsylvania law firm. Focus on insurance defense matters with an emphasis in motor vehicle accident cases and slip and fall matters. Tried many cases to jury verdict in both state and federal court. Strives to provide client satisfaction through prompt and regular status reporting and making all efforts to amicably resolve cases reasonably in the most cost-efficient manner possible.

Writer of Annual Supplement to Pennsylvania Trial Advocacy Handbook

George T. Bisel Compnany, Inc. - Publisher

2010 - 2013

Ongoing research of current Pennsylvania statutory changes and developing case law; write annual supplement to the Pennsylvania Trial Advocacy Handbook.

Adjunct Instructor - Paralegal Program

Penn State University

2001 - 2001

Served as an adjunct instructor in the paralegal program at the Worthington-Scranton campus of Penn State University teaching a course on general negligence law and medical malpractice law.

Associate Attorney

Bialkowski & Savitsky

1997 - 1999

Associate attorney for Scranton, Lackwanna County, Pennsylvania insurance defense firm. Focused on automobile accident and premises liability cases.

Law Clerk to the then President Judge Harold A. Thomson, Jr.

Pike County Court of Common Pleas in Milford, Pennsylvnia

1995 - 1997

Served for two years as law clerk to the then President Judge Harold A. Thomson, Jr. As Judge Thomson was the only judge in the Pike County Court of Common Pleas, researched and participated in the crafting of the court's opinions and orders in all areas of the law in the various matters that came before the court on a daily basis.

Pennsylvania State University - Dickinson School of Law

J.D. | LAW

1990 - 1993

Intramural Basketball, Intramural Softball, Moot Court Competition, Casenote Competition

University of London (England), Faculty of Laws

Study Abroad Program | LAW

1993 - 1993

Studied in British and American Comparative Law courses in study abroad program in law school.

Activities: Internship at law firm located along Fleet Street in the heart of London, England and affiliated with the Inner Temple. Viewed trials and court proceedings at the Old Bailey and in civil court.

Villanova University

B.A. | English Major, History Minor

1986 - 1990

Honors: Graduated cum laude.

Super Lawyer

Super Lawyers

2018

Selected for Inclusion in Directory

Best Lawyers in America

2018

Selected for the category Personal Injury Litigation - DEFENSE.

Super Lawyer

Super Lawyers

2017

Selected for Inclusion in Directory

The Best Lawyers in America

2017

Selected for Inclusion in Directory

The Best Lawyers in America

2016

Super Lawyer

Super Lawyers

2016

Selected for Inclusion in Directory

The Best Lawyers in America Directory

2015

Super Lawyer

Super Lawyers

2015

2014 Distinguished Defense Counsel of the Year

Pennsylvania Defense Institute

2014

AV-Rated Lawyer

Martindale-Hubbell

2013

Awarded Highest rating possible for ethical integrity and professional skill level as an attorney

First Place - Schnader Print Media Award

Pennsylvania Newspaper Association

2007

In 2007, Attorney Cummins received a First Place award for the second year in a row in the Weekly Newspaper category of the Schnader Print Media Awards.

Super Lawyer - Rising Star

Philadelphia Magazine

2007

In 2007, Attorney Dan Cummins was honored by his peers as a Super Lawyer-Rising Star.

First Place - Schnader Print Media Award

Pennsylvania Newspaper Association

2006

In 2006, Attorney Cummins received his first First Place recognition in the Schnader Print Media Awards for articles of his that appeared in the Pennsylvania Law Weekly.

Lawyers on the Fast Track Honoree

American Law Media

2005

In 2005, Attorney Dan Cummins was one of only 35 lawyers across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to be honored as a Lawyer on the Fast Track. The honor was bestowed upon Attorney Cummins in recognition of his excellence in advocacy, advancement of the law, community service, and service to the bar. To date, he remains only 1 of 2 attorneys in Northeastern Pennsylvania to ever receive this award.

Monroe County Bar Association

Member

2013 - Current

Claims and Litigation Management Alliance

Member

2010 - Current

Pennsylvania Defense Institute

Member

2007 - Current

Activities: Currently a member; formerly Vice President of North Division (2012); Also served as amicus brief writer on important civil litigation issues on appeal.

Pennsylvania Bar Association

Member

1997 - Current

Lackawanna Bar Association

Member

1997 - Current

Pike County Bar Association

Member

1995 - Current

The Pennsylvania Law Weekly, statewide legal news publication

Columnist on civil litigation topics

1995 - Current

Activities: Attorney Cummins continues to write a regular civil litigation column for the Pennsylvania Law Weekly, a statewide legal news publication. The articles analyze and predict trends in Pennsylvania civil litigation law and also provide tips to fellow attorneys on how to improve their practice. All of his articles may be viewed by clicking on the link for JDSupra.

Pike County Bar Association

Member

1995 - Current

Pennsylvania Defense Institute

Board Member

2007 - 2015

Lackawanna Bar Association

Officer - Secretary

1997 - 2015

Northeastern Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association

Officer-Treasurer (2010), Secretary (2009)

2008 - 2014

Defense Research Institute

Member

2008 - 2014

Auto Law - Post-Koken UM/UIM Update

Pennsylvania Defense Institute and Northeastern Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Assoc.

CLE at the Phillies

Pennsylvania Bar Institute

Tort Talk Expo 2011

TortTalk.com

View Attorney Cummins' articles by clicking on JDSupra Link. Below is a list of seminars planned and presented by Attorney Cummins:

A Forrest Gump Themed 2018 Civil Litigation Update

Luzerne County Bench Bar Conference

November 8, 2018

Golf Lessons: Tips for Professionalism and the Ethical Practice of Law

Lackawanna Pro Bono Golf Tournament

June, 2016

Civil Litigation Update 2015

www.TortTalk.com

September 1, 2015

New Wine in an Old Bottle: The Advent of Social Media Discovery in Pennsylvania Civil Litigation Matters

Tolle Lege/Villanova Law Review

January 30, 2015

'Tis the Season to Be Civil: Lessons from 'A Christmas Story'

Pennsylvania Lawyer Magazine

December 1, 2014

Bad Faith Update

PBI 21st Annual Auto Law Update

October 31, 2014

Tort Talk Expo 2014

September 26, 2014

Tort Talk Expo 2013

April 21, 2013

Tort Talk Expo 2012

May, 2012

Pennsylvania Defense Institute - Civil Litigation Developments 2011

Pennsylvania Defense Institute

August, 2011

Auto Law - Post-Koken UM/UIM Update

Pennsylvania Association for Justice

December, 2010

Civil Litigation Update 2011

Luzerne County Bench Bar Conference 2011

November, 2010

Post-Koken Update 2010

Luzerne County Bench Bar Conference 2010

November, 2010

Expert Discovery Issues

Pennsylvania Association for Justice

October, 2010

A League of Extraordinary Speakers: Critical and Developmental Topics in Litigation

Pennsylvania Defense Institute

August, 2010

Claims Rep Pet Peeves

Northeastern Pennsylvania Claims Association

April, 2010

UM/UIM Update

Pennsylvania Bar Institute

April, 2010

Mediation and Arbitration Tips CLE Seminar

Pennsylvania Association for Justice

December, 2009

2009 Civil Litigation Update at Luzerne County Bench Bar Conference

Luzerne County Bench Bar Conference

November, 2009

2009 Civil Litigation Update for Lackawanna County Bench Bar Conference

Lackawanna County Bar Associations

October, 2009

2009 Civil Litigation Update and ABC's of IME's Seminar for Pennsylvania Defense Institute

Pennsylvania Defense Institute

August 27, 2009

Lessons From Lawyer Caricatures CLE Seminar

Daniel E. Cummins

March, 2009

Koken Update/Mediation and Arbitration Tips CLE Seminar

Daniel E. Cummins

December, 2008

Lessons From Lawyer Caricatures

Daniel E. Cummins

November, 2008

2008 Civil Litigation Update/Mediation and Arbitration Tips

Daniel E. Cummins

October, 2008

Mediation and Arbitration Tips

Daniel E. Cummins

August, 2008

Lessons from the Godfather Trilogy: Universal Principles and Practical Advice

Daniel E. Cummins

July, 2008

2006 Civil Litigation Update

Daniel E. Cummins

November, 2006

Lessons from the Godfather Trilogy: Universal Principles and Practical Advice

Daniel E. Cummins

November, 2005