
Daniel E. Cummins
Partner with Foley, Comerford & CumminsDaniel E. Cummins, Esquire is an AV-rated partner in the Scranton, Pennsylvania law firm of Foley, Comerford & Cummins with 15 years of insurance defense experience in Northeastern Pennsylvania, including insurance defense work in the Poconos area and the surrounding counties.
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 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.
Attorney 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 insurance defense litigation 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 honored Tort Talk blog (www.TortTalk.com).
- Insurance Claims
- Insurance Defense
- Medical Malpractice
- Products Liability
- 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
- Blogger
- www.TortTalk.com
- - Current
- Creator and writer of nationally honored legal blog that provides updates on important cases and trends in Pennsylvania civil litigation matters.
- Partner
- Foley, Cognetti, Comerford, Cimini & Cummins Law Firm
- - Current
- 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.
- Columinist on Civil Litigation matters
- Pennsylvania Law Weekly
- - Current
- Columnist for statewide legal news publication, writing articles providing updates on important cases and trends in Pennsylvania civil litigation matters.
- Writer of Annual Supplement to Pennsylvania Trial Advocacy Handbook
- George T. Bisel Compnany, Inc. - Publisher
- -
- 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
- -
- 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
- -
- 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
- -
- 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
- -
- Intramural Basketball, Intramural Softball, Moot Court Competition, Casenote Competition
- University of London (England), Faculty of Laws
- Study Abroad Program | LAW
- -
- 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
- -
- Honors: Graduated cum laude.
- Super Lawyer
- Super Lawyers
- Selected for Inclusion in Directory
- Best Lawyers in America
- Selected for the category Personal Injury Litigation - DEFENSE.
- Super Lawyer
- Super Lawyers
- Selected for Inclusion in Directory
- The Best Lawyers in America
- Selected for Inclusion in Directory
- The Best Lawyers in America
- Super Lawyer
- Super Lawyers
- Selected for Inclusion in Directory
- The Best Lawyers in America Directory
- Super Lawyer
- Super Lawyers
- 2014 Distinguished Defense Counsel of the Year
- Pennsylvania Defense Institute
- AV-Rated Lawyer
- Martindale-Hubbell
- Awarded Highest rating possible for ethical integrity and professional skill level as an attorney
- First Place - Schnader Print Media Award
- Pennsylvania Newspaper Association
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- - Current
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
- Member
- - Current
- Northeastern Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association
- Officer-Treasurer (2010), Secretary (2009)
- - Current
- Defense Research Institute
- Member
- - Current
- Pennsylvania Defense Institute
- Member
- - 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 Defense Institute
- Board Member
- - Current
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
- Lackawanna Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
- Lackawanna Bar Association
- Officer - Secretary
- - Current
- Pennsylvania State Bar
- Member
- - Current
- Pike County Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
- The Pennsylvania Law Weekly, statewide legal news publication
- Columnist on civil litigation topics
- - 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
- - Current
- 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
- Golf Lessons: Tips for Professionalism and the Ethical Practice of Law
- Lackawanna Pro Bono Golf Tournament
- Civil Litigation Update 2015
- www.TortTalk.com
- New Wine in an Old Bottle: The Advent of Social Media Discovery in Pennsylvania Civil Litigation Matters
- Tolle Lege/Villanova Law Review
- 'Tis the Season to Be Civil: Lessons from 'A Christmas Story'
- Pennsylvania Lawyer Magazine
- Bad Faith Update
- PBI 21st Annual Auto Law Update
- Tort Talk Expo 2014
- Tort Talk Expo 2013
- Tort Talk Expo 2012
- Pennsylvania Defense Institute - Civil Litigation Developments 2011
- Pennsylvania Defense Institute
- Auto Law - Post-Koken UM/UIM Update
- Pennsylvania Association for Justice
- Civil Litigation Update 2011
- Luzerne County Bench Bar Conference 2011
- Post-Koken Update 2010
- Luzerne County Bench Bar Conference 2010
- Expert Discovery Issues
- Pennsylvania Association for Justice
- A League of Extraordinary Speakers: Critical and Developmental Topics in Litigation
- Pennsylvania Defense Institute
- Claims Rep Pet Peeves
- Northeastern Pennsylvania Claims Association
- UM/UIM Update
- Pennsylvania Bar Institute
- Mediation and Arbitration Tips CLE Seminar
- Pennsylvania Association for Justice
- 2009 Civil Litigation Update at Luzerne County Bench Bar Conference
- Luzerne County Bench Bar Conference
- 2009 Civil Litigation Update for Lackawanna County Bench Bar Conference
- Lackawanna County Bar Associations
- 2009 Civil Litigation Update and ABC's of IME's Seminar for Pennsylvania Defense Institute
- Pennsylvania Defense Institute
- Lessons From Lawyer Caricatures CLE Seminar
- Daniel E. Cummins
- Koken Update/Mediation and Arbitration Tips CLE Seminar
- Daniel E. Cummins
- Lessons From Lawyer Caricatures
- Daniel E. Cummins
- 2008 Civil Litigation Update/Mediation and Arbitration Tips
- Daniel E. Cummins
- Mediation and Arbitration Tips
- Daniel E. Cummins
- Lessons from the Godfather Trilogy: Universal Principles and Practical Advice
- Daniel E. Cummins
- 2006 Civil Litigation Update
- Daniel E. Cummins
- Lessons from the Godfather Trilogy: Universal Principles and Practical Advice
- Daniel E. Cummins
- Website
- Website
- Website
- Avvo Profile
- Blog
- Tort Talk: Updates and Trends in Pennsylvania Civil Litigation Law
- Lackawanna County Mock Trial Update
20 February 2019 - Federal Judge Rules That Expert Testimony is Required to Assert That Smoking Impacts Life Expectancy
20 February 2019 - Issues of Fact Preclude Summary Judgment Based on Hills and Ridges Doctrine
19 February 2019 - MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION GOING STRONG - CAN YOU SERVE AS A JUROR?
18 February 2019 - Forrest Gump Themed Civil Litigation Update CLE Set for Next Week in Monroe County
15 February 2019 - Scope of Civil Liability Under the Mental Health Procedures Act
14 February 2019 - New Trial Granted in Post-Koken UIM Zero Verdict Case
13 February 2019 - Catch-all Allegations Stricken From Complaint in Monroe County
12 February 2019 - COMPETITION IS HEATING UP - MOCK TRIAL JURORS NEEDED
11 February 2019