Daniel E. Cummins

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Summary

Daniel 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. 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. Along the way, 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).

Practice Areas

Insurance Claims
Insurance Defense
Medical Malpractice
Products Liability

Additional Practice Areas

Car Accidents
Insurance Bad Faith

Fees

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

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

Pennsylvania
Since 1993

Professional Experience

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.

Partner: Foley, Cognetti, Comerford, Cimini & Cummins Law Firm; 1999 - 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; 1996 - 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; 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.

Education

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.

Awards

Super Lawyer: Super Lawyers; 2016

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.

Professional Associations

Monroe County Bar Association: Member; 2013 - Current

Claims and Litigation Management Alliance: Member; 2010 - Current

Northeastern Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association: Officer-Treasurer (2010), Secretary (2009); 2008 - Current

Defense Research Institute: Member; 2008 - 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 Defense Institute: Board Member; 2007 - Current

Pennsylvania Bar Association: Member; 1997 - Current

Lackawanna Bar Association: Member; 1997 - Current

Lackawanna Bar Association: Officer - Secretary; 1997 - Current

Pennsylvania State Bar: Member; 1995 - 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.