Philadelphia Attorney
Thomas J. Wagner

Mr. Wagner is a trial lawyer and concentrates his practice in civil litigation. Mr. Wagner and the Firm have been assigned an “AV” – the highest in skill and ethics – rating by Mr. Wagner’s peers through the Martindale Hubbell peer review. A former National, Philadelphia City and Catholic League championship oarsman, he knows how to win.

Since receiving his Juris Doctor degree in 1988 from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, Mr. Wagner has developed unique expertise in defending and trying cases on behalf of Firm Clients that involve admiralty/maritime, products liability, transportation, cargo/freight, professional liability of attorneys, architects and accountants, Directors and officers claims, premises liability law – including environmental/toxic exposure damage claims and Fire cases – in the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Mr. Wagner is designated by his colleagues as a pre-eminent lawyer in his practice areas. He is listed in the Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers.

Mr. Wagner has appeared, by invitation, in the State or Federal Courts of Kentucky, Washington, Washington D.C., Delaware, Illinois, Florida, Maryland and New York. In addition, Mr. Wagner analyzes insurance coverage and commercial lease (real and transportation assets) obligations and defends employers rights for select clients.

Locally, Mr. Wagner serves as a Judge Pro Tem in the Major Jury Program for the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County.

Mr. Wagner is admitted to all State and Federal Courts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Mr. Wagner is a member of the Defense Research Institute (“DRI”), it’s Trucking Law Committee, it’s Product Liability Committee and the Fire Casualty Specialty Litigation Group (“SLG”). Mr. Wagner is also a member of the Pennsylvania Defense Institute.

He has been a member of the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel and the South Jersey Claims Association. He is designated as a Proctor in Admiralty by the United States Maritime Law Association and is a member of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and American Bar Associations. Mr. Wagner is a member of the American Trucking Association, its Litigation Center, the Transportation Lawyers Association, the Risk and Insurance Management Society and the Trucking Industry Defense Association (“TIDA”).

In additon to frequent and regular trial successes, Mr. Wagner counsels clients on risk and litigation managment and regularly presents updates to Firm clients and friends in the transportation, product liability, fire casualty and risk fields.

Mr. Wagner resides in Swedesboro, NJ with his wife Staci and children Dillon, Eavan and Aaron. He can be reached at: tjwagner@wagnerlaw.net

Representative Reported Court Decisions:

• Capital Mfg. v. Rayco Industries., 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8407 (Confirming arbitration award won on behalf of Firm client in AAA Arbitration on construction claim as judgment and establishing Federal Jurisdiction over the award.)
• Day v. Mendenhall Inn, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14080, September 9, 1998, Decided , September 9, 1998 (Awarding defendant post-trial costs after defense verdict in Hospitality/premises liability claim)
• Covell v. Smith, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19454, December 30, 1996, Decided , December 30, 1994 (Granting summary judgment in §1983 arising from an involuntary commitment under Pa. Section 302. Established that committing nurse had governmental immunity.)
• Souders v. Atlantic Richfield Co., 746 F. Supp. 570; 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11954; 1991 AMC 554, September 10, 1990 (Bench trial verdict in favor of shipowners and asbestos product manufacturers because Plaintiff’s claim was barred by the Maritime Statute of Limitations)
• Caleb v. CRST, Inc. 43 Fed. Appx. 513; 2002 U.S. App. LEXIS 17893 (Loss of evidence – ICC/underride bar – cannot be the basis for an independent tort claim. Defendant’s Motion to dismiss granted and affirmed on appeal.)
• Lincoln Gen. Ins. Co. v. Guinn, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9850, May 24, 2005, Decided , May 24, 2005, Filed; May 25, 2005 (Summary Judgment on Declaratory Judgment action. No coverage for injury caused while escaping from police)