Litigation

Corporate & Commercial Litigation

The attorneys at Mette, Evans & Woodside have substantial experience representing businesses and individuals in legal disputes. The extensive trial experience of our attorneys makes for formidable litigation representation when necessary, yet also allows for alternate dispute resolutions.

Our experience includes representation of clients in state and federal courts. Our seasoned Litigation attorneys regularly handle appeals before the Commonwealth, Superior and Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania, as well as the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Mette, Evans and Woodside’s active appellate practice also includes participation as amicus curiae, or “friend of the court” where issues involved in an appeal may impact a client’s interests. We also routinely serve as local counsel to out-of-state individuals and businesses in proceedings before our Pennsylvania courts, including actions involving intellectual property and patent litigation.

  • Breach of Contract
  • Injunction Proceedings
  • Employment Agreements
  • Shareholder Actions
  • Administrative Proceedings
  • Business Dissolution
  • Fraud and Unfair Competition
  • Non-Compete Agreements
  • Restrictive Covenants
  • Intellectual Property Rights
  • Patent Issues
  • Commercial Real Estate Disputes
  • Insurance Litigation
  • White Collar Crime
  • Professional Liability Defense
  • Negligence

Litigation Attorneys

Thomas A. Archer
Matthew D. Coble
Ronald L. Finck
Aaron D. Martin
Kathryn Lease Simpson

Employment Law

The Employment Law attorneys have been helping businesses meet the challenges of maintaining a highly skilled workforce for over four decades. We provide legal counsel on the complex state and federal regulations that surround human resource decisions.

Mette, Evans & Woodside helps to keep businesses in compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements. We are prepared to aggressively represent you before administrative agencies and the courts when necessary.

We also assist clients in strengthening compensation and benefits packages with the development of employee options such as stock-ownership plans, profit-sharing, health and welfare plans, 401k plans and other complex compensation solutions.

  • Human Resources
  • Employee Relations
  • Employment Agreements
  • Executive
  • Compensation
  • Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation Defense
  • Employee Benefits and ERISA
  • Discrimination Defense
  • Wage and Labor Standards Compliance

Employment Law Attorneys

Thomas A. Archer
Aaron D. Martin
Kathryn Lease Simpson
James A. Ulsh

Environmental Law

The Environmental Law attorneys at Mette, Evans & Woodside provide legal advice to clients on the rapidly changing and increasingly complex environmental regulatory and compliance issues. Our attorneys provide counsel to businesses, developers, financial institutions, municipalities and individuals to assist in navigating the process of obtaining permits, approvals and exemptions for public and private projects as well as evaluating and responding to environmental risks.

Our attorneys have spent decades developing relationships with state and federal environmental agencies and are adept at working with engineers, consultants and technicians.

  • Municipal Waste Planning and Management
  • Sewage Facilities Planning and Permitting
  • Wetlands Permitting
  • Stormwater Management
  • Safe Drinking Water Act Requirements
  • Brownfields Remediation and Liability Issues
  • Underground and Aboveground Storage Tanks
  • Clean Streams Law Issues
  • Environmental Litigation

Insurance Regulatory & Corporate Law

Mette, Evans and Woodside trial attorneys have extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration.

Not every legal case results in litigation, nor should it. At times when alternative dispute resolution is an appropriate option, our attorneys can provide guidance in mediation and arbitration. Often, mediation or arbitration can bring resolution to legal dispute at a lesser expense and shorter time than a trial.

Mediation brings together the parties involved in a dispute, along with their attorneys, to explore potential agreeable solutions. A mediator’s recommendations are not binding to either party.

Arbitration utilizes an individual or a panel of impartial arbitrators rather than a judge or jury to hear the dispute. Arbitrators make a binding decision regarding the disposition of the case.

At the administrative level, we represent public and private individuals and entities in proceedings before administrative agencies such as the Environmental Hearing Board, the Public Utility Commission, the EEOC and Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, municipal boards and commissions, and the Board of Claims.

  • Contract Disputes
  • Employment Issues
  • Personal Injury Cases
  • Real Estate Issues
  • Broker and Securities Disputes

Mediation, Arbitration & Administrative Practice Attorneys

Matthew D. Coble
Kathryn Lease Simpson

Personal Injury

The Mette, Evans & Woodside Personal Injury attorneys offer legal counsel and aggressive representation to victims of negligence and recklessness of others. We work on behalf of our clients for just compensation for all types of injuries and wrongful death. Our dedicated attorneys and staff have a wide range of experience litigating injury law claims including motor vehicle, fall down claims, civil rights and medical negligence.

Our experienced personal injury attorneys have obtained significant trial awards and settlements for both individuals and estates. If you believe that you are entitled to a personal injury settlement, our attorneys will meet with you to review the merits of your case in order to determine whether going to trial or reaching an out of court settlement would be most beneficial for you.

Your initial consultation is free of charge. In the majority of cases, personal injury claims are awarded on a contingency basis, meaning you do not pay any attorney fees unless a monetary settlement or judgment is obtained on your behalf.

  • Auto Accidents
  • Slip and Fall Injuries
  • Construction Accidents
  • Medical Mistakes and Negligence
  • Premises Liability
  • Wrongful Death
  • Civil Rights

Work & Personal Injury Attorneys

Thomas A. Archer

Professional Licensure Defense

Protecting your professional license in good standing is critical to your financial well-being and maintaining your hard-earned reputation. When your ability to practice your profession is threatened by licensure issues, you need an attorney who is well-versed in professional licensure. The attorneys at Mette, Evans & Woodside provide vigorous licensure defense to all types of professional service providers including:

  • Physicians
  • Nurses
  • Podiatrists
  • Dentists
  • Psychologists and
  • Psychiatrists
  • Optometrists
  • Pharmacists
  • Chiropractors
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Real Estate Brokers & Appraisers
  • Attorneys
  • Funeral Directors
  • Accountants
  • Engineers & Architects
  • Veterinarians
  • Social workers
 

The laws and regulations surrounding Pennsylvania’s professional licensure is complex and can widely vary from one profession to another. Our attorneys have an in-depth understanding of professional licensing and provide experienced representation. From a wide range of issues, from representation at administrative hearings to complaint investigations and disciplinary actions we guide clients through each step of the process to protect their professional licenses.

What To Do If You Have Received An Investigation Notice

If you receive an investigation notice from the state’s professional licensing board, contact Mette, Evans & Woodside immediately. Our attorneys are knowledgeable in professional license defense and very familiar with state licensing boards and the disciplinary process. Responding on your own or meeting with the board investigator, without legal representation, can adversely impact the outcome and put your professional license and livelihood in peril.

In our experience, when we are consulted first, we are able to increase the likelihood of a resolution in the best possible terms for our clients.

  • Obtaining Professional Licenses
  • License Investigations
  • Disciplinary Actions
  • Denial of License
  • Complaint Investigation
  • Impaired Provider Program
  • License Suspension or Revocation
  • Administrative Proceedings
  • Appealing Decisions

Professional Licensure Attorneys

James L. Goldsmith
Kathryn Lease Simpson

Social Security Disability

If you suffer from a physical or mental condition that prevents you from working, consult with the attorneys at Mette, Evans & Woodside before you apply for social security disability. Our attorneys have a comprehensive working knowledge of the entire social security disability application process.

Social Security Disability (SSD) is for people, who during their employment history, have amassed enough work credits by paying Social Security payroll taxes. To be considered for social security disability you must be suffering from a severe condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death or that prevents you from performing the work you did or any other work at substantial gainful activity levels.

Statistics from the United States Social Security Disability Insurance Program show that nearly 60% of applications are denied. Anything from incomplete information to improper medical records can result in denial of the disability application. Completing all necessary forms correctly is crucial to a successful application. We will guide you through the entire process providing you with information about answering questions appropriately, proper documentation of condition and chronicling your treatment history to ensure that your application is accurate. The attorneys at Mette, Evans & Woodside are ready to guide you through the application process and help increase the chances of a favorable outcome.

  • Social Security Disability
  • Supplemental Security Income
  • Past Due Benefits
  • Appeal of Denied Claims
  • Reinstatement of Suspended Benefits

Workers’ Compensation Defense

The attorneys at Mette, Evans & Woodside provide legal representation to employers, insurance carriers, third-party administrators and insurance brokers regarding the defense of workers’ compensation claims and disputes throughout Pennsylvania. Our experienced attorneys are certified as specialists in the practice of Workers’ Compensation law by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Our purpose is to help reduce your liability exposure by providing efficient representation of active claims to a favorable conclusion and by providing a proactive defense against questionable or unwarranted claims for workers’ compensation benefits.

We provide guidance to clients through all aspects of the workers’ compensation claim process from the reporting of a work injury through pleadings, discovery, investigation of the claim, settlement negotiations, depositions, and claims evaluation. Mette, Evans & Woodside handles all phases of the litigation process from the workers’ compensation judge level through the appellate courts.

  • Loss Prevention
  • Settlement Negotiations
  • Claims Administration
  • Liability Assessment
  • Compensation Claims Defense