J. Colin Schwartz

Colin Schwartz is a Principal in the firm's Casualty Litigation Department and concentrates his practice on the defense of complex litigation involving products liability and premises liability claims, demolition and construction site incidents, and commercial transportation accidents. He routinely represents product manufacturers and distributors, construction companies, real estate developers, property management companies, hospitals, retailers, and clients in the hospitality industry in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Mr. Schwartz also practices in the field of consumer rights, defending clients in unfair trade practices, consumer fraud, and related common law claims.  

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• Successfully defended a demolition contractor in a complex case arising out of the alleged unlawful demolition of a warehouse in Philadelphia and the destruction or theft of contents within the warehouse, with a claimed value in excess of $10,000,000.00. The majority of Plaintiff’s claims were dismissed and the scope of recoverable damages was limited by the Court to an amount orders of magnitude lower than the initial claimed value.   
• Obtained dismissal of defendant from several consolidated wrongful death and negligence lawsuits arising out of a Philadelphia building collapse.   The Court dismissed the client from all cases on the grounds that it owed no duty to the injured or deceased Plaintiffs.  After the client was dismissed, the case ultimately led to a nine-month trial, resulting in the largest settlement in Pennsylvania history.  
• Successfully defended a contractor in a case arising out of a construction-site incident that resulted in an eight-figure settlement, achieving a result where the client paid nothing by way of settlement or judgment.  
• In a premises liability case against a nationwide administrator of foreclosed properties, Mr. Schwartz was able to obtain early dismissal of the client on the grounds that it owed no duty to the plaintiff with respect to the claimed dangerous defect on the premises that allegedly caused the plaintiff’s significant injuries.  
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of a property owner in a premises liability case involving significant facial injuries to the plaintiff. 
• Obtained a defense award at binding arbitration in a case alleging fraud and statutory liability for the total loss of a vehicle the plaintiff purchased from the represented defendants.