John A. Orlando Partner

John Orlando is an experienced trial attorney and has tried more than 60 cases over his 27-year law career.  These trials have involved clients who were both plaintiffs and defendants.  Although a majority of the cases have centered on products liability, John has also tried cases arising from construction accidents, automobile and trucking accidents, dram shop claims, civil rights claims and premises liability claims.  Because of his trial experience and his preference for trial work, John has had the opportunity to work within several of the firm’s practice groups.  He has represented plaintiffs and defendants in various alternate dispute resolution forums and has also served as a mediator and an arbitrator. 

A significant portion of John’s practice involves representing seriously injured individuals, helping them and their families recover from the devastating physical, emotional and financial effects of their injuries.  John has represented adults and children who have been seriously injured at work, at school, on various playing fields, on local streets and highways and on public and private premises.

Another significant portion of John’s practice involves representing plaintiffs and manufacturers in product liability cases.  John has tried cases in state and federal courts involving products such as power and punch presses,  riveting machines, industrial mixers, overhead and gantry cranes, boom cranes, high lift devices and scaffolding equipment, lift trucks and other material handling equipment and conveyor systems, beverage delivery trailers, dump truck bodies, brake systems, bottle labeling machines, coating and caulking materials, racing bicycles, helmets, wire rope and cables, industrial foot switches, exercise equipment and children’s toys. 

During law school, John was a published author and an editor of the Temple Law Review. 

John has written the trial preparation chapter for the Trial Tactics Continuing Legal Education course and has presented courses for Continuing Legal Education on such topics as products liability updates, use of demonstrative evidence including videotaped demonstrations in product liability cases and the use of expert witnesses in product liability cases.  He also speaks to claims professionals on a number of topics, including trial preparation, trial techniques, opening statements, product liability claims, civil rights litigation, police misconduct litigation and premises liability claims.

Representative Matters

• A complicated negligence and civil rights claim arising from the shooting death of the client’s husband which resulted in a multi-million dollar settlement
• The defense of a particular model standup lift truck in 3 cases in which the plaintiffs alleged various specific and repetitive type injuries
• A multi-million dollar settlement for a plant worker injured on a particularly defective and dangerous paper winding machine   

Recognition & Involvement

In 2009, 2010 and 2011, John was selected in a survey of his peers as a Pennsylvania "Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics magazine. He has been AV® rated by the Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating system. 

After graduating from college, John worked as an auditor for the public accounting firm Arthur Anderson while pursuing a possible career in Federal Law Enforcement.  An eye injury sustained during an ice hockey game left him ineligible for many Federal Law Enforcement positions so John decided to serve as a police officer for the Bensalem Township Police from 1976 through 1980.  During his tenure, he received four commendations from the department.  He was also elected President of the Police Benevolent Association, which provided labor representation for the officers.  John’s assignments included the uniform patrol division and the plain clothes tactical unit.  His work as a police officer often meant testifying in court in jury and non-jury trials and various preliminary and evidentiary hearings.  From his appearances and testimony in court, John developed a passion for the courtroom and decided to become a lawyer. 

John has remained very active in youth ice hockey organizations.  He is a certified ice hockey coach and has coached various youth ice hockey teams for many years.  Also an avid cyclist, John volunteers to raise money and participates in several charity bike-a-thons each year which support the American Cancer Society, the Philadelphia Police Charitable Foundation and the MS Society.