Our Attorneys

Meredith Bates is an Associate at Kane Pugh Knoell Troy & Kramer. Ms. Bates’ practice focuses primarily on premises liability, medical malpractice, and personal injury defense. She is a graduate of Villanova’s Charles Widger School of Law. Throughout law school, she was an active member of the Pro Bono Society. She served as Pro Bono Society’s Chair to the Birth Certificate Clinic, a monthly legal clinic run by Face to Face Germantown. She had the opportunity to intern for the Honorable Joel Slomsky at the Eastern District of Pennsylvania as well as for Judge Jozwik in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ms. Bates is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and is a member of the Pennsylvania and Montgomery County Bar Associations.

Before her career in the field of law, Ms. Bates was a professional cellist. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Houston, Texas. She has given performances in a wide range of concert spaces all over the world including Carnegie Hall and the Kimmel Center. In addition to being a performer, Ms. Bates was also a passionate educator and mentor to music students.

When not working, she enjoys walking her dog, playing cello, and visiting with family and friends.

Mr. Bauerle’s litigation practice concentrates on general casualty insurance defense.  Before joining the firm, he was house counsel for major insurance companies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  He has conducted approximately seventy five (75) jury and bench trials in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Courts, and has conducted hundreds of arbitrations.  He has argued before the Pennsylvania Superior Court on multiple occasions.

Mr. Bauerle graduated with honors from Temple University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and a Dean’s Scholar.  He received a Juris Doctor from Temple University School of Law, and while there served as a Senior Production Editor for the Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review.  He also holds an LL.M. in Trial Advocacy from Temple University School of Law.

Mr. Bauerle is admitted to practice in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey state courts, the United States District Court for the Federal District of New Jersey, and the United States District Court for Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Bauerle has served as a civil arbitrator for the Philadelphia and Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas.  Mr. Bauerle is a volunteer attorney for the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project (MCAP) where he represents, on a pro bono basis, abused and neglected children

Mr. Bayer is a partner in the firm and focuses his practice on defending clients from claims involving professional liability, commercial transportation, municipal defense, bad faith and commercial disputes. He frequently defends high exposure claims as well as complex insurance and professional liability matters throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He also regularly consults with clients on claim avoidance and pre-suit claims.

Mr. Bayer frequently teaches legal education programs for risk managers, claims professionals, other lawyers, and law students. He regularly presents on topics including case evaluation, legal ethics, professional liability, commercial transportation, risk, and legal procedure.

He has been honored as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer by both Philadelphia Magazine and Law and Politics in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Previously he was recognized as a “Rising Star” from 2007-2018 by both publications. Mr. Bayer also serves as a court-appointed settlement facilitator and mediator for complex civil cases.

Mr. Bayer is an active member of the Montgomery Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. He is currently the President of the Montgomery Bar Association. He is a past President of the Trial Lawyer’s Section, past Chair of the Young Lawyers’ Division of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and was a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Board of Governors from 2015-2018. He is also an active member of several Risk, Claims and Civil Defense organizations.

Mr. Bayer is a graduate of Lehigh University (2001) and Villanova University School of Law (2004). He is admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Superior Court of New Jersey and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Mr. Bayer resides with his wife, Kelly, and their two sons, George and Thomas, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Don Belfie joined the firm in 2006. He was previously an Assistant District Attorney in the Office of the District Attorney of Chester County from 2003 to 2006. During his time as an Assistant District Attorney, Mr. Belfie prosecuted hundreds of cases and tried dozens of jury and non-jury trials.

Mr. Belfie focuses his practice on medical malpractice litigation. He has extensive experience in the defense of healthcare providers, hospitals and health systems from the start of a client’s case through appeal. Mr. Belfie also specializes in commercial, auto and general liability, products liability and criminal defense.

Mr. Belfie graduated from East Stroudsburg University and Widener University School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in the United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Montgomery County Bar Association and Pennsylvania Bar Association.

Mr. Belfie was selected as a “Rising Star” attorney by both Philadelphia Magazine and by Law and Politics in 2012, through 2017. “Rising Stars” are chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law and Politics as being among the top-up-and-coming lawyers in Pennsylvania. Only 2.5 percent of Pennsylvania attorneys receive this honor each year.

Mr. Belfie was born and raised in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. He now resides with his two children, Donny and Gianna, in Chester County. In his spare time, Mr. Belfie volunteers as a football coach at United Sports Training Center, in Downingtown and as a baseball coach for the Caln A’s Travel Baseball Organization and Caln Athletic Association.

Recent News

Mr. Belfie recently successfully defended an oncologist and oncology nurse that were accused of failing to properly administer chemotherapy medication to a patient. The patient alleged that as result of an extravasation of medication, she developed blood clots and needed to be hospitalized. The case was tried before a jury in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County. The jury unanimously found that the care provided by the oncologist and oncology nurse was appropriate and did not cause any injury to the patient.

Mr. Belfie recently successfully defended a commercial bus company and its bus driver in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. The Plaintiff alleged that she suffered severe injuries to her legs when the bus she was a passenger in was involved in a motor vehicle accident with another vehicle. Plaintiff alleged that she was permanently disabled as a result of her injuries and sought damages in excess of $250,000.00. After a week of trial, the jury found that the bus driver was not at fault for causing the accident and returned a verdict in favor of the bus company and its driver.

Mr. Belfie recently successfully defended a commercial bus company and its bus driver in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The Plaintiff alleged that she suffered injuries to her neck and back when a SEPTA bus she was a passenger in was sideswiped by a bus. A judgment was entered in favor of the bus company after it was proven that Plaintiff’s injuries were pre-existing and not caused by the motor vehicle accident.

Mr. Belfie recently successfully defended a commercial bus company and its bus driver in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The Plaintiff alleged that she suffered injuries to her neck and back when she fell out of her seat when the bus “unexpectedly jerked violently”. A judgment was entered in favor of the bus company after it was proven that Plaintiff was standing and not sitting in her seat before she fell to the ground. Mr. Belfie was able to find and call as witnesses several passengers on the bus that testified that the bus did not jerk, shake or move unexpectedly during the entire trip.

Mr. Belfie recently successfully defended a commercial bus company in the United States Eastern District of Pennsylvania where it was alleged that the bus rear ended a taxi cab as the taxi cab was picking up a passenger. The taxi cab driver sued the bus company and its driver alleging that as a result of the accident he suffered serious injuries to his neck and back that prevented him from working. The taxi cab driver sought damages in excess of $125,000.00. A judgment was entered in favor of the bus company after it was proven that the taxi cab driver caused the accident when he cut in front of the bus.

Mr. Belfie recently successfully defended a family physician, certified nurse and medical assistant accused of failing to timely diagnose and treat a patient’s mental illness. The patient subsequently committed suicide. The estate alleged that the physician and his staff failed to recognize the patient’s mental illness, failed to refer him to a mental health professional and prescribed medication that exacerbated his mental illness. From thoroughly investigating the claims, Mr. Belfie learned that the decedent had been evaluated by three different psychiatrists within one year of his death and that it was recommended by each psychiatrist that he receive mental health treatment. The decedent never followed up with any of the recommendations from the psychiatrists. Mr. Belfie also discovered that the decedent never took any of the medication that allegedly exacerbated the decedent’s mental illness and contributed to his suicide. The case was eventually dismissed. The case was in Montgomery County.

Mr. Belfie recently successfully defended a nurse midwife in Montour County. It was alleged that the nurse midwife inappropriately administered medication to a woman in labor despite signs that her fetus was in distress. It was also alleged that the nurse midwife failed to timely recommend delivery by cesarean section. The fetus suffered from oxygen deprivation and was born with cerebral palsy. The nurse midwife was dismissed from the case after Mr. Belfie successfully argued that the Plaintiff’s expert medical witnesses were not qualified to provide expert testimony against the nurse midwife and that their opinions were insufficient as a matter of law to prove that the nurse midwife’s actions caused any damage to baby.

Mr. Belfie recently successfully defended a property owner in Philadelphia. It was alleged that the owner of the property failed to clear snow and ice from a parking area in front of the property. Mr. Belfie proved that the property owner had hired a company to remove snow and ice from the area where the Plaintiff had fallen. Mr. Belfie also proved that the property owner took reasonable steps to clear the area from snow and ice. Mr. Belfie was successful on his Motion for Summary Judgment and the case was dismissed against the property owner.

Alli Bigelow joined Kane, Pugh, Knoell, Troy & Kramer upon graduation from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. She focuses her practice on civil litigation and general liability defense. 

Alli received her B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Economics from Villanova University in 2017. As an undergraduate student, she volunteered with the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania. 

While at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, Alli worked as a student attorney with the Clinic for Asylum, Refugees, and Emigrant Services. She also interned with the City of Philadelphia Law Department in the Appeals Unit. 

Alli was born and raised in Chester County, Pennsylvania. In her spare time, Alli enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with friends and family.

Katie began her law career at Kane Pugh in 2010 and is proud to still be a part of this exceptional firm. Katie practices in the areas of professional liability, specifically medical malpractice and legal malpractice defense, as well as premises liability and employment law. In addition to individual attorneys and physicians, she has represented influential law firms and hospital systems, as well as beloved Philadelphia institutions. She has successfully defended Title VII and ADA claims, as well as claims made pursuant to state discrimination laws.

Katie is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the District of New Jersey. She is honored to serve the legal community and beyond as a member of the Pennsylvania and Montgomery Bar Associations, and as a Montgomery County Child Advocate.

Katie received her JD, cum laude, from the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law in 2010, where she was an Editor of the Law Review and a Presidential Scholar. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Boston College in 2007, where she was also a graduate of the Honors Program of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences. She is a proud alumna of Mount Saint Joseph Academy and a former member and coach of their Mock Trial Team.

Katie lives with her two young daughters and her husband (who is also an attorney) in Montgomery Township.

Representative Cases

In June 2020, had a breach of contract action against two attorneys dismissed, where plaintiff alleged that the attorneys had not properly prosecuted a medical malpractice action on plaintiff’s behalf.

In October 2019, had an action for wrongful use of civil proceedings dismissed on a Motion for Summary Judgment, where a commercial tenant plaintiff was alleging that its former landlord had wrongfully initiated a lawsuit against it.

In December 2018, had an action for wrongful use of civil proceedings dismissed, where plaintiff was alleging that defendant attorney should not have brought a lawsuit for negligent supervision against him.

In March 2018, had a legal malpractice action against a real estate attorney dismissed, where former clients were alleging a breach of confidentiality.

In May 2017, represented a psychologist in a complaint before the State Licensing Board; as a result of efforts, the complaint was declared unfounded and the investigation closed.

In April 2017, obtained a dismissal of a legal malpractice action involving an underlying medical malpractice suit alleging an overdose of pain medication.

In August 2016, succeeded in having a medical malpractice action dismissed against an outpatient MRI center, in which Plaintiff alleged a delay in diagnosis of a spinal injury.

In July 2016, succeeded in having an outpatient surgery center dismissed from a medical malpractice action, where plaintiff was alleging a botched knee surgery.

In January 2016, obtained a dismissal from the EEOC on a charge of sexual harassment and discrimination against a staffing agency.

In October 2015, prevailed in a premises liability action against a zoo, where Plaintiff and her minor child had slipped and fallen.

In October 2015, successfully defended a family law attorney in a legal malpractice action brought by her former client, as client was unhappy with his agreed custody arrangement. Also prevailed in the subsequent appeals before the Pennsylvania Superior and Supreme Courts.

In February 2014, had a medical malpractice action against a radiologist and regional hospital dismissed, where plaintiff alleged a delay in diagnosis of her breast cancer.

In September 2013, succeeded on 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss in a federal RICO action.

In August 2013, had medical malpractice complaint dismissed on a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, where Plaintiff had alleged that a psychiatrist had failed to report the abuse of a patient.

In June 2013, prevailed on a Motion for Summary Judgment and had attorney dismissed from a legal malpractice action involving the music industry.

In March 2013, prevailed in a legal malpractice action where plaintiffs’ federal complaint was dismissed, with prejudice, and was also successful on appeal where the Third Circuit affirmed the dismissal. Plaintiff had alleged a conspiracy between the Montgomery County bar and bench to deprive him of his civil rights during his divorce proceedings.

In February 2013, obtained a judgment of non pros in a legal malpractice action where plaintiff alleged that his attorney had not diligently represented him in his attempts to obtain an accounting of his mother's estate.

In January 2013, secured a judgment of non pros in a medical malpractice action where plaintiff had alleged that numerous doctors had failed to properly care for her late husband toward the end of his life.

In October 2012, successfully defended several nurses and a regional hospital in a matter where plaintiff alleged he had contracted a serious viral disease during surgery; all of the nurses and the hospital were dismissed from the litigation.

In June 2012, successfully defended an attorney at an arbitration involving Pennsylvania's Wage Payment and Collection Law. The attorney ran an estate where the plaintiff served as a personal caretaker and alleged that she was owed a significant sum in unpaid wages. The arbitration panel found in favor of the attorney.

In April 2012, had another legal malpractice complaint in federal court dismissed with prejudice. Plaintiff insisted that the defendant attorney had conspired with state and county benches to deprive him of his constitutional rights during Orphans' Court proceedings.

In March 2012, represented a psychologist in a complaint before the State Licensing Board; as a result of efforts, the complaint was declared unfounded and the investigation closed.

In September 2011, succeeded in having a legal malpractice action in federal court dismissed with prejudice. The plaintiff had alleged that the defendant lawyer had mishandled the administration of his minor daughter's trust.

In June 2011, appeared before the Pennsylvania Superior Court to argue an appeal in a legal malpractice action where the plaintiff had accused an opposing counsel from a separate lawsuit of defamation; prevailed at oral argument and the Superior Court affirmed the decision to dismiss plaintiff's complaint with prejudice.

In May 2011, prevailed in quashing an appeal before the Superior Court. Plaintiff had long sought to become the administrator of his parents' estate and appealed the Court of Common Pleas decision to mark the administration closed; had appellant thrown out of court for lack of standing and lack of an appealable issue.

In March 2011, obtained a judgment of non pros in a legal malpractice action in which plaintiff alleged that her domestic relations attorney had botched her divorce proceedings. Plaintiff failed to produce an adequate certificate of merit, and successfully argued to have the certificate of merit stricken and the case dismissed.

Luciano P. DiElsi is an Associate Attorney in the Blue Bell office of Kane, Pugh, Knoell, Troy, & Kramer, LLP. His practice is focused primarily on defense litigation in medical malpractice defense and general liability cases.

Luciano was born and raised in Skippack, Pennsylvania, where he currently serves as Vice-Chair of Skippack Township Planning Commission. Luciano attended Widener University earning his B.A. in Political Science. As an undergraduate, Luciano was a NCAA Division III football player, where he played defensive tackle, as well as a common ground leader, and student lobbyist for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.

After college, Luciano studied law at the Delaware Law School of Widener University, where he earned his J.D. in 2022. During his law school tenure, Luciano interned at the Delaware Environmental & Natural Resources Law Clinic and upon graduation was awarded the 2022 Charles J. Zencey Environmental Law Award. In addition, during his 2L and 3L years Luciano interned in Delaware at a plaintiff’s civil litigation firm representing injured clients and worker’s compensation claims. Luciano is licensed to practice in the State of Pennsylvania and is a member of the American, Pennsylvania, and Montgomery County Bar Association.

John T. Idell has a breadth of litigation defense experience. He has successfully defended his clients in personal injury claims arising out of premises liability and motor vehicle accidents.  In addition, he has successfully defended numerous physicians in various specialties, as well as a number of hospitals and health systems in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties, in both state and federal court.  Mr. Idell has represented employers in Workers Compensation matters through appeals to the Workers Compensation Appeals Board.  Mr. Idell is dedicated to the defense of his clients to achieve positive outcomes on their behalf.

Mr. Idell is a graduate of the Villanova School of Law and a recipient of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers James J. Manderino Award for Trial Excellence.

Taylor M. Johnston is an Associate Attorney at Kane Pugh Knoell Troy & Kramer. Ms. Johnston’s practice focuses primarily on defending civil litigation cases in the areas of professional liability, commercial transportation, and municipal defense. She is a graduate of Rutgers School of Law.

Ms. Johnston was born and raised in Philadelphia, where she received her bachelor’s degree from Temple University in Criminal Justice. Prior to Joining Kane Pugh, Ms. Johnston interned at a civil litigation firm that focused on representing Plaintiffs in discrimination and workers’ rights claims. She also previously worked as a Summer Associate at a large regional Plaintiff’s firm focusing on Employment Law and Workers’ Compensation litigation. Ms. Johnston is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and is a member of the Pennsylvania and Montgomery County Bar Associations.

Ms. Johnston is a local resident of South Philadelphia. She often enjoys hiking with her dog, traveling, or spending time with family and friends.

Jessica Keough focuses her practice on legal malpractice and general liability defense.  After receiving her BA in English from New York University in 2000, Jessica owned and operated a restaurant and bar in Berwyn where she confronted a variety of legal matters that prompted her to go to law school. 

In 2014, Jessica graduated magna cum laude from Widener University School of Law, where she won an interscholastic Moot Court competition, participated as a staff member of  Widener Law Review, and received awards for achievement, including the Esther F. Clark Memorial Scholarship for outstanding achievement in Criminal Procedure and Evidence. 

After graduating from law school, Jessica clerked for the Honorable Patricia H. Jenkins and the Honorable Susan Peikes Gantman, President Judge, in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, where she honed valuable analytical research and writing skills while drafting memoranda and precedential opinions and attending oral arguments.  Jessica lives in Downingtown with her husband and two children.

Amy Kirkpatrick’s litigation practice focuses on premises liability, motor vehicle accidents, employment discrimination, dram shop, and underinsured/uninsured motorist claims.  Amy also maintains a robust insurance coverage practice.  For over a decade, Amy has defended various venues and organizations, including Parx Casino and Racetrack, McDonalds, and the Kimmel Center.

Amy is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.  Amy has extensive experience in the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and throughout the State of New Jersey, as well as before the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  

Amy graduated summa cum laude from Temple University, where she was a Presidential Scholar and a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, with a degree in criminal justice in 2005. In 2008, Amy received her Juris Doctor, with honors, from the University of Connecticut School of Law. While at UConn, she served as a Notes and Comments Editor for the Connecticut Insurance Law Journal and was awarded the CALI Award for Excellence in Criminal Law, Lawyering Process, Evidence, Workers’ Compensation, and Surety Law, as well as the Aspen Law & Business Award. Amy received an LL.M in Insurance Law from UConn in January 2010.

Prior to joining the firm, Amy served as Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Albert J. Garofolo, P.J.Cr. (Ret.), in the Law Division, Criminal Part, of the New Jersey Superior Court. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Montgomery County Bar Association.

Amy resides in Ambler, Pennsylvania with her husband, two young daughters, and a cocker spaniel named Ivy.  She enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends in her free time.

Kathleen Klemm joined the firm in March 2014. She focuses her practice on general liability defense and medical malpractice defense. Kate graduated summa cum laude from Saint Joseph’s University in 2001 with a degree in Psychology and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In 2002, she received her Master of Science in Experimental Psychology with a concentration in Neuropsychology. Prior to earning her law degree, Kate worked in stroke and brain injury research for several years. Kate received her Juris Doctor from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law in 2010. An evening division student, Kate maintained fulltime employment while attending law school. Prior to joining the firm, Kate was an associate at a boutique medical malpractice law firm in Philadelphia. Kate is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She also volunteers with the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project, providing legal representation to children who are the victims of abuse and neglect in the county.

Mr. Knoell graduated from Ursinus College in 1973 and Villanova Law School in 1976. He has practiced with the firm since 1976. His areas of particular concentration include medical and dental malpractice, hospital defense, municipal defense, employment discrimination, and civil rights defense. He has defended numerous municipalities in southeast Pennsylvania in trials of civil rights and discrimination matters involving police, labor, and zoning issues. Mr. Knoell’s litigation experience has included hundreds of jury trials since 1977, over 145 of which have gone to verdict in the Federal Courts, Common Pleas Courts of Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, Berks, Bucks and Lehigh counties, all Pennsylvania appellate courts, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Montgomery Bar Association and on its Judiciary Committee. Mr. Knoell’s experience as co-chair of the Montgomery County Medical/Legal Committee included informal resolution of professional disputes between physicians and attorneys. His twelve-year tenure as a civil service commissioner for Lower Merion Township involved extensive interaction with police and municipal officials and presiding over civil service hearings. Mr. Knoell is a member of the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has delivered seminars to physicians on medical malpractice avoidance and to municipal officials on municipal immunity defenses. His personal interests have included membership in the Long Beach Island Fishing Club, Radnor Hunt Club and the Willistown and Brandywine Conservancies. He is the current President of the Aqua Beach Condominium Association. He is married and has three children. Representative Matters Defense verdict for an ENT in a medical malpractice case involving allegations of permanent hemiparesis resulting from a delayed emergence from anesthesia following a routine tonsillectomy. Early dismissals and successful resolution for a prominent cardiologist in over twenty cases involving similar allegations of unnecessary coronary artery stenting. Prevailed on application of MCARE Act’s Statute of Repose and made case law at appellate level. In 2015, Mr. Knoell obtained defense jury verdicts and defense binding arbitration awards in anesthesia, GI and hospital defense cases, as well as several municipal defense cases.

Andrew Kramer’s litigation practice concentrates on insurance defense and risk management.

Litigation expertise includes defending Premises Liability, Bad Faith, Employment Law, Assisted Living & LTC Facilities, Construction Accidents, Dram Shop and Defamation cases.

For over 25 years, Andrew has provided outside counsel to Parx Casino and Racetrack. He defends venues and organizations including Live! Hotel and Casino, McDonalds, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Phillie Phanatic, Live Nation, the Wells Fargo Center, and the Kimmel Center.

Andrew has taken over one hundred (100+) cases to jury verdict with overwhelmingly favorable results in state court (Pennsylvania and New Jersey) and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He has frequently argued in front of the Pennsylvania Superior Court.

Andrew has been honored for thirteen (13) consecutive years as a Pennsylvania "Super Lawyer", a designation given to less than 5% of all lawyers in Pennsylvania.

Andrew serves as a volunteer attorney for the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project (MCAP) where he represents, on a pro bono basis, abused and neglected children.

Andrew graduated from the University of Toledo School of Law in 1988, Franklin and Marshall College in 1985 and the William Penn Charter High School in 1981. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Andy as an athlete has competed in national Master swimming events, triathlons and races including the Marine Corps marathon. He resides in Haverford, PA with his wife (Meg), two daughters (Hannah and Leah), and golden retriever (Midas).

Kevin focuses his practice with the firm on municipal liability defense and general liability defense. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Krauss maintained a general private practice as well as being Of Counsel to a firm located in Delaware County, PA. He has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in matters including various types of personal injury, breach of contract and contract formation, real property disputes, and personal injury under maritime law. He has litigated in the Pennsylvania Superior Court and in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, successfully reversing opinions of lower courts.

During law school, Mr. Krauss gained extensive experience in public international law, working with multiple non-governmental organizations, authoring research papers and advocacy letters sent to U.S. Governmental officials. He also served as the Global Student President of the International Law Students Association (ILSA – the largest international law student organization in the world) and the Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, as a competitor, coach and judge. Mr. Krauss graduated from The Delaware Law School with a Pro Bono Distinction and was honored with the Outstanding Student Service Award. He was also the inaugural recipient of the Craig C. Eisendrath Award for Youth Advocacy in Nuclear Disarmament. Mr. Krauss is also a Graduate of the Chester County Leadership Connection and supports qualified leadership of local non-profit organizations.

Mr. Krauss is a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Montgomery County Bar Association. Mr. Krauss is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, District of Columbia, the U.S. District Courts for the District of New Jersey and the Eastern District of New York.

Mr. Krauss and his wife live in Chester County, Pennsylvania and enjoy traveling, playing music, and spending time with family and friends.

Andy enjoys trying cases. Each step before then is tailored to win at trial. The result is not only favorable verdicts, but more reasonable settlements when opposing counsel knows Andy and his clients are prepared and willing to try each case.

Andy’s professional liability clients include law firms, hospitals, doctors’ offices, skilled nursing and inpatient rehabilitation facilities, physical therapy clinics, and the legal and medical professionals working in each one. He also defends individuals and businesses of all sizes against general liability cases including premises liability, commercial and personal vehicle, and breach of contract suits. Andy defends cases from filing through trials and appeals in state and federal court. He also advises and assists clients facing professional licensing inquiries and actions, pre-litigation claims, and subpoenas. Andy has been selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers annually since 2019, an honor limited to no more than 2.5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania.

Licensing & Associations. Andy is admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He is a member of the Pennsylvania and Montgomery Bar Associations. He and Paul Troy co-author the monthly Avoiding Liability articles in the PBA’s Pennsylvania Bar News. Andy also teaches CLEs on professionally liability, risk management, and related topics. He serves as Chair of the MBA’s Insurance Committee and is a member of the Trial Lawyers’ Section and Civil Rules and Bench Bar Committees. He graduated from the MBA’s Leadership Academy and co-chaired its presentation to the Board of Directors in 2018. Andy is also an affiliate member of The American Association of Nurse Attorneys.

Education. Continuing a three-generation legacy, Andy attended the Pennsylvania State University. He then strayed from his lineage of doctors and nurses by attending law school at Villanova University. He served as an extern for Magistrate Judge Mary Pat Thynge of the District of Delaware and Judge James J. Fitzgerald, III of the Pennsylvania Superior Court. Andy also interned at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and represented underprivileged clients at the Villanova Civil Justice Clinic.

Outside the Office. Andy married his wife Katie in June 2014, at what some have called the greatest wedding ever. They live in Conshohocken with their son Charlie and dog Ella. Andy is an avid golfer, less-than-avid bicyclist, fan of all sports, and off-tuned singer of many nursery rhymes. He remains active in the Penn State community as a lifetime member of the Alumni Association and Nittany Lion Club and football season ticket holder.

Results

Philadelphia – Common Carrier Negligence – Defense Verdict. Andy defended a regional bus company and its driver who was turning left with a green light at night. The plaintiff was traveling straight with a green light in the opposite direction with one yellow marker light activated. The jury found the plaintiff was primarily at fault due to his inoperable or deactivated headlamps.

District of New Jersey – Racial Discrimination – Dismissed. Andy’s clients, two attorneys and their firm, prosecuted and won a tax sale foreclosure action. The plaintiff-mortgagee then filed this federal suit claiming Andy’s clients racially discriminated against her in the foreclosure action. Andy argued and proved there was no plausible federal cause of action.

Board of Dentistry – Disciplinary Investigation – Prosecution Declined. A patient claimed Andy’s client, a dental surgeon, failed to address bleeding after tooth extractions and did not properly fit his dentures. Andy assisted his client in investigating the claim and submitting a statement, which resulted in the Office of General Counsel deciding not to prosecute.

Third Circuit – Medical Malpractice – Appeal Waived. Andy’s client, an x-ray technician, allegedly failed to take necessary x-rays of an injured prisoner following an altercation with corrections officers.  The plaintiff-prisoner claimed Andy’s client conspired to cover-up use of excessive force. Andy argued and proved the plaintiff waived his appellate rights against Andy’s client.

Philadelphia County – Medical Malpractice – Summary Judgment. The plaintiff claimed a series of medical providers failed to timely diagnose and treat a spinal disc herniation. Andy convinced the Court the plaintiff failed to establish a viable claim of professional negligence by not proving Andy’s client breached the standard of care through expert testimony.

Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs – Disciplinary Investigation – Prosecution Declined. Andy’s client, a licensed professional therapist, provided co-parent counseling to ex-spouses regarding shared custody of their children. The ex-husband claimed Andy’s client improperly transitioned from group to individual sessions and drafted separate and conflicting letters to the Court for each spouse. After an interview of Andy’s client and submission of a statement explaining his reasoning, the Office of General Counsel decided not to prosecute.

Montgomery County – Wrongful Use of Civil Proceedings – Dismissed. Andy’s clients, a attorney and his firm, had represented the executors and trustees of an estate and trust in a claim confirming the plaintiff was not a beneficiary. The plaintiff then sued Andy’s clients asserting claims of wrongful use of civil proceedings, libel, slander, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment. The Court ruled the plaintiff’s retaliatory claims were frivolous and denied attempts to reinstitute the claims and appeal.

Northampton County – Automobile Negligence – Summary Judgment. Andy’s client was stopped at a light turning green when the driver of an approaching vehicle crossed lanes and caused a head-on collision. Andy argued his client responded reasonably under the circumstances because a sudden emergency did not permit an opportunity to apprehend the situation and act accordingly.

Philadelphia County – Physical Therapy Malpractice – Defense Verdict. The plaintiff claimed Andy’s client, a physical therapist, herniated a disc in his neck during a high velocity cervical manipulation. The therapist testified she performed a gentle cervical mobilization as tolerated, which Andy argued and proved complied with the standard of care.

Montgomery County – Intentional Interference with Testamentary Expectancy – Nonsuit. Andy and Paul Troy represented local attorneys facing alleged damages exceeding $9,000,000. The plaintiff, a disinherited son, asserted his brother and the attorneys used fraud, misrepresentation, and undue influence to prevent the testator-father from executing a new estate plan. The Court ruled the plaintiff failed to establish the testator indicated an intent to change his estate plan or took specific steps to change it.

Emily earned a Juris Doctor from Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law, where she graduated cum laude, served as Executive Editor of the Drexel Law Review, and provided pro bono legal services to the Philadelphia community through the Estate Planning Clinic. Emily received the CALI Awards for Excellence in Trial Advocacy and National Security Law, and her Note was selected for publication in Volume XIV of the Drexel Law Review. Emily was a legal intern for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, a judicial intern for the Honorable Renee Marie Bumb, of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and a law clerk for a Virginia-based law firm. She worked at that same law firm as a legal assistant before attending law school. Emily earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Richmond, where she was Captain of the Equestrian Team.

Emily lives in Philadelphia with her dog, Duke, and cat, Talula.  She is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Publications

Violence in the Name of the Confederacy: America's Failure to Defeat the Lost Cause, 14 Drexel L. Rev. 451 (2022).

David McColloch has been actively involved in major civil litigation his entire career. Since joining the firm in 2018, he has concentrated primarily on the defense of doctors in medical malpractice suits, as well as representing individuals and municipalities in general liability matters.  Over the course of his career, he has handled every aspect of litigation in state and federal court, from investigation and initial pleadings, to discovery, depositions, expert review, and through to resolution.   

Prior to joining the firm, David McColloch worked for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department as an Attorney-Examiner. In this role, he represented the MCARE Fund in negotiating the resolution of wrongful death and other catastrophic personal injury litigation against health care providers across Pennsylvania, participating frequently in mediation and arbitration negotiations.  He has additional background in class actions, consumer litigation, and environmental law.  

A Pennsylvania native, David McColloch is a graduate of Bard College and the University of Wisconsin Law School. David resides in the Valley Forge area.  He is an active member of the Pennsylvania and Montgomery County Bar Associations.  

Rachael joined Kane Pugh in 2017. She focuses her practice on defending professional liability matters, representing and defending physicians, nurses, hospitals, and health systems in medical malpractice claims in both state and federal courts. Rachael also represents clients in general and commercial liability claims.

Prior to entering private practice, Rachael was the Manager of Legal Services for the non-profit organization Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. In addition to handling the business and financial aspects of running a non-profit, Rachael created and taught CLE-accredited courses for attorneys interested in volunteering for the organization and facilitated lectures, workshops, and clinics for local artists, designers and inventors on various arts and business-related topics.

Rachael earned her Juris Doctor from Notre Dame Law School in 2015. While in law school, she served as the Executive Articles Editor for the Notre Dame Journal of International and Comparative Law. She also served as both a brief writer and an oralist for the Jessup Moot Court team. Additionally, Rachael boxed competitively in the Notre Dame Baraka Bouts each year throughout law school.

Rachael graduated from the University of Connecticut, summa cum laude, in 2012 with a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations. During her time at UConn, Rachael was a member of the cheerleading squad and traveled with the women’s basketball team to numerous NCAA tournaments.

Rachael is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She is also admitted to practice in the United States District Courts of the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania and the District of New Jersey.

Rachael resides in Eagleville with her husband and daughter and enjoys spending time with her family in Ocean City, New Jersey.

Representative Matters

In January 2023, Rachael obtained summary judgment in favor of a doctor and hospital in a medical malpractice lawsuit in Bradford County for plaintiff’s failure to prosecute her case.

In August 2022, Rachael obtained dismissal for a hospital system in a professional liability matter in Philadelphia County, successfully arguing that plaintiff could not sustain her vicarious liability claims against the defendant hospital system. 

In August 2020, Rachael obtained a defense verdict at arbitration in Delaware County for the administrator of an estate in a motor vehicle accident liability case. Rachael successfully argued that under the Dead Man’s Act, plaintiff could not testify against the decedent defendant and therefore failed to meet the burden of proof for negligence.

Mr. Morrow focuses his practice on defending professional liability claims. He has extensive experience representing doctors, hospitals, personal care homes, skilled nursing facilities, and health systems in the defense of medical malpractice claims from initial filings through appeal. Mr. Morrow also represents clients in claims for contractual defense and indemnity, commercial liability, and general liability. Mr. Morrow is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He is an active member of the Montgomery Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Montgomery Bar Association. Mr. Morrow joined the firm as an attorney in 2008, after graduating from Temple University School of Law. He attended law school in Temple’s evening division while working full time at the firm as a law clerk. He received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University. Mr. Morrow resides in Collegeville, PA with his wife and three children. In his spare time, he participates in triathlons, open water swimming and distance running events. Recently, Mr. Morrow obtained a defense decision at arbitration on a claim for contractual indemnification in Philadelphia County. He has also successfully defended clients at arbitration in Montgomery, Bucks, and Chester County.

Melissa Nagata joined the firm in May of 2007. She focuses her practice on defense of various professional liability matters, including legal and medical malpractice, as well as the defense of various general liability matters. Melissa has extensive experience litigating cases in both state and federal court and defending clients before disciplinary boards.

Melissa graduated from LaSalle University and Villanova University School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude. While in law school, Melissa served as the Managing Editor of Outside Articles for the Villanova Environmental Law Journal. Prior to joining the firm, Melissa served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Robert D. Kaplan, District Chief Administrative Law Judge for the United States Department of Labor, New Jersey District Office.

Melissa is admitted to practice in United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the New Jersey Superior Court, and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Melissa has served as the Editor of the Montgomery County Law Reporter. She is currently a member of the Trial Lawyer’s Section Montgomery County Bar Association and is also on the MBA’s Civil Rules Committee. Melissa is a also a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Professional Liability Committee.

Melissa was selected as a “Rising Star” attorney in 2012, 2013 and 2014. “Rising Stars” are chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law and Politics as being among the top-up-and-coming lawyers in Pennsylvania. Only 2.5 percent of Pennsylvania attorneys receive this honor each year.

Melissa grew up in Fort Myers, Florida. She currently resides in Blue Bell with her husband, Mark, and their two sons Henry and Miles.

Sebastian Napoli is an Associate Attorney for Kane Pugh Knoell Troy & Kramer. Mr. Napoli’s practice focuses primarily on defending civil litigation cases in the areas of professional liability, commercial transportation, and municipal defense. Prior to working for Kane Pugh Knoell Troy & Kramer, Sebastian worked as an Associate Attorney for a boutique law firm in New Jersey that specialized in criminal defense and represented plaintiffs in general liability cases. Before he began practicing law, Mr. Napoli received his bachelor’s degree in History from West Virginia University.

Mr. Napoli is a graduate of The George Washington University Law School, where he concentrated his legal studies in Business and Finance Law. After completing his first year of law school, Mr. Napoli worked as a summer law clerk for a large law firm in the DC metro area that defended companies in employment discrimination suits and civil litigation matters. While attending law school, Mr. Napoli was a judicial intern for The Honorable Rossie D. Alston, Jr., a judge who sat on the bench of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. During his third year of law school, Mr. Napoli was a student attorney for a housing and advocacy litigation clinic through Rising for Justice, a nonprofit organization. As a student attorney for Rising for Justice, Mr. Napoli represented low-income tenants in landlord-tenant disputes in the District of Columbia metro area. Mr. Napoli is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar and Montgomery County Bar Associations.

Mr. Napoli was born and raised in the greater Philadelphia area. He often enjoys playing golf with family and friends, participating in various sports activities, and spending time relaxing on the beach during his free time in Long Beach Island, New Jersey.

Ross O’Neill focuses his practice in the areas of general liability defense, premises liability defense, and employment litigation.

Prior to joining the firm, Ross worked at two well-known Atlantic City, New Jersey, law firms handling a wide variety of cases involving civil litigation defense, employment litigation, construction litigation, and real property disputes, within New Jersey and Pennsylvania state and federal courts.

Ross graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University with a B.S. in Public Relations from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Ross then received his Juris Doctor from the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law.

Ross is licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He is also admitted to appear in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Adam focuses his practice on medical malpractice defense matters as well as commercial transportation and general liability matters. Prior to joining the firm, Adam practiced medical malpractice defense at a prominent firm in New Jersey. He has extensive experience handling all aspects of pre-trail discovery, including document review, drafting discovery responses, taking depositions, and motion practice.

Immediately after law school, Adam clerked for the Honorable Joseph P. Quinn, P.J.Cv., Presiding Civil Judge in the Law Division, Monmouth County. He graduated magna cum laude from Rutgers University Law School in Camden, New Jersey. During Law school, he served as the associate managing editor of the Rutgers University Law Review and as a board member of the intramural mock-trial team. His law review note, Mandatory Victim Restitution Act: A Replacement for Victims’ Intentional Tort Claims for Violent Crimes in New Jersey was published in Volume 69 of the Rutgers University Law Review. He was also heavily involved in the Rutgers Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, where he helped prepare personal-income-tax returns for low-income residents in Camden, NJ. He had an internship with the Camden Center for Law and Social Justice, where he represented low-income individuals in domestic-violence matters and assisted clients in filing immigration paperwork. 

Adam is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, New Jersey Bar Association, and Montgomery County Bar Association. He is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Adam lives in Conshohocken and enjoys traveling, playing tennis, and cheering for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Sam practices in defense of clients in professional liability, municipal liability, commercial transportation, and employment practice litigation. Since joining the firm in 2018, Sam has litigated and secured multiple defense verdicts, along with successful dispositive motions in federal and state courts.

In December of 2020, Sam was appointed to the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, where he will serve a four-year term. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Montgomery Bar Association, and the Defense Research Institute (DRI), where he serves on the Young Lawyers Steering Committee. Sam also serves on the Board of Directors of Community Music School, in Trappe, Pennsylvania.

Sam graduated from the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law (2018). While at Villanova Law, he served as Executive Editor of the Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal and as Judicial Intern for the Honorable Mark A. Kearney, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Sam and his wife reside in Montgomery County with their two boys.

Publications

What Is a Spoke and What Is a Wheel? Elucidating Concepts and Taxonomies in Sex Trafficking Amidst Criticisms of the NFL and the Super Bowl, 25 Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports L.J. 117 (2018).

Then There Was Only One Certainty Left in This World: Congress Votes Tax Breaks for U.S. Olympic Medalists, Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports L.J. Blog,http://lawweb2009.law.villanova.edu/sportslaw/?p=3717.

Getting out of the Weeds: NFL to Propose Reassessing Stance on Marijuana,Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports L.J. Blog, http://lawweb2009.law.villanova.edu/sportslaw/?p=3937.

Mr. Pugh graduated from the Villanova University School of Law in 1991 and has spent his 20+ year legal career involved in all aspects of defense litigation. Robert’s legal practice consists of defending individuals and institutions in Montgomery County, Bradford County, Bucks County, Chester County, Columbia County, Delaware County, Northampton County, Lackawanna County, Lancaster County, Lehigh County, Montour County, Schuylkill County, and Philadelphia County. Robert defends physicians, pharmacists, hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies and assisted living facilities in claims for professional malpractice. He also has vast experience representing a variety of areas including public and private transportation litigation, premises liability litigation, products liability litigation and toxic tort / environmental litigation, as well as an active appellate practice. He has taken over 50 cases to jury verdicts in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties and has argued in front of the Pennsylvania Superior Court as well as the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.  

Mr. Pugh is Past President of the Montgomery Trial Lawyers and former Chair of the Montgomery Bar Association Health and Fitness Committee.

Mr. Pugh holds an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubble. He was also selected by his peers as a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” as published in Philadelphia Magazine for the last twelve years. Five percent of all Pennsylvania lawyers qualify as “Super Lawyers”.

Important Trials: (Pre-COVID)

• Pugh obtained a defense verdict in Philadelphia in a slip and fall on ice claim where plaintiff alleged a closed head injury and other neurological damages.

• Pugh obtained a defense verdict where he represented a defendant who rear-ended the plaintiff while the defendant was driving a pick-up truck filled with bricks. Apparently, the jury found that the plaintiff exaggerated her injuries and, as a result, found the defendant not liable.

• Pugh successfully defended a prison medical director who was alleged to have acted negligently in the handing of an inmate with medical problems. The fact finder found that the medical director was not negligent.

• Pugh successfully defended a physician in Bucks County who was alleged to have delayed in diagnosing plaintiff’s prostate cancer. During the course of the trial it became apparent that the defendant physician, in fact, timely made the diagnosis of prostate cancer and the jury found in the physician’s favor.

• Pugh defended a surgeon in Philadelphia who, the plaintiffs contended, performed an unnecessary surgery. Mr. Pugh successfully defended the surgeon. After a two-week trial, the jury found in the defendant doctor’s favor.

• Pugh successfully defended the operator of a motor vehicle who, plaintiff contends, operated her vehicle in a negligent fashion causing the plaintiff to suffer an injured knee which led to a knee replacement. After a five-day trial, a Delaware County jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendant driver and against plaintiff.

• Pugh successfully defended a hospital where it was alleged that a resident misplaced a chest tube causing the death of the plaintiff. After initially resulting in a hung jury, Mr. Pugh re-tried the case which resulted in a unanimous defense verdict.

• Pugh successfully defended a radiologist in Philadelphia where plaintiff alleged the radiologist didn’t properly communicate a suspicious nodule on a patient’s lung resulting in a delay in diagnosing lung cancer. After obtaining a defense verdict for the radiologist (plaintiff obtained a verdict against the other defendants) the trial court ordered a new trial. In the second trial the radiologist was, again, found not negligent.

• Pugh successfully defended an Ob/Gyn physician who, plaintiffs allege, failed to properly communicate test results to a patient.  After a two week trial in Lehigh County, the jury returned a defense verdict.

In his spare time, Mr. Pugh likes to spend time with his wife and three children. Additionally, he likes to work out the stress of being a trial lawyer by participating in triathlons, open water swims, and the like, typically finishing in the back of the pack.

Pugh is admitted to the following:

• Supreme Court of Pennsylvania;

• Superior Court of Pennsylvania;

• United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit;

• Supreme Court of the United States of America;

• Supreme Court of New Jersey;

• New York State Supreme Court;

• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania;

• United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania; and

• United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Pugh, V primarily focuses his practice on the defense of physicians and hospitals in medical malpractice litigation. He gained his initial trial experience while serving as an Assistant District Attorney for New York County from 1986 to 1989. After prosecuting multiple criminal cases, Mr. Pugh joined the firm in 1989. He has 29 years of trial experience in two states and numerous counties in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Pugh V served as President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association for 2015. He has been active in leadership roles such as the Zone 9 Governor of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and in that capacity served on the PBA Board of Governors. He served as President of the Montgomery Trial Lawyers Association in 1999. He served on the Montgomery Bar Association’s Board of Directors and was President of the Association in 2006. He has been Chair of several Montgomery Bar Committees including House (1989-1991), Program and Events (1991-1997), Law Reporter (1997) and Appellate Practice (1998). He was an editor of the Montgomery County Law Reporter from 1992 to 1994.

Mr. Pugh is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is a member of the Defense Research Institute and Pennsylvania Defense Institute. He served as Co-Chair of the Pennsylvania Defense Institute’s Professional Liability Committee from 1993 to 1996. In that capacity Mr. Pugh authored several articles on professional risk management. He is frequently asked to speak on that topic to hospitals, physicians, and members of the Bar.

Married to Mary Coyne Pugh and the father of four daughters, Mr. Pugh has coached several sports in Springfield Township. He has served as director of the St. Genevieve CYO program.

Elizabeth Schmidt-Jerdon is an Associate Attorney at Kane, Pugh, Knoell, Troy & Kramer. She currently practices professional and general liability defense. Elizabeth is a member of the Pennsylvania and Montgomery Bar Associations. In 2022, Elizabeth graduated from the Montgomery Bar Association’s Leadership Academy. She is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining the firm in October 2018, Elizabeth clerked for two judges in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. Most recently, Elizabeth clerked for the Honorable Jeffrey S. Saltz in the court’s civil division.

Elizabeth graduated from Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law in 2017, where she was a member of the school’s moot court board. While at Kline Law, Elizabeth interned for the Honorable Richard P. Haaz in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas as well as the Law Division of the City of Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. As part of Kline Law’s Co-op Program, Elizabeth completed a semester-long co-op with the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where she first gained trial experience. Upon graduation, Elizabeth won the Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievements in Experiential Education.

Elizabeth graduated magna cum laude from Drexel University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in English.

Elizabeth, her husband, William, and son, Henry, reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Jim is an experienced civil litigator with a focus on defending professional liability claims in state and federal court and before disciplinary boards. Jim represents clients from a variety of industries, including other lawyers, insurance professionals, accountants, and related business organizations. Jim also defends clients against general liability claims, and has experience in commercial litigation, corporate and consumer bankruptcy matters, subrogation, and bad faith claims.

Jim has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Montgomery County Bar Association, where he was selected as a member of the Montgomery County Bar Association Leadership Academy. Jim is also active in the Professional Liability Defense Federation (PLDF), where he has served as chair and vice chair of the Young Professionals Committee and contributed to publications including the PLDF’s Annual Survey of Law and Multi-State Significant Issue Survey. He has presented on topics including risk management for lawyers, legal ethics, and expert witnesses.

As an undergraduate, Jim was Valedictorian of his class at Penn State’s Abington College and a member of the Sigma Tau Delta English honor society. He then graduated cum laude from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, where he was a Senior Production Editor on the Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review. Prior to joining the firm, Jim was an associate for an international law firm in Philadelphia.

Jim resides in Montgomery County and is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the United States District Courts and Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the District of New Jersey.

Abigail, “Abby” joined Kane, Pugh, Knoell, Troy & Kramer LLP upon graduation from Penn State Dickinson Law School. Prior to joining Kane Pugh as an Associate Attorney, Abby previously served as a law clerk with the firm. Her practice focus is defense litigation in medical malpractice, legal malpractice, and general liability cases.

Abby is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in Political Science and History. As an undergraduate, Abby founded the first U.S. Special Olympics chapter at the University of Pittsburgh. In a unique path, Abby gained significant undergraduate legal experience interning for the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, as well as a sole practitioner family law firm, where she assisted with custody, divorce, and protection from abuse matters.

During her law school tenure Abby was a Public Interest Scholar, a member of the Women’s Law Caucus, Vice President of the Criminal Law Society, and Class Representative for the Student Bar Association. Abby was also an elected IOLTA Fellow and spent her 1L year serving indigent clients in eviction, bankruptcy, and domestic violence cases. She was a member of the Doris Jonas Freed Inn of Court.

In her 2L and 3L years Abby interned at a general civil litigation firm representing small businesses and municipalities in commercial transactions and labor and employment matters, as well as private clients in estate matters. Abby is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and is a member of the American, Pennsylvania and Montgomery Bar Associations. Abby lives in Malvern, Pennsylvania. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, running, cheering for the Philadelphia sports teams, and spending time with family and friends.

Megan joined Kane, Pugh, Knoell, Troy & Kramer LLP upon graduation from Rutgers Law School.  Megan focuses her practice in defense litigation.

Megan is a graduate of Seattle University with a B.A. in Economics with a concentration in international development, as well as a B.A. in International Business. As an undergraduate, she interned with a well-known financial advising firm.  While there, she assisted numerous offices in navigating new compliance regulations and Department of Labor rulings. During her time at Rutgers Law, Megan led the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, a nationwide pro bono program which helps low-income people in the community file taxes with the assistance of those who know the tax system. Upon her graduation from Rutgers Law, she received an award for her dedication to pro-bono work, the Dean’s Pro-Bono Publico Award for Exceptional Service.  

While at Rutgers Law, Megan worked as a trial intern with the Securities Exchange Commission, supporting trial strategy and researching new damages tactics.  In addition to the SEC, Megan worked at a plaintiff’s firm evaluating whether claims had trial value versus those that should be settlement focused. Her experience from a plaintiff perspective gave her insight on how plaintiffs’ strategize and negotiate. Megan will work smart to get the outcome that best fits her client’s needs.

While Megan was not Pennsylvania born and bred, she has found a home just outside of Philadelphia and even formed an opinion on the best cheesesteak, (Dalessandro's). If Megan isn't working, she can be found watching sports, attending a concert, or traveling to spend time with her family and friends.

Mr. Troy joined the firm in 1991. He previously served as a law clerk to The Honorable Albert R. Subers of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas in 1990. Mr. Troy focuses his practice on trials advocacy. He has tried professional liability, medical malpractice, commercial, auto, general liability, and product liability cases to verdict. While trial advocacy is Mr. Troy’s specialty, he believes that the ultimate responsibility of an attorney is to solve his client’s problems as efficiently and inexpensively as possible. He also believes that there is a widening chasm in the practice of law today between “litigators” and “trial lawyers”. While civil trials are the favorite part of Mr. Troy’s practice, he also believes that appropriate cases resolve more fairly and expeditiously when opposing counsel realizes that there is a trial lawyer on the other side.

Paul Troy was voted by the attorneys in Pennsylvania as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in Philadelphia and Top 100 Attorneys in Pennsylvania as published in Philadelphia Magazine. This was the seventh consecutive year Mr. Troy has been so recognized.

Mr. Troy has served as Chair of the House of Delegates of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. The House of Delegates is comprised of 450 attorneys from across Pennsylvania which meets to vote on the resolutions to be adopted as official positions of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Mr. Troy served a two-year term on the Pennsylvania Bar Association Board of Governors until May 2005. Previously Mr. Troy served a three-year term on the Pennsylvania Bar Association Board of Governors from 1997 to 2000. He served as Chair of the PBA Young Lawyers Division in 1998. He has been a member of the PBA House of Delegates from 1996 to the present, and was appointed Chair of the Mid-Year Meeting in 2001, and 2016.

Mr. Troy also served as either Chair or Vice-Chair of the PBA Health Care Law Committee from 2000 to 2009. He was appointed Chair of the Bar Leadership Institute (BLI) in 2001 and served as Co-Chair of the BLI for several years.

Mr. Troy was President of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute in 2011-2012. He still serves on the Board of Directors of the PBI, and had previously served as President Elect, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary of the PBI before serving as President. The PBI is the largest non-profit provider of Continuing Legal Education in Pennsylvania. He is presently Chair of the PBA Leadership Development and Recruitment Committee.

As part of his commitment to Continuing Legal Education, Mr. Troy has taught well over 100 seminars in professional liability risk management. Most of these seminars have been for attorneys, physicians, nurses, and other professionals.

Locally, Mr. Troy served as President of the Montgomery Bar Association in 2013. He served as President of the Young Lawyers Section in 1997. He previously served as a Director of the Montgomery Bar Association from 1997 to 1999, and served as the President Elect, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary in successive years before becoming President in January 2013.

Mr. Troy is a past President of the Montgomery County Trial Lawyers Association, and received the distinguished James P. Fox Trial Lawyer of The Year Award for professionalism in the art of trial advocacy from the Montgomery County Trial Lawyers Association in 2011. His other activities in the Montgomery Bar Association include serving as either Chair or Co-Chair of the Insurance Committee of the MBA from 1996 to 2005. Mr. Troy received the Special Achievement Award from the Montgomery Bar Association in 1999.

In the community, Paul has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation. The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation was created by Philadelphia Flyers Chairman Ed Snider in 2005, as his personal commitment to teach children important life lessons. Using the sport of hockey, the mission of Snider Hockey is to build lives and unite communities, helping educate young people to succeed in the game of life. Snider Hockey Programs are provided at no cost and are focused on underserved boys and girls who otherwise would not have the opportunity to play, with an emphasis on character development, life skills, fitness, nutrition, and academics.

The foundation serves over 3,000 youngsters ages 5-19. Most come from inner-city neighborhoods that surround our sites. Snider Hockey provides academic services, a nationally acclaimed life-skills curriculum, mentoring, and structured athletic programs that offer underserved urban youth the opportunity to engage in safe, healthy and challenging activities that teach and breed success.

Mr. Troy has also served as the Chair of the Gaudeamus Music Ministry, Inc. where he helped the Board of Directors raise funds to benefit children’s medical research and award college scholarships. Mr. Troy serves as Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library. He was honored by the Ambler Gazette as “Citizen of the Week” in March 2013. Mr. Troy also serves as Vice-President of the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation.

Mr. Troy is forever grateful to have been fortunate enough to join a firm where he was given trial experience at a very young age. Today he mentors several very bright and talented younger lawyers in his firm, and tries to provide them with the same education and opportunities he received as a young lawyer. He appreciates the confidence his clients were willing to show in him as a young lawyer, and continue to have in him today. Most importantly, he is grateful for the love and support of his wife Liz, and three daughters with whom he resides in Blue Bell, PA.

Karen is a civil litigator who focuses her practice on the defense of clients in Medical Malpractice, Legal Malpractice, and Personal Injury cases. Karen works hard to represent each of her clients in a way that she would expect to be represented. Karen is dedicated to improving the quality and accessibility of justice and the practice of law. Karen earns respect from her peers, opponents and clients by always adhering to her personal values, her kindness, her empathy, love for people, her character, her honesty and her integrity.

She has litigated numerous matters from inception through trial and appeal for insurers and other medical institutions, including hospitals, nursing homes, physicians, and other long-term care facilities. Karen has defended physicians, nurse practitioners, physical therapist, nurses, and personal care aides. Karen has served as defense counsel for large insurance carriers with automotive, trucking, premise, and personal liability policies and has also served as defense counsel in construction defect lawsuits brought by homeowners against a large homebuilder and several contractors.

Karen is admitted to practice in the State of Pennsylvania and, for over twenty years, has practiced in Montgomery, Philadelphia, Chester, Berks, Bucks, Northampton, Delaware, Schuylkill, York and other counties throughout Pennsylvania. Karen is licensed to appear before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Pennsylvania. She has argued before the Pennsylvania Superior Court and before The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court. Karen has been recognized by her peers as a “Rising Star” in the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers publication for her professional achievements in legal practice.

Karen is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Montgomery Bar Association. She served on the Board of Directors of the Montgomery Bar Association and was previously the Chair and Co-Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. Karen volunteers as a child advocate for the Montgomery Child Advocacy Program, representing children in various types of actions within the court system.

Following graduation from Council Rock High School with her twin sister, Karen attended Pennsylvania State University, where she earned a multiple major, B.A. degree in Labor Relations & French. Karen studied abroad in Paris, France for a semester while an undergraduate at Penn State and loves everything about Paris. She then graduated from law school at Villanova University in 2001. At Villanova, she served as an extern for the Delaware County Legal Aid Clinic, where she represented indigent clients in Protection From Abuse matters through the Villanova Civil Justice Clinic. Karen lives in Souderton, PA with her twins and her black lab, Hershey.

Tom Zimmerman joined Kane Pugh Knoell Troy & Kramer in October 2015. He primarily focuses his practice in the areas of civil rights litigation, professional malpractice liability and general liability defense. Tom is a 2013 graduate of Villanova University School of Law. He also received a B.A. in Philosophy from Villanova University in 2008. Immediately after graduating from law school, Tom worked for the Honorable Maria McLaughlin of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. Prior to joining the firm, Tom also served as Assistant Chief Counsel to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, Pennsylvania’s civil rights agency. While serving at the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, Tom led investigations and prosecutions of cases involving discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Tom is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Montgomery Bar Association and Pennsylvania Bar Association.