David L. Pennington

Contact:
Phone: (800) 835-0353
Office:
1800 John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Suite 1300
Philadelphia, PA 19103-7418
(215) 563-4470
Email:
dpennington@harvpenn.com



David joined the firm in 1965. Widely recognized as a highly effective litigator with particular expertise and experience in the areas of commercial litigation, products liability, toxic torts and professional liability, he represents a broad spectrum of clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. His commitment to professional reform is reflected in his leadership and service within the ABA.

Among interesting and important matters handled by David are the following:

  • Litigated the first case in Pennsylvania on the issue of whether or not an insurance carrier has a duty to enter into a reasonable settlement for its insured to avoid a claim of negligent handling of the defense of the insured.
  • Involved in a number of staff privilege cases involving hospitals, including one which went to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and established the principles applicable to the immunity afforded hospitals from litigation following peer review decisions.
  • Litigated a major case involving questions relating to the impact of bankruptcy filings on the right of an insurance carrier to terminate a policy for nonpayment of premium, which policy covered the bankrupt.
  • Litigated a case to the New Jersey Supreme Court which sets forth the law in that State regarding the inapplicability of res ipsa loquitor to product liability claims.

    • AV Peer Review Rated

    Education: The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, (Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society); New York University School of Law, (Root-Tilden Scholar).

    Admitted to Practice: Pennsylvania; New Jersey; New York

    Practice Areas: Commercial litigation; products liability; toxic torts; professional liability

    Bar Association Activities: was elected Pennsylvania State Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates (1983); ABA Board of Governors (1986); chairman, Compensation Committee; chairman, Operations Committee; member, Pennsylvania Bar Association House of Delegates; active on various committees of the American, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations, including committees involved in environmental law and in public regulation of the business of insurance; was co-chairman, Subcommittee on Managing the Relationship Between Inside and Outside Counsel of the Litigation Management and Economics Committee, Litigation Section; member, Task Force on Lawyer Image of the Pennsylvania Bar Association; American Bar Association Delegate to the International Bar Association Special Meeting (1991).

    Professional/Community Involvement: member, Board of Directors of the American Prepaid Legal Services Institute; was Associate Trustee, University of Pennsylvania; member, Board of Advisors of the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale; member, Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel, International Association of Defense Counsel, International Bar Association, Inter-American Bar Association, and Union Internationale des Avocats; Associate Member, National Council of Self-Insurers.