Donald focuses his practice on the defense of claims made and suits brought against public entities, municipal authorities and local governments, including the defense of elected officials, police officers, corrections officers, prison wardens and District Attorneys' offices. As well, he handles a wide array of complex litigation involving liability for environmental, liquor/dram shop and professional claims. Donald also has years of experience defending motor vehicle and premises liability suits.
Don is very active in his community. Specifically, he served as a committeeman for the Dauphin County Republican Committee in Harrisburg, 5th Ward, and remains active in local politics. He is the past president of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Harrisburg Chapter. Don serves as a member of Vestry (board of directors) for Saint Andrews Episcopal Church in York, Pennsylvania.
In 1996 Don graduated from Penn State with a B.A. in political science and a minor in business. He then attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and achieved his juris doctor in 1999. After graduation, Don served as law clerk to the Honorable Michael L. Krancer at the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board.
Honors & Awards
BV Distinguished Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Rising Star
2011-2014
Susquehanna Valley Select Lawyers
2014
Year Joined
2004
Thought Leadership
Discovering, Authenticating & Utilizing Social Media in Litigation: Strategy Considerations
Harrisburg
General Liability
March 1, 2014
By Donald L. Carmelite, Esq. and Allison M. Domday, Esq.*Key Points:
Thumbs Up for Qualified Immunity
Harrisburg
Public Entity and Civil Rights Litigation
March 1, 2011
Federal - Civil Rights Key Points: Defense Digest, Vol. 17, No. 1, March 2011
Classes/Seminars Taught
Mobile Devices: Don't Let Good Reception Be Game Over, Dauphin County Bar Association, January 2018 and Cumberland County American Inns of Court, December 2017
Personal Training For Client on All Aspects of the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act, March 2016
Political Subdivision Claims Act, School Claims Services LLC, December 12, 2014
Social Media in Litigation: Reloaded, a Closer Look at Using Social Media in Your Cases, Dauphin County Bar Association, Harrisburg, PA, June 24, 2014
How To Try a Case in State Court, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Mechanicsburg, PA, June 16, 2014
Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act, Real Property Exception, client seminar, February 2014
Basics of Litigation Involving State and Local Government, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, June 2013