Nicole is a member of the firm's Professional Liability Department where she devotes a significant portion of her practice to the representation and defense of professionals in claims and suits brought against them in federal and state courts throughout Pennsylvania. She regularly represents the interests of attorneys, architects, engineers, land surveyors, real estate professionals, including agents, brokers, appraisers, home inspectors and insurance agents and brokers. Nicole also regularly provides advice and counsel to attorneys in best practices in order to avoid legal malpractice and professional negligence claims. Because many legal malpractice suits have a basis in underlying actions, Nicole has developed a wide range of understanding in real estate, contracts, design defects, divorce proceedings, estate administration, personal injury and business transactions.
Nicole also defends attorneys with respect to civil rights claims and intentional claims for wrongful use of civil proceedings and defamation actions. In cases where a lawsuit has not yet been filed, Nicole has advised clients in a claims avoidance and/or mitigation capacity, including navigating through conflicts of interest that may arise through the course of a lawyer's representation.
As a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association's sub-committee on Professional Responsibility and Ethics, Nicole has served as a speaker on professional ethics and malpractice avoidance at local county bar association functions and conferences.
In 2005, Nicole earned her juris doctor from Widener University School of Law graduating in the top 15% of her class. While in law school, she was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society as well as the Trial Advocacy Honor Society. Nicole also participated in the Regional National Appellate Advocacy Competition and the Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic.
Year joined
2012
Results
Father Changes Will; Son Files Civil Action Against Estate Attorney
Professional Liability
August 30, 2017
Successfully defended an attorney in his individual capacity and in his capacity as executor of an estate. The plaintiff (the decedent’s son) had a verbal agreement to move into the decedent’s (his father’s) home and provide him with care. In exchange, the decedent agreed to leave his entire estate to the plaintiff, and he did so in a Will executed in 2010. After a deteriorating relationship, in May 2013 the decedent executed a new Will that essentially left the plaintiff with nothing.
Convicted “Kids for Cash” Attorney’s Legal Malpractice Claims Dismissed
Professional Liability
December 6, 2016
The plaintiff was a former attorney and county commissioner who was indicted in the “Kids for Cash” scandal. A federal jury convicted the plaintiff of conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official rights, extortion, conspiracy to commit money laundering and similarly-related charges. The plaintiff subsequently filed a legal malpractice action against his criminal attorneys, one of whom was our client, alleging 22 separate instances where our client purportedly breached his duty of care.
Thought Leadership
Marshall Dennehey Announces 2018 Shareholder Class
January 3, 2018
Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin announced today that 14 associates and one special counsel have been elevated to shareholder, with 60 percent of the new shareholder class comprised of women.
My Attorney Told Me To...Opening the Door and Waiver of the Attorney-Client Privilege
Harrisburg
Professional Liability
March 1, 2016
By Nicole M. Ehrhart, Esq.*Key Points: Defense Digest, Vol 22, No. 1, March 2016
Settling Party Beware: A Claim for Legal Malpractice Cannot Survive When a Plaintiff Knowingly Settles the Underlying Case
Harrisburg
Professional Liability
September 1, 2015
By Nicole M. Ehrhart, Esq.*Key Points: Defense Digest, Vol. 21, No. 3, September 2015
Superior Court Opens the Door for Plaintiffs To Recover Consequential Damages in Legal Malpractice Actions in Assumpsit
Harrisburg
Professional Liability
March 1, 2013
By Nicole M. Ehrhart, Esq.* Key Points: Defense Digest, Vol. 19, No. 1, March 2013
Classes/Seminars Taught
Special Considerations in Representing Attorneys - Mitigating Lawyer Animus, PLDF Annual Conference, October 2018
Current Issues in Legal Malpractice Litigation and Malpractice Avoidance, Bucks County and Lancaster County Bench Bar Conferences, October 2015
Malpractice Avoidance Program, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Central Pennsylvania, 2013 through present.
Current Issues in Legal Malpractice Litigation and Malpractice Avoidance, Cumberland County Bar Association, June 2013