Patricia concentrates a portion of her practice on insurance coverage, special insurance investigations and bad faith disputes. She regularly provides guidance to insurance carriers concerning coverage issues, and litigates coverage and bad faith claims brought against them. Patricia has tried several bad faith lawsuits in state and federal court, and has substantial experience in handling complex discovery issues presented in bad faith lawsuits.
In the field of employment law, Patricia also maintains an extensive law practice, and routinely defends public entities and private employers from discrimination and retaliation claims, based on race, sex, religion, age, disability, and FMLA entitlement. She also defends public entities and private employers from state whistleblower suits, along with employment claims filed under Section 1983, such as those arising under the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
Patricia has represented employers before the National Labor Relations Board, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the EEOC, various county courts of common pleas, Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, Superior Court of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the United States District Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Patricia has tried numerous employment cases to verdict, and given that the Western Distinct Court of Pennsylvania has a mandatory alternative dispute resolution program, she is also regularly involved in counseling employers and assisting with resolution of employment claims.
Further, Patricia's experience also includes the defense of a wide range of claims for intentional torts, civil rights violations, and any claim that may fall under a public entity's errors and omissions policy, employment policy, or general liability policy. She has tried numerous civil rights cases to verdict, including claims arising out of police pursuits, false arrests, excessive use of force, denial of due process, and zoning matters.
In 1986, Patricia received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida, and in 1990, she achieved her juris doctor from the University of Pittsburgh. Throughout her legal career, Patricia has been an active trial lawyer and was elected as a shareholder with Marshall Dennehey in 1999. Her past experience also includes service in the role of solicitor to local municipalities. Patricia is a frequent speaker on employment and insurance coverage topics and has authored several articles for the firm's Defense Digest. She has received an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell.
Honors & Awards
AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
Year Joined
1995
Results
Defense Prevails in Bad Faith/Breach of Contract Case
Insurance Services
February 17, 2017
The lawsuit arose out of the insured's claim for vandalism, which was made about a year after the insured learned that his tenant was making significant renovations to the leased property in violation of the lease. The tenant had been paying the insured's mortgage. The insured did not make the vandalism claim until the tenant stopped paying the insured's mortgage and the insured was served with a foreclosure notice.
Defense Victorious in Insurance Coverage/Bad Faith Case
Insurance Services
April 21, 2016
Marshall Dennehey attorneys were victorious in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in an insurance coverage and bad faith case. The case involved claims by an insured for coverage under a Business Owners and Technology Professional Liability policy issued by a major insurance carrier. The insured was sued by two other participants in a prior business venture who sought a declaratory judgment as to the ownership of certain intellectual property.
Insurance Carrier Prevails in Bad Faith Case
Insurance Services
June 8, 2015
The defense succeeded on a motion for judgment on the pleadings in a breach of contract/bad faith claim against an insurance carrier in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Thought Leadership
I’ve Been Served With a Writ of Summons. Now What?
Pittsburgh
General Liability
December 10, 2018
Defense Digest, Vol. 24, No. 4, December 2018By Patricia A. Monahan, Esq.*Key Points: Defense Digest, Vol. 24, No. 4, December 2018. Defense Digest is prepared by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin to provide information on recent legal developments of interest to our readers.
Defending Claims While Working Within the 'Tripartite Relationship'
Pittsburgh
Professional Liability
August 29, 2016
When Is an Accident Not an Accident?
Pittsburgh
November 21, 2014
Pennsylvania Superior Court Is the First State Appellate Court To Address the Unfair Insurance Practices Act Protection for Victims of Abuse
Pittsburgh
Insurance Services
September 1, 2013
By Patricia A. Monahan, Esq.*Key Points: Defense Digest, Vol. 19, No. 3, September 2013
Pennsylvania Superior Court Panel Has Found That an Insured's Conduct Is Not Subject to Scrutiny in a Subsequent Bad Faith Law Suit
Pittsburgh
Insurance Services
September 1, 2011
Pennsylvania - Bad Faith Key Points: Defense Digest, Vol. 17, No. 3, September 2011
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Classes/Seminars Taught
Employment Liability in the Cyber Age, Marshall Dennehey / AIG Employment Seminar, Pittsburgh, PA, May 2, 2013
Speaker on various topics including employment claims, civil rights litigation, federal practice and insurance bad faith