HECKLER & FRABIZZIO - Key Persons
Amy M. Taylor joined the firm of Heckler & Frabizzio in June of 2009 where she represented employers and insurance carriers in defense of workers' compensation claims. In 2017 Amy made the transition into General Liability practice; shortly thereafter becoming Partner. Prior to joining Heckler & Frabizzio, Amy practiced corporate law in Wilmington, DE where she specialized in business and commercial transactions involving Delaware alternative entities.
Amy graduated magna cum laude in 2003 from the University of Delaware with an Honors Degree with Distinction in Philosophy and Criminal Justice and a minor in Legal Studies. Amy's honors thesis led to a publication on the topic of "Philosophy and Terrorism" in the international journal Lo Straniero. Amy then graduated cum laude from Villanova Law School in 2006 where she was a Managing Editor for the Villanova Law Review. Amy also served as Community Service Chair for the O'Connor Inn of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity and completed an externship at the Support Center for Child Advocates in Philadelphia.
Amy was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 2006 and to the United States District Court for the District of Delaware in 2007.
Amy has practiced before the Industrial Accident Board, Delaware Superior Court, United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and has handled appellate work in the Supreme Court of Delaware and United States Supreme Court. Amy's professional memberships include the American Bar Association; Delaware State Bar Association; Litigation Section of the DSBA; Labor & Employment Section of the DSBA; Women and the Law Section of the DSBA; and Lawyers of Distinction. Amy has also been selected as a Delaware Top Lawyer by Delaware Today Magazine for 2017 and 2018. She has presented at continuing education seminars as well as to clients on topics including workers' compensation, insurance litigation, and ethics.
Amy has been married to her husband, Casey Taylor, since May of 2008. They have three active children including two daughters and a son and frequently travel for gymnastics meets, softball and ice hockey games. Amy is a Girl Scout troop leader and she also volunteers her time to help students at her daughters' school with math. Although she and her family prefer the sun and beach, you'll find them playing outside all year round. She enjoys sports, especially Phillies baseball, traveling, music, art, and playing the piano.
Anthony M. Frabizzio, is a partner with the law firm of Heckler & Frabizzio and concentrates his practice on the defense of workers' compensation matters for carriers and self-insured employers. He graduated from Salesianum High School, obtained his B.A. degree from the University of Delaware and his J.D. degree from Dickinson School of Law. Mr. Frabizzio is a past Chair of the Delaware State Bar Association's Section on Workers' Compensation and is presently serving on the Workers' Compensation Oversight Panel, Data Collection Sub-Committee, and Fee Schedule Sub-Committee. He previously served on the Governor's Workers' Compensation Task Force and is a member of the Defense Counsel of Delaware, Delaware State, and American Bar Associations. He has received the Community Service Award from the Delaware Bar Association. Mr. Frabizzio is a past Deputy Attorney General for the State of Delaware and has lectured on workers' compensation for seminars sponsored by the Delaware State Bar Association, the Industrial Accident Board of the State of Delaware, and professional organizations.
Anthony Frabizzio enjoys spending time serving his parish and community. He is actively involved in St. Anthony of Padua parish serving as a Trustee from 2010 to the present; Parish Council from 2004 to the present; Eucharistic Minister from 2000 to the present; Lector from 1999 to the present; Parish Planning Commission 2014; past Chair of Continue the Legacy Capital Campaign and past Chairperson of the Italian Festival (8 years). Mr. Frabizzio is also a founding member of the Columbus Day Communion Breakfast Committee serving as past and present Chairperson. He has served on the Delaware Adult Protective Services Advisory Board from 1989 to the present and has been a Friend of Wilmington Library from 1989 to the present. He has also served as a Big Brother for 9 years in that program.
Mr. Frabizzio has received multiple service awards such as:
Job Titles:
- Committee Man of the Year 2006
Greg focuses his practice exclusively on representing employers and insurance carriers in workers' compensation litigation in Delaware. He is licensed to practice law in Delaware and New Jersey. He is a graduate of Penn State University, earning a B.A. in Political Science. He attended law school at the Delaware Law School, and graduated cum laude, in the top 10% of his class, and with pro bono distinction. Following law school, he served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the then five Judges of the New Castle County Court of Common Pleas. After his clerkship, he joined Heckler and Frabizzio.
Greg maintains an active membership in the Workers' Compensation Section of the Delaware State Bar Association. He serves as Treasurer for the Randy J. Holland Workers' Compensation Inn of Court. He is an Attorney Coach for the Mount Pleasant High School Mock Trial Team for the yearly Delaware State High School Mock Trial Competition. He is a Peer Mentor and frequent speaker in a Delaware Bar review program offered by the Minority Judges and Lawyers Section of the Delaware Bar.
Greg lives in Wilmington, Delaware. He enjoys running and kayaking.
John is a partner in the firm's Worker's Compensation Defense Department. He Is licensed to practice in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. John is a graduate of West Chester University and Widener University School of Law. At Widener, he served as the Senior Staff Member for the Widener Law Review. Before joining the firm, John served as a Judicial Clerk to The Honorable Francis P. DeStefano in the Superior Court of New Jersey. He is the current chair of the Delaware State Bar Association's Workers' Compensation Section, co-chair of the Case Law Update Committee, and member of the Rules Committee. John is also a member of the Randy J. Holland Delaware Workers' Compensation Inn of Court.
Outside of private practice, John is a Volunteer Attorney Guardian Ad Litem in the Delaware Office of the Child Advocate, where he provides representation for neglected children before the Family Court. He enjoys spending time with family and playing tennis and golf
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Counsel With the Law Firm
John Wyatt Morgan is Of Counsel with the law firm of Heckler & Frabizzio where he has specialized in the defense of Workers' Compensation matters on behalf of self-insured employers and insurance carriers in the State of Delaware since joining the firm during January 2000. Prior to joining Heckler & Frabizzio, Mr. Morgan served as an Assistant City Solicitor for the City of Wilmington where he concentrated his practice in the area of labor and employment including union contract disputes, grievances, contract negotiations and responding to charges of discrimination. Mr. Morgan also worked for a number of years as a Hearing Officer for the State of Delaware, Department of Labor. Mr. Morgan is past Chair of the Delaware State Bar Association's Section on Labor and Employment Law. He has been a member of the Delaware State Bar since 1992. He served as a law clerk for the Honorable Charles H. Toliver, IV of the Delaware Superior Court. He received his B.A. degree in economics from the University of Delaware and his JD degree from Widener University School of Law.
Mr. Morgan was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania on October 30, 1959. During what would have been his 9th-grade educational experience in Delaware, he moved with his parents to a suburb of London, England for a year. He returned to Newark, Delaware and graduated from Newark High School. He presently resides in North Wilmington with his wife, Sharon, and his daughter, Christina. He enjoys an active lifestyle and particularly enjoys running. He is looking forward to competing in his first marathon.
Maria Paris Newill is one of two Managing Directors for the Firm of Heckler & Frabizzio where she has worked since 1990 representing Employers and Insurance Companies in Workers' Compensation matters before the Delaware's Industrial Accident Board, Superior Court and/or Supreme Court.
Ms. Newill attended the University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware (December 1986, B.S.A.S.) graduating from University of Delaware with a major in Criminal Justice and minor in Psychology (degrees completed in 3 ½ years). Ms. Newill then attended Oklahoma City University School of Law, Oklahoma City, OK (May 1990, J.D.) while her husband was stationed in Oklahoma, serving in the military. Ms. Newill graduated from Law School in the top 25 % of the class in May 1990.
Ms. Newill successfully passed the Delaware Bar on her first attempt and was admitted to the Delaware Bar, January 7, 1991. She is also admitted to U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.
Ms. Newill's professional activities include: Associate at the Law Firm of Heckler & Frabizzio - 8/1/1990 to 1997 and then Director at the Law Firm of Heckler & Frabizzio 1997 to present practicing in Workers' Compensation Litigation - Insurance Defense where she has handled over 3000 claims within Delaware's Industrial Accident Board, Superior Court, and Supreme Courts on behalf of self-insured employers, employers, and/or insurance companies.
Ms. Newill's professional memberships include, or have included: American Bar Association;
Delaware State Bar Association; Workers' Compensation Section of the Delaware State Bar Association; Women and the Law Section of the Delaware State Bar Association, National Association of Professional Women VIP Member, Defense Counsel of Delaware; Defense Research Institute; and Council for Litigation Management. Additionally, Ms. Newill was voted by her peers as one of Delaware's Top Lawyer for Workers Compensation by Delaware Today Magazine for 2015-2021. Additionally, Ms. Newill was awarded the Delaware State Bar Association's Community Service Award in 2022.
Ms. Newill has held many positions within the Workers Compensation Section and Women and the Law Section of the Delaware State Bar Association including Chairpersons of each of these Sections. Ms. Newill also served on The Delaware State Bar Association Nomination Committee (3-year term). Ms. Newill has been a voluntary judge for the Delaware's High School Moot Court Competitions and has worked pro bono as a Guardian ad Litem in Delaware's Family Court representing children in foster care
Personally, Ms. Newill has been married to her husband, James F. Newill, since 4/28/1987. She is a mother to two boys, Nicholas and Charles Newill. Ms. Newill's civic participation had included: Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association - Former Board Member, and Chairperson; Organization Subcommittee of SDRA - Former Member; PEO (Philanthropic Education Organization raising money for Women's Education) - Former Member; Development Subcommittee of Duck Creek Library Guild - Former Member; and Cotillion Subcommittee of the Smyrna Opera House in Delaware - Former Member.
For fun, Ms. Newill enjoys being on or near the water, antiques/auctions, historic preservation, movies, music (especially blues and country), reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Mr. Mitchell earned his B.S. in Criminology from Florida State University in 2006, graduating cum laude; his M.B.A. in Finance from Wilmington University in 2007; and his J.D. from Widener University School of Law in 2010. He is admitted to the practice of law in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland.
Mr. Mitchell is a member of the Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and American Bar Associations and the Defense Counsel of Delaware. He resides in Newark, Delaware with his wife, Jessica, their daughter, Viviann, and two rescue dogs.
Michael W. Mitchell is an associate in the firm's liability department focusing his practice on insurance defense litigation, including personal injury, property damage, and products liability. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Mitchell practiced criminal law in Maryland.
Michele M. Subers is an associate in the firm's Liability Department. Before joining the firm, Michele was a law clerk at an Employment Law Firm for two years, where she began to stem a special interest in employment law. In law school, Michele founded the Employment Law Society on Widener Delaware Law School's Campus, and presided as President.
Michele received her B.A. in Philosophy and her Minor Degree in Human Development and Family Studies with the Pennsylvania State University in 2013. Michele then went on to Widener Delaware Law School and received her J.D. in 2017.
Michele was admitted to practice law in Delaware in 2017 and was admitted to practice in Pennsylvania in 2018.
In her spare time, Michele enjoys spending time in North Wildwood with her family and friends.
Miranda "Mindy" D. Clifton has over 15 years of experience litigating personal injury matters for defendants. Mindy has worked 9 years as a Trial Attorney for Nationwide Insurance and over 6 years for private firms. Mindy's practice focuses on the defense of both personal and commercial claims arising from motor vehicle accidents, product liability and premises liability. She is a skilled and experienced trial attorney with an outstanding defense verdict record. Mindy has been certified by the Delaware Superior Court as a mediator and serves as both mediator and arbitrator in resolving disputes for other Delaware attorneys. She utilizes her resolution skills for her clients to negotiate fair settlements in many of her cases. Mindy is also well-respected among her peers. She was elected President of the Delaware State Bar Association in 2016-2017. Prior to serving as President, she served on the Delaware State Bar Association Executive Committee for 9 years holding offices such as Vice President At Large, Vice President- New Castle County, Treasurer, Assistance Treasurer, Secretary and Assistance Secretary. She also was Chair of the Women and the Law Section of the Delaware State Bar Association for a 2-year term. Mindy is also a member of the Kent County Bar Association and Terry-Carey Inn of Court. Mindy graduated from Widener University School of Law in 2000 with her Juris Doctor (JD) degree and obtained her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Wilmington University in 2015. She continues to serve as an adjunct professor at Wilmington University in their Graduate Business department.
Nicholas E. Bittner is a partner in the firm's workers' compensation department and was admitted to practice law in Delaware in 2016. He graduated from Bucks County Community College with an A.A. in Police Administration in 2011, Temple University with a B.A. in Criminal Justice in 2013, and obtained his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law in 2016. Mr. Bittner has an extensive background in investigation and litigation, owing from a work and educational history of private security and criminal justice, including two years of experience in criminal defense and nearly two years of experience working in the New Castle County Court of Common Pleas. In law school, Mr. Bittner served on the Honor Board for three years, was published in the Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal, and served as an editor on the Sports Law Journal.
Mr. Bittner is also an accomplished guitarist, a stand-up comedian, and the author of two books on philosophy.
PATRICK G. ROCK (Firm Tenure 2007; Position: Liability Managing Partner), born Burlington, Vermont, September 1, 1972; admitted to bar 2001, Massachusetts, Maine; 2005, Delaware, U.S. District Court, District of Delaware; 2007, U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit. EDUCATION: Thomas More College (B.A., 1996); Widener University School of Law (J.D., 2000). MEMBER: Delaware State, Maine State and Massachusetts Bar Associations. . In 2015-2019 Patrick was voted by his peers to be among Delaware's Best Lawyers and in 2016 he was inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates. PRACTICE AREAS: Insurance Defense; General Practice; Civil Trial Practice.
Education: Thomas Moore College (BA 1996); Widener University School of Law (JD 2000). Member: Delaware State, Maine State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Product Liability, Premises Liability, Insurance Defense, General Practice, Employment Law, Discrimination Claims and Section 1983 Claims.
Patrick has tried more than 20 jury trials in Delaware Superior Court, the court of general jurisdiction and has handled cases in every State Court and assisted in District Court Appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court. Patrick has handled liability claims involving car accidents, insurance coverage disputes and insurance coverage analysis, premises liability and product liability claims, civil rights and Section 1983 claims, among others. Patrick serves on the Board of the Defense Counsel of Delaware, is a member of the Delaware Claims Association, volunteers as a mentor to Widener University law students and participates as a volunteer in the high school Mock Court Trial Competition.
Having been raised on a dairy farm in Northern Vermont, Patrick attended college for two and a half years at Johnson State College then transferred to his Alma Mater, Thomas More College in Merrimack, New Hampshire. While at Thomas More College he spent a semester in Rome, Italy, and then graduated Cum Laude with a Political Science Degree in Liberal Arts in 1996. After college, Patrick interned in Washington, DC for a Vermont U.S. Senator and then was a Wilber Fellow in Mecosta, Michigan at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal. Following the Fellowship, Patrick entered law school at Widener University in Wilmington, Delaware and he graduated in July 2000.
Patrick married his wife Christina (B.A. Lit., 1995, Black Belt in Taekwondo, 2013) in 1997 and together they raise an above average family of nine children. If more time would allow he would enjoy all kinds of outdoor sports including fishing, trap shooting, hiking and travel abroad, but in the meantime he must be content with catching the occasional football game and watching NCAA Basketball, though he likes listening to baseball on the radio. One of his favorite political philosophers is Hannah Arendt, one of his favorite songs is The Dutchman by Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy, and his favorite artist is Michelangelo Caravaggio (1592-1610).
Patrick has given seminars on Civil Litigation, Discovery, Worker's Compensation Subrogation, Bad Faith Insurance Litigation, and Delaware Legal updates for Delaware attorneys and Heckler and Frabizzio clients.
William D. Rimmer was a partner with the law firm of Heckler & Frabizzio where he has specialized in the defense of Workers' Compensation matters on behalf of self-insured employers and insurance carriers in the State of Delaware for more than 20 years. Mr. Rimmer served as the Chair of the Delaware State Bar Association's Section on Workers' Compensation. He was also a member of the Defense Council of Delaware, the Delaware State and American Bar Associations and was a former member of the Justice Randy Holland Worker's Compensation Inn of Court. Mr. Rimmer routinely lectured on the subject of Workers' Compensation, represented the Delaware representative for the National Workers' Compensation Defense Network (NWCDN) and was rated AV "Preeminent" in insurance defense litigation by Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Rimmer was a fellow of the College of Worker's Compensation Lawyers of the American Bar Association.
He received his B.A. degree from Drew University and his J.D. degree from Widener University School of Law, where he was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society.
Mr. Rimmer lived in Wilmington, DE with his wife Mary, and two children Chloe and Zachary. Mr. Rimmer enjoyed coaching soccer and was named competitive boys Coach of the year in 2012 for the State of Delaware and USYSA Region 1. Bill sadly lost his battle to cancer in 2019.