MARYLAND - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Medical Investigator
As Senior Medical Investigator, Mr. Switzer interviews or reviews the interviews of all potential new clients at the firm, and leads the investigation team in determining the nature of each case, the medical issues involved, and whether Schochor and Staton, P.A. can undertake representation.
Mr. Switzer is a graduate of the University of Maryland University College, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, one of the nations' oldest and largest academic honor societies. He began work at Schochor and Staton, P.A. in 1995, and always says he is most proud of his ability to help those families and individuals who have been injured by medical negligence, and to provide them with the answers they need.
Mr. Switzer is a lifelong resident of Pasadena, Maryland, where he lives with his wife Rachel and their two sons. In his community, Mr. Switzer volunteers his time coaching soccer and for many years has been the announcer for the Northeast High School Boys Varsity soccer team. In his free time, Mr. Switzer is active with his family spending time on the water, biking, hiking and relaxing at the beach.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate at Schochor and Staton, P.a.
Jonathan Taylor Huddleston is an Associate at Schochor and Staton, P.A. Mr. Huddleston graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Vanderbilt University in 2008, and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2011. During law school, Mr. Huddleston worked as a research assistant for visiting professor Davida H. Issacs, and served as a student attorney for the Mississippi Center for Justice, where he advocated on behalf of individuals and families affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Following law school, Mr. Huddleston clerked for the Honorable John Addison Howard in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, during the 2011-2012 term. Upon completion of his clerkship, Mr. Huddleston spent nearly five years defending healthcare providers in medical malpractice cases with a Maryland medical malpractice defense firm. He now utilizes his experience in all aspects of medical malpractice litigation in his role as a litigator at Schochor and Staton, P.A.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Co - Chair of the American Bar Association 's Mass Torts Subcommittee
Josh Kahn specializes in tort law with an emphasis on cases involving catastrophic personal injuries. Prior to joining Schochor & Staton in 2022, Josh practiced as a civil defense attorney for over a decade, primarily at a preeminent Maryland law firm in downtown Baltimore where he was elected partner in 2020. Josh's prior practice focused on defending clients in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, mass tort litigation, as well as class action and qui tam cases pending in state and federal courts in Maryland, D.C., and beyond. Josh's deep knowledge of the defense playbook gives him unique perspective and insight into each case.
With every client, Josh's priority is to achieve the best result as efficiently as possible. He is laser-focused on synthesizing complex issues into straightforward analyses that allow his clients to make informed decisions for themselves and their loved ones. Josh's success on behalf of his clients has earned him recognition as a Maryland Super Lawyers "Rising Star" each year since 2015.
Josh is a lifelong Maryland resident, and proud to be a "Double Terp." In 2007, he earned two undergraduate degrees from the University of Maryland in College Park, where he graduated cum laude. In 2010, he graduated cum laude again from the University of Maryland School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review.
Following law school, Josh served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Lawrence F. Rodowsky and the Honorable Charles E. Moylan, Jr., who were specially assigned cases on Maryland's highest and intermediate appellate courts.
Josh is co-chair of the American Bar Association's Mass Torts Subcommittee on Multi-District Litigation and Class Procedures. He also serves on the Judicial Selections Committee of the Bar Association of Baltimore City and on the board of directors of Capital Camps (a local Jewish summer camp).
Josh enjoys spending time with his wife, twin sons and Airedale terrier, Scout, in and around Baltimore and the Maryland/Delaware shore. He is an avid (though not very good) golfer.
Job Titles:
- Associate at Schochor and Staton, P.a.
- Founding and Managing Partner
- Member of the Maryland Association for Justice
Mr. Staton is a member of the Maryland Association for Justice (formerly the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association) where he served on the Board of Governors from 1988 through 1995. He is a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (now the American Association for Justice), where he has served as the Maryland State Delegate and Minority Caucus Member for Maryland. Mr. Staton is a Fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation, the Reginald Heber Smith Law Fellowship, and the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference.
Kerry D. Staton attended Oberlin College and the University of Maryland School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor in 1980.
Mr. Staton and his wife, who is also an attorney, have raised two children. They currently live in Clarksville, Maryland.
Kerry D. Staton was recognized as "Lawyer of the Year". He was also named Trial Lawyer of the Year by Top 100 Lawyers, and named Lawyer of the Year (Baltimore) by Best Lawyers in America.
Job Titles:
- Associate and Medical Investigator
- Attorney - at - Law
Kristina E. Tyler, Esq. is an attorney-at-law and medical investigator at Schochor and Staton, P.A.
Ms. Tyler earned a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology & Physiology and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Translation from the University of Maryland College Park where she was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and included in the University of Maryland Honors Program.
After graduation, Ms. Tyler worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at The Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center where she managed drug and research trials aimed at discovering new treatment protocols for cancer patients. In that roll, she went on to earn a Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) certification through the Society of Clinical Research Associates.
Ms. Tyler then attended law school and earned her Juris Doctor magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law. As a law student, she served as Associate Comment Editor on the University of Baltimore Law Review and gained admission into the Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society.
After graduation, Ms. Tyler worked as an associate plaintiffs' mass tort attorney at a Baltimore area law firm defending clients against defective drugs and medical devices.
In her position with Schochor and Staton, P.A., Ms. Tyler works with clients and medical experts to thoroughly investigate their malpractice cases. Her work in the field of oncology clinical research, along with her experience as a plaintiffs' mass tort attorney, make her well-suited to handle the challenges of her position with Schochor and Staton, P.A.
Ms. Tyler is a lifelong resident of Ellicott City where she resides with her husband and her three sons.
Job Titles:
- Associate and Senior Medical Investigator
Patrick Terrence Gaffney is a graduate of John Carroll University (1984), and the Cleveland State University Marshall College of Law (1989). Mr. Gaffney put himself through college while working as a critical care nursing assistant at a large midwestern teaching hospital practicing primarily in medical and surgical intensive care units. He holds a Certificate in Pharmacology (antibiotics) from the Medical College of Pennsylvania. He continued his medical and pharmaceutical education as he attended law school by concurrently working as a pharmaceutical salesman for what is now known as Glaxo-SmithKline.
Mr. Gaffney is a seasoned catastrophic medical malpractice and medical device trial attorney. He has substantial first chair trial experience involving birth injuries, anesthesia complications, failure to diagnose cancer, orthopedic matters, complex hematology issues, surgical complications, nursing negligence, and myriad other issues.
He has managed hundreds of medical malpractice cases during the course of his career. He also has substantial first chair trial experience in product liability cases involving pharmaceuticals, and tobacco. In 2013 he was named a "Top 100 Trial Lawyer" by The National Trial Lawyers.
Scott P. Kurlander graduated cum laude from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts,
where he was a member of the Honor Society and sports editor for independent student
newspaper, the Tufts Daily. He was also a four year varsity lacrosse player at Tufts and
malpractice, Mr. Kurlander has been appointed by numerous jurisdictions as a court
Outside of his responsibilities at the firm, Mr. Kurlander is an active supporter of the Gilman
Mr. Kurlander is a devoted husband and proud father. He lives with his wife, an Assistant