BARDSLEY LAW - Key Persons
Dean Seman, a civil litigator for 20 years, is passionate about his representation of the companies and professionals who work hard to improve the communities and neighborhoods in which we work and live in the face of risk and today's litigious society. Dean leverages the knowledge and technical skills that he gained through his education and former experience as an environmental/civil engineer to defend his clients in state and federal courts as well as dispute resolution forums, in areas including environmental matters, design and construction defects, product liability and toxic tort.
Dean's environmental practice is rooted in his multi-state engineering field work and legal regulatory internships with the Environmental Protection Agency and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Dean's environmental work encompasses defense against professional negligence as well as with traditional matters regarding CERCLA, state-level contaminated properties, cost-recovery, storage tank releases and hazardous wastes. He also handles toxic and chemical exposure claims including benzene, lead, silica, air irritants and diacetyl. Dean's clients range from environmental professionals, developers, contractors, and waste water engineers to industrial and manufacturing companies. Representative examples include:
Defending an environmental laboratory in state court concerning alleged negligent reporting that reportedly affected the development and marketing of remedial technology in the waste water treatment industry. This complex matter involved the feasibility of the remedial technology as well as speculative future earnings and patent claims. This matter was promptly resolved for a fraction of the claimed damages.
Obtaining a favorable and cost-effective settlement of a claim against a waste water system designer in federal court against allegations of negligent design by developing evidence of improper operation and understanding of waste water characteristics by the business owner.
Defending and minimizing exposure in numerous claims against fuel suppliers arising from storage tank releases through age dating of contaminants and proving wrongful acts of others. Dean has also successfully represented the Pennsylvania Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund in the past.
Within Dean's experience in the construction industry is specific representation of architects, developers, general contractors, and subcontractors against property damage defect claims and personal injury tort claims. His technical background allows him to cost-effectively defend these matters by easily and quickly grasping the construction concepts at issue. Representative examples include:
Defending an engineer against the owner's claims of improper mechanical design causing delay damages and additional costs during the conversation of a commercial mixed-use building. This matter was resolved through mediation for a fraction of the claimed damages.
Reaching a favorable settlement while defending an architect against alleged improper design and acoustical issues by proving that the contractor failed to follow the plans, and also identifying life safety issues that needed to be remedied due to the non-compliance.
Defending a developer against multi-million dollar construction defect claims from a condominium association, spurring multiple state and appellate litigation proceedings and arbitration. Dean was able to resolve the matter with the plaintiff taking no action in support of its claims.
He also defends numerous national, regional and local businesses in tort matters involving dangerous conditions, defective products and negligent conduct. Through his practice and trial experience, Dean has achieved successful results and settlements for his clients.
Dean regularly publishes and presents at national conferences on his specialty areas. During law school, Dean was a member of the Villanova Sports and Entertainment Law Journal and published an article that has been cited by federal and state courts.
Pamela "Pam" Devine is a seasoned litigator with over 25 years of experience representing design professionals and construction companies against design defect, construction defect and injury claims. A partner at Bardsley Law, Pam's matters have included the representation of architects, engineers, special inspectors, lawyers and title agents in professional liability actions. Pam also has deep expertise defending general liability claims and handling major jury matters involving serious and catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries.
Pam focuses on the representation of architects and engineers in connection with design defects and change order claims with allegedly resultant project delays. She has litigated cases involving college buildings, warehouses, crosswalks, stormwater management facilities, sinkholes, churches, a stadium, recreational facilities, residences and skyscrapers, building, roof and party wall collapses, fires, floods, mold and roof leaks. She also successfully defended a significant change order claim brought against a homeowner involving the design and construction of a pool and other outdoor living areas, as well as the installation of hardscaping and landscaping. After a year of litigation, the plaintiff, a landscape design and construction company, withdrew the claim against the homeowner.
Pam has skillfully defended a national retailer and other clients against claims ranging from slip-and-falls, to falling merchandise, product defects, false imprisonment, and assaults. In the defense against claims involving serious and catastrophic injuries, Pam has successfully used surveillance, social media evidence, and prior medical records to minimize claimed damages made against various companies and corporations.
Throughout her career, Pam has litigated insurance defense matters involving construction defects, construction site injuries, premises liability, transportation, inadequate security, dog bites, child abuse, abuse of emotional support animals and product defects. She is often called upon to share her insight on insurance coverage matters and has litigated insurance coverage disputes on behalf of major insurance companies, including a notable and often-cited case in which the insurers were victorious in an advertising injury coverage claim.
Her transportation litigation work includes the zealous defense of numerous tractor trailer, ambulance, and other commercial vehicle drivers as well as claims involving runaway trailers, heavy construction equipment, forklifts, and SEPTA buses.
Pam is a life-long resident of Chester County, Pennsylvania and a graduate of Conestoga High School. Pam lives with her husband and four children in Malvern, Pa., where she is a proud travel soccer and cross-country mom.
AFFILIATIONS
Chester County Court of Common Pleas, Appointed Arbitrator
EDUCATION
Widener University School of Law, J.D., 1995
The University of Pennsylvania, B.A. American History with Distinction, 1992
Throughout his more than 45-year legal career, Richard "Dick" Abell has established a reputation for being the go-to-attorney for ultra-complex or novel legal issues. Dick earned this distinction through the representation of architects, engineers, contractors, professionals, building owners and individuals in hundreds of litigations including jury and bench trials in various Pennsylvania counties and federal courts. These cases included contractual disputes, commercial claims, construction disputes and bodily injury claims. More specifically, Dick has successfully represented owners seeking compensation for construction-related damages, contractors sued for claimed contract breaches and alleged defective work, and professionals sued for financial losses and construction damages arising from alleged deficiencies in design and construction management services.
Sean Ryan has dedicated his career to serving design, construction and real estate professionals. In the construction sphere, he works closely with his architect, engineer and contractor clients to negotiate complex contracts, seek to mitigate potential risk and provide guidance throughout the entire project life cycle. Sean additionally represents these professionals against design and construction defect, delay, and professional liability claims and in the prosecution of fee collection cases. Outside of the courtroom, Sean actively works for the betterment of his clients and the design, construction and real estate professional community by holding presentations and authoring articles on critical issues and best practices.
Sean began his legal career as a federal law clerk with the Honorable Robert F. Kelly in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and state law clerk for the Honorable Frank T. Hazel in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas. He then obtained his Master of Laws degree (LLM) before serving as an attorney in the construction practice groups of two firms prior to joining Bardsley Law.
In addition to his focus on the law, Sean enjoys international travel. While living and studying in Valparaiso, Chile several years ago, he traveled throughout South America. Later during his legal studies, Sean explored Europe with the University of Miami School of Law's semester abroad program. Sean's favorite journey, however, might be to the Final Four. A proud graduate of Villanova University and devoted Wildcats basketball fan, he attended both of his alma mater's championships in 2016 and 2018.
Sean and his wife, Amy, and dog, Reilly, live in Broomall in the house that they are fixing up.
As a civil trial lawyer for the last twenty-five years, Steve Bardsley has developed extensive experience in multiple practice areas, with recognized skill in professional liability, environmental law, and construction law. He has achieved positive results for his clients in all manner of cases, from slip-and-fall personal injury cases to multi-million dollar claims related to alleged errors and omissions, construction delays, environmental contamination, fire, collapse, catastrophic personal injury, and death. Steve has an undergraduate degree in engineering, which serves him well in sorting through technically complex construction issues.
Steve counsels owners, contractors and design professionals on tactics to avoid problems that can arise during construction projects, and prepares, negotiates, and reviews contract documents with a keen eye toward minimizing future liability. As a litigator who has successfully brought hundreds of cases to resolution, Steve understand the costs, risks and tactics of courtroom trials, private arbitrations and mediation. His primary focus is always on solving client problems in the most efficient and ethical manner.
In his practice as a mediator, Steve brings to bear that same practical problem-solving approach. He is not only fluent in construction law, but also in the construction process, because it is important to understand the role of each project participant and how they depend on each other. He encourages the parties to realistically assess their risks, tries to create a meaningful, productive and positive dialogue, and tenaciously drives toward a mutually acceptable resolution. He believes in the importance of fairness in the process and dignity in the outcome.