BAUM O'CONNOR CULLEN CHMIEL - Key Persons
Abby Deter is an Associate with the firm and concentrates her practice in the area of medical malpractice defense.
Ms. Deter earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. During law school, Ms. Deter served on the board of various student organizations, including Pitt Law Women's Association. Further, Ms. Deter earned Pitt Law's Health Law Certificate and worked as a law clerk at a local law firm during law school.
Ms. Deter earned her bachelor's degree in philosophy, with a concentration in the history and philosophy of science, from the University of Pittsburgh. While there, she volunteered as a service dog raiser for the organization Perfect Fit Canines.
Alan S. Baum - President, Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Founding Member
- President
- Shareholder
- Fellow and past President of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County
Mr. Baum is a Founding Member and President of Baum O'Connor Cullen Chmiel. For more than 40 years, Mr. Baum has focused his practice on the representation of physicians, nursing homes, and other healthcare providers, particularly in the defense of medical malpractice lawsuits, and in related contract and employment litigation. Mr. Baum has extensive trial experience, having tried well over 100 cases in his career.
Mr. Baum is a Fellow and Past President of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County. Martindale-Hubbell gives Mr. Baum an A/V "Preeminent" peer review rating, which is their highest rating for both legal ability and personal qualities such as reliability, diligence and ethics. Since 2007, Mr. Baum has been listed in every edition of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers. He has served as a lecturer and panelist for numerous continuing legal education programs sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pennsylvania Association for Justice, Professional Education Systems Institute, Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, and Allegheny County Bar Association. Mr. Baum is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Pennsylvania.
Amanda J. Brash is an Associate with the firm and concentrates her practice in the area of medical malpractice defense.
Ms. Brash practices civil litigation focused on the defense of healthcare professionals in medical malpractice claims.
Prior to joining Baum O'Connor Cullen Chmiel, Ms. Brash practiced in the pre-trial and appellate divisions at the Allegheny County Public Defender's Office.
Ms. Brash earned her Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law. During law school, Ms. Brash was a Civil Procedure teaching assistant and interned with both the Allegheny County Public Defender's Office and the District Attorney's Office.
Ms. Brash earned her Bachelor's degree in English Literature from Slippery Rock University. While there, she was a member of two dance teams, as well as Sigma Tau Delta, the National English Honors Society.
Amelia Salem Rashid is an Associate with the firm and concentrates her practice in the area of medical malpractice defense.
Ms. Rashid practices civil litigation focused on the defense of healthcare professionals in medical malpractice claims.
Prior to joining Baum O'Connor Cullen Chmiel, Ms. Rashid practiced in Federal and County courts at an insurance defense firm in downtown Pittsburgh. Before that, Ms. Rashid clerked for the Honorable William C. Robinson, Jr. in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas.
Ms. Rashid earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. During law school, Ms. Rashid served as president, and co-founder of the Middle Eastern North African Law Student Association. Ms. Rashid also served as the President of the Class ‘21 in the Student Bar Association.
Ms. Rashid earned her Bachelor's degree in Politics from Saint Vincent College. While there, she was a competitor in the SVC women's swim team, and served as treasurer of the Aurelius Scholars. Additionally, she was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honors Society.
Dave Chmiel joined Baum O'Connor Cullen Chmiel in 2009 and focuses his practice in the defense of physicians and dentists, hospitals and long term care facilities and a host of other healthcare and medical providers, including physicians assistants, nurses, physical therapists and certified nurse anesthetists to name a few.
Mr. Chmiel pursued his undergraduate degree in political science at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN. Upon graduation, he attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Mr. Chmiel began his career at a small five-attorney firm in Pittsburgh where he began to develop his trial skills handling general liability cases, including motor vehicle accidents and premises liability claims, as well as medical negligence matters. Mr. Chmiel continued to pursue his interests in medical negligence defense at a significantly larger firm based out of Philadelphia, PA until arriving at Baum O'Connor Cullen Chmiel.
He is also a Fellow of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, membership to which is extended only to litigators who have demonstrated outstanding ability and experience in their fields.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Member of the Firm
Mr. O'Connor has been a member of the firm for 24 years. His practice is devoted exclusively to the defense of physicians, nurses, physician assistants, hospitals, and nursing homes in medical malpractice cases. Brian has represented physicians of all specialties including emergency medicine, radiology, ophthalmology, optometry, orthopedic surgery, general surgery, otolaryngology, radiation and medical oncology, pulmonology and internal medicine. Brian also frequently represents physicians in licensing matters before the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine.