William D. (“Denny”) Phillips was born and raised in Washington, Pennsylvania. He received his B.A. from Washington and Jefferson College in 1959 and his Juris Doctor from Duquesne University in 1962. After law school, Denny served two years in the United States Army and was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. After his honorable discharge, Denny returned to Washington where he worked as an Assistant District Attorney from 1965 to 1967, after which time he entered private practice.
Denny is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only organization consisting of the “most distinguished and accomplished trial lawyers in North America.” (http://www.actl.com/). He has been on the Best Lawyers in America list every year since 1999 and listed as a “Best Lawyer in Pittsburgh” in the fields of personal injury litigation and medical malpractice litigation in 2006, 2007, and 2008. He is also a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in the areas of personal injury and medical malpractice litigation.
Denny is the President and a trustee of the Washington County Bar Foundation. He is a founding member and former president of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Southwestern Pennsylvania. He is a member of the American Association for Justice (formerly the American Trial Lawyers Association) and the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. He is a member of the Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, and Washington County Bar Associations and a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel.
Denny is a skilled and experienced mediator who is frequently employed by fellow attorneys to resolve cases involving personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, and business disputes.
Denny resides in Washington, Pennsylvania with his wife, Sandra. He has three grown children, Bill, Dennis, and Laura, a Phillips and Faldowski associate.
Areas of Practice
- Personal Injury – Plaintiff 50%
- Medical Malpractice – Plaintiff 50%
Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania, 1962
- U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania, 1962
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1974
Education
- Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- J.D. – 1962
- Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Pennsylvania
- B.A.B.S. – 1959
- Honors:
Dean’s List - Honors:
With Honors - Major:
Economics/Spanish
Published Works
- My First Trial(s), PA Justice News, Fall, 2008
- Interview with the Hon. Debbie O’Dell Seneca, PA Justice News, May, 2011
Representative Cases
- Bell v. Slezak, 812 A.2d 566, 571 Pa. 333, 2002
- Lehnig v. Felton, 393 A.2d 302, 481 Pa. 557, 1978
- Scatteregia v. Shin Shen Wu, 495 A.2d 552, 343 Pa. Super. 452, 1986
- Voyles v. Corwin, 441 A.2d 381, 295 Pa. Super. 126, 1982
- Migyanko v. Thislethwaite, 419 A.2d 12, 275 Pa. Super. 500, 1980
- Bandes v. Klimoski, 393 A.2d 1050, 260 Pa. Super. 138, 1978
- Vitteck v. Washington Broadcasting Co., 389 A.2d 1197, 256 Pa. Super. 427, 1978
- Hargrove v. CNA Ins. Grp., 323 A.2d 785, 228 Pa. Super. 336, 1974
- Trinity Area School District v. Dickson, 302 A.2d 481, 223 Pa. Super. 546, 1973
- Commonwealth v. Shider, 224 A.2d 802, 209 Pa. Super. 133, 1966
- Pretetori v. Uniservice, Inc., 413 A.2d 787, 51 Pa. Commw. 74, 1980
Representative Clients
- Allegheny Energy, Inc.
References
- PNC Bank, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Honors and Awards
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Best Lawyers in America
- Best Lawyers in Pittsburgh
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated
- Pennsylvania SuperLawyer, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Pennsylvania Association for Justice, Member
- Academy of Trial Lawyers of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Former President and Founding Member, Current Member
- Washington County Bar Foundation, Former President, Current Member
- American Association for Justice, Member
- Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Member, Hearing Board, 2004
- Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member, 1962
- Washington County Bar Association, Member, 1962
Past Employment Positions
- Washington County District Attorney, Assistant DA, 1965 to 1967
- United States Army, Lieutenant, 1962 to 1964
Pro Bono Activities
- Washington County Bar Foundation, 2000 to 2010
Ancillary Businesses
- Mediation