Daniel Donnelly

Special Counsel | Philadelphia, United States
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Profile

Education

  • Temple University Beasley School of Law, JD, 2012
  • Pennsylvania State University, BS, 2009

Dan is special counsel in the Philadelphia office. He primarily concentrates his practice on high-exposure casualty and complex tort litigation. Dan handles a wide range of litigation, including matters involving professional liability, catastrophic personal injury, negligent security, liquor and social host liability, premises liability, toxic tort, construction defect and products liability. His practice also includes representing clients in disputes involving breach of contract, privacy rights, real estate, condominium governance, tortious interference with contractual relations and other commercial disputes.

Having successfully tried several cases to verdict and litigated over 50 matters before panels of arbitrators, Dan has extensive first-chair trial experience in both state and federal courts. He has also handled appeals before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and appellate courts in Pennsylvania, California and the Virgin Islands.  

Before joining Kennedys, Dan was partner at a regional defense firm based in Philadelphia. He earned his law degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society and received the Barrister and Outstanding Oral Advocate Awards for his performance in the integrated trial advocacy program.

Qualifications and admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • US Virgin Islands
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Work highlights

  • Obtained defense verdicts in multiple jury trials in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in motor vehicle negligence actions.
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of an electric security fence manufacturer in a products liability action alleging manufacturing and design defects.
  • Represented a commercial property owner against toxic tort claims brought by 27 individuals alleging various injuries due to mold exposure that resulted in a defense verdict following a three-week jury trial.
  • Represented a municipal power authority in multiple matters involving electric shock injuries, and obtained a defense verdicts following the multi-week trials in cases with plaintiffs alleging the loss of limbs and severe burn injuries.
  • Obtained the dismissal of an excavation contractor in a construction defect action arising from the collapse of two adjoining rowhomes.
  • Secured dismissal of false light, invasion of privacy, and abuse of process claims brought against legal professionals.
  • Represented lawyers and law firms in connection with claims for malpractice and wrongful use of civil proceedings.
  • Represented the local chapter of a fraternal organization in matter involving allegations of sexual assault by one of its former members.
  • Won appeal from the dismissal of retaliation and discrimination claims asserted against a local school district in federal court.
  • Successfully defended condominium association and individual board members against claims for injunctive relief related to the association’s board elections.

Services

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