J. David Ziegler
Shareholder
dziegler@dmclaw.com |
Direct: 412-392-5358
Two PPG Place
Suite 400
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-5402
Main: 412-281-7272
Fax: 888-811-7144
J. David Ziegler is a shareholder of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. He concentrates his practice in real estate matters and insurance defense litigation. With regard to his real estate practice, he has handled a wide variety of matters including real estate litigation; title insurance defense litigation; title opinions for minerals, oil and gas; title insurance; and title agency E&O defense. With regard to his insurance defense litigation practice, Mr. Ziegler handles insurance defense litigation matters, with a particular emphasis in insurance bad faith litigation, professional malpractice, and insurance coverage issues. He is a member of the firm’s Energy Group, Insurance Law and Litigation Group, and Real Estate Group.
Mr. Ziegler has successfully tried jury and non-jury cases to verdict in both Pennsylvania state and federal courts, including cases involving allegations of insurance bad faith.
Mr. Ziegler has also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Scouting and a rare honor received by less than five percent of all Scouts.
Professional Accomplishments
- AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® since 2012
Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania
Education
- The Dickinson School of Law of The Pennsylvania State University, J.D.
- West Virginia University, B.A.
Related Links
Representative Matters
- Authored numerous complex oil and gas title opinions for several national and regional producers of oil and gas
- Closed over 350 residential and commercial real estate transactions ranging from $50,000 to over $1 million
- Successfully argued the preclusion of bad faith expert testimony in several bad faith cases including Connelly v. Allstate Ins. Co. (Allegheny Co., 2008) and Smith v. Allstate Ins. Co. (W.D. Pa. 2012)
- Successfully briefed and argued case for “reverse bad faith” in Javoriski v. Nationwide (M.D. Pa., 2007)
- Successfully negotiated multi-million dollar stock purchase of a closed corporation
- Successfully defended and mediated multi-million dollar mechanics’ lien claims for less than 30% of their total value despite the Commerce Bank/Harrisburg, N.A. v. Kessler decision
- Obtained summary judgment against a mechanics’ lien claimant seeking in excess of $1 million in bankruptcy court based upon 2006 amendments to Pennsylvania Mechanics’ Lien Law
Speaking Engagements
- Conducted several seminars for various clients relating to the avoidance of bad faith claims and best claims handling practices
- Provided a variety of presentations to numerous clients regarding the issues of premises liability in Pennsylvania
- Spoke several times relating to building codes in Pennsylvania and the legal aspects of code enforcement
- Presented several in house seminars to the firm’s paralegals regarding social media and discovery of social media content in litigation
Publications
- “Assignability of Statutory Bad Faith Claims: Pennsylvania Rulings May Have Far-Reaching Consequences”(Co-Author), Claims Management magazine, Dec. 2014, Issue 12, Vol. 3, 2014 Bad Faith Supplement, pp. 22–23
- “Recent Superior Court Decision Places Lien Priority Granted to Open-End Mortgages at Risk” (Co-Author), NAIOP’s DevelopingPittsburgh, Fall 2012, pp. 48–49
Admissions and Licenses
- Pennsylvania Bar Admission
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Memberships
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Association of Desk and Derrick Clubs – Three Rivers Chapter (Director at Large)
- Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance
- Energy & Mineral Law Foundation
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Defense Institute
Community
- South Park Baseball Association (former Vice President/Secretary)
- South Park Education Foundation (Board of Directors)
- Served as a coach for over 10 years to several of his children’s sports teams including baseball, boys’ and girls’ basketball, and softball (retired)
- National Eagle Scout Association – Pittsburgh Chapter “Annual Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner” (Sponsor)
Education
- The Dickinson School of Law of The Pennsylvania State University, J.D.; Gourley Moot Court Trial Competition Team; Corpus Juris Society
- West Virginia University, B.A., Finance