Bridget M. Gillespie

Overview

Bridget is Of Counsel with the firm and was the first Director of Western Pennsylvania Services for the Pennsylvania Bar Association for seven years. She remains available for consultation with the firm and its attorneys.

She is principal author of Norton on Insurance Coverage in Pennsylvania, Third Edition, published by PBI Press. Her practice was concentrated in representation of insurance carriers in insurance coverage and bad faith matters and representation of clients in commercial and tort litigation.

She is a former Captain in the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps and served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of New York.

Experience

Representation of excess insurer in coverage and bad faith actions involving multiple policies and thousands of underlying claims alleging exposures to asbestos, silica, and coal dust
Representation of auto insurer in UIM and bad faith action involving issues of stacking
Representation of insurance company against untimely appeal of order sustaining preliminary objections
Representation of insurance company in contribution action against another insurance company regarding payment of underinsured motorist benefits. Decision at Travelers Prop. & Cas. Co. of Am. v. State Auto. Mut. Ins. Co., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18319 (W.D. Pa. 2008).
Representation of insurance company in coverage action involving alleged property damage and advertising injury coverage for alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Reported decision Melrose Hotel Co. v. St. Paul Fire and Marine Ins. Co., 432 F.Supp.2d 488 (E.D. Pa. 2006), aff’d, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 22711 (3d Cir. Sept. 25, 2007).
Representation of insurance company in coverage and bad faith actions involving claims related to life insurance sales practices.
Representation of insurance company in coverage and bad faith actions regarding long-term care policies for alleged denial and/or delay in payment of benefits.
Representation of insurance company in coverage action involving policy issued to professional sport team insuring it against the loss of play of a player.
Insurance coverage opinion and advice provided related to claims for coverage under commercial general liability and professional liability policy for underlying claims involving negligence, negligent misrepresentation and breach of various agreements.
Insurance coverage opinion and advice provided related to claims for coverage under successive umbrella policies for underlying claims involving deliberate intent and medical monitoring.
Insurance coverage opinion and advice provided related to claims for coverage under umbrella policy for underlying claims involving deliberate exposure, unsafe workplace and negligent hiring.
Insurance coverage opinion and advice provided related to claims for coverage under successive umbrella policies for underlying claims involving negligence and breach of contract.
Insurance coverage opinion and advice provided related to claims for coverage under successive excess and umbrella policies for underlying claims involving strict liability and negligence regarding alleged exposure to silica.
Insurance coverage opinion and advice provided related to claims for coverage under multiple umbrella/excess policies for underlying claims involving sexual molestation.

Representation of municipal authority in construction dispute with contractor and then engineer regarding defects in construction of sewage treatment plant.
Representation of bank defending against claims of statutory damages pursuant to 42 Pa. C.S. 8104, wrongful use of civil proceedings, abuse of civil process, conversion and conspiracy, all allegedly arising from a violation of the Deficiency Judgment Act.
Representation of coal company in negligence claim involving injury to a coal miner.
Representation of homeowner in breach of contract action against contractor who installed defective driveway.

Representation of insured municipality in negligence and wrongful death claims arising from pedestrians hit by vehicle in county park.
Representation of insured managing general agent in action alleging breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty related to the workers’ compensation line of business of the plaintiff insurance company.
Representation of insured driver and hospital employer in negligence action arising from motor vehicle accident at intersection.
Representation of insured landowner in negligence action arising from truck-train collision at railroad crossing leading to client’s business.

Education & Credentials

Education

University of Pittsburgh, J.D., Cum Laude, Managing Editor - Law Review
University of Notre Dame, B.A.

Bar Admissions

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Thought Leadership

Director of Western Pennsylvania Services Pennsylvania Bar Association
Zone Twelve Delegate Pennsylvania Bar Association
Past Chair, Civil Litigation Section Pennsylvania Bar Association
Past Editor, Civil Litigation Update Pennsylvania Bar Association
Member Allegheny County Bar Association
Past Co-Chair, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Allegheny County Bar Association