Schmidt Kramer's Scott Cooper Featured in UIM Article

In an article recently published in The Legal Intelligencer, Schmidt Kramer partner Scott Cooper offered his esteemed insight regarding bifurcation issues in underinsured motorist (UIM) cases.

Known for his unparalleled experience with vehicle accidents and insurance cases, Mr. Cooper was one of only three attorneys chosen to provide readers with a more in-depth understanding of current underinsured motorist case bifurcation inconsistencies across Pennsylvania.

The article, titled “Lawyers Await Appellate Guidance on UIM Bifurcation,” discusses a prominent issue that arose from the Superior Court opinion of the Stepanovich v. McGraw case in October 2013—whether UIM claims should be consolidated with mass tort claims against a defendant driver.

In the article, Mr. Cooper refers to the commonality of settlements in UIM cases due to neither side wanting to risk an unfavorable verdict. He also discusses how Stepanovich v. McGraw has prompted insurance companies to pursue cases before a single arbitrator, as opposed to a three-arbitrator approach.

The Legal Intelligencer is an award-winning publication that serves the legal community of Philadelphia and surrounding areas. It covers legal news, court decisions, legislation, and provides articles with legal insights on behalf of leading professionals.

It is the oldest daily law journal published in the United States, as well as the official publication for all Philadelphia County legal notices.

Scott Cooper is a dedicated Partner at Schmidt Kramer who specializes in personal injury law with an emphasis on car accidents and car insurance cases.

Awarded the title “Local Legal Leader 2015” by Harrisburg Magazine for his work in personal injury law and car accident claims, Mr. Cooper is available to help all car accident victims receive the justice and compensation they deserve.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, contact Scott Cooper, or any of the knowledgeable and experienced car accident attorneys at Schmidt Kramer today.

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Schmidt Kramer, P.C.partner Gerard C. Kramer won a personal injury action for $10,043,952.13 in Northumberland County on behalf of a volunteer firefighter who was the victim of Intentional Tort. The 50-year-old volunteer firefighter was seriously injured when a barn collapsed, causing a spinal injury which left him a paraplegic. The claim was brought against the arsonist who intentionally started the fire. It is believed that the verdict is the highest ever in Northumberland County.
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$4,034,000.00 Personal Injury
Yesterday a Judge in Union County (Lewisburg, PA) awarded a couple from New Berlin, Pennsylvania, over $4,000,000 because the husband was shot while turkey hunting.You might ask yourself, how does a turkey hunting accident end up with that type of verdict? In order to understand the verdict you would have to know our clients. They are good people who had their life wrecked. Plus, you would have to know the defendant, who should not have been hunting with a gun because he was prohibited after a previous criminal conviction.It is a good verdict, because the Judge was able to do two things with his decision. First, he communicated to two very good people that their losses were something that those of us on the outside could appreciate and value. Mike Hobbins (our client) is a 51 year old guy who lost his sight because a convicted felon --who should not have even possessed a gun-- went hunting illegally, and broke with impunity the most fundamental rule in hunting: identify your target before you pull the trigger. The Judge accepted the financial loss Mr. Hobbins' suffered, but listened closely to the evidence of less tangible losses. When Mike broke down on the stand, because his daughter would end up walking him down the aisle at her wedding, as opposed to how it was supposed to go, the Judge was listening. When Mike could not keep it together, because of how emasculating it was for him not to be able to provide financially for his family, the Judge was listening. It was facts like these that the Judge cited to support the $2,000,000 award for non-economic damages. Second, the Judge wanted to send a message. Union County is a hunting county. Many of the residents hunt there, and people from outside the area come to Union County to hunt. It was my impression, from the Judge's statements as he rendered his decision, that he wanted to send a message to the people in Union County to protect them in their sport. The rules in place to restrict people convicted of crimes not to have a gun are not to be broken. Hunting is serious and you have to identify your target before you shoot. When you turn your back on the rules that are set to provide safety in a sport, you risk being an example. Here, the $1,000,000 punitive damage award sends that message loud and clear.When it really comes down to brass tacks, the right action was taken against a Defendant who may never truly appreciate what kind of impact his reckless choices caused.At Schmidt Kramer, we are injury lawyers. That means we work with people who were hurt in car accidents, who were hurt by the neglect of nursing homes, or those that were seriously injured because of the reckless, thoughtless acts of others. If you or a loved one have been injured in Pennsylvania, we may be able to help. While the verdict yesterday is not one that is representative of every case we do, it does show that serious and dedicated representation can bring good results.Joe ChapmanJanuary 18, 2013
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$1,200,000.00 Personal Injury
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Schmidt Kramer’s Scott Cooper Offers Insight in Legal News Publication