News
SMGG Attorney wins $1.5 million in Hempfield, PA. business dispute
A jury on January 24, 2012 ordered William Hughes of Universal Oral Fluid Laboratory LLC to pay Michelle McEldowney of Powell, Ohio. She and Hughes were partners in the company until 2010. Attorney David Strassburger represented Michelle McEldowney.
McEldowney and Hughes formed a partnership in 2009 in the saliva-testing field for medical diagnosis. Under the terms of the agreement, McEldowney's job was to get the business started and handle financial records.
McEldowney suspected that Hughes was running a "sham" corporation and was being financed by a silent partner who had been banned for life from submitting bills to Medicare after a conviction for fraud.
McEldowney argued that her criticism of the "seed money" provided by the investor led to her firing by Hughes.
She also raised questions about Hughes' practice of paying consulting fees to physicians who referred tests to the lab, which is a violation of state and federal anti-kickback laws.
SMGG Attorneys Support Public Education
SMGG Attorneys Harry F. Kunselman and Alan T. Shuckrow
Accepting the check for the North Allegheny Foundation are from left to right: Dr. Raymond Gualtieri, Superintendent of North Allegheny School District, Alan T. Shuckrow, Harry F. Kunselman, and Dr. Anna Marie Breaux, Chair of the North Allegheny Foundation.
"Photo provided courtesy of Madia Photography."
No matter which high school wins Saturday night's WPIAL Class AAAA football championship at Heinz Field, neither one looks much like a loser.
Upper St. Clair and North Allegheny are at the top of Pennsylvania's academically elite public school districts with dominant standardized math, reading, science and writing test scores, comfortable class sizes, negligible dropout rates and affluent communities. More...
Alan T. Shuckrow has been appointed to the Task Force created by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives pursuant to House Resolution 343, representing the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. House Resolution 343 calls for the establishment of a Task Force to review Pennsylvania's system of real property assessments, to develop uniform standards for county assessment contracting, to develop standards for public disclosure of the county's system of assessment and to make recommendations to the General Assembly to improve the real property assessment system.
H. Arnold Gefsky, of Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky, is a recipient of The Emanuel Spector Award for 2011. The Spector Award is the highest honor presented by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. The Award is given for exemplary service to the community, the recipient having made a contribution of significant value or merit to the city's civic or philanthropic development. Services may be rendered during a single year or for outstanding communal service over a long period of years.
SMGG 2011 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers:
- Joseph R. Lawrence - Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights
- Reid B. Roberts - Family Law
- David A. Strassburger - General Litigation
Trent A. Echard and Sasha E. Miller join SMGG as Associates
Mr. Echard is a 2007 graduate of Case Western Reserve School of Law. He recently served as a judicial clerk to United States Magistrate Judge George J. Limbert in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Trent focuses his practice primarily on business and commercial litigation, although his practice extends to all types of litigation matters.
Ms. Miller is a 2010 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Her practice includes a wide range of corporate transactional matters and civil litigation.
Reid B. Roberts granted Fellowship in AAML
Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky is pleased to announce that Reid B. Roberts has been granted fellowship in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. The AAML promotes the highest degree of professionalism and excellence in the practice of family law. Membership is by invitation after fulfilling the criteria and standards established by the AAML Board of Examiners and Board of Governors.
Diane Zack Buchanan joins SMGG as Of Counsel
Ms. Buchanan is a 1997 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law. Prior to joining SMGG, she was in private practice in Beaver County. Ms. Buchanan focuses her practice in Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury, Municipal and Family Law.
Steve Cherin has been named to the Board of the Enterprise Forum of Pittsburgh.
Congratulations to the following SMGG lawyers who have been selected for inclusion on the 2010 "Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars" Lists! The lists will appear in the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers magazine in June, 2010. Attorneys are chosen for inclusion on the lists through a statewide nomination process, peer review by practice area and independent research on candidates.
SMGG 2010 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers:
- Joseph R. Lawrence - Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights
- Reid B. Roberts - Family Law
- David A. Strassburger - General Litigation
SMGG Pennsylvania Rising Star 2010: Matthew S. Marquette - Personal Injury Plaintiff, General
Strassburger McKenna Gutnick and Gefsky as seen in Forbes Magazine
Matthew C. Collins and Chrystal C. Tinstman join SMGG as Associates:
Matthew C. Collins is a 1999 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Most recently he practiced law with the firm of Collins Rosselli & Horowitz. Mr. Collins focuses his practice in the areas of commercial litigation and creditor's rights.
Chrystal C. Tinstman is a 1999 graduate of the Duquesne University School of Law. She was most recently associated with the firm of Damian Amato & Smart, P.C. in Sewickley, Pa. Ms. Tinstman focuses her practice in the area of Family Law.
SMGG Shareholders Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers
Reid B. Roberts was named to the list of 2009 Super Lawyers by Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Magazines. Mr. Roberts focuses his practice in the area of Family Law.
David A. Strassburger was named to the list of 2009 Super Lawyers by Law & Politics in the category of General Litigation and by Best Lawyers in America in the category of Media Law.
SMGG Attorneys Elected School Board Members in Local School Districts:
- Harry Kunselman has been elected President of the Upper St. Clair School Board for 2011.
- Alan Shuckrow has been elected Vice-President of the North Allegheny School Board for 2011.
Community Involvement
SMGG participates in the annual Epilepsy Foundation walk with Abby's Army.
