Wapner Newman is proud that the long civil trial stemming from the 2013 building collapse on Market Street has concluded with a $227 million settlement, which is believed to be the largest personal injury settlement in Pennsylvania history. After only four hours of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict and decided the Salvation Army was 75% responsible.

The collapse led to the death of seven people and the injuries of 12 other victims. Survivors of the deceased victims, along with victims injured in the collapse, were represented by attorneys from four different law firms, In addition the members of the talented Plaintiffs’ trial team who represented the seven individuals who died as a result of this tragedy include Robert J. Mongeluzzi and Jeffrey P. Goodman of Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Barrett & Bendesky, Harry M. Roth and James Begley of Cohen, Placitella, & Roth, and Adam Grutzmacher of Clearfield & Kofsky.

Wapner Newman represented the families of two victims in the building collapse, the family of Mary Simpson and the family of Roseline Conteh.

The Lives Lost…

Mary Simpson was only 24 years old when she died. She was an aspiring audio engineer who fully devoted herself to her music. She deeply believed in the power and possibility that music could unify a people regardless of differences in race, faith, gender or other divisions.

Roseline Conteh was a 52-year-old nursing assistant. She came to this country from Sierra Leone in Africa, a country engulfed in civil war for 11 years, during which she lost her mother. From sheer determination, hard work and luck, she made it to the United States, though she had to leave her family behind. Eventually, she brought her husband and other family members to the United States, too.

Roseline educated herself and went to school, taking two jobs and working six days a week. She died on a Wednesday, her only day off. She liked to go to the Salvation Army to purchase clothing for her family, here and in Sierra Leone. Her nickname was ‘Ma’. Active in her community, she never turned anyone down; whenever anyone needed anything, they went to Ma’s house.

Last week, a jury determined that two New York companies engaged in reckless and outrageous behavior, resulting in seven killed and 12 injured – all of whom were in the Salvation Army. The jury found that the Salvation Army was 75 percent responsible for the tragedy.
At the time that the contractor and excavator were being prosecuted, our attorneys told the media that there was a larger story that needed to be told. It was that story that the attorneys told during this case. The jury obviously agreed with their assessment: the two individuals who were criminally prosecuted were only held 1 percent responsible for the collapse, while the jury held the Salvation Army primarily responsible for the loss of life and trauma of all victims.

The tragic building collapse, like so many other tragedies, did not have to happen. This civil trial provides relief to the victims of that collapse, but it also sends a strong message to businesses that safety should always be a top priority.

The results of this case are a testament to the power of the United States’ legal system.

Wapner Newman, P.C., is representing Tamara Breeden, the victim of a tragic and unusual case of abuse. The jury awarded $45 million in compensation and punitive damages to Breeden against Linda Ann Weston and two other defendants.

Breeden, along with three other mentally disabled victims, was rescued from a Tacony sub-basement after nearly a decade of unthinkable abuse. Weston had kept the victims as captives “in a living hell” in order to steal their Social Security disability benefits. Wapner Newman stated that Breeden “was the victim of a cruel and twisted and sick woman.” Breeden sustained physical, mental, and sexual abuse that resulted in pregnancies.

If you or someone you know have been the victim of abuse and need representation in a lawsuit, please contact us for a free legal consultation.

Wapner Newman Partner Robert S. Miller secures a $16 million dollar award for a 51 year old pedestrian struck by an impaired driver.
Failure to Provide Emergency Medical Treatment for An Asthma Attack Leading To Anoxic Brain Injury And Death
Settlement Obtained for Child Who Suffered Brain Damage Due to Undiagnosed Asphyxia During Labor
Marc Brecher settled a medical malpractice case brought on behalf of a woman who suffered irreversible brain damage due to a delay in diagnosing a ruptured splenic artery for $8,400,000. The plaintiff – a 49-year-old woman – was riding a bicycle down a steep hill. She fell off her bike. She was taken to a local hospital and admitted for observation. During the overnight hours, she exhibited signs and symptoms of internal bleeding. Yet, no diagnostic test was performed to find out what was causing her to lose blood. The next morning she suffered a cardiac arrest from severe blood loss due to a ruptured splenic artery, which was injured when she fell off her bicycle. As a result of her cardiac arrest, she was rendered a spastic quadriplegic.
Wapner Newman’s accident lawyers in Philadelphia helped a couple obtain a settlement of $7.25 million in an elevator injury case. Antonio and Aurora DaCosta were severely injured in an elevator accident resulting in severe deformation and partial amputation. The elevator repair company denied a settlement offer of $800,000. The jury returned a higher settlement of $7.25 million.
Marc Brecher successfully obtained a $7 Million settlement on behalf of a child who was born brain damaged due to lack of oxygen while her mother was in labor. Brecher’s Complaint alleged the attending obstetrician failed to properly interpret the fetal heart rate monitor tracing strips which demonstrated that the baby was in fetal distress during the last two and half hours of labor. Brecher obtained experts in the fields of maternal fetal medicine, neonatology, placental pathology, pediatric neurology, pediatric neuroradiology and obstetrical nursing to support his theories of liability. Defendants countered with experts from the same fields arguing that the obstetrician properly interpreted the fetal heart rate monitor strips and that the baby’s neurological deficits were due to conditions that preexisted mother going into labor. A Special Needs Trust has been established for this child which will professionally manage her substantial financial award.
Newborn Hypoxic Brain Injury.
Medical malpractice attorney in Philadelphia, Marc G. Brecher recently settled an obstetrical malpractice claim filed on behalf of a baby who suffered irreversible brain damage at birth. The baby was “twin B”. Shortly after twin A was delivered vaginally, it became apparent that twin B was suffering fetal distress. Instead of ordering an emergency cesarean section, which would have resulted in delivering the baby within 5 to 10 minutes, the delivering obstetrician opted to wait for a spontaneous vaginal delivery, which took an additional thirty-five minutes. The baby was born alive – but severely asphyxiated. A portion of the settlement funds was used to purchase a structured settlement annuity, which will provide more than $40 million dollars over the lifetime of this baby.
The Philadelphia Burn injury lawyers at Wapner Newman settled a motor vehicle collision on behalf of a married, 36-year-old owner of an excavating company who tragically died 92 days after sustaining second and third degree burns over 61 percent of his body and severe smoke inhalation injuries as a result of a motor vehicle accident. The man was stopped and waiting to make a left-hand turn when he was struck in the rear by a six-wheel box truck. The collision caused the vehicle to burst into flames, causing severe burn injuries. The client was survived by his wife of twelve years and their three children.
After a parking sign collapses, a man’s life tragically ends. Berel Ceasar’s family discontinued life support after suffering internal injuries from falling debris. Berel Ceasar’s family sought legal representation from the wrongful death lawyers in Philadelphia at Wapner Newman to fight for the compensation and justice for their loved one.
Medical malpractice attorney in Philadelphia, Marc Brecher has obtained a $5,000,000 settlement for a child who suffered intraventricular and subarachnoid hemorrhage due to the inappropriate use of forceps at the time of delivery. During the delivery, the attending physician used forceps on this baby’s head without appropriately locking the forcep blades. This inappropriate conduct was witnessed by another physician who repeatedly advised the attending obstetrician to stop using the forceps in such an inappropriate manner. Nevertheless, the attending physician continued to use the forceps inappropriately causing the baby to suffer irreversible brain damage. A portion of the settlement proceeds was used to purchase a structured settlement annuity, which will pay this child in excess of $16,000,000 over the course of his lifetime.
Marc Brecher represented a young child whose mother had a rather uneventful pregnancy until she went into labor. When she arrived at the hospital the fetal heart rate monitor tracings were not reassuring. Nevertheless the obstetricians monitoring the labor permitted the mother to labor for another eight hours before the baby was delivered by an emergency cesarian section. When the baby was born he was severely asphyxiated. The baby went on to suffers seizures and massive brain damage. The child is now a spastic quadriplegic being cared for at home by his parents. Brecher’s experts argued that the baby should have been delivered within a half hour after his mother presented to the hospital and that the brain damage occurred over the course of the following 7 ½ hours before the baby was finally delivered. Brecher retained experts in the fields of obstetrics, maternal fetal medicine, pediatric neurology, pediatric neuroradiology, placental pathology, and obstetrical nursing which helped secure this settlement.
Medical malpractice lawyer in Philadelphia, Marc Brecher has obtained a $4.5 Million settlement on behalf of a child who suffered irreversible brain damage due to the failure of the attending obstetrician to properly interpret fetal heart rate monitor tracings. It is common that a baby’s heart rate is recorded on a continuous strip, which indicates the baby’s well being. In this particular case, the baby was showing severe fetal distress on the fetal heart rate monitor tracings, yet the attending obstetrician failed to stop labor and perform an immediate cesarean section. As a result of the failure of the attending obstetrician to halt labor, the baby suffered continuous intra-utero stress in the hours leading to his delivery which left the baby with permanent brain damage. A portion of the settlement proceeds was used to purchase a structured settlement annuity which will pay this child in excess of $11.9 Million over the course of his lifetime.
Marc Brecher secured a settlement in the amount of $4,200,000 for a child that suffered permanent brain damage during a delivery that was complicated by a shoulder dystocia. The mother of this child was a gestational diabetic. Gestational diabetic mothers are at risk for delivering excessively large children. In the instant circumstances, the mother delivered a baby that was over 10 pounds. Unfortunately, this baby became stuck in the mother’s birth canal during the delivery. This condition is known as a shoulder dystocia. During a shoulder dystocia, a baby may not be properly oxygenated. In the instant circumstances, this child suffered brain damage because it took an excessive amount of time to extract the baby from the birth canal. It was alleged that a cesarean section should have been performed to avoid this complication. A portion of the settlement proceeds was used to purchase a structured settlement annuity, which will pay this child over $15,500,000 over the course of his lifetime.
The personal injury lawyers at Wapner Newman have proudly served injured individuals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for over 40 years. We have succeeded in winning top settlements and verdicts for people who have been harmed due to someone else’s negligence or fault. A recent example is the $4 Million newborn hypoxic brain injury. We handle a wide range of injury claims, from vehicle accidents to product liability to medical malpractice. If you or a loved one has suffered harm in any way, contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help you today.
Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Lawyer, Marc Brecher represented a child who was born premature. He was placed in the neonatal intensive care unit for monitoring. In the days following his birth while he was still in the neonatal intensive care unit, he demonstrated signs and symptoms of heart irregularities. However, these signs and symptoms were not recognized by the attending neonatal staff. Due to the delay in diagnosis, this child went into cardiac arrest which caused the child to suffer severe multi-organ system injuries. As a result of this cardiac arrest, this child suffered feeding difficulties and developmental delays. Marc Brecher was able to obtain a $4,000,000 settlement on behalf of this child. A portion of the settlement was used to purchase a structured settlement annuity, which will pay this child in excess of $18,400,000 over the course of this child’s lifetime.
Award for Estate of 45-Year-Old Woman for Failure to Diagnose Ovarian Cancer.
Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Lawyer, Marc Brecher has successfully settled a medical malpractice claim for $3.8 million. This case concerned a child who was in a breech position at the time of delivery. When the obstetrician performed the cesarean section delivery, force was exerted on the baby’s neck causing the baby to suffer a spinal cord injury. Brecher was successful in arguing that the baby’s spinal cord injury was due to excessive force on the baby’s neck during the cesarean section extraction. As a result of this injury, this child will never be able to walk independently for the remainder of her life. A portion of the settlement proceeds was used to purchase a structured settlement, which will pay this child over $23,000,000 over the course of her lifetime.
The personal injury lawyers at Wapner Newman have proudly served injured individuals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for over 40 years. We have succeeded in winning top settlements and verdicts for people who have been harmed due to someone else’s negligence or fault. A recent example is the $3.25 Million wrongful death – failure to timely diagnose and treat volvulus. If you or a loved one has suffered harm in any way, contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help you today.
The personal injury lawyers at Wapner Newman have proudly served injured individuals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for over 40 years. We have succeeded in winning top settlements and verdicts for people who have been harmed due to someone else’s negligence or fault. A recent example is the $3 Million failure to timely diagnose and treat carotid artery dissection. If you or a loved one has suffered harm in any way, contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help you today.
The wrongful death attorneys in Philadelphia at Wapner Newman settled a medical malpractice case involving the death of a 39-year-old mother of five in which the defendants failed to properly diagnose a malignant melanoma. The defendants’ negligence resulted in a three-year delay in diagnosis, thereby allowing the cancer to progress from a curable stage to an incurable one.
Stillbirth due to Placental Abruption.
The Philadelphia product liability lawyers at Wapner Newman, received a $2.4 Million products liability settlement for a worker who suffered a head injury. This worker suffered brain injuries as a result of a work accident that occurred in 1996. The Plaintiff who was injured had a defective lift fall 20 feet on his head. With the experience of head injury attorney in Pennsylvania, the Plaintiff received $2.1 million in settlement money and $340,0000 as a waiver of workers compensation money owed.
A Philadelphia jury recently awarded a $2.3 million dollars to the family of a Chester County woman killed in a three car accident on December 18, 2009. The accident occurred when the defendant driver struck decedent in the rear with his truck. The impact resulted in decedent’s car being pushed into oncoming traffic where it was then hit by another car at estimated speeds of between 42-49 miles per hour.

Award for Child Who Suffered Brachial Plexus Injury Due to Shoulder Dystocia Complications at Birth.
Marc Brecher represented the estate of a 51-year-old man who presented to a hospital within 45 minutes of the onset of severe chest pain. The emergency room doctor promptly diagnosed that he was having a heart attack and paged the on call cardiologist. However the on call cardiologist did not timely respond to the page. The emergency room doctor then decided to give the patient a clot busting drug without consulting with the on call cardiologist. The clot busting drug caused a massive intracranial hemorrhage which led to an irreversible coma and resultant death. It turns out that patients with heart attacks should not get a clot busting drug if they present with very high blood pressure which was present in this case. Brecher produced experts in the fields of cardiology, emergency room medicine and neurology to support this claim and obtain this substantial settlement.
Wrongful Death – Failure to Timely Diagnose and Treat Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.
The truck accident attorney in Philadelphia at Wapner Newman settled a motor vehicle case that killed two people. The accident occurred when a tractor trailer crossed a medial divider and struck and killed our clients. Both individuals died instantaneously in the crash, but our attorney was able to prove that the accident resulted from a display of aggressive and erratic driving entirely consistent with a psychiatric crisis which the defendant’s employer should have known about. It was our attorneys position that the driver should have never been permitted to operate a truck, and that if the trucking company had acted with due diligence, then the accident could have been avoided.
Failure to timely diagnose and treat compartment syndrome (PA).
Wrongful Death – Failure to Timely Diagnose and Treat Breast Cancer.
Car Accident Attorney in Philadelphia, David Sternberg successfully pursued a personal injury claim on behalf of an elderly husband and wife who suffered significant injuries when they were struck by an automobile while crossing the street. The negligent driver failed to notice the couple as he erratically operated his car. Attorney Sternberg was able to obtain a $1.75 settlement for the injured couple.
Commercial Motor Vehicle Personal Injury Claim
In a confidential settlement involving a case of motor vehicle negligence, Wapner Newman attorneys Robert S. Miller and Adam S. Getson secured damages for a 55-year old former carpenter in Burlington County, New Jersey. The victim sustained multiple injuries, including, but not limited to, a fractured pelvis; collapsed lung; five fractured ribs; lacerated liver; fractured sacrum; lacerated lips; fractured tooth; right humerus fracture; right radius fracture; right ulna fracture; right arm skin graph; severed right flexor polluces longus tendon; severed right media nerve; small intraventricular hemorrhage; deep vein thrombosis of left lower extremity; sacral fracture; pubic fracture; nerve damage to right arm and fingers; as well as other injuries to his head, neck, back, spine, torso and extremities, their bones, cells, tissues, discs, muscles, cartilage, nerves and functions; together with shock and injury to his nerves and nervous system. During a day long Pre-Trial Conference, the attorneys secured $1,450,000.00 in damages for the plaintiff.
Award In Wrongful Death Case Due to Failure To Timely Diagnose And Treat Pneumococcal Pneumonia.
Wrongful Death – Failure to Timely Diagnose and Treat Pneumococcal Pneumonia.
The personal injury lawyers at Wapner Newman have proudly served injured individuals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for over 40 years. We have succeeded in winning top settlements and verdicts for people who have been harmed due to someone else’s negligence or fault. A recent example is the $1.3 Million wrongful death – failure to timely diagnose and treat pneumococcal pneumonia, from vehicle accidents to product liability to medical malpractice. If you or a loved one has suffered harm in any way, contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help you today.
The accident attorneys in Philadelphia at Wapner Newman helped obtain a $1.24 settlement for a auto-truck accident. We have the experience with all auto accident cases including motorcycle and truck accident cases.
50-year-old male struck in rear by commercial vehicle.
The personal injury lawyers at Wapner Newman have proudly served injured individuals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for over 40 years. We have succeeded in winning top settlements and verdicts for people who have been harmed due to someone else’s negligence or fault. A recent example is the $1.2 Million wrongful death – failure to timely diagnose and treat pulmonary embolism. If you or a loved one has suffered harm in any way, contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help you today.
Settlement in Commercial Vehicle Accident
Wrongful Death – Delayed Treatment of Acute Appendicitis.
Rear end collision resulting in cervical fusion for New Jersey Resident
Commercial Motor Vehicle Personal Injury Claim
Wrongful Death – Negligent Post-Operative Management After Bypass Graft Revascularization.
Our wrongful death attorney settled a death medical malpractice case involving the death of a 21-year-old mother of a newborn child in which the defendants failed to control significant and protracted postpartum hemorrhage. After hours of bleeding, the woman suffered a cardiac arrest and fell into a coma from which she ultimately died. The case settled after three days of trial. Her surviving child will now have sufficient funds to make a significant difference in her life.
The personal injury lawyers at Wapner Newman have proudly served injured individuals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for over 40 years. We have succeeded in winning top settlements and verdicts for people who have been harmed due to someone else’s negligence or fault. A recent example is the $1 million failure to timely diagnose breast cancer. We handle a wide range of injury claims, from vehicle accidents to product liability to medical malpractice. If you or a loved one has suffered harm in any way, contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help you today.
Wrongful Death – Failure to Treat Heart Attack.
Wrongful Death – Improper Aortic Valve Surgery.
Failure to timely provide blood products to counter severe anemia (NJ).
The personal injury lawyers at Wapner Newman have proudly served injured individuals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for over 40 years. We have succeeded in winning top settlements and verdicts for people who have been harmed due to someone else’s negligence or fault. A recent example is the $900,000 failure to properly manage gestational diabetes prenatally leading to stillbirth, from vehicle accidents to product liability to medical malpractice. If you or a loved one has suffered harm in any way, contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help you today.
Rear End Collision Resulting in Cervical and Lumbar Fusion.
MVA Wrist Injury.
Wrongful Death – Failure to Diagnose Thoracic Aortic Dissection.
Evans, 11, was on a class field trip to a swimming pool. An hour after the students got to the pool, Evans was found floating facedown and unconscious in the water. She died of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) a month later. Her medical expenses were $55,000. She is survived by her mother and siblings. Evans’ estate [represented by Wapner Newman wrongful death attorneys in Pennsylvania, Marc G. Brecher and Susan Morgan] sued the local YMCA, a branch of the national organization, alleging negligent supervision in that the head lifeguard had only assigned two lifeguards to monitor the crowded pool. Plaintiff alleged that Evans must have been in the pool for at least one to two minutes, and the fact that she had aspirated vomit demonstrated that water had entered her lungs. Had there been more lifeguards, plaintiff argued, she would have been noticed much faster. Defendant contended Evans was found within 45 seconds of her submersion, proving the lifeguards were doing their jobs adequately. Defendant also claimed Evans vomited because she had just eaten, rather than because water had entered her lungs. Thus, the ARDS was a result of her vomiting, rather than her submersion. A jury awarded $800,000.
Motor Vehicle Accident.
Delivery Of Newborn Complicated by Shoulder Dystocia.
Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Philadelphia, David Sternberg successfully represented a 47-year-old woman who was prematurely discharged from the hospital following abdominal surgery. The woman developed an infection after undergoing laparoscopic repair of a recurrent ventral hernia and was discharged before the infection was detected. The infection was caused by the implantation of an incorrectly-sized hernia mesh. Attorney Sternberg was able to obtain a $750,000 settlement for the woman.
Wapner Newman’s wrongful death lawyers in Pennsylvania provided legal representation to Florence A. Pollack. Pollack’s husband Andre W. Pollack was struck by a cement truck who was driven by a color blind man who ran a red light. Our car accident attorneys fought the employee of the cement truck driver, Southgate Concrete Co. Inc. and won a $750,000 settlement.
Philadelphia attorney David Sternberg successfully recovered $750,000 for a man who suffered significant crush injuries to his hand and fingers as the result of a defectively designed document shredder. The man’s hand was caught in the shredder because the manufacturer failed to place the emergency stop button close enough to the shredder. In addition to his product liability recovery, the man also collected workers’ compensation benefits.
Delayed Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer.
Marc Brecher represented a 66-year-old man who present to his family doctor with a swollen and painful knee. The family doctor mistakenly believed that his patient had sciatica. Two days later the patient presented to an emergency room again complaining of a swollen and painful knee . The emergency room doctor referred him to an orthopedic surgeon instead of suspecting that the knee pain. No antibiotics were prescribed by the emergency room physician. By the time the patient saw the orthopedic surgeon the knee was massively infected and the infection had spread to his spine. The patient ultimately was hospitalized for four months and underwent multiple operations before the infection was finally eradicated. Brecher’s expert presented testimony that the family doctor and emergency room physician should have suspected a knee infection. The knee should have been drained and cultured and appropriate antibiotics should have been started. A verdict of $700,000 was awarded.
Products Liability
The personal injury lawyers at Wapner Newman have proudly served injured individuals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for over 40 years. We have succeeded in winning top settlements and verdicts for people who have been harmed due to someone else’s negligence or fault. A recent example is the $600,000 – wrongful death – failure to timely diagnose breast cancer (NJ). If you or a loved one has suffered harm in any way, contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help you today.
Knee Replacement from MVA.
Rear End MVA.
Concussion, Post Concussion Syndrome – MVA.
Plaintiff was a 70 year old male rear ended in a motor vehicle accident with minimal to moderate property damage. Plaintiff suffered post-concussion syndrome revised acuity and memory. Liability was not contested – the challenge was in the validity to injuries related to this motor vehicle accident.
Slip and fall attorney in Philadelphia, David Sternberg settled a slip and fall case on behalf of an elderly woman who fell on a slippery coffee shop floor. After purchasing her coffee, the woman slipped in a puddle of liquid creamer and fractured her leg. The investigation confirmed that store employees routinely neglected to mop and sweep the area where the fall occurred and that they failed to take the necessary safety precautions even though they were aware of the dangerous conditions that their negligence had created. Had they taken the proper corrective steps or properly warned their customers, the injury would not have occurred. Attorney Sternberg was able to obtain $450,000 for the slip and fall victim.
Nursing home negligence attorney, David Sternberg obtained a $400,000 settlement on behalf of a nursing home resident who developed pressure ulcers due to improper wound care and negligent nursing treatment. Attorney Sternberg successfully proved that the treatment provided by the nursing home’s employees violated federal regulations established to ensure quality care for nursing home residents.
Wapner Newman successfully resolved a case in which a couple was carjacked in a casino parking garage. Sadly, one of the victims lost his life. The casino – including management, security and surveillance – was responsible for the complete systemic failure to secure the safety of the premises, costing the casino guest his life.