Matis Baum Rizza O'Connor

James F. Israel

Focus:

The representation of manufacturers in a broad range of toxic tort litigation including asbestos, silica, benzene, hard metals and mold cases, health care litigation, products liability litigation, errors and omissions litigation, school district litigation and insurance agent litigation.

Of Interest:

Jim is a Pittsburgh native and has practiced law in his hometown for his entire career. He began his practice as a law clerk to John McLean, a Common Pleas judge in Allegheny County, and has been active in civil defense litigation for over 35 years.

For nearly two decades, Jim was National Coordinating Counsel for a major corporation, unifying the company’s litigation in more than 25 states and in tens of thousands of cases. He organized numerous seminars throughout the country and was the principal lecturer at these seminars. For several years, he has been a member of the prestigious Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County.

Sample of Experience and Verdicts:

Jim has had extensive trial experience. Some of his more unusual cases include a quadriplegia case as a result of a diving accident, an orthopedic case involving alleged nerve damage and a mesothelioma case.

Publications/Presentations:

During Jim’s time as National Coordinating Counsel for two western Pennsylvania manufacturing companies, Jim organized numerous seminars throughout the country and was the principal lecturer at these seminars. Jim coordinated all discovery for litigation, attended depositions across the country, assisted in trial prep and trial and was the chief liaison between the corporations, attorneys and the insurance companies.