Daniel E. Cummins

Daniel E. Cummins

Managing Attorney At Cummins Law
  • Insurance Claims, Insurance Defense, Medical Malpractice ...
  • Pennsylvania
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Biography

Daniel E. Cummins, Esquire is an AV-rated partner in the Clarks Summit (Scranton area), Pennsylvania law firm of of Cummins Law with over 22 years of litigation experience in Northeastern Pennsylvania, including insurance defense work in the Poconos area and the surrounding counties.

Attorney Cummins has focused his practice on defending motor vehicle accident liability cases and UIM/UM arbitration matters along with premises liability and products liability cases. Mr. Cummins is also routinely summoned by his clients to handle matters involving insurance coverage questions and insurance subrogation claims.

Mr. Cummins has been selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America Directory every year since 2015 and has been named a Super Lawyer over the same time period.

Attorney Cummins was selected as the 2014 Distinguished Defense Counsel of the Year by the Pennsylvania Defense Institute.

Attorney Cummins practices in the state and federal courts that cover the Northeastern Pennsylvania counties that include, but are not limited to, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Sullivan, Bradford, Monroe, Northampton, Carbon, Lehigh, Schuylkill, Columbia, Northumberland, Montour, and Lycoming.

Mr. Cummins is a cum laude graduate of Villanova University ('90, B.A., English) after which he attended the Dickinson School of Law ('93, J.D.) and completed his law school studies at the University of London in London, England (Spring, '93).

After graduating from law school, Mr. Cummins served as the Senior Law Clerk for the Honorable Harold A. Thomson, Jr. in the Pike County Court of Common Pleas for two years before going into private practice, where he has focused on handling civil litigation matters ever since.

In addition to practicing law, Mr. Cummins is an award-winning civil litigation columnist for the Pennsylvania Law Weekly and is the creator and writer of the nationally recognized Tort Talk blog (www.TortTalk.com).

Education
Pennsylvania State University - Dickinson School of Law
J.D. | LAW
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Intramural Basketball, Intramural Softball, Moot Court Competition, Casenote Competition
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University of London (England), Faculty of Laws
Study Abroad Program | LAW
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Studied in British and American Comparative Law courses in study abroad program in law school.
Activities: Internship at law firm located along Fleet Street in the heart of London, England and affiliated with the Inner Temple. Viewed trials and court proceedings at the Old Bailey and in civil court.
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Villanova University
B.A. | English Major, History Minor
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Honors: Graduated cum laude.
Villanova University Logo
Professional Experience
Managing Partner
Cummins Law
- Current
Managing Partner in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania law firm. Focus on insurance defense matters with an emphasis in motor vehicle accident cases and slip and fall matters. Tried many cases to jury verdict in both state and federal court. Strives to provide client satisfaction through prompt and regular status reporting and making all efforts to amicably resolve cases reasonably in the most cost-efficient manner possible.
Blogger
www.TortTalk.com
- Current
Creator and writer of nationally honored legal blog that provides updates on important cases and trends in Pennsylvania civil litigation matters.
Columinist on Civil Litigation matters
Pennsylvania Law Weekly
- Current
Columnist for statewide legal news publication, writing articles providing updates on important cases and trends in Pennsylvania civil litigation matters.
Partner
Foley, Cognetti, Comerford, Cimini & Cummins Law Firm
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Partner in Scranton, Pennsylvania law firm. Focus on insurance defense matters with an emphasis in motor vehicle accident cases and slip and fall matters. Tried many cases to jury verdict in both state and federal court. Strives to provide client satisfaction through prompt and regular status reporting and making all efforts to amicably resolve cases reasonably in the most cost-efficient manner possible.
Writer of Annual Supplement to Pennsylvania Trial Advocacy Handbook
George T. Bisel Compnany, Inc. - Publisher
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Ongoing research of current Pennsylvania statutory changes and developing case law; write annual supplement to the Pennsylvania Trial Advocacy Handbook.
Adjunct Instructor - Paralegal Program
Penn State University
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Served as an adjunct instructor in the paralegal program at the Worthington-Scranton campus of Penn State University teaching a course on general negligence law and medical malpractice law.
Associate Attorney
Bialkowski & Savitsky
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Associate attorney for Scranton, Lackwanna County, Pennsylvania insurance defense firm. Focused on automobile accident and premises liability cases.
Law Clerk to the then President Judge Harold A. Thomson, Jr.
Pike County Court of Common Pleas in Milford, Pennsylvnia
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Served for two years as law clerk to the then President Judge Harold A. Thomson, Jr. As Judge Thomson was the only judge in the Pike County Court of Common Pleas, researched and participated in the crafting of the court's opinions and orders in all areas of the law in the various matters that came before the court on a daily basis.
Publications
Articles & Publications
Auto Law - Post-Koken UM/UIM Update
Pennsylvania Defense Institute and Northeastern Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Assoc.
CLE at the Phillies
Pennsylvania Bar Institute
Tort Talk Expo 2011
TortTalk.com
View Attorney Cummins' articles by clicking on JDSupra Link. Below is a list of seminars planned and presented by Attorney Cummins:
A Forrest Gump Themed 2018 Civil Litigation Update
Luzerne County Bench Bar Conference
Golf Lessons: Tips for Professionalism and the Ethical Practice of Law
Lackawanna Pro Bono Golf Tournament
Civil Litigation Update 2015
www.TortTalk.com
New Wine in an Old Bottle: The Advent of Social Media Discovery in Pennsylvania Civil Litigation Matters
Tolle Lege/Villanova Law Review
'Tis the Season to Be Civil: Lessons from 'A Christmas Story'
Pennsylvania Lawyer Magazine
Bad Faith Update
PBI 21st Annual Auto Law Update
Tort Talk Expo 2014
Tort Talk Expo 2013
Tort Talk Expo 2012
Pennsylvania Defense Institute - Civil Litigation Developments 2011
Pennsylvania Defense Institute
Auto Law - Post-Koken UM/UIM Update
Pennsylvania Association for Justice
Civil Litigation Update 2011
Luzerne County Bench Bar Conference 2011
Post-Koken Update 2010
Luzerne County Bench Bar Conference 2010
Expert Discovery Issues
Pennsylvania Association for Justice
A League of Extraordinary Speakers: Critical and Developmental Topics in Litigation
Pennsylvania Defense Institute
Claims Rep Pet Peeves
Northeastern Pennsylvania Claims Association
UM/UIM Update
Pennsylvania Bar Institute
Mediation and Arbitration Tips CLE Seminar
Pennsylvania Association for Justice
2009 Civil Litigation Update at Luzerne County Bench Bar Conference
Luzerne County Bench Bar Conference
2009 Civil Litigation Update for Lackawanna County Bench Bar Conference
Lackawanna County Bar Associations
2009 Civil Litigation Update and ABC's of IME's Seminar for Pennsylvania Defense Institute
Pennsylvania Defense Institute
Lessons From Lawyer Caricatures CLE Seminar
Daniel E. Cummins
Koken Update/Mediation and Arbitration Tips CLE Seminar
Daniel E. Cummins
Lessons From Lawyer Caricatures
Daniel E. Cummins
2008 Civil Litigation Update/Mediation and Arbitration Tips
Daniel E. Cummins
Mediation and Arbitration Tips
Daniel E. Cummins
Lessons from the Godfather Trilogy: Universal Principles and Practical Advice
Daniel E. Cummins
2006 Civil Litigation Update
Daniel E. Cummins
Lessons from the Godfather Trilogy: Universal Principles and Practical Advice
Daniel E. Cummins
Awards
Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers
Selected for Inclusion in Directory
Best Lawyers in America
Selected for the category Personal Injury Litigation - DEFENSE.
Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers
Selected for Inclusion in Directory
The Best Lawyers in America
Selected for Inclusion in Directory
The Best Lawyers in America
Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers
Selected for Inclusion in Directory
The Best Lawyers in America Directory
Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers
2014 Distinguished Defense Counsel of the Year
Pennsylvania Defense Institute
AV-Rated Lawyer
Martindale-Hubbell
Awarded Highest rating possible for ethical integrity and professional skill level as an attorney
First Place - Schnader Print Media Award
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association
In 2007, Attorney Cummins received a First Place award for the second year in a row in the Weekly Newspaper category of the Schnader Print Media Awards.
Super Lawyer - Rising Star
Philadelphia Magazine
In 2007, Attorney Dan Cummins was honored by his peers as a Super Lawyer-Rising Star.
First Place - Schnader Print Media Award
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association
In 2006, Attorney Cummins received his first First Place recognition in the Schnader Print Media Awards for articles of his that appeared in the Pennsylvania Law Weekly.
Lawyers on the Fast Track Honoree
American Law Media
In 2005, Attorney Dan Cummins was one of only 35 lawyers across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to be honored as a Lawyer on the Fast Track. The honor was bestowed upon Attorney Cummins in recognition of his excellence in advocacy, advancement of the law, community service, and service to the bar. To date, he remains only 1 of 2 attorneys in Northeastern Pennsylvania to ever receive this award.
Professional Associations
Monroe County Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
Member
- Current
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Pennsylvania Defense Institute
Member
- Current
Activities: Currently a member; formerly Vice President of North Division (2012); Also served as amicus brief writer on important civil litigation issues on appeal.
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Pennsylvania Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Lackawanna Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Pike County Bar Association
Member
- Current
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The Pennsylvania Law Weekly, statewide legal news publication
Columnist on civil litigation topics
- Current
Activities: Attorney Cummins continues to write a regular civil litigation column for the Pennsylvania Law Weekly, a statewide legal news publication. The articles analyze and predict trends in Pennsylvania civil litigation law and also provide tips to fellow attorneys on how to improve their practice. All of his articles may be viewed by clicking on the link for JDSupra.
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Pike County Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Pennsylvania Defense Institute
Board Member
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Lackawanna Bar Association
Officer - Secretary
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Northeastern Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association
Officer-Treasurer (2010), Secretary (2009)
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Defense Research Institute
Member
-
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Pennsylvania
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Fees
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    Currently accepting new clients along with referrals as local counsel, defense arbitrator, mediator, or otherwise
Practice Areas
    Insurance Claims
    Bad Faith Insurance, Business Insurance, Disability Insurance, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Motor Vehicle Insurance, Property Insurance
    Insurance Defense
    Medical Malpractice
    Birth Injury, Medical Misdiagnosis, Pharmacy Errors, Surgical Errors
    Products Liability
    Drugs & Medical Devices, Motor Vehicle Defects, Toxic Torts
    Personal Injury
    Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
Additional Practice Areas
  • Car Accidents
  • Insurance Bad Faith
Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
Website
Avvo Profile
Blog
Tort Talk: Updates and Trends in Pennsylvania Civil Litigation Law
Contact & Map
Cummins Law Firm
610 Morgan Highway
Clarks Summit, PA 18411
Telephone: (570) 319-5899
Fax: (570) 319-5898