Kraus Jenkins Marks 1-Year Anniversary -Welcoming New Attorneys
Kraus Jenkins Marks 1-Year Anniversary - Welcoming New Attorneys
PITTSBURGH, PA - February 6, 2024 - On February 6, 2024, Kraus Jenkins celebrated the completion of its first year in operation by recognizing four attorneys who have recently joined the firm. The welcome additions to the Kraus Jenkins team - Edmund Olszewski, Holly DiCesare, Alexa Gervasi and Samuel Beaver - add valuable talent and experience across the civil and criminal law spectrum.
Ed Olszewski is a veteran trial lawyer focusing his practice on professional liability defense, toxic torts, and product liability. His environmental/toxic tort practice is national in scope and includes trial defense of mass tort claims. Mr. Olszewski has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America® in multiple practice areas.
Holly DiCesare represents clients in both corporate transactions and litigation matters. Her extensive corporate transactional experience includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate formation, partnerships, business reorganization, divestments, and related financing agreements. She is also well-versed in healthcare fraud and abuse laws, with substantial experience representing healthcare clients in response to audits by Medicare and Medicare contractors.
Alexa Gervasi’s practice focuses on civil rights and constitutional matters, as well as healthcare and criminal defense litigation. Ms. Gervasi comes to Kraus Jenkins from Georgetown Law, where she served as the Executive Director of the Georgetown Center for the Constitution. Her experience includes litigating constitutional and complex business matters, and she previously served judicial clerkships with both the 5th and 3rd Circuits of the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Samuel Beaver represents clients in state and federal criminal trial matters, as well as civil matters involving healthcare. Before joining Kraus Jenkins, Mr. Beaver served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Office of District Attorney for Westmoreland County, where he handled hundreds of cases and numerous trials, working closely with government investigators.
Kraus Jenkins founding partner, James Kraus, is enthusiastic about the firm’s new additions welcoming their diverse skills and experience which will “further deepen our bench as we continue to provide top-rate legal advocacy for our clients.” To accommodate its expanding practice, the firm has recently moved into its new 7th-floor office suite located at 428 Boulevard of The Allies, Pittsburgh.
Kraus Jenkins, PLLC, is a law firm focused on civil and criminal litigation in both state and federal courts, as well as representation of clients in response to government investigations and enforcement actions. The firm also has an office in Washington, DC.
PRESS CONTACT:
Gina Russell
412-546-0780
grussell@krausjenkins.com
Kraus Jenkins Scores Another Jury Trial Defense Verdict
May 2023 - Kraus Jenkins, led by James Kraus, secured a jury verdict in favor of the defense at the conclusion of a seven-day medical malpractice trial in Pittsburgh. The case centered on plaintiff’s allegations that the defendant orthopedic surgeon failed to recognize signs and symptoms of acute compartment syndrome in plaintiff’s lower leg following ankle surgery. The plaintiff was later diagnosed with acute compartment syndrome and was treated with a series of fasciotomy and debridement surgeries. Plaintiff alleged that earlier diagnosis would have avoided the need for those surgeries, which he claimed also resulted in the development of severe arthritis and permanent disability in his lower leg.
The defendant orthopedic surgeon testified at length about the care that he provided both during and following the ankle surgery. Expert witness physicians called by the defense testified in full support of the explanations provided by the defendant physician. The jury agreed, finding no negligence by the defendant orthopedic surgeon.
In addition to Kraus, the trial defense effort included key contributions by partner Lee Goldfarb and paralegal Rebecca Lear. Plaintiff was represented in the matter by Brendan Lupetin and Greg Unatin of the law firm of Lupetin and Unatin. The judgment in favor of the defendants in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas was not appealed.
Kraus Jenkins Leads Successful Trial Defense of $20m+ Birth Injury Claim
February 2023 — Kraus Jenkins partner James Kraus led the successful trial defense of three nurse midwives and their practice group in a trial regarding a claim of birth injury. Plaintiffs claimed that the child suffered a stroke and hypoxic ischemic brain injury due to a delay in delivery of the infant by cesarean section. They asserted nearly $20 million in economic damages alone, in the form of future medical expenses and lost future earnings. The defense asserted that there was no undue delay in delivery, and that the stroke and hypoxic ischemic brain injury occurred remote from the delivery.
The jury deliberated for more than six hours before rendering a verdict finding that each of the nurse midwives had not been negligent in the care they provided. The jury similarly found no negligence against the co-defendant OBGYN physician and co-defendant hospital. The trial of the case lasted three weeks and is believed to be the longest trial in the history of Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
More than 15 expert witnesses testified. The defense of the nurse midwives and their practice group was a collaborative effort between Mr. Kraus and Jason Logue of the law firm of Davies McFarland and Carroll. Other defendants in the case were represented by Katherine Kravitz and Luke Weber of the Lancaster office of Barley Snyder, and Kevin Osborne of the Harrisburg office of Marshall Dennehy. The plaintiffs were represented by David Colleran of the Philadelphia–based law firm of Ross Feller Casey. The case is Smith v. Waynesboro Hospital, et al, Franklin County CCP, No. 2018-4413.
James Kraus and Turahn Jenkins Announce New Pittsburgh Law Firm
Attorneys James Kraus and Turahn Jenkins announced today the formation of a new law firm, Kraus Jenkins, to be based in Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH, PA - February 13, 2023 - Attorneys James Kraus and Turahn Jenkins announced today the formation of a new law firm, Kraus Jenkins, to be based in Pittsburgh. The new firm will also have an office in Washington, DC. The firm of Kraus Jenkins will focus on representing clients in civil and criminal litigation, and government investigations. The civil litigation practice will be wide-ranging with heavy emphasis on the representation of healthcare providers, including hospitals and physicians. The criminal litigation practice will span the full range of criminal matters.
Founding member James Kraus expressed optimism for the new venture: “Our new firm is an exciting opportunity to build upon a foundation of uncompromising integrity, merging established practices that share key characteristics – a deep wealth of trial experience and a fervent dedication to giving our best each day to our clients.”
James Kraus has more than 30 years of civil and criminal trial experience. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Kraus began his career with the U.S. Army JAG Corps, initially serving as a criminal prosecutor and operational law officer with the Army’s 4th Infantry Division. He has since built a distinguished career in private practice and tried scores of civil cases in defense of hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare providers, as well as financial professionals. Kraus has also represented professionals in response to government investigations, as well as a wide range of clients at trial in state and federal courts in response to criminal charges.
Founding member Turahn Jenkins has been practicing for nearly 20 years, including stints at both the Office of District Attorney and Office of Public Defender where he tried a broad spectrum of cases ranging from low-level misdemeanors to Criminal Homicide. He continues to build upon a criminal defense and civil litigation practice, intuitively balancing his roles as a zealous advocate and a trusted advisor while achieving noteworthy results both in and out of the courtroom. Mr. Jenkins is a dedicated community leader and social justice advocate currently serving as Vice President of the Allegheny Lawyers Initiative for Justice.
Mr. Jenkins sees the key components of the new firm to be “our faith in each other and the shared belief that each and every client is deserving of a dignified and individualized approach to legal counseling and fierce advocacy.”
Kraus and Jenkins are joined in their practice by attorney Lee Goldfarb. Ms. Goldfarb has over a decade of experience in both civil and criminal litigation, beginning her legal career with the Office of the District Attorney in the Child Abuse Unit. There she successfully prosecuted over 30 jury trials, in addition to a multitude of non-jury trials, involving matters of physical and sexual assault of children as well as homicide. Ms. Goldfarb’s practice includes the representation of medical professionals and hospitals in matters ranging from claims of medical malpractice to allegations of violations of the federal False Claims Act. She also represents individuals and corporate organizations in response to government investigations.
As the firm eagerly launches, the partners of Kraus Jenkins are intent on a model of dedication and diligence. With earnest enthusiasm, Mr. Kraus emphasized “investing the highest quality of effort on behalf of our current and future clients.”
PRESS CONTACT:
Gina Russell
412-546-0780
grussell@krausjenkins.com