Claire Murtha

Claire Murtha is an associate in Margolis Edelstein’s Harrisburg office, where she focuses on general liability, civil rights, and first-party litigation in state and federal courts. She has successfully defended municipalities, public officials, and local governments in complex, multi-party civil rights actions, as well as individuals and corporate entities in personal injury and premises liability matters, including cases involving fatal accidents and catastrophic injuries.

Claire has significant experience defending civil rights claims arising under the First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, and Equal Protection Clause. She has played a key role in securing dismissals and summary judgment in cases challenging police encounters, arrests, and municipal regulatory actions. Her work includes obtaining dismissal with prejudice of federal constitutional claims arising from a school mask policy dispute and related police directive, where the court adopted her First and Fourth Amendment analysis. She has also successfully defended municipalities against claims of false arrest, malicious prosecution, retaliation, and municipal liability by defeating federal constitutional theories and later securing dismissal of state law claims based on procedural defects and statutory immunity. In addition, Claire has contributed to appellate-affirmed victories upholding municipal authority to enact and enforce content-neutral ordinances, including zoning and parking regulations challenged on constitutional grounds.

Prior to joining Margolis Edelstein, Claire interned with the Honorable Jennifer P. Wilson of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, and the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office. While in law school, she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Dickinson Law Review and was awarded the CALI Award for Excellence in Torts, Constitutional Law, Legal Writing, Evidence, and Family Law. Claire is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania.

News & Case Results

Federal Court Grants Partial Summary Judgment for Law Enforcement Officer in Civil Rights Action

Summary Judgment Granted in 7-Figure UIM Bicycle Accident Case

Claire Murtha Secures Dismissal of State Law Claims Against Arresting Officer And Township Dismissed Based upon Improper Transfer and Municipal Immunity

Rolf Kroll and Claire Murtha Secure Third Circuit Ruling Protecting Municipality’s Right to Keep Public Parking Public

Dismissal with Prejudice in Dog Bite Case with Permanent Injuries Involving Minor in Dauphin County, PA

Rolf Kroll & Claire Murtha Secure Dismissal of Fourth Amendment Claim Convincing Court that A Police Encounter and Direction to Disburse Does Not Violate the Constitution