Ralph P. Bocchino

A member of the firm since 1980, Ralph P. Bocchino is a senior shareholder and the chair of Casualty Group I in Philadelphia. In this role he oversees the workflow and administration of files for 15 attorneys and support staff.

Ralph has litigated a plethora of civil defense matters in the areas of product liability, premises liability, construction law and defect litigation, and motor vehicle liability including truck and bus accidents. Ralph was formerly the chair of the firm's Amusement, Sports & Entertainment Litigation Practice and, as such, represents amusement parks and entertainment venues.

In addition to his many achievements in the Casualty Department, Ralph has also litigated defamation and legal malpractice cases. He has represented universities, special needs schools, and institutions in claims alleging sexual, physical, and emotional abuse on behalf of the Elwyn Institute and a number of 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, individual schools and entities in all types of liability, including but not limited to child molestation and abuse. He has also counseled nursing homes in elopement and sepsis cases.

When Ralph started at the firm, he was assigned to handle asbestos matters. At the time, the firm represented Johns Mansville Corporation, the largest producer of asbestos, and Ralph was the youngest attorney in the nation to successfully defend the company. His work earned him the 'Order of the Salamander Award' for litigation excellence from Johns Mansville. (Coger v. Johns Mansville Corporation, et al.)

Ralph frequently lectures for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and the Young Lawyers Association of Philadelphia on current civil procedure and legal issues. Ralph has also lectured at LaSalle University where he taught Real Estate, Business Law and Corporation courses. He has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer consecutively since 2006 and holds an AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell rating for more than 25 years.

If Ralph is not in the office or in a courtroom, he can be found coaching various youth sports teams. Ralph is a licensed soccer coach and licensed referee. He has been coaching soccer for more than 25 years. He is the President of the Hunter Soccer Club, a non-profit youth organization in Glenside, Pennsylvania. Ralph and all of the volunteers at Hunter were honored by the Abington Community Task Force for Hunter's service to youth since 1962. Ralph was elected to the Bishop McDevitt High School 'Hall of Fame' for more than 30 years of coaching, refereeing and umpiring youth sports in the community.

Honors & Awards

•AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
•Pennsylvania Super Lawyer (2006-2022)
•Honored Member of Who's Who in Practicing Attorneys (1990)
•'Order of the Salamander Award,' 1990

Classes & Seminars Taught

•Hills and Ridges Doctrine and discussion of Collins v. Philadelphia Suburban Development Co., Client Seminar, May 2018
•Lights, Camera, Evidence!, Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI), Philadelphia PA, December 5, 2017
•Accident Prevention and Investigation: Strategies for Risk Mitigation, Client Presentation, April 2017
•Risk Shifting and Indemnity and Additional Insured Status, Ohio Casualty, April 2013
•Nuances of the Political Subdivision Torts Claims Act, Ohio Casualty, April 2013
•Dram Shop Liquor Liability, Markel Insurance Co. and Markel International Insurance, August 2011
•The New Fair Share Act, Markel Insurance Co. and Markel International Insurance, August 2011
•Comparative Negligence Act of Pennsylvania; Alternatives in Discovery; Jury Verdicts and Jury Issues in Philadelphia and Outlying Counties, Ohio Casualty, April 2010
•Potpourri, 'The Black Box,' discuss varying topics including computer chips and information, equipment in various vehicles, automobiles, and trucks (2005/2007).
•Discovery, Rules of Civil Procedure and Bad Faith in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Bar Institute
•Releases and Uniform Contribution Among Joint Tortfeasors Act, LaSalle Alumni Law Luncheon
•Discovery Techniques and Trial Techniques, Young Lawyers Association of Philadelphia

Published Works

•Risk Shifting and Indemnity and Additional Insured Status, Ohio Casualty, April 2013
•“MAP-21 and the Role of Black-Box Recorders in Discovery,” The Legal Intelligencer, June 5, 2012
•'When Pucks and Foul Balls Fly No Duty Rule of Pennsylvania,' Pennsylvania Law Weekly, 2002
•'Punitive Damages and Deceased Defendants,' Pennsylvania Law Weekly, March 8, 1999 and, Defense Digest, Vol 4, No. 6, 1998
•'The Blizzard's Backlash: A Symposium on Issues Confronting Pennsylvania and New Jersey Property Owners,' Co-Author, Defense Digest, March, 1996
•'Challenges to Venue Produce Positive Result,' Defense Digest, Fall, 1992

Certification

•OSHA 10-Hour Construction Certification

Results

Dismissal Secured in Food Poisoning and Hepatitis A Case

We successfully obtained dismissal of their client in a death-from-food-poisoning and hepatitis A case. The plaintiff, Joyce Neeld, executrix of the Estate of Alfred Neeld, alleged that Mr. Neeld passed away due to an outbreak of hepatitis A in southeast Pennsylvania, which was widely covered by the news at the time. The plaintiff, who claimed that Mr. Neeld passed away after eating at Gino’s Pizzeria and Ristorante, was seeking several million dollars from every food provider that served the restaurant, including our client. Fortunately, the plaintiff stipulated to our dismissal.

Summary Judgment Granted in Major Jury Case Involving Serious Injuries

We successfully argued a motion for summary judgment on a major jury case where we represented a tenant shop owner. The plaintiff opposed our motion, alleging, inter alia, serious injuries to a shoulder and surgery. There were many moving pieces in this case, including indemnity issues, an alleged triple net lease and joinder after the statute of limitations. The plaintiff tripped and fell on a sidewalk that was under repair outside of our client’s store. We were joined by the original defendant, the landlord. We argued the plaintiff had no direct cause of action against us as we were joined after the statute of limitations; there was no evidence of record of our involvement as plaintiff did not visit our store; we were not responsible for the sidewalk repair; and the original defendant landlord was responsible for the sidewalk in question as the lease was ambiguous as to who was responsible for external repairs.