James E. Foerstner
Mr. Foerstner concentrates his extensive trial practice on the representation of significantly injured or disabled people following medical negligence, automobile, product and premise liability matters.
He has had significant experience in the areas of medical negligence and premise liability. For many years he defended physicians and hospitals for allegations of negligent conduct, but now he represents seriously injured patients following poor medical care. In the area of medical negligence, where most trial attorneys have never had a significant verdict, Jim has had several. Those verdicts include : a) 3.5 million dollars for the death of an infant (top 50 verdicts in Pennsylvania 2004); b) 3.25 million dollars for compromised sight in one eye; c) 3.0 million dollars for the failure to diagnose lung cancer resulting in death (top 50 verdicts in Pennsylvania 2008); d) 1.88 million dollar verdict for the failure to diagnose bladder cancer resulting in death (during trial, and in addition to the verdict, one of the defendants settled plaintiffs claim for 2.0 million dollars. This also was the highest verdict in Lackawanna County, PA in 2009; e) 1.45 million dollars for the failure to diagnose and treat a perforated bowel resulting in death; f) 1.25 million dollars for the loses of a kidney; g) 1.0 million dollars for a spinal cord injury during surgery. In addition to these significant verdicts, he has had many other six figure awards, plus settled other cases for millions of dollars (and lesser amounts.)
In addition to malpractice verdicts, Jim has been responsible for multiple six and seven figure verdicts and settlements related to auto, product liability and premise liability. Among those settlements he represented 10 of 29 people injured in the infamous Pier 34 collapse on the Delaware River. His work was instrumental in obtaining for his clients a significant portion of the 29.6 million dollar settlement.
Jim developed his trial expertise as a Cuyahoga County, Ohio prosecutor. For five years he tried dozens of major felony cases involving, homicide, rape, robbery, fraud and drug related matters. One of his most significant cases was his first trial. He was responsible for the conviction of a man that ritualistically raped and sodomized two of his three children in a basement lair decorated with symbols of satanic worship. The man is now serving ten consecutive life sentences for these crimes.
Mr. Foerstner graduated from Saint Francis University, Loretto PA , with a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1981. He graduated law school from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University, Cleveland Ohio, in 1989. Jim is a member of multiple professional organizations, he has been asked to speak on a variety of professional topics, including trial tactics, mediation in medical malpractice, developments in the law of medical malpractice and other subjects. He is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and Ohio (inactive). Additionally, he has practiced in several other states, the United States District Court and serves as a Philadelphia Common Please Court Judge Pro Tem.
In his spare time Jim designs and builds reproduction 18th century furniture. He is also involved in competitive shooting sports, is an avid fly fisherman and scuba diver. Jim lives with his wife and daughter in Glen Mills, PA.
