Graffunder, Steven M.

Lee H. Roberts has spent his entire career focusing on plaintiff negligence civil litigation, business litigation and real estate litigation.  Approximately eighty percent of his practice involves representing plaintiffs in all types of negligence cases including, but not limited to auto cases, motorcycle cases, product liability cases, slip and fall cases, medical malpractice cases, and other general negligence.  Some of the highlight cases in which he was involved are as follows: 

During his first year in practice as a Philadelphia Trial Attorney, he represented in individual pedestrian who was struck by a campaign truck by then Governor, Milton Shapp.  Governor Shapp was represented by his personal attorney, Nathan Posner, who ultimately was appointed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.  The law in Pennsylvania was clear that a governor is not responsible for his campaign trucks.  The truck was leased without insurance and the Democratic Campaign Committee that had leased the truck had no insurance and was disbanded and the only surviving defendant was the governor.  After winning an argument over the failure of the Governor to deny agency, possession or control of the vehicle, a verdict was achieved and paid by the Governor's personal insurance. 

In the 1980's, he represented an individual from Clinton County who was accused of arson of his business.  The defense firm was Cozen & O'Conner out of Philadelphia. They specialized in arson defense at the time and represented MGM Grand in a large arson fire in Las Vegas.  After extensive litigation, the case settled for the policy limits.  Then district attorney arrested his client and after a two week criminal trial, he was found not guilty. 

In 2002, he represented an individual who was driving his automobile with his mother in the right front seat and who was struck by an intoxicated driver crossing a grass median. The driver was thirty-one years old and was killed instantly and the mother was severely injured.  The intoxicated driver had only $100,000 of insurance coverage. Beer cans were found scattered all over the vehicle. The drunk driver was also severely injured.  After subpoenaing and reviewing the surveillance tapes from all of the surrounding six pack stores and beer distributorships, it was discovered that the drunk driver had purchased a case of beer just 45 minutes before the accident.  His blood alcohol was 2.75 at the time of the collision.  A successful large settlement was obtained under the Dram Shop Act of Pennsylvania holding the beer distributor responsible for serving a visibly intoxicated customer.   

Lee H. Roberts was born on September 25, 1946 in the city of Philadelphia.  He attended the Central High School in Philadelphia, the main campus of Penn State University in State College, PA, where he graduated in the honors program in accounting in 1968.  He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh Law School in 1971.  He served in the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant and then in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Captain.  He commenced his practice of law in the City of Philadelphia with the firm of Gross & Sklar specializing in plaintiff negligence.  He then moved to Lock Haven, Pennsylvania and joined the firm of Saxton & Brown.  Carson Brown and Richard Saxton became Judges in the County and the other member of the firm, Merritt McKnight, became the district attorney.  In 1975, Lee formed his own practice and continued in sole practice until 1986 when Frank S. Miceli joined the firm.  In 1992, John P. Boileau joined the firm and in 2005, William C. Doutt joined the firm.  Jacqueline Kramer joined the firm in 2009. 

Lee practices in the statewide court system including but not limited to cases in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, as well as the federal court system.  He is admitted to the United States Supreme Court.