Ms. Gillespie received her J.D. degree, cum laude, in 1993 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where she was a Managing Editor of the Law Review. She is co-author of Norton on Insurance Coverage in Pennsylvania, Second Edition, published by PBI Press. Her practice is concentrated in representation of insurance carriers in insurance coverage and bad faith matters and representation of clients in commercial and tort litigation. She is licensed in Pennsylvania and is admitted to practice in all Pennsylvania state courts, the District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She is a former Captain in the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps and served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of New York.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
INSURANCE COVERAGE AND BAD FAITH
- Representation of insurance company in contribution action against another insurance company regarding payment of underinsured motorist benefits. Decision at Travelers Prop. & Cas. Co. of Am. v. State Auto. Mut. Ins. Co., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18319 (W.D. Pa. 2008).
- Representation of insurance company in coverage action involving alleged property damage and advertising injury coverage for alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Reported decision Melrose Hotel Co. v. St. Paul Fire and Marine Ins. Co., 432 F.Supp.2d 488 (E.D. Pa. 2006), aff'd, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 22711 (3d Cir. Sept. 25, 2007).
- Representation of insurance company in coverage and bad faith actions involving claims related to life insurance sales practices.
- Representation of insurance company in coverage and bad faith actions regarding long-term care policies for alleged denial and/or delay in payment of benefits.
- Representation of insurance company in coverage action involving policy issued to professional sport team insuring it against the loss of play of a player.
- Insurance coverage opinion and advice provided related to claims for coverage under commercial general liability and professional liability policy for underlying claims involving negligence, negligent misrepresentation and breach of various agreements.
- Insurance coverage opinion and advice provided related to claims for coverage under successive umbrella policies for underlying claims involving deliberate intent and medical monitoring.
- Insurance coverage opinion and advice provided related to claims for coverage under umbrella policy for underlying claims involving deliberate exposure, unsafe workplace and negligent hiring.
- Insurance coverage opinion and advice provided related to claims for coverage under successive umbrella policies for underlying claims involving negligence and breach of contract.
- Insurance coverage opinion and advice provided related to claims for coverage under successive excess and umbrella policies for underlying claims involving strict liability and negligence regarding alleged exposure to silica.
- Insurance coverage opinion and advice provided related to claims for coverage under multiple umbrella/excess policies for underlying claims involving sexual molestation.
COMMERCIAL/CIVIL LITIGATION
- Representation of municipal authority in construction dispute with contractor and then engineer regarding defects in construction of sewage treatment plant.
- Representation of bank defending against claims of statutory damages pursuant to 42 Pa. C.S. 8104, wrongful use of civil proceedings, abuse of civil process, conversion and conspiracy, all allegedly arising from a violation of the Deficiency Judgment Act.
- Representation of coal company in negligence claim involving injury to a coal miner.
- Representation of homeowner in breach of contract action against contractor who installed defective driveway.
INSURANCE DEFENSE
- Representation of insured municipality in negligence and wrongful death claims arising from pedestrians hit by vehicle in county park.
- Representation of insured managing general agent in action alleging breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty related to the workers' compensation line of business of the plaintiff insurance company.
- Representation of insured driver and hospital employer in negligence action arising from motor vehicle accident at intersection.
- Representation of insured landowner in negligence action arising from truck-train collision at railroad crossing leading to client's business.
