Andrew J. Connolly

Andrew J. Connolly is a Principal and Chair of the Firm's Construction Defect/Injury Litigation Group. He is experienced in the handling of catastrophic and complex third party workplace injuries occurring on multi-employer construction sites. His experience includes defending cases involving personal injury or property damage allegedly caused by general contractors, architects, engineers, and property owners. These cases include analyzing and applying OSHA standards to accidents where workers have fallen to their death, been severely burned, electrocuted, or crushed. Mr. Connolly and his practice group have participated in the investigation and defense of hundreds of claims regarding fenestration and exterior cladding systems, including adhered masonry veneer and traditional 3-coat stucco systems. He has investigated matters involving curtain walls and aluminum composite panels, which have customarily been used on larger commercial buildings and high rise construction. He has utilized trade-specific guidance documents, like those put forth by the Masonry Veneer Manufacturer’s Association, the Stucco Manufacturers Association, and the Portland Cement Association, that relate specifically to the manufacture and installation of masonry veneer and stucco, in addition to the North American Fenestration Standard as adopted for windows and doors and published by the Window and Door Manufacturers Association and the American Architectural Manufacturers Association.

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Mr. Connolly has obtained summary judgment or defense verdicts at trial in many cases including:

• Defense verdict at trial representing the target architect in a claimed $25.0 million business failure arising from the alleged improper design by the architect.
• Defense verdict at trial representing the target contractor in a claimed $5.0 million roof collapse.
• Defense verdict in class action certification trial brought by 600 putative plaintiffs against contractors who allegedly constructed apartment buildings in negligent fashion so as to cause alleged exposure to carbon monoxide.
• Summary judgment as national counsel for the target manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders used in aerial lifts which were collapsing and causing catastrophic injuries to users in multiple states (reported decision).
• Summary judgment for the target manufacturer defendant in a wrongful death case allegedly arising from the work place electrocution of the plaintiff’s decedent which was allegedly caused by the equipment (reported decision).

• "Daubert: Issues in Preparing and Presenting Experts/Evidence from a Legal Perspective," AICPA National Conferences on Fraud and Litigation Services, Dallas, TX (September 29-30, 2005)
• "The Dynamics of Jury Deliberations in a Catastrophic Personal Injury Case"
• "Pennsylvania Products Liability and Issues"
• "The Importance of Prompt Accident Investigation"
• "Attacking Expert Testimony"
• "When Disaster Strikes on the Construction Worksite"