Seaford Lawyers

If you are injured at work or in an automobile accident, I will be there through the thick and the thin. I have offices in Wilmington, New Castle and Seaford because I want to be near to you when you need me the most. I am a dedicated personal injury and workers’ compensation attorney who will answer all of your questions – even the ones you forgot to ask when you talked to me the first time – and I will lay out a practical, step-by-step plan for you and your family moving forward. When you are hurt...

Attorney Jeffrey S. Friedman is a partner at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman. Jeffrey joined Silverman, McDonald & Friedman in 2001 to better serve Delaware clients in need of auto accident, personal injury or workers’ compensation services.

Attorney Robert McDonald is a partner at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman. Roberts primary areas of practice are personal injury, workers' compensation, auto accidents, and construction accidents. He joined forces with his partners to create Silverman, McDonald & Friedman in 1999.

Michael I. Silverman is the co-founder of Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, which is located in Wilmington, Delaware. Michael maintains a general civil litigation practice with a focus on personal injury, workmen’s compensation and commercial litigation.

Ross Karsnitz chairs the workers' compensation practice and assists clients with a wide variety of civil litigation including personal injury, workers' compensation, business, and real estate matters in the Georgetown Office. Ross was raised in Sussex County Delaware, and is a second-generation attorney with both his mother and father practicing in Delaware. Following his clerkship with the now President Judge of the Superior Court, Ross practiced criminal defense for the Office of Defense Services, rising through the ranks in Family Court, the Court of Common Pleas and Superior Court in Kent County and New Castle County. By the end of his...

Brian Ellis is a Partner in our Rehoboth Beach and Georgetown offices. His practice focuses on providing legal guidance and advice to individuals and businesses in a variety of areas, concentrating on business, transactional and real estate law. Business and Transactional Practice Includes: • Family business formation and planning • Preparation and negotiation of various commercial agreements • Business restructuring and reorganization • Mergers and acquisitions • Joint ventures and strategic partnerships • Legal guidance as to new business formation • Business finance • Legal advice as to Delaware business law • Delivery of Delaware Opinion Letters, as to Delaware corporations and other entities Real Estate Practice Includes: • Residential and commercial real estate settlements • 1031 like-kind exchanges • Preparation and negotiation of leases, purchase...

Rob Gibbs focuses his practice on business formation, commercial transactions, commercial lending, commercial and residential real estate transactions, and related civil litigation. Rob is actively involved in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) since completing the Delaware Superior Court Mediation Training in 2007. He serves as an arbitrator, mediator and neutral assessor both informally and under the ADR Programs of the Delaware Courts. Practice areas: • Business Transactions, Strategic Planning and Counseling • Commercial Transactions • Structured Finance Transactions • Real Estate • Land Use • Private Clients • Small Businesses and Start-Ups • Alternative Dispute Resolution • Energy Industry rgibbs@morrisjames.com 302.856.0016

Pat Gallagher was born and raised in southern West Virginia. He received his B.A. in Economics, magna cum laude, from Elon University in 2002. He thereafter attended law school at Wake Forest University, graduating cum laude in 2005. While in law school, he was involved in mock trial, Moot Court, and Law Review.

After graduating from law school, Pat returned to West Virginia where he worked for a large defense firm. He defended clients in consumer finance, deliberate intent, and Mine Safety Health Administration cases. In 2008, he moved to the Wilmington, Delaware, area where he joined a large Wilmington law...

Michelle Bounds is a business law attorney based in Sussex County, Delaware. She represents a diverse group of businesses and private clients in commercial transactions, education law, employment law, litigation, real estate law, and land use/zoning matters. Michelle was a Judicial Law Clerk to The Honorable Kenneth S. Clark, Jr and The Honorable Rosemary Betts Beauregard for the Delaware Court of Common Pleas in Georgetown, Delaware. Practice areas: • Business Torts • Commercial Transactions • Contract Litigation • Education Law • Employment Law • Land Use • Private Clients • Real Estate mbounds@morrisjames.com T 302.752.3344

Robert Jacobs co-founded Jacobs & Crumplar in 1981. After graduating from City College of the City University of New York in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering and receiving his law degree from Temple University in 1968, Bob practiced with the Wilmington law firm of Bader, Dorsey & Kreshtool before forming Jacobs & Crumplar. Jacobs applies his knowledge in chemical engineering to a variety of patent litigation cases. His experiences and successes in both engineering and patent litigation have made him an effective attorney in both State and Federal Courts.

A native of Wilmington, Delaware, David graduated from Gettysburg College magna cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa with degrees in history and political science in 2006.

He subsequently received a Master’s Degree in Irish History from Queen’s University-Belfast in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 2008.

Following a brief period of time working for a non-profit in Washington, DC, he attended the University of Richmond School of Law from where he graduated in 2012. At Richmond he served as Manuscripts Editor for the Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest and was on the Law School’s Trial Advocacy Board.

David is...

Tom graduated from the University of Michigan with Honors, Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1971. He was the author of numerous law review articles and was a speaker at national attorney conferences as a law student at the University of Virginia, graduating in 1975. While he attended the University of Virginia, he developed the university’s patent policy, which related to projects completed by scientists at the university. After graduation, he served as a law clerk for Federal Judge John T. Copenhaver in Charleston, West Virginia.

Tom worked briefly for a corporate and defense law firm in Louisville, Kentucky...

Joseph Jachetti has a diverse civil litigation practice. His primary practice focuses in the area of personal injury claims, catastrophic injuries and wrongful death from automobile accidents, work-related injuries, products liability and general negligence. Prior to practicing law, Joe was an automobile insurance claims adjuster for 10 years. Therefore, he is exceptionally qualified in dealing with all types of insurance related personal injury claims.

Elizabeth Lewis graduated from the University of Delaware (B.A., 1978) and the Delaware Law School (J.D. 1988) before she came to work at Jacobs & Crumplar. She is a Director of the firm.
Liz is a member of the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association, where she serves on the Board of Governors. Liz’s practice areas include personal injury litigation, worker’s compensation and other toxic torts including environmental litigation.

Admitted to practice law in Delaware in 2011, Julie opened Murray Law LLC in early 2012 because she had a vision of a law practice that was based on constitutional principles and marked by personal service and a common-sense approach.

She introduced herself and her practice by doing a daily call-in on a local radio show. For eighteen months, she used the call-in time as an educational segment that focused on various aspects of the law and conducted many “schools” on topics such as the U.S. Constitution, the Delaware Courts, real estate, landlord/tenant law, traffic offenses, and estate planning.

In January 2015,...

Susan Ament is a partner at Morris James Personal Injury Group and works primarily out of the Broom Street office in Wilmington, DE. She also serves as Guardian Ad Litem attorney through the Office of the Child Advocate for the Family Court of Delaware.

Keith has spent his entire career litigating personal injury and insurance-related cases since 1991. During the first decade of his career he worked in Delaware focused on representing insurance companies and insureds in litigation. Starting in 2002 Keith started working with individuals injured by the negligence of others. He now exclusively handles these types of cases. Keith is a frequent speaker on personal injury insurance issues and on trial techniques and strategies. He is often selected by his peers to serve as an arbitrator and/or mediator.

Justin K. Weeks focuses on providing exceptional legal representation to individuals injured by the negligence of others in personal injury, and workers’ compensation matters. Throughout his legal career, Justin remains dedicated and committed to the goal of serving all Delawareans with integrity and dedication. Prior to joining Morris James, Justin served as a Deputy Attorney General for the Delaware Department of Justice. During that time, he prosecuted criminal misdemeanor offenses in the Court of Common Pleas for Kent and Sussex County. In this role, he gained valuable skills and a unique perspective on judicial proceedings. In the year 2003, Justin enlisted in...

JOSEPH J. RHOADES, ESQ. is the firm's founder. He received his education at the University of Delaware (B.A.A.S., 1976) and the Delaware Law School of Widener University (J.D., Magna Cum Laude 1981). He was a law clerk to The Honorable Henry R. Horsey, Supreme Court of the State of Delaware, from 1981 to 1982. He is a member of the American and Delaware State Bar Associations, the American Association for Justice and the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association. He is a Past President of the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association and a current member of the Association's Board of Governors. He is...

STEPHEN MORROW, ESQ.is a graduate of Milford High School and Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 2002, Steve earned his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from the New England School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts, where he served as executive managing editor for the New England Journal on Criminal and Civil Confinement and was active in moot court and mock trial programs. Steve is admitted to the bars of the State of Delaware and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He has practiced before the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. Steve is an active member of the Delaware Trial Lawyers...

Bill is an attorney practicing in the areas of personal injury and workers’ compensation. Bill spent over a decade defending insurance companies in personal injury lawsuits. During this time, Bill worked for a regional defense law firm and as staff counsel for one of the country’s largest insurance carriers. This experience has provided Bill with a keen insight on how insurance carriers value and defend claims that he now uses to provide excellent results for his clients. Prior to joining Pratcher Krayer, Bill was employed by another personal injury and workers’ compensation firm in Wilmington, Delaware where he represented...

GARY S. NITSCHE is the managing partner of the law firm of Nitsche & Fredricks LLC. He handles personal injury matters with an emphasis on motor vehicle accidents, work injuries, nursing home cases and premises liability cases. He has substantial litigation and trial experience and has tried approximately fifty jury trials. He has received numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. He has litigated some of the most significant and important personal injury cases and law changing decisions in the fields of personal injury uninsured motorist coverage and worker’s compensation. Gary has been regularly honored as a Super Lawyer seven...

Wilson A. Gualpa is an attorney in the Morris James personal injury practice, with experience representing clients in personal injury cases, including automobile accidents, premise liability cases, and workers’ compensation matters. Wilson advocates for his clients to ensure they are rightfully compensated and receive all the benefits they are entitled to through alternative dispute resolution and litigation. He is a bilingual attorney that can provide services in English and Spanish. Practice areas: • Áreas De Especialización • Car Accidents • Construction Accidents • Dog Bites / Attacks • Infant Formula Litigation • Injury Law • Mass Torts • Motorcycle Accidents • Negligent Security • Product Liability • Rideshare Accidents • Serious Injuries • Slip and Fall • Truck Accidents • Workers' Compensation • Wrongful Death wgualpa@morrisjames.com 302.651.3582

Lewis Lazarus focuses his practice on corporate governance and commercial matters in the Delaware Court of Chancery. He has been lead counsel in trials arising out of mergers and acquisitions, including cases involving the entire fairness standard of review, appraisal, books and records actions, actions to compel annual meetings, and actions to determine who rightfully are the managers of a Delaware entity. As a result of his knowledge and familiarity with these and related cases, Lewis often advises special committees and boards in conflict-of-interest transactions. He has counseled boards, companies, or special committees in conflict-of-interest transactions totaling over $7 billion...

Ms. Williams' practice focuses on Intellectual Property and General Business matters. She handles intellectual property prosecution, litigation, contracts, sales, and licensing. Additionally, Ms. Williams advises clients on general business issues including IP portfolio assessment and management. Utilizing her vast experience in the areas of risk management, business analytics, and due diligence, Ms. Williams works with emerging growth businesses counseling on risk reduction and capitalization. She provides unique legal counseling to businesses looking to establish and grow their intellectual property portfolios. Ms. Williams specializes in advising businesses on long-term and layered strategies for intellectual property protection; brand establishment and re-branding; and intellectual...

Brya Keilson is a Partner of Morris James LLP, Vice Chair of the Firm's Bankruptcy and Restructuring group. She counsels clients on commercial bankruptcy, restructuring, and insolvency matters. She represents Chapter 11 debtors, insurers in all facets of bankruptcy-related issues, creditors' committees, liquidating trustees, trade creditors, and financial institutions, purchasers of assets, and both plaintiffs and defendants in numerous avoidance actions, including preference and fraudulent transfer actions. Outside of bankruptcy, Brya represents receivers and assignees in assignments for the benefit of creditors. She represents corporate clients in asset purchase deals and banks in front-end lending and workouts. Brya has experience in...

Kimberly Hoffman uses her 20+ years of experience to serve as lead counsel in real estate, healthcare and government relations matters. She has assisted clients with strategic planning, legislation, documentation, and formal proceedings before courts, federal, state, and local agencies, including Congress. She is the only Delaware attorney recognized as a Top Lawyer by Delaware Today in the areas of both Zoning and Healthcare law. Kimberly represents a diverse group of businesses and high-net-worth individuals, including publicly traded companies, physician groups, health care IT providers, developers and construction companies, schools, telecommunications carriers, banks, churches, and investors. She project manages multifaceted legal...

John Newcomer practices in the areas of real estate and commercial litigation. His experience in these dual fields provides his clients with a rare perspective in dealing with complex real estate and business matters. Understanding the dynamics of litigation, and how it impacts his clients’ business strategies, gives John the ability to draft transactional documents with an eye towards avoiding problems before they arise. John chairs Morris James' Real Estate Group. In his real estate practice, he represents landowners and developers in the acquisition, improvement and financing of properties in Delaware, including hotels, medical and assisted living facilities, apartments, shopping centers...

Steven Medina is an associate at Grant & Eisenhofer where he focuses his practice on complex pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, medical malpractice, and environmental litigation. His experience extends to all phases of litigation, from initial consultation through trial. Prior to joining G&E, Mr. Medina represented both plaintiffs and defendants in catastrophic personal injury matters at several Philadelphia-based litigation firms. He has helped recover numerous multi-million dollar settlements and jury awards for clients.

Jeff Waxman represents debtors, official committees of unsecured creditors, official committees of equity holders, secured creditors, plan administrators, liquidating trustees, purchasers of assets, and a wide variety of creditor constituencies and interested parties in Chapter 11 cases. Jeff also represents Chapter 7 trustees, and plaintiffs, and defendants in bankruptcy-related preference and fraudulent transfer litigation. Prior to entering private practice, Jeff served as a law clerk to The Honorable Mary F. Walrath, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware, and to The Honorable Michael J. Kaplan, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of New York. Jeff co-chairs Morris James’ Small Businesses and Start-Ups Group which...

Jim Tobia began practicing law in Delaware in 1998, focusing on corporate and commercial litigation with Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. and later focusing on corporate litigation with Potter, Anderson & Corroon, LLP, two of Delaware's oldest firms and worldwide leaders in corporate governance and litigation. In between his time with those firms, Jim practiced with The Bayard Firm, P.A., (now Bayard P.A.), where, Jim also participated in litigation related to Bankrupt debtors, including prosecution of bankruptcy preference and avoidance actions, in addition to continuation of his corporate and commercial litigation practice. After forming the Law Office of James Tobia, LLC...

Xiaojuan Carrie Huang is an attorney licensed to practice in Delaware and Pennsylvania. She was born in China and lived, studied and worked in China prior to moving to the United States. She obtained a B.A. in law from Nanjing University and a JD from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. After graduation, she worked for the Law Office of Bruce Hudson (Hudson and Castle) focusing on litigation. Her current practice focuses on immigration, business formation, commercial litigation, and personal injury and medical malpractice. As a bilingual and bicultural lawyer trained in the U.S. and China, she has...

Doug Candeub has long and broad experience working to achieve effective outcomes for his clients in matters pertaining to bankruptcy, insolvency, and creditors’ rights. As a litigator, Doug represents business clients in both state and federal court, at the trial and appellate level, while as a business lawyer, he provides advice and representation to clients on business issues and disputes. Doug has represented a wide range of creditors as well as corporate and individual debtors, creditors' committees, purchasers of debtor assets, and chapter 7 trustees. Creditor representations have included prepetition lenders, trade creditors, landlords, homeowner associations, tort plaintiffs, construction...

Sindhu Daniel is a principal at Grant & Eisenhofer where she focuses on complex pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. Ms. Daniel has been handling pharmaceutical drug and device cases for over 20 years. Prior to G&E, Ms. Daniel was a Shareholder at a national plaintiffs’ law firm managing the Pharmaceutical Litigation Group. She has served in leadership on multiple MDLs, including the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the 3M Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation, the Elmiron MDL, the Talc and Proton Pump Inhibitor MDLs, the Gilead Tenofovir JCCP, and the Essure JCCP, which resulted in a $1.6 billion settlement in overall...

Samuel Bashman is a member of the Corporate and Commercial Litigation Group at Morris James LLP. He focuses his practice on corporate and complex commercial litigation for business entities formed under Delaware law. During law school, Samuel completed an externship at the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where he assisted in the investigation and litigation of civil cases in Manhattan's federal courthouse. Practice areas: • Business Torts • Contract Litigation • Corporate and Fiduciary Litigation • LLC, LP, Partnership Litigation sbashman@morrisjames.com 302.888.6890