Ralph G. Wellington

Practice Details

• Firm Information
  Position

  Partner

  Firm Name

  Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP
• Representative Cases & Transactions
  Cases

  REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS: Alternative Dispute Resolution Experience: Has served as an arbitrator or mediator in numerous complex disputes, including the following representative matters: Dispute between a former partner of a prominent law firm
  his former firm over substantial fees to be paid from various class action lawsuits.
  Dispute among several major insurance companies
  a corporate insured arising from decades of liability claims. Issues included stacking, policy interpretation, exhaustion
  allocation.
  Multi-million dollar software contract dispute among three companies.
  Dispute between two law firms over proper allocation of fees from major contingency case.
  Claims of sexual discrimination
  wrongful termination by a former attorney in a law firm.
  Has served as counsel in multiple ADR matters, including: Dispute among several nationally prominent class action law firms over division of very substantial fees from a major settlement. Ultimately resolved during mediation process.
  Arbitration between two companies over liability for environmental contamination. Case required several weeks of evidentiary hearings
  argument.
  Multiple mediations arising from accidents resulting in deaths
  serious injuries.
  Litigation Experience: Four decades of experience as a civil trial
  appellate lawyer. Areas of trial focus have included significant corporate
  business disputes
  class actions
  securities
  trust
  estate court matters
  aviation
  railroad law
  professional ethics
  product liability
  environmental
  contract
  common law claims.
  Representative subject areas include: Class Actions: Lead counsel for chemical company in defeating medical
  property damage class action brought on behalf of all residents of a nearby town.
  Lead counsel for railroads in defeating medical
  property damage class actions brought on behalf of all persons
  businesses residing near a train chemical car derailment.
  Lead counsel for construction company in a multi-billion dollar claim alleging fraud in the sale of bonds to fund a nuclear plant project.
  Other cases include: Antitrust cases involving allegations of price fixing.
  Insurance practices, including voluntary market premiums.
  Disclosure issues under the Federal securities laws.
  Municipal bond defaults.
  Adequacy of notice given to class members.
  Appellate Matters: Argument before the U.S. Supreme Court obtaining reversal of two Circuit Courts of Appeals decisions,
  clarifying the law of job-related emotional distress claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act.
  Argument before the Delaware Supreme Court, obtaining reversal for clients involving a matter of first impression as to whether there was insurance coverage for a settlement under the False Claims Act.
  Argument before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, confirming that a tenured professor, dismissed for charges of sexual harassment, had been provided due process by the college.
  Argument before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, confirming that qualified judicial immunity or qualified immunity protected Board members from personal suit
  liability.
  Before multiple state appellate courts as special appellate counsel.
  Aviation: Lead trial counsel for the engine manufacturer of the developmental V-22 Osprey aircraft following a crash in the Potomac River, resulting in a defense verdict.
  Lead trial counsel for the corporate owner of a helicopter involved in a mid-air collision with a fixed-wing aircraft resulting in multiple death
  injury claims.
  Lead trial counsel in numerous cases involving general aviation aircraft
  their engine
  component part manufacturers.
  Internal Investigations: Conducted internal investigation of a Fortune 100 company concerning Board authorized expenditures directed to a public official.
  Examined the financial activity of senior executives of an international company amid accusations of inappropriate use of corporate funds.
  Other Matters: Lead counsel for the Barnes Foundation in its successful, multi-year effort to amend the original indenture
  obtain court permission to create a new art education center in Philadelphia.
  Counsel for financial institutions in several matters where fiduciary responsibilities were alleged to have been breached.
  Lead counsel for a major railroad in a multi-week arbitration involving a construction overrun
  delay claim involving the installation of 2, 000 miles of fiber-optic cable.
  Has testified as an expert witness on the propriety of legal services rendered by law firms.
  Professional Dispute Resolution Training: Has attended numerous training sessions including: AAA, Effective Advocacy
  Management in Arbitration
  AAA Enough Already! Striking the Right Balance of Discovery in Arbitration
  AAA Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards
  AAA Arbitration Fundamentals
  Best Practices for New AAA Arbitrators
  AAA Arbitration Performance
  Demeanor: Meeting Participant Expectations
  CPR, Annual Meetings
  CPR Spring Meeting