Brave Lawyers

My interest in medicine began because of my experience as a navy corpsman. After the navy I found that my training in the navy enabled me to find work in Pittsburgh Hospitals as a respiratory therapist. Then I continued my work as a respiratory therapist for seven years while completing my undergraduate education. I even worked summers as a respiratory therapist while in law school. I went to law school for the specific purpose of representing victims of medical malpractice. I began this crusade at a time when few lawyers handled medical malpractice cases in...

I have over 14 years of experience handling complex family law matters. In 2000, I graduated from Duquesne University School of Law. I have worked in private practice representing clients in a variety of civil and criminal matters. For two years, I clerked for a Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge. My experience as an appellate law clerk has enhanced my knowledge of the law and my understanding of the legal process. I opened my law offices in 2009. My law offices are conveniently located in the Southside of Pittsburgh within two (2) blocks of the...

Mr. Ernsberger was a founding partner of the law firm of Behrend and Ernsberger, and is now a shareholder in its successor, Behrend and Ernsberger, P.C. with offices in the City of Pittsburgh. Mr. Ernsberger has been engaged primarily in trial practice for twenty years, having in that time tried approximately 50 civil jury trials of various types and degrees of complexity and settled many others. The claims litigated include medical malpractice, RICO, ERISA, Fair Labor Standards Act, consumer protection, trademark infringement, patent infringement, patent mismarking, Federal False Claims, products liability, multi-unit construction contracts, employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, insurance fraud,...

Attorney Richard Thiele received his Bachelor’s Degree from Washington and Jefferson College and received his Doctoral Degree in Law from John Marshall Law School where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Attorney Thiele is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, District of Columbia, and Georgia. Attorney Thiele’s passion for the law and pursuit of legal justice for his clients over the years has resulted in a winning record that has cultivated continued representation, referrals and long lasting relationships from both his corporate and his individual clients alike. Attorney Thiele’s methodology is that every client should be treated as...

PATRICK M. LIVINGSTON is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the United States District for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He is a past chair of the of the Allegheny County Bar Association's Judiciary Committee, and is currently the CJA Panel Representative for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Erie County Bar Association's Roberts Scholarship Committee. He has been a sole...

Since 1976, Melvin L. Vatz has been faithfully providing legal counsel and guidance to clients. As a Pittsburgh lawyer, he handles a comprehensive range of cases. Whether you have been injured on the job, hurt in an accident, charged with a crime, or caught up in an employment law issue, Attorney Mel is there for you. He has tried cases in both federal and state courts and has taken on major appeals. With nearly 40 years of legal experience, Mel is the advocate you want in your corner. As a former Assistant District Attorney in Allegheny County, he brings a...