Catherine S. Straggas
Phone:(215) 931-5835
Cell:(215) 512-8296
Email:cstraggas@margolisedelstein.com
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Catherine S. Straggas, a Massachusetts native, is a partner in the Philadelphia office who defends individuals and corporations in civil litigation.
Catherine has extensive litigation experience in Products Liability, Construction and Premise Liability and Lease and Contract Compliance in her representation of manufacturers, national and international retailers, contractors and commercial property owners. Her practice also includes professional liability, security and liquor liability. Catherine has particular expertise in defending accounting malpractice claims. She has represented accountants in actions involving allegations of fraud, misrepresentation and failing to follow applicable professional standards relating to attestation, tax, and consultation engagements.
Catherine also devotes her practice to defending municipalities in employment matters including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
As a member of the Harmonie Group and DRI, Catherine has lectured on risk assessment, evidence and Medicare compliance.
Catherine serves as a judge pro tempore and certified arbitrator for the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County.
Catherine is a Youth Aid Panel member in the 17th Police District of Philadelphia and teaches in the ACE program, a collaboration between the Philadelphia Bar Association and Philadelphia School District to integrate law with civics in elementary schools.
Before attending law school in Philadelphia, Catherine was a legislative assistant for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Post Office and Civil Service where she was responsible for drafting and analyzing legislation pertaining to health insurance, compensation, and pension benefits for federal and postal employees and served as a staff liaison to the Congressional Women’s Caucus.
Education:
- Temple University School of Law (J.D.)
- Wheaton College (B.A., cum laude)
Honors:
- AV Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated
- Harry R. Kozart Memorial Prize, Temple Law School
- Selected for Inclusion in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers
Bar Admissions:
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- Massachusetts
Court Admissions:
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
Professional Affiliations:
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
- Harmonie Group
News and Verdicts:
- Partner Catherine Straggas and Associate Emily Mahler Prevail at Trial in Race/Age Discrimination Lawsuit
- Summary Judgement Affirmed – Race Discrimination – Philadelphia Emily Mahler & Catherine Straggas
- Summary Judgment Granted on Employment Discrimination Lawsuit in Federal Court – Partner Catherine Straggas and Associate Emily Mahler Prevail on Summary Judgment in Race and National Origin Discrimination Case
- Motion to Dismiss Granted, in Part, on Employment Discrimination Lawsuit in Federal Court – Partner Catherine Straggas and Associate Emily Mahler Prevail, in Part, on Motion to Dismiss Title VII, ADEA, PHRA and 42 U.S.C. Sections 1983 and 1985(3) Discrimination Case
- Defense Verdict for Philadelphia Partner Catherine Straggas
Representative Matters:
- Summary judgment granted in favor of Philadelphia Development Corporation in US District Court for the Eastern District of PA in real property contract/civil rights action in Solanke v. PDC and City of Philadelphia.
- Dismissal granted in favor of real estate developer in Common Pleas of Philadelphia in real estate develop contract action Kostin v. US Realty, et al
- Dismissal granted in favor of regional development commission in Common Pleas of Delaware County in real property contract action in Moore v. Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, et al
- Summary Judgment obtained in favor of contractor in Common Pleas of Philadelphia in property damage dispute in Travelers v. R.M. Shoemaker
- Defense verdict in Common Pleas of Philadelphia County in Mazzola v. Spectacor and Joyner v. Spectacor
- Defense verdict in Common Pleas of Chester County in Dadario v. Keystone Property
- Along with associate Emily H. Mahler, obtained summary judgment in favor of Philadelphia Housing Authority in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of PA in Paradoa v. Philadelphia Housing Authority in an employment discrimination action.
