Adam M. Shienvold

Overview

Adam Shienvold focuses his practice on civil litigation and dispute resolution, with emphasis on commercial and business litigation; regulatory, administrative, and municipal litigation; product liability litigation, and personal injury defense.  Adam also utilizes his more than 25 years of experience practicing in Central Pennsylvania and his involvement in the community as local counsel for matters pending in federal, state, and bankruptcy courts. Adam has been appointed as an arbitrator by the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas to arbitrate civil cases.

Representative Matters

Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution

• Obtained complete dismissal of antitrust claims against Pennsylvania County relating to provision of telecommunications services in county jail, affirmed by Third Circuit.
• Prevailed before PA Supreme Court on behalf of a consortium of Pennsylvania gaming clients in a lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Lottery challenging the interpretation of the digital gaming and iLottery law (Act 42 of 2016).
• Obtained multi-million-dollar verdict as lead trial counsel for a civil RICO case in the Southern District of New York by sponsor of a REIT against former partner.
• Local counsel to financial services firm in consumer class action in Middle District of Pennsylvania.
• Successfully defended major mortgage lender in predatory lending and RICO action in northeastern Pennsylvania.
• Successfully obtained judgment in excess of $500,000 against individual business owner for commercial seller of building products relating to consignment sale where defendant sold business and all assets, including consigned goods.
• Obtained summary judgment in a shareholder derivative action by disgruntled shareholder alleging improper transfer of voting rights and waste.
• Obtained preliminary injunction order in non-competition case involving sale of business assets and subsequent competitive conduct by minority shareholder.
• Obtained preliminary and permanent injunction in trademark infringement and non-competition action against terminated franchisees on behalf of a national service company.
• Successfully navigated dispute resolution between large nonprofit foundation and its affiliated public university.
• Co-counsel with Bridget Montgomery on successful defense of nationwide class action against an international vehicle rental company.
• Represent lenders and servicers in contested foreclosure litigation.

Product Liability and Defense Litigation

• Obtained dismissal on behalf of medical equipment manufacturer of claims of product defect and breach of warranty.
• Local Liaison Counsel for medical device multi-district litigation in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
• Represent multiple medical device manufacturers for product liability and injury claims in Pennsylvania state and federal courts.
• Represent major motorcycle manufacturer for product liability and injury claims in Pennsylvania state and federal courts.
• Pennsylvania counsel for international agricultural, construction, and forestry equipment manufacturer.
• Pennsylvania counsel for commercial kitchen equipment manufacturer.
• Obtained defense verdict in construction site injury case against manufacturing client by successfully proving plaintiff’s own negligence caused injuries.
• Successfully defended railroad maintenance machine manufacturer against product design defect claims where railroad worker traumatically amputated part of hand and alleged insufficient guarding by proving misuse by worker and railroad employer.
• Successfully defended industrial abrasive manufacturer against product liability claims involving sudden failure of grinding stone resulting injuries to two workers by proving misuse by user.
• Successfully defended personal care company against product liability claims involving consumer packaging and warnings.
• Successfully defended consumer goods company against product liability claims that product malfunctioned and caused fire that destroyed home and injured plaintiff and her children.
• Successfully defended industrial services client in commercial truck accident involving allegations of improper loading of cargo (settled for insignificant sum).
• Defended manufacturing client in industrial accident case involving allegations of improper transfer and handling of bulk liquid chemicals (settled for confidential sum).
• Defended manufacturing client in industrial accident case involving injury to independent contractor in energized machinery (settled during trial for confidential sum).
• Defended railroad equipment manufacturer in wildfire litigation in pacific northwest.
• Successfully mediated wrongful death case involving derailment of railroad maintenance of way equipment.

Administrative and Municipal Litigation

• Led multidisciplinary team on successful consolidation of Pennsylvania municipalities under the Municipal Consolidation and Mergers Act.
• Handled and successfully resolved inter-municipal litigation relating to agreements for handling and treatment of wastewater.
• Successfully defended civil rights action against civilian alleged to have conspired with local police (defense judgment with attorneys’ fees awarded on appeal).
• Has successfully represented builders, developers, and landowners in municipal and local land use litigation.
• Have successfully represented businesses and professional licensees before state administrative agencies and licensing boards, including the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, State Ethics Commission, Pennsylvania Securities Commission, State Insurance Department, State Board of Nursing, State Board of Medicine, State Board of Veterinary Medicine, State Board of Accountancy, State Board of Education, State Board of Architects, Department of Labor and Industry, and Bureau of Commissions, Elections, and Legislation.
• Represent municipalities and municipal authorities in civil litigation, including inter-municipal disputes, disputes with contractors, and with federal and state agencies.
• Represented Borough in successful delay claim against contractor on public works project, resulting in significant settlement for the Borough.
• Represent municipality authority in delay claim against contractor on public works project.
• Represent developers in disputes with local municipalities and municipality authorities.