MacElree Harvey, Ltd.

Initiative in Practice

Tim Rayne

15 MacElree Harvey Attorneys Named to Prestigious 2020 Super Lawyers/Rising Stars List

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MacElree Harvey is pleased to announce the selection of 15 of its Pennsylvania attorneys to the prestigious list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers or Rising Stars.

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers operated by legal publisher Thompson Reuters which rates attorneys in more than 70 practice areas who attain a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Super Lawyers uses a patented multi-faceted selection process involving peer nominations, independent research regarding 12 indicators of professional achievement, peer evaluation by a Blue Ribbon Panel, and final selection.

Attorneys under age 40 or practicing less than 10 years are eligible for designation as Rising Stars and only 2.5 percent of eligible attorneys are selected.  In 2020, MacElree Harvey’s rising stars were:

  • Caroline Donato – Criminal Law
  • Lindsay Dunn – Land Use/Zoning
  • Brian Forgue – Business Litigation
  • Patrick Gallo – Business Litigation
  • Charles Gerbron – Land Use/Zoning
  • Kristen Matthews – Elder Law
  • Andrew Silverman – Business/Corporate Law

The Super Lawyers list is limited to only 5 percent of the eligible attorneys. MacElree Harvey’s 2020 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers were:

  • Joseph Bellinghieri – Estate and Probate
  • Robert Burke – Business Litigation
  • Harry DiDonato – Business/Corporate Law
  • William Gallagher – General Litigation
  • Brian Nagle –  Land Use/Zoning
  • Lance Nelson – Family Law
  • Tim Rayne – Personal Injury
  • Louis Teti – Estate and Probate

Harry DiDonato and Lance Nelson earned special designations in 2020 because they have been named as Super Lawyers for the last 10 years.

Tim Rayne was named as a Top 100 Super Lawyer in Pennsylvania.

“The firm is honored and humbled to have more of our attorneys named to the 2020 Super Lawyer/Rising Star list than any other Chester county-based law firm,”  said Firm CEO Michelle Foster.

What is Mediation?

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mediation process_MH

By Timothy F. Rayne, Esquire-

Mediation is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution, which means another way of resolving a legal controversy, like a Personal Injury Case, without negotiating a direct settlement with the other side or having a Jury Trial in Court.

In Mediation, the parties agree to use a neutral person, usually a senior or retired litigation attorney or Judge, to evaluate a case and try to help the parties reach a voluntary negotiated resolution.  Nobody is forced to settle and either party can end the Mediation process at any time.  The Mediator’s job is not to decide the case, but instead to help bring the parties to a negotiated settlement agreement.

The Mediation Process

The following is the usual step-by-step Process:

  • Pick a Mediator –  The parties need to choose someone who they both trust and respect.
  • Educate the Mediator – Each party submits detailed descriptions of the case to the Mediator including documents and evidence that are important to the case.
  • Attend the Mediation – The Mediation itself is usually a day or half-day and takes place at the Mediator’s office, one of the lawyers’ offices or some other neutral location.  The lawyers and clients are present and, in a Personal Injury case, a representative of the insurance company is either present or available by phone with authority to negotiate a settlement.
  • Joint Session –  The Mediation begins with a Joint Session where the Mediator explains the Process.  Often during the session, the lawyers will give Opening Remarks about the case.
  • Separate Sessions – After the Joint Session, the parties are sent to separate rooms and the Mediator travels between the two rooms discussing the merits of the case and working on negotiating a settlement.
  • Mediation Ending – A Mediation ends one of two ways, with a settlement or with one or both sides deciding that there cannot be a resolution.
  • After the Mediation –  It’s common for the Mediator to stay involved in unsettled cases after the date of the Mediation and to continue to work with the lawyers to attempt to guide them to a resolution.

The Benefits of Mediation

  • Saves time, stress and expense – Mediation can save litigation time, stress and expense.  It provides the opportunity to try to settle the case before the parties spend the time, effort, emotion and expense of trying the case in court.
  • Mediation is a Final Resolution – Mediation ends the case.  It avoids the delay involved in a trial and eliminates the possibility of an appeal because it’s a final resolution.
  • Get insight and opinions of an experienced expert – At the Mediation you will get the opinions and insight of the Mediator who is an experienced and wise lawyer.  The Mediator can evaluate the probability of each side winning the case as well as the fair value of the case.  Although both parties must be aware that the Mediator’s job is to settle the case so he/she is always working towards that end, the Mediator often provides valuable feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of the case.  This can help to settle the case or help us make the case stronger if it has to be taken to trial.

If your Personal Injury case cannot be settled directly with the defense, it is often advisable to consider the mediation process before taking a case to trial.  Unless it is clear that the case has a very low probability of settling, the benefits of mediation are usually worth the time, effort and cost.

Timothy F. Rayne, Personal Injury Attorney

Tim Rayne is a Personal Injury Lawyer with the Pennsylvania law firm MacElree Harvey.  Tim has law offices in Kennett Square and West Chester Pennsylvania.  For over 25 years, Tim has been helping injured victims of accidents receive fair compensation from insurance companies. To learn more about Tim’s practice, visit timraynelaw.com.

To schedule your free consultation, call (610) 840-0124, or email [email protected].

Ten Steps to Follow if You Are Involved in a Car Accident

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Car Accident ID 133041574 © Batuhan Toker | Dreamstime.com

By Tim Rayne, Esquire-

I am sure we can agree, car accidents are frightening, and maybe legal issues are not at the top of your mind during the first few minutes after the crash.  Nevertheless, as a Personal Injury attorney in Pennsylvania, I have found that your actions, starting right after the accident, can have a substantial impact on your legal rights.  For this reason, I have put together these ten steps to follow if you are involved in a car accident.

  1. Call the Police
    A police investigation and police report will help establish who was at fault for the car accident.  Insurance companies rely heavily on the police report when reaching their determinations of fault.  If the police do not investigate, determining who was at fault can become a battle between the two drivers.
  2. Preserve Evidence
    Do not move your car unless it is creating a dangerous situation or you are ordered to do so by the police.  If possible, take photographs of the scene of the accident and the vehicles.  Later, photograph any visible signs of injuries such as cuts, bruises, casts, braces, etc.
  3. Identify Witnesses
    Get names, addresses, and telephone numbers of any witnesses to the car accident.  Often, witnesses will try to leave the scene before the police arrive.  Encourage them to stay to provide a statement.
  4. Get the Other Driver’s Vital Information
    Be sure to get the other driver’s name, address, phone number, license plate number, car registration number, automobile insurance company name, and policy number.
  5. Seek Immediate Medical Attention
    If you have any pain after a car accident, it is advisable to get checked out at the Emergency Room or by your family doctor as soon as possible.
  6. Report the Car Accident to Your Automobile Insurance Company
    Your car insurance policy requires you to report accidents.  Be sure to call immediately.  You should be able to find a 24-hour 800 number on your car insurance policy.
  7. Be Careful Whom You Talk To
    You should not talk with anyone about how the accident occurred, other than the police and your insurance company.  Any statements you make can be used against you.  Avoid talking about the accident while you are medicated or in great pain.  Never talk to the other driver’s insurance adjuster or give a recorded statement without your personal injury attorney being present.  Your words can be twisted or misinterpreted.
  8. Locate an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
    The laws regarding car accident cases and car insurance are constantly changing.  You need an attorney experienced in personal injury cases to get proper representation.  You are best served by an attorney who regularly fights for clients against insurance companies and who is prepared to negotiate a resolution or, if necessary, to take your case to trial.
  9. Consult with an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney as Soon as Possible
    Depending on the accident and your injuries, you may not need to hire a personal injury attorney to represent you.  Nevertheless, you should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.  The car accident may require investigation before the scene changes or skid marks fade.  An expert reconstructionist may be needed.  Witnesses may need to be located and interviewed.  The cars may need to be preserved.  You should have an expert advise you on how to deal with both your insurance company and the insurance company for the other driver.
  10. Don’t Sign Anything
    Don’t sign anything without first getting the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney.  A private investigator may ask you to sign a statement.  The insurance adjuster may offer you a money settlement and ask you to sign a release of your claims.  You should not sign anything without reviewing it with your attorney.

Timothy F. Rayne, Personal Injury Attorney

Tim Rayne is a Personal Injury attorney with the Chester County law firm of MacElree Harvey.  Tim has offices in Kennett Square and West Chester, PA, and focuses his practice in helping injured victims of accidents.  Tim has extensive experience in settling and trying car accident, medical malpractice, and other injury cases.  To learn more about Tim’s practice, visit timraynelaw.com.

To schedule your free consultation, call (610) 840-0124, or email [email protected].

Super Lawyers Lists Tim Rayne Among Top 100 Attorneys in Pennsylvania

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Tim Rayne selected to 2019 Super Lawyers Top 100 Attorneys in Pennsylvania list

June 3, 2019 – MacElree Harvey, Ltd. is pleased to announce that Tim Rayne was included by Super Lawyers as one of the 2019 Top 100 Attorneys in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia.

The Top 100 lists are based on those attorneys who obtained the highest points totals in the 2019 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers multi-phase nomination, research, and review process.

Rayne, a Personal Injury attorney, has been selected to Super Lawyers since 2009 and included on the Top 100 lists since 2014.

“The team at MacElree Harvey consistently recognizes  Tim’s achievements in his practice at the firm,” said Michelle Foster, CEO. “To see him honored in this manner, by an outside rating service, and after such a rigorous review process, only highlights what we already know and we couldn’t be more pleased.”

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.  The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.

In total, the 2019 edition of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers recognized fourteen MacElree Harvey attorneys.

The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country.

Tim Rayne is an experienced Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice attorney. For over twenty years, Tim has been helping people injured in accidents understand their legal rights and receive fair compensation from insurance companies.

Visit Tim Rayne’s website to learn more about his practice.

3 MacElree Harvey, Ltd. lawyers named to The Best Lawyers in America© 2019

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MacElree Harvey, Ltd. is pleased to announce that 3 lawyers have been included in the 2019 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Best Lawyers 2019

Best Lawyers has published their list for over three decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in over 75 countries.

“Best Lawyers was founded in 1981 with the purpose of highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments of those in the legal profession. After three decades, we are proud to continue to serve as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals worldwide,” says CEO Phillip Greer.

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

MacElree Harvey, Ltd. would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to 2019 The Best Lawyers in America list:

About MacElree Harvey, Ltd.

Founded in 1880, MacElree Harvey is a full-service law firm serving Pennsylvania and Delaware. In addition to its broad-based litigation practices, the firm represents clients in corporate law, mergers & acquisitions, labor and employment, real estate, banking & finance, bankruptcy, family law, estate planning, tax law, personal injury and criminal defense.

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