Attorney Michael F. Schleigh Esq

Practice Areas

  • Insurance Defense
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Municipal Law
  • Governmental Liability
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Estate Planning & Litigation
  • Elder Law
  • Zoning Intellectual Property Litigation
  • Maritime Law

Education

  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey School of Law - Camden, Camden, New Jersey
    • J.D. - 2001
  • Temple University Beasley School of Law, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    • LL.M. - 2007
  • University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    • B.A. - 1998
    • Major: Poltitcal Science

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey, 2002
  • Pennsylvania, 2001
  • New York, 2021
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit

Professional Associations

  • New Jersey Bar Association, Member
  • Camden County Bar Association, Member
  • Philadelphis Bar Associations, Member

Biography

Michael F. Schleigh ("Mike") received his Bachelor of Arts in Political science from the University of Pennsylvania in 1998. Thereafter he obtained his Juris Doctorate from the Rutgers University School of Law in Camden, where he served as President of his class in 2001. Seeking to hone his trial skills, he went on to earn a Masters of Laws Degree (LLM) from Temple University's Beasley School of Law. Mike is the author of various articles featured in the American Bar Association Journal and the Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer on civil litigation issues and is frequent lecturer for the National Business Institute.

Michael interned with the late Honorable Myrna Field of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and clerked for the late Honorable William J. Cook of the Superior Court of Camden, New Jersey. In both position he honed legal research and writing skills in drafting judicial opinions that were upheld by higher courts.

Before joining Hardin Thompson, PC, Mike worked for various litigation firms in his career and developed expertise in admiralty, transportation law, defense of personal injury and death cases under Jones Act and state law, insurance coverage litigation, bad- faith defense, dram shop cases, general liability, products liability, commercial litigation, creditors' rights, estate litigation and will challenges, bankruptcy litigation, foreclosure and nursing home litigation.

Mike has served as first or second chair in various trial in a wide variety of litigation areas, including Lanham Act/trademark, auto accidents, premises liability, nursing home litigation, amd construction litigation. He has handled hundreds of arbitration matters.

Mike has extensive experience handling a variety of maritime and transportation cases, including the arrest/attachment of vessels, defense of wrongful death, injury, cargo damage, casualty investigations and collision cases.

Mike has been appointed Solicitor for the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging, an older adult protective service agency as well as the Fair Acres Geriatric Center, a skilled nursing facility operated by the County of Delaware. Mike represents professional guardians appointed by the Courts to manage the affairs of disabled persons and has litigated important end of life cases. This experience informs his estate planning and estate administration practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey where he has probated wills and engaged in litigation before Orphans Courts in a five-county area.

Mike is politically active at the local and state level, and has served as a Municipal Solicitor for several suburban towns, and was the President of the Council for his home town of Lansdowne, PA. As a result of the knowledge and connections fostered in these government affairs, Mike has a unique perspective which is invaluable when dealing with government agencies on behalf of our clients. Mike has also acted as a zoning Solicitor.

Mike is a certified Mediator from his time clerking for the Superior Court of New Jersey, and has served as an arbitrator for the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia. He has served as a Judge Pro tem (Settlement Master) for the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, and is available to help you settle your matter as a neutral mediator or arbitrator.

Mike lives in Lansdowne, Delaware County, Pennsylvania where he volunteers for his daughter's girl scout troop.

Published Works

  • SHADOWS. LIGHT AND THE LAW, 34 P.L.W. 421 (May 9, 2011)(Regarding assumption of the risk in premises liability suit depending on lighting conditions)
  • WHAT SIGNING AT THE ‘X ‘REALLY MEANS, Exculpatory Clauses are Disfavored by Courts, But They Often Provide Ski Resorts with an Out, 34 PLW 172 (Feb. 22, 2011)
  • A PLAINTIFF’S UPHILL BATTLE – LIABILITY CLAIMS DIFFICULT TO LEVY AGAINST SKI RESORTS IN DOWNHILL SKIING, SNOWBOARDING AND SNOWTUBING ACCIDENTS, 34 PLW 124 (Feb. 8, 2011)
  • DRI Products Liability Case Law Update (2011), Contributing Author Third Circuit Chapter
  • OWNING UP TO ATTORNEY FAILURES: THE NEED TO DISCLOSE POTENTIAL LIABILITIES WHEN APPLYING FOR MALPRACTICE POLICIES, The Brief, ABA Tort Trial Section (Winter 2010)
  • DRI Governmental and Sovereign Immunity Update – Pennsylvania Chapter (2008), with Harry G. Mahoney, Esquire

Representative Cases

  • Newman-Lockwood v. Arnce, et al. Burlington Cty., NJ 2023; Successful grant of Summary Judgment in Dramshop Case
  • Karen Kay Buckley v. Universal Sewing Inc., M.D.Pa. 2023; Successfully negotiated resolution of Lanham Act/ Trademark/Trade dress claims
  • Atlantic Power & Electric Company v/ Safer Tug & Barge, D.N.J. 2021; Successful arrest and auction of tug Big Jake to satisfy mechanic’s lien in maritime matter
  • Eclipse Liquidity v. Geden Holdings, et al. Pa Super. 2020; Legitimacy of Foreign Judgment of United Kingdom domesticated in Pennsylvania upheld on appeal
  • Barnes v. Alcoa, Inc. Et al, Phila. CCP 014; Tried case against Robert Mongeluzzi, Esquire with verdict returned for less that uncontested economic damages in leg amputation premises liability snow removal case
  • Laff v. Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg, Dauph. Cnty 2012; Tried case to verdict with partial no cause and partial minimal damages verdict in nursing home neglect case brought by Reuben Krisztal of Wi;kes McHugh on behalf of family where Plaintiff was former Secretary of Health of Pennsylvania
  • Murphy v. Saliyev, et al. Bucks Co. 2008; Obtained Summary Judgment on behalf of Parents Without Partners in premises liability case under total darkness doctrine of assumption of the risk, upheld on appeal
  • Acumed, LLC v. Advance Surgical Services, LLC, E.D.Pa. 2008; Served as second chair in defense of Lanham Act, Unfair Trade Practices Matter; All Post-trial motions filed in matter were based of reversal by Third Circuit of entire improper verdict
  • Anderson v. Bear Creek Mountain Real Estate, et al. Pa. Super. 2008; Grant of Summary Judgment on Downhill Skiing statute and assumption of the risk defense upheld on appeal
  • Cordisco Bradway & Simmons v. Gulf Ins. Et al, Phila. CCP 2008; Summary Judgment granted in professional liability insurance matter for failing to disclose material prior negligence on claims made policy application with underlying legal malpractice matter

Past Positions

  • Honorable Willilam J. Cook, Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Camden County, Judicial Law Clerk
  • Brown & Connery, 2002 to 2006
  • Law Offices of Bruce Neff , 2004 to 2006
  • Law Offices of Bruce Neff, 2004 to 2006