Michael J. Joyce

Mike has guided a variety of commercial clients across many industries through high-stakes disputes, including:

• A world leader in metal products and recycling in a multi-billion dollar intellectual property and trade secret dispute with another industry giant.
• A large construction contractor on claims related to alleged wage and hour pay violations related to a significant project in Western Pennsylvania.
• A large construction contractor on claims related to alleged wage and hour pay violations related to a significant project in Western Pennsylvania.
• Fraternity clients in wrongful death and other tort cases across the United States
• A large natural gas utility in emergency response and related issues following a pipeline explosion.
• A regional health system in sophisticated litigation regarding failed electronic health records and health system integration software.
• An energy sector client building a new power plant in Western Pennsylvania, which resulted in an injunction in favor of the client against interfering parties.
• A leading telecommunications company in various commercial and consumer disputes.
• Michael has also litigated several restrictive covenant and trade secret cases through injunction proceedings and further dispute processes.
  
   

Mike has worked with insurance industry clients in disputes in many forums, including arbitrations, state court, and federal court, including:

• The defense of a large insurer in federal litigation involving the lapse of an insurance policy with a value of over $6 million, which included allegations of insurer bad faith.
• The defense of a large insurer on a coverage dispute involving a health network's antitrust dispute with a major competitor.
• The representation of a title insurer in its investigation and prosecution of claims in a closing agent defalcation case.
• A number of larger insurance clients in various benefits disputes with insureds.
  
   

As a subset of his general insurance litigation practice, Mike represents clients in complex ERISA matters, including:

• The defense of an industry leading healthcare and insurance company regarding disability and related fiduciary duty claims under ERISA.
• A Western Pennsylvania energy company in disputes under its self-funded employee benefit plan.
• The defense of a pension/retirement committee in a $15 million breach of fiduciary duty claim brought by the U.S. Department of Labor under ERISA, which resulted in summary judgment for the committee.
  
   

Mike has represented a number of media industry clients in pre-litigation activities, and guided them through other litigation, including:

• A regional media company and newspaper in open records/government litigation, which resulted in an order requiring the disclosure of withheld information regarding a potential regional health crisis in Western Pennsylvania, and imposition of a record-setting, later affirmed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court sanctions award (including the reimbursement of attorneys' fees).
• A professional sports franchise in an open records/Right to Know Law dispute seeking significant financial information from the club.
• A television reality show producer facing allegations of invasion of privacy and related claims. The defense resulted in the pretrial dismissal of the case.
• A local advertising agency on a commercial construction dispute. 
• A regional newspaper facing allegations of defamation, which resulted in the early dismissal of the action.