Carol is a member of the Appellate Advocacy and Post-Trial Practice Group in the Professional Liability Department. She focuses her practice on drafting concise, forceful briefs and delivering persuasive oral arguments in state and federal trial and appellate courts. Carol handles appeals across a wide range of subject areas which include, among others, products liability, toxic torts, medical malpractice, insurance coverage, civil rights, professional liability and premises liability. As part of her practice, Carol regularly handles emergency matters which arise throughout the course of litigation and assists trial counsel with development of legal strategies, preparation of pre-trial motions, trial briefs, and post-trial motions. She also performs appellate monitoring of high-exposure trials to assist trial counsel in preserving issues for appeal. This assistance includes handling and arguing legal issues before the trial court so trial counsel can focus on witnesses and the presentation of evidence.
In addition to her practice, Carol is actively involved in Pennsylvania defense organizations and informing members of the defense bar about notable legal developments. Currently, Carol serves as co-editor of Counterpoint, the well-regarded magazine of the Pennsylvania Defense Institute. She has also hosted statewide teleconferences of defense counsel regarding new legal developments.
Prior to joining Marshall Dennehey in 2005, Carol worked for five years as a staff attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit where she drafted memoranda of law and opinions on a variety of subjects including civil rights, employment, bankruptcy, immigration, securities and tax law.
Carol graduated from California State University, San Marcos, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. She subsequently attended American University, Washington College of Law, where she obtained her juris doctor, cum laude, in 2001. While attending law school, Carol taught legal research and writing and served as a member of the American University Law Review.
Year joined
2005
Results
Summary Judgment Secured in a Case Involving a Trampoline Park Injury
Amusements, Sports & Recreation Liability
October 22, 2025
We obtained summary judgment in a lawsuit arising from an injury suffered at an indoor trampoline park. During the deposition, the plaintiff admitted that there are inherent risks of engaging in trampoline activities, including the risk of being injured. Under the no-duty rule, a defendant owes no duty of care to warn, protect, or insure against risks which are common, frequent, expected and inherent in an activity. In the motion for summary judgment, it was argued that a trampoline park has no duty to protect patrons from the inherent risks of injury when jumping from a trampoline.
Trial Court’s Denial of Motions Reversed Before the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
Trucking & Transportation Liability
October 22, 2025
We convinced the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania to reverse the trial court’s denial of motions for post-trial relief and to direct entry of judgment notwithstanding the verdict in favor of our client. The plaintiff was injured while standing unsupported on a moving bus. He lost his balance when the bus accelerated away from a bus stop, grabbed an overhead bar to keep from falling, and injured his arm. The video showed that only the plaintiff lost his balance when the bus started moving.
One Month - 4 outstanding results! Aaron Moore obtained four successful results on behalf of clients in the span of one month.
Lawyers' Professional Liability
Commercial Litigation
Real Estate E&O Liability
October 16, 2025
Defense verdict on behalf of a real estate broker and agent. The plaintiffs, homebuyers, claimed that the sellers’ broker and agent were liable to them for the value of fixtures that were taken by the sellers when they vacated the property, which were alleged to have been included in the sale. At a bench trial, the judge determined that neither the broker nor the agent could be held liable to the plaintiffs because the representations regarding what was included in the sale were made by the sellers.
MD Successfully Defends Low Verdict Against Insurance Broker that Plaintiff Challenged on Appeal
Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability
April 10, 2025
In a case where an insurance broker faced claims of professional negligence, Carol VanderWoude (Philadelphia) successfully defended the plaintiff’s appeal from a verdict obtained by Tim Ventura and Dana Gittleman (Philadelphia). The verdict against our client, an independent insurance broker, was well below the lost value of UIM coverage (i.e., $1 million), which the plaintiff sought to recover based on an alleged breach of the professional standard of care in failing to procure an endorsement for $ 1 million in UIM coverage on the plaintiff’s decedent’s commercial auto policy.
Successfully Defended Appeal in Legal Malpractice Action
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
Lawyers' Professional Liability
October 9, 2024
We successfully defended on appeal the trial court’s grant of compulsory nonsuit in a legal malpractice action following the trial court’s rulings on various motions in limine. The trial court granted our clients’ motions in limine to preclude the plaintiff from introducing into evidence that its attorney sued the wrong parties, that its attorney obtained an uncollectable judgment, and that the plaintiff would have prevailed in a lawsuit against other parties.
Thought Leadership
Statute of Limitations Stands: Pennsylvania Court Affirms Dismissal of Breach of Contract Claim Against Insurance Broker
Philadelphia - Headquarters
Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
March 4, 2025
Marshall Dennehey Named 2024 Litigation Department of the Year for Appellate Law By ALM’s Pennsylvania Legal Awards
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
March 15, 2024
Marshall Dennehey was awarded with the 2024 Litigation Department of the Year for Appellate Law by ALM’s prestigious Pennsylvania Legal Awards.
Legal Updates for Toxic Torts Litigation - March 2019
Philadelphia - Headquarters
Wilmington
Environmental & Toxic Tort Litigation
Asbestos & Mass Tort Litigation
March 19, 2019
Edited by Timothy D. Rau, Esq. The material in this law alert has been prepared for our readers by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.
