Attorney Profiles

Ralph P. Bocchino, recently elected a 2007 Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, is a graduate of LaSalle University. Following graduation from college, Ralph attended Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia in 1979. Upon graduation he clerked for the Honorable Alex Bonavitacola former President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County. While clerking for the judge he helped dispose of many civil matters and participated in a number of criminal and civil trials. He helped draft more than 50 opinions to the Superior and Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania.

Following his clerkship, Mr. Bocchino began his career with Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin in 1980. Also in 1980 Mr. Bocchino was appointed as an instructor at LaSalle University in seniors honors classes for business law, corporations, agencies and partnerships, and real estate. Mr. Bocchino was a lecturer for two years at LaSalle while working at the firm.

In 1980/81 Mr. Bocchino was assigned to the asbestos unit representing Johns Mansville Corporation. He was the youngest attorney in the country to successfully defend Johns Mansville in an asbestos case receiving a defense verdict in the case of Coger v. Johns Mansville Corporation, et al. And earning the distinguished "Order of the Salamander Award" for litigation excellence from Johns Mansville. It was also that year that he was selected as an honored member of America's Who's Who in Practicing Attorneys.

Thereafter, Mr. Bocchino has handled all types of products liability cases, premises liability, liquor liability, motor vehicle accidents including trucks, buses and all forms of transportation, and has represented a number of manufacturers and amusement parks.  He is currently the Chairman of the firm's Sports and Entertainment Department.

Mr. Bocchino, as Chairman of the firm's General Casualty Unit I, also litigates all casualty and professional claims.  He has represented a number of universities, schools, and institutions for claims brought against them of varying types including alleged sexual, physical and emotional abuse.

He has litigated defamation cases, legal malpractice and nursing home cases including sepsis and elopement.

He was the first attorney in Philadelphia in state court to have an "Azzarello" hearing at trial granted and had the products liability portions of the case dismissed before The Honorable C. Darnell Jones, II, in Schmanek v. McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing, et al.

Mr. Bocchino is a member of the American Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Pennsylvania Defense Institute, the Lawyers Club of Philadelphia and the Justinian Society.

He has been appointed as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Justinian Society/Foundation for Scholarships to law school.

Mr. Bocchino is a frequent speaker for the Continuing Legal Education of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and has spoken on various topics including but not limited to the art of deposition taking, the rules of civil procedure, and bad faith in Pennsylvania. In addition, Mr. Bocchino has spoken at the LaSalle Alumni Law Luncheon on topics such as releases, and the Uniform Contribution Among Joint Tortfeasors Act.

Mr. Bocchino has also provided lectures to the Young Lawyer's Association of Philadelphia on discovery techniques and trial techniques.