Partner

Joseph W. Petka, Esq.

p. 267.291.0462  |  f. 215.735.1133

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania
New Jersey
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Education

Pennsylvania State University, B.S.
Widener University School of Law, J.D.

Overview

Joseph Petka is one of the most active trial attorneys in Philadelphia and its surrounding counties.  He concentrates his practice on defending general liability claims involving catastrophic injuries and medical professional liability cases. He has tried a wide range of cases representing health systems, physicians, practice groups, nurses, and companies sued for security negligence, slip and falls, assaults, construction defective design, medical failure to diagnose, patient falls, pressure ulcers, and dental malpractice. He has obtained countless defense verdicts in jury trials throughout Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester, Bucks, and Montgomery counties.  Fox 29 News recently profiled Joe’s successful verdict in a jury trial involving an assault and battery lawsuit. His attention to detail and thorough preparation is a hallmark of his successful representation of his clients.

Throughout his tenure at Goldberg, Miller & Rubin, Joe has also defended hundreds of motor vehicle cases. He was one of the first attorneys in the region to successfully defend a UIM/UM trial to verdict after the Supreme Court overturned the mandatory arbitration requirement in Koken. Since that time, he has obtained defense verdicts in more UIM/UM jury trials than almost any other Philadelphia civil defense attorney. VerdictSearch Magazine regularly features his trial victories.

Joe regularly serves as an arbitrator for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and has been a guest speaker for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. He has given presentations on premises liability defense, uninsured/underinsured motorist case strategy and trial practices, premises defense, and the anatomy of a civil lawsuit.

During law school, he worked for the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. Before that, he served as an infantryman in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and was an amateur boxing champion.

Joe is an avid fan of boxing and politics, enjoys exercise, and resides in Delaware County with his wife and three children.

Representative Matters

GMR Wins Philadelphia Trip and Fall Jury Trial Involving Major Philadelphia Health System

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GMR WINS PHILADELPHIA MEDICAL MALPRACTICE TRIAL WITH A $5 MILLION DEMAND

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GMR Partner Wins Hometown Trial in Pennsylvania

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GMR Successfully Defends Philadelphia Hospital’s Volunteer Program

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Slam Dunk Trial Results for GMR

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GMR Partner Wins his 9th Philadelphia Jury Trial this Year

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GMR Wins Philadelphia Jury Trial for University Involving Technician Falling off a Stool

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GMR Wins Federal Underinsured Motorist Trial with Allegation of Brain Injuries Due to Car Crash

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GMR Wins Philadelphia Jury Trial with Trivial Defect Argument

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GMR Wins Philadelphia Slip and Fall Jury Trial for Local Hospital

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GMR Wins Jury Trial for Local University in Philadelphia Elbow Fracture Premises Claim

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GMR Wins Defense Verdict for Hospital with Millions on the Line

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GMR Wins Philly Med-Mal Trial

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GMR Wins Alleged Neck Fracture Trial

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GMR Wins Trial Verdict in Hospital Case

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Joe Petka Obtains Early Dismissal in Medical Malpractice Claim

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Joe Petka Wins Big Victory for Local Hospital

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Joe Petka Wins Trial for Delaware County Hospital

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Joe Petka Obtains Back to Back Victories for Philadelphia Health System – Jury Trial Defense Verdict and Non-Suit

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Joe Petka Wins Brain Injury Trial for Philadelphia Hospital

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Joe Petka Obtains Jury Defense Verdict in Bucks County Pedestrian Shoulder Separation Case

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Who Says You Can’t Win Philadelphia Jury Trials?

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Joe Petka Wins Another Slip and Fall Trial for Local Hospital

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Joe Petka Obtains 2 Defense Verdicts in 2 Weeks

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Joe Petka Wins Another UIM Trial

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Joe Petka Obtains Factual Cause Defense Verdict in Philadelphia UIM Trial

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Joe Petka Wins Trial with $500,000 in Economic Damages at Stake

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Joe Petka Wins Spine Surgery Trial

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Joe Petka Obtains Three Defense Verdicts in One Trial

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Joe Petka Wins Philadelphia Full Tort Uninsured Motorist Trial

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Joe Petka Wins Femur Fracture Case

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Joe Petka Wins Philadelphia UIM Trial

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Joe Petka Nabs Another $0 Trial Verdict Despite Plaintiff’s Post-Accident Knee Surgery and Testimony by the Surgeon

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Joe Petka Obtains Defense Verdict in a Torn Rotator Cuff Case with a Quarter Million Dollar Demand

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Joe Petka Trial Results in $500 Pain and Suffering Award for Knee Surgery

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Joe Petka Obtains $0 Award in Bladder Surgery Case

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Joe Petka Obtains Defense Verdict in Case involving Four Surgeries

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Joe Petka Obtains Defense Verdict in Epidural Injection Case

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Joe Petka Wins Slip and Fall Case for Hospital

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Joe Petka Wins Broken Floor Case

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Jury Awards $853 in Surgery Case

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The 7 Minute Defense Verdict

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Joe Petka Obtains Defense Verdict in a PTSD Case

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Early Victory on Motion Paves the Way to a Trial Win for Joe Petka in Montgomery County, PA

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Joseph Petka Obtains Philadelphia Jury Trial Defense Verdict in Sidewalk Trip and Fall Case

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UIM Arbitration Defense Award in Disc Herniation Case

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Joseph Petka Obtains Defense Verdict in a Premises Liability Action

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Joseph Petka Obtains Favorable Award in Auto Trial

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GMR Partner Joseph Petka will present at a CLE hosted by the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel on December 19th.

The CLE will cover the successful approaches and best practices in pleadings, discovery, and trial. Minefields lurk in civil litigation, and it is imperative to know of them and avoid defense disasters.

To register for this CLE, members can email Sandra Berger at sberger.PADC@gmail.com. Non-members can register through the PADC website.  

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GMR Partners Joseph Petka and Harlan Schreiber will speak at conferences in early October.

Joe will present at the annual American Society for Health Care Risk Management (ASHRM) 2023 Conference on October 2nd. He will cover the nuances of investigating, defending, and trying hospital security officer assault cases and discuss a timeline of the facts and issues presented in a case that ultimately went to trial.

Harlan will present at the NYACT NYSSIU Anti-Fraud Fall Conference on October 6th. He will cover regulation 11 NYCRR 65-3.11(a) and independent contractor issues related to No-Fault regulations and case law.

Joe and Harlan are honored to be selected as speakers at their respective conferences and look forward to presenting.

 

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Attendees will hear from Lori, Joe and Jessica--attorneys with 40 + years of combined experience working closely with University Risk Managers on cases involving slip, trip and falls, snow and ice, assaults, fraternities, construction, fires, vendor relationships, contract and tender issues, and much more. The presentation will be loaded with real-life case examples illustrating practical tools and tips on how to prevent anything and everything from going wrong. The presentation will consist of two main subjects including the importance of early loss investigations with emphasis on speaking to key witnesses, gathering security and incident reports, preserving video surveillance, addressing letters of representation, putting parties on notice and much more. The second subject will be geared toward all-things vendor relationships including communication, contract provisions with an emphasis on insurance, indemnification and tender issues, loss reporting, record-keeping, and training.

 

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We are pleased to announce that Joseph Petka, Warren Holland and Dana M. Koos have been named partners in our Philadelphia and New York offices.

Joseph W. Petka Warren Holland Dana Koos


Joseph W. Petka

Mr. Petka is a veteran trial attorney who has obtained numerous jury trial defense verdicts throughout Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester and Montgomery Counties. He specializes in defending hospitals and nonprofit organizations in general/premises liability actions, UIM/UM carriers in contract actions and individual motorists in negligence actions.
Learn more.

Warren D. Holland

Mr. Holland serves as litigator and legal consultant in the Fraud Investigation and Affirmative Action department. He has extensive trial experience in several state and federal jurisdictions including Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey and over 50 defense verdicts. His practice has a unique focus in appellate law with notable favorable decisions that have helped shape law in the insurance defense arena.
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Dana M. Koos

Ms. Koos defends automotive negligence and other personal injury claims out of our New York office. Her practice focuses on investigating insurance and healthcare fraud cases. Her expertise in third-party and first-party/no fault litigation has been a contributing factor in her victories in countless arbitrations and at trial.
Learn more.

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Media

GMR Partner Joseph Petka to Present on “Avoiding Defense Disasters” at CLE

» Read Story

GMR Partners to Speak at Conferences in October

» Read Story

Lori Miller, Joe Petka and Jessica Smeriglio are set to present “Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late! Investigating Early, Preserving Evidence, Avoiding Horror Stories” at the University Risk Management and Insurance Association’s Conference on April 16

» Read Story

Three New Partners Named in New York and Philadelphia Offices

» Read Story