In a hard-fought courtroom battle, GMR Partner Joe Petka achieved a decisive defense verdict on behalf of a leading Greater Philadelphia health system.
The plaintiff, a 47-year-old EMT and small business owner, alleged that hospital security officers used excessive force during a highly charged incident in April 2023. He claimed the encounter caused a massive rotator cuff tear requiring surgical repair and sought $1.5 million in damages for pain, suffering, and alleged loss of earning capacity.
Over the course of a week-long trial, Mr. Petka methodically dismantled the plaintiff’s claims—exposing inconsistencies in testimony, emphasizing the professionalism of hospital personnel, and illustrating the rapid, high-stakes environment in which security was called to act. The defense demonstrated that hospital staff responded appropriately and in accordance with policy amid a chaotic medical emergency.
After several days of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the hospital, rejecting all of the plaintiff’s allegations.
“This was a very emotional case with serious allegations,” said one courtroom observer. “Joe’s cross-examinations and command of the facts were masterful—a textbook example of how to win a difficult trial.”
This matter was Mr. Petka’s 7th Philadelphia Jury Trial defense verdict in 2025.
