John P. Gismondi

Trial attorney, ……bar association president, ……….law school professor

These titles reflect the different aspects of John P. Gismondi’s distinguished legal career, a career marked by service to his clients, the legal profession, and the lawyers of tomorrow.
A native of Uniontown, PA, Mr. Gismondi graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with highest honors in 1975 and from its School of Law in 1978 where he was a member of the Law Review.
After serving as a law clerk in federal district court, Mr. Gismondi entered private practice in 1981 and has limited his practice to one area of the law —- helping victims and their families in personal injury litigation related to medical mistakes, car/truck or airplane accidents, unsafe work conditions, and a variety of other circumstances.

A frequent interview guest on local television, Mr. Gismondi’s cases have been
featured nationally on the ABC Evening News, Good Morning America,
20/20, The O’Reilly Factor, CNN, and in People Magazine.

The nation’s most-recognized reference source on lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, gives Mr. Gismondi an A/V rating, which is their highest rating for both legal ability and personal qualities such as reliability, diligence and honesty. He has been named a Pennsylvania “Super Lawyer” and is listed in “Best Lawyers in America.” In 2013, “The Legal Intelligencer,” the nation’s oldest legal journal, honored him as the only Pittsburgh area attorney to receive its “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his impact on the legal profession in Pennsylvania.

Attorney Gismondi has been chosen by his peers for many leadership positions, including President of the 7,000-member Allegheny County Bar Association, President of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, and President of the Pa. Trial Lawyers Association, Western Pa. Chapter. Mr. Gismondi is the past Chairman of the Medical Malpractice Section of the Pa. Association for Justice, and he is also an invited member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the nation’s most prestigious group of courtroom attorneys.
Mr. Gismondi is one of the state’s best-known speakers at conferences designed to teach lawyers or judges about personal injury law and courtroom practice. He has been invited to speak at well over 200 such events throughout Pennsylvania.

In addition to his practice of law, Mr. Gismondi is actively involved at the University of Pittsburgh. Since 1985 he has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law teaching a course entitled Trial Advocacy. In 2003, the Law School established the “John P. Gismondi Civil Litigation Certificate Program,” a unique curriculum designed to provide special training to law students who wish to become courtroom attorneys. In 2008, the Law School named Mr. Gismondi as the recipient of its “Distinguished Alumnus” award. In 2012, The University at large named him a “Legacy Laureate,” a select honor reserved for only its most prominent graduates. He currently serves on the University’s Board of Tr

1978—admitted to all state and federal courts in Pennsylvania

EDUCATION:
Legal: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, SCHOOL OF LAW, J.D. 1978
Member, Law Review , Published Article: “The Press and Juvenile Delinquency Hearings: A
Contextual Analysis of the Unrefined First Amendment Right of Access,” 39 Pittsburgh Law Review
121. (1977)

Undergraduate: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, B.A. 1975 (magna cum laude)

1987-Present – Gismondi & Associates

1981-1987 – Gilardi, Cooper & Gismondi, P.A.

1978-1981 – Law Clerk – Judge Gustave Diamond
(United States District Court, WD Pa..)

PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS:
President, Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, 2012
President, Allegheny County Bar Association, 1996
President, Pa. Trial Lawyers Assoc., Western Pa., 1998-1988
Chairman, Trial Advocacy Foundation of Pa., 1987-1990
Chairman, Medical Malpractice Section, Pa. Trial Lawyers, 1998-2015
American College of Trial Lawyers, Pa. Committee

AWARDS:
“Public Service Award” – Pa. Trial Lawyers Assoc., 2021
“Change Through Service Award” – Catholic Charities of Pgh., 2019
“Distinguished Service Award” – Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2018
“Public Service Award” – Univ. of Pgh. Alumni Assoc., 2017
“Presidential Merit Award – Allegheny County Bar Foundation, 2017
“Lifetime Achievement Award” – Legal Intelligencer, 2013
(the only attorney from Western Pennsylvania ever so honored)
“Legacy Laureate” – University of Pittsburgh, 2012
“Professionalism Award” – Allegheny County Bar Assoc., 2009
“Distinguished Alumnus”– Univ. of Pgh. School of Law, 2008
“Legal Person of the Year” – Israel Bonds Corporation, 2005

See above

A frequent interview guest on local television, Mr. Gismondi’s cases have been
featured nationally on the ABC Evening News, Good Morning America,
20/20, The O’Reilly Factor, CNN, and in People Magazine.

Countless multi million dollar settlements and verdicts throughout Pennsylvania.

See above

Mr. Gismondi is one of the state’s best-known speakers at conferences designed to teach lawyers or judges about personal injury law and courtroom practice. He has been invited to speak at well over 200 such events throughout Pennsylvania.

PUBLICATIONS:

• “Joint Tortfeasor Releases: Confusion Reigns,” PA Law Journal Reporter, Vol. XII, No. 21 (May 29, 1989).

• “Structured Settlements Safer Thanks to Changes by IRS” – PA Law Journal Reporter, May 21, 1990.

• “Diminished Earning Capacity: What Evidence Establishes the Claim,” PBA Practice Bulletin No. 25, January, 1991.

• “Comparative Fault, the Dilemma Posed in Negligence 402A Cases,” 142 Pittsburgh Legal Journal 5.

• “Settling Personal Injury Claims for Minors, Decedents and Incompetents,” ACBA Course Book, April 1994.

• “Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress: What Must You Prove?” The Barrister, Summer 1994, p. 15

• “Joint Tortfeasor Releases: Practical Answers to Practical Questions,” PBA Practice Bulletin, 1995.

• “Evidence Law: Comparing Pennsylvania Law to the Federal Rules of Evidence.” The Barrister, Spring 1995, p. 35.

• “O.J. Simpson/J.F.K.: Lessons to be Learned,” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, October 13, 1995.

• “Direct Examination of the Expert Witness: Ten Basic Rules,” PBA Practice Bulletin No. 35, Circulated July 1996.

• “Court Suspends Much of New Medical Malpractice Bill,” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, February 1997.

• “The New Medical Malpractice Law: Summary and Analysis,” The Barrister, Spring 1997, p. 29.

• “Proposed Rule of Evidence 702: Can You Prove the Earth is Round?” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, June 11, 1997.

• “The Two Disease Rule: A Double-Edged Sword,” Pennsylvania Law Weekly, September 29, 1997.

• “Archie Cox: Public Servant, Private Man,” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, November 1997.

• “Using A Learned Treatise At Trial,” The Lawyers Journal, May 21, 1999.

• “Prior Inconsistent Statements Under PA Law, A Lesson in Substantive Evidence vs. Impeachment,” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, November 17, 1999.

• “Prior Inconsistent Statements Under Pennsylvania Law,” The Lawyers Journal, November 19, 1999.

• “The Superior Court’s Expansion of Informed Consent: A Look At Duttry v. Patterson,” Pennsylvania Law Weekly, Vol. XXII, No. 50, December 13, 1999.

• “Joint Tortfeasor Releases: Is There Change in the Wind?” Pennsylvania Law Weekly, Vol.XXIII, No. 37, September 11, 2000.

• “Screening and Investigation of Medical Malpractice Cases,” PaTLA Course Book, 2000.

• “The Treating Physician: What Information Can the Defense Get?” Pennsylvania Law Weekly, Vol. XXIV, No.43, October 22, 2001.

• “The New Joint and Several Law – Impact on Joint Tortfeasor Releases.” PaTLA News, May 2003.

• “Periodic Payment Rule: Problems, Problems, Problems.” Pennsylvania Law Weekly, Vol. XXVIII, No. 22, June 6, 2005.

• “Periodic Payment Rule Introduces New Challenges to Medical Malpractice,” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, August 5, 2005.

• “Prohibition on Expert Communications Discovery Makes Sense.” Pennsylvania Law Weekly, Vol. XXXVI, No.577, June 24, 2014.

• “Raising the Retirement Age for Judges Is a Good Idea,” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, April 15, 2016.

• “Know the Key Regulations Regarding Truck Accidents,” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, January 4, 2019.

• “The Difference Between NTSB and State Police Investigations,” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, January 31, 2020.

• “Hearsay Exception for Business Records,” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, November 18, 2022.

• “Does Frye Transfer Too Much Power to the Trial Judge?” The Pennsylvania Lawyer, March/April 2024.

LEGAL ESSAYS:

• “Let’s Be Relevant, Let’s Be Involved,” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, January 1996

• “Lawyers Jokes and Pokes . . . It Comes With The Territory,” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, March 1996

• “Law Day . . . Once More With Feeling,” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, May 1996

• “We Must Be Players in the Political Game,” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, August 1996

• “Get a Life . . . Give a Life,” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, September 1996

• “A Good Mentor . . . There Is No Substitute,” Pittsburgh Legal Journal, October 1996

In recent years Mr. Gismondi and his wife Lisa created “The Gismondi Foundation” (www.gismondifoundation.org) which has given grants to a variety of organizations which support Pittsburgh families and children in need.