Hoare, Christopher J.

Current Employment Position(s)

Chair, Litigation Group; Shareholder, Transportation and Construction Litigation Practice Groups

Lawyer Overview

Litigation and Transportation Groups. Chris specializes in construction accident, Labor Law, construction defect, railroad defense, and professional malpractice litigation.  Before becoming an attorney, he worked in railroad track construction and safety training at Conrail as well as a Legal Claims Agent for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak).  For 19 years, he has represented construction defense clients in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in construction accident litigation including NY Labor Law cases.  Chris also represents passenger, freight, and commuter railroads in cases involving FELA defense, passenger trespasser, and grade crossing collision litigation.  Chris's practice also includes defense of cases involving food and beverage retail establishment owner/operator liability, dram shop, premises security, products liability, subrogation, property damage, insurance coverage, and other matters.  He has tried dozens of cases to verdict in federal and state courts. 

West Practice Categories

Insurance, Professional Malpractice

Bar Admissions

• New Jersey, 1992
• Pennsylvania, 1992
• New York, 2007

Professional Associations and Memberships

• National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (NARTC) (Member)
• Pennsylvania Bar Association (Council Member, Civil Litigation Section)

Honors and Awards

• Recognized as one of South Jersey's "Top Attorneys" as published by SJ Magazine

Classes and Seminars

• How to Investigate and Defend a Grade Crossing Collision Case, CNA Insurance Defending the Trespasser Injury Case
• Principles of Federal Preemption in the defense of Grade Crossing Accidents

Past Employment Positions

• Amtrak, Senior Claims Agent, 1986 - 1992
• Conrail, General Foreman, Track Department, 1979 - 1986

Education

• Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey, 1992
  J.D.
• Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, 1974
  Bachelor of Arts

Published Works

• Salmonella Poisoning Alleged in Product Liability Case Defendant's Verdict in Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Defense Digest, Spring, 1993
• Summary Judgement Granted in Favor of Landowner and Against Independent Contractor, Defense Digest, Spring, 1993
• Occupied Crossing Rule, Shields Railroad From Liability, Defense Digest, February, 1996
• Pennsylvania Trial Court Upholds Lack of Railroad Duty Owed to Minor Trespasser in Double Amputation Case, Defense Digest, Vol. 3, No. 3, 1997
• Third Circuit Defines Limits of Landowner Liability to Trespassers Injured by a Condition on the Land, Defense Digest, Vol. 5, No. 4, 1999

Address

1601 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106

Phones

215-825-8329

Faxes

215-825-2512

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.capehart.com