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Attorney Joe Quinn of Kingston, widely considered the top trial attorney in Northeastern Pennsylvania and one of the best in the country, was the featured presenter at the annual convention of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association earlier this month in western Pennsylvania.

Quinn, who is marking his 40th year of practicing law this year, made the main educational presentation at the annual PATLA convention — a three-hour seminar titled, “The Preparation and Trial of Cases: Lessons Learned Over 40 Years.” The convention was held July 6-9 at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort south of Pittsburgh.

“It was an honor being chosen by PATLA to share some of the lessons I've learned over the past 40 years of trying cases,” said Quinn, a past president of PATLA. “I tried to candidly share some of the things I've done right, as well as some of the things I've done wrong. Hopefully, PATLA members found some of my insights useful and informative.”

Known for his tireless work ethic, charismatic courtroom presence, razor-sharp legal mind and command of the law, Quinn has established a reputation as Northeastern Pennsylvania's top trial attorney with a long string of record-setting verdicts and settlements in cases involving medical malpractice, wrongful death, auto accidents and product liability. Here is a sampling:

• 2003 ($32 million) — Lead counsel in a case that resulted in a $32 million settlement for the families of 17 passengers killed when their airplane ran out of fuel and crashed in Bear Creek Township in 2000.
• 1994 — First verdict in the nation in which a jury concluded a vehicle was defective for not having an airbag.
• 1990 ($30 million) — Rare verdict in which the jury found Claverack Electric Cooperative acted with “reckless disregard” in the deaths of two young teachers. The verdict resulted in a $30 million settlement.
• 1986 ($16 million) — Rare punitive damage award of $11 million against a local utility company, one of the highest such awards in the history of Pennsylvania.
• 1985 ($8.8 million) — Largest award of punitive damages ($5 million) in a dram-shop case in the history of the United States.
• 1984 ($12 million) — Largest personal injury award in the history of Northeastern Pennsylvania and one of the largest compensatory damage verdicts in an auto case in the nation.
• 1982 ($3.9 million) — Largest award ever rendered in a swine-flu vaccine case and the largest bench award in the nation.

Quinn is a member of numerous professional organizations, most notably the Inner Circle of Trial Advocates, a group limited to the top 100 trial attorneys in the United States, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, which includes the top 500 in the world. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Trial Lawyers and is certified as a trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Quinn is past president of PATLA and the Luzerne County Bar Association, and a member of the Board of Governors of The Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He has been listed every year since 1987 in “The Best Lawyers in America.”

Quinn is a principal and senior partner in the law firm of Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn, PC. Headquartered in Kingston with offices in Scranton, the firm specializes in personal injury litigation and offers a variety of legal services to individuals and the business community.