YOU DESERVE A TEAM WHO WON'T GIVE UP
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GERARD SCHROM
In fourth grade, Gerard’s teacher made a comment — she said that he would make a good lawyer one day. At the time, he wasn’t sure what she meant. After all, Gerard wanted to be a teacher himself. He always loved the English language, and he saw teaching as a way to combine his main interest with his overall goals — helping, inspiring, and educating as many people as he could.
Years went by, and Gerard’s passion for teaching remained his primary motivator as he headed off to college. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University, Gerard accomplished his dream — he became a teacher and later, chairman of an English department. Yet, Gerard found himself discussing the meaning of life at random places around town and wishing he could excite all of his students in the way he inspired the many strangers he met. Ultimately, Gerard was not sure if formal education would be as personally satisfying as he originally anticipated. So, he spent a year interviewing a variety of professionals, including college presidents, bank presidents, and attorneys.
After speaking with all of them, it was clear that law would be something he would enjoy. He found that law was oriented around language, there were elegance and variety within the field, and the attorneys he met were all eloquent and engaging. Gerard then realized that being an attorney would allow him to help, inspire, and educate people in a more personal way, and his decision to attend law school was made.
Gerard earned his Juris Doctor from the Widener University School of Law and went on to focus his practice around criminal defense and civil litigation of all kinds. He has significant experience representing clients before trial courts, administrative judges, and appellate courts. With more than 30 years of experience, he has become a respected member of the legal community who is well known for his friendly personality.
I strive to be a positive inspiration for the people I am around.
Still, Gerard is thankful that he got his start in the classroom. Former students have come to offer him their thanks years later, including a young man he flunked twice. The boy said even though he failed his course, Mr. Schrom inspired him with positivity and gave him much more than just “English class,” which helped him to eventually pass and graduate with a new perspective. Another former student became a Marine Brigadier General and went on to meet the president. He once remarked that before he met with the president, he pretended he was about to give a speech in Mr. Schrom’s class, as he was known as the toughest teacher in the school. These experiences further solidify Gerard’s life purpose and motivate him to instill the same messages into the clients he works with today.
Gerard’s compassion for humanity extends far beyond the firm walls. When he’s not working, he spends as much time as he can with his church, his family, and his three dogs — Coda, Daisy, and Jenny. Anyone who has met Gerard knows that he’s an animal lover, and he can often be found outside walking his dogs and chatting with the people he meets along the way. Some even refer to him as the dog lawyer of Delaware County.
Gerard grew up playing street football, whitewater canoeing, and biking. He once biked from New York to Philadelphia and New Jersey just to see if he could. Above all, Gerard likes to be out and about and never shies away from a challenge.
BAR ADMISSIONS
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals
EDUCATION
J.D. - Widener University School of Law
B.A. - Pennsylvania State University
Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, England (1982)
Princeton (1973-1975)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
Member - Delaware County Bar Association
Member - New Jersey State Bar Association
Member - Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association
Member - American Trial Lawyers Association
Member - American Judicature Society
AWARDS
American Jurisprudence Award, 1981
Freedoms Found Scholar, 1982
Federal Bar Association Award, 1983
ARTICLES
Pennsylvania Bar News, “Workers Compensation”, Jan. 9, 1995
Pennsylvania Law Weekly, “Illness Induced by Work Stress Compensable”
Sam Fineman, p. 1, p.24, Dec. 12, 1994
Pennsylvania Law Weekly, “Worker’s Compensation”, “Mental/Physical Injury”, p. 9, 1994
The Legal Intelligencer, “Workers’ Comp Available for Stress Ailments”, “Court Overturns Board Ruling”, “Sides With Claimant”, p. 1, “Doctor’s Testimony”, “Reargument Sought”, p. 36, Hank Grezlak, Dec. 12, 1994
The Legal Intelligencer, “Workers’ Comp Referee Gives Benefits Over Job Stress”, Melissa Kelly, p. 1, p. 8, July 20, 1992
The Legal Intelligencer, “Workers’ Comp Stress Award Overturned”, “Physical Injury Must be Proven”, Hank Grezlak, p. 1, “Physical Injury Defined”, p. 1, “Abnormal Conditions Required”, p. 1, p. 26, “Stress Related?”, p.26, “Commonwealth Court Cited”, p. 26, “Appeal Expected”, p. 26, Oct. 18, 1993
Daily Times, “Ex-Unisys worker wins “stress” pay”, Joe Hart, July 17, 1992
Daily Times, “Former Unisys worker wins $100,000 judgment from firm”, Kerin Magill, July 17, 1992.
Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders in America (1987)
REPORTED CASES
Whiteside v. W.C.A.B., No. 2569 C.D., 1993 (Nov. 22, 1994)
Whiteside v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board, PICS Case. No. 94-2039 (Pa. Commw. Ct. No. 22, 1994)
Presta v. W.C.A.B. (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transp. Authority), 733 A.2d 683 (Pa.Cmwlth. Jun 29, 1999) (NO. 525 C.D. 1998)
Hughes v. Public School Employees’ Retirement Bd., 662 A.2d 701, 102 E. Law Rep. 632 (Pa.Cmwlth. Jul 21, 1995) (NO. 3094 C.D. 1994)