Robert J. Gillespie Jr.

Hazleton, Pennsylvania

Bob Gillespie has been recognized by Philadelphia Magazine as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer every year since 2006. In addition, his settlements and awards for his clients have earned him the recognition as Million Dollar Advocate, Membership in The Litigation Counsel of America and in the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Bob Gillespie is a lifelong resident of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He grew up in Hazleton, the son of Robert J. Gillespie, Sr., a lifelong trial lawyer, who at one time had the highest verdict in the history of Luzerne County.

Gillespie served as an Assistant Attorney General, Assistant District Attorney, First Assistant District Attorney and District Attorney of Luzerne County. He drew national fame in his prosecution of George Banks, the most prolific single day killer in the history of Pennsylvania, who was sentenced to death in 12 of the 13 counts of murder for which he was charged.

After leaving the District Attorney’s Office, Gillespie joined a Philadelphia law firm concentrating his practice on personal injury litigation and the representation of commercial clients, both in corporate and litigation matters. His efforts have resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts for a widow whose husband was injured in a truck accident, for a professional athlete who was injured in an automobile accident, and for a 40 year old man whose hand was severely injured in an industrial accident.

In addition to representing the catastrophically injured, Gillespie has been involved in commercial litigation, including the representation of a Swedish company in the dissolution of a limited liability company in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the representation of a Northeastern Pennsylvania corporation that resulted in a favorable settlement in a trademark litigation, and the representation of several doctors in employment disputes. Gillespie also has an active practice representing corporations in business dealings in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Gillespie was a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts with a degree in Political Science and was a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Penn State University – Dickinson School of Law where he was member of the Woolsack Honor Society. He has received awards and citations from the Pennsylvania State Police, from the Pennsylvania Attorney General, the American Association of Justice, and from Trials Lawyers Care where he provided representation resulting in awards at no cost to the victims of the 9/11 tragedy.

His efforts as a trial lawyer have been recognized by Philadelphia Magazine that has identified him as a Super Lawyer since 2005, by the Litigation Counsel of America, which accepts only 1%of the lawyers in the country for their expertise in trial advocacy, as a Million Dollar Advocate for having multiple million dollar verdicts or settlements, and as a Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates where he served as Vice President of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter.

Gillespie recently announced that his daughter, Casey A. Gillespie, has joined his firm to participate in its litigation practice after having served a clerkship with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for 2½ years.

Gillespie is also proud of his accomplishments for representing the Pennsylvania State Police F.O.P. O’Rourke Memorial Lodge No. 38 for more than 40 years allowing him the privilege of representing members of the Pennsylvania State Police. In addition, he is certified as a Fraternal Order of Police attorney under the Fraternal Order of Police Legal Plan, the only Northeastern Pennsylvania lawyer so certified.

Case Results

•  $6,000,000.00 to Widow and children for death of husband and father
•  $2,000,000.00 to woman with fractured heal as a result of an automobile accident
• $450,000.00 settlement for nursing home abuse
• $2,625,000.00 award for a male client in an industrial accident 
• $600,000.00   settlement within on year of accident to 90 Year old husband and wife  

Areas of Practice:

• 75% Personal Injury Litigation
• 15% Business
• 10% Real Estate

Litigation Percentage:

• 75% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions:

• Pennsylvania, 1972
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1996
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania, 2000
• U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1973
• U.S. Supreme Court, 2006

Education:

• The Dickinson School of Law, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 1972
  J.D.
  Honors: Magna Cum Laude
  Honors: Corpus Juris Secundum
  Honors: Order of Woolsack Honor Society
• College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts, 1968
  A.B.
  Honors: Dean's List, Purple Key Society
• College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts, 1968
  A.B.
  Honors: Dean's List, Purple Key Society

Representative Clients:

• Liberty Truckstops, Inc
• Raceway Petroleum , Inc
• St. Paul Travelers
• Singh Realty, Inc.
• Pennysylvania State Police Fraternal Order of Police Lodge # 38

References:

• Miners Bank
• Janney Montgomery Scott
• John Hancock
• Snyder & Clemente, CPA

Classes/Seminars Taught:

• Investigating Cults, National College of Juvenile Court Judges, 1984
• Faculty, National College of Juvenile Court Judges, 1985
• Luzerne County Community College Police Training

Honors and Awards:

• Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner's Commodation, 1986
• Distinguished Service to Law Enforcement Award, County Detectives' Association of Pennsylvania, 1983
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Super Lawyers Philadelphia Magazine 2007- 2014
• American Association for Justice Stalwart
• Million Dollar Forum, Member
• Litigation Counsel of America, Member

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• Pennsylvania District Attorneys' Association, 1984 - 1986 | Executive Committee
• Northeastern Bank of Pennsylvania, 1985 - 1986 | Advisory Board Member
• Pennsylvania Bar Association, 1972 - Present | Fellow
• Lower Luzerne County Bar Association, 1972 - Present
• Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, 1972 - Present | Member
• American Association for Justice - Slalwart
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Pennsylvania District Attorneys' Association, 1982 - 1986 | Board Member
• Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association, 1972 - Present | Member

Past Employment Positions:

• County of Luzerne, District Attorney, 1982 - 1986
• County of Luzerne, 1st Assistant District Attorney, 1978 - 1982
• SBA, Staff Attorney, 1972
• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General, 1972 - 1973

Pro Bono Activities:

• Scranton Diocese School Board, 1986 - 1990
• Chairman, Bishop Hafey High School, School Board, 1992 - 1996
• Luzerne County Legal Services Pro Bono, 1986 - Present