Our Attorneys
Charles A. Shaffer
Charles A. Shaffer
I am the litigation partner in our law firm. I am responsible for civil litigation. I try cases to juries and to judges without juries. I represent clients before administrative agencies and appellate courts. I have handled litigation for roofing, plumbing, HVAC, construction and general contractors, as well as owners, suppliers, architects and engineers. I have litigated commercial claims, shareholder suits, restrictive covenants and employment contracts, wrongful discharge and civil rights claims, real estate titles and easements. I have also litigated insurance claims, personal injury, products liability and professional negligence claims.
I also represent creditors and debtors in Consumer and Business Bankruptcies.
I serve as a Mediator for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; as an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association; and as a Special Trial Master for the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County. I have completed the following training: ACE001 - Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards, 10/04; AAA Construction Industry Arbitrator II Training, New York, 3/02; AAA Arbitrator Update 2001; Marywood University, Basic Mediation Skill Training, 2/01, 1/01; AAA Commercial Arbitrator Training, Philadelphia 6/99; Dickinson School of Law, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, ADR Training, 5/96, 4/94.
YEAR JOINED ORGANIZATION:
LITIGATION PERCENTAGE:
- 70% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
- 30% of Practice Devoted to Bankruptcy
CERTIFICATION/SPECIALITIES:
- Certified Mediator for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of PA
1994 - Present
Certified as Civil Trial Advocate by National Board of Trial Advocacy
BAR ADMISSIONS:
- Pennsylvania, 1964
- United States District Court for the Middle District of PA - 1968
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of PA - 2000
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit - 1975
- United States Supreme Court - 1976
EDUCATION:
- University of Pennsylvania Law School
Philadelphia, PA
J.D. - June, 1963
- Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
- B.S. in Economics - June, 1960
PUBLICATIONS:
- Side-Rail Syllogism (Article on hospital negligence)
- The Barrister, Vol. XIII, No. 3, 1982
- No-Fault Bill, Pennsylvania Law Reporter, Vol. IV, No. 36, 1981
REPRESENTATIVE CASES:
- McCullough v. Redevelopment Authority of City of Wilkes-Barre, 522 F.2d 858 (C.A.3(Pa.) 1975)
- Guiton v. Pennsylvania Nat. Mut. Cas. Ins. Co., 469 A.2d 1388 (Pa. 1983)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:
- Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, 1994 - Present
- Special Trial Master
- American Arbitration Association, 1993 - Present
- National Board of Arbitrators
- First Clerk of Orphans' Court and Deputy Register of Wills, Luzerne County, PA 1972 - 1983, Part-Time Employment
- Hon. Robert J. Hourigan, Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County Law Clerk, Part-Time Employment
- Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Assistant Public Defender, Part-Time Employment
- Wilkes College, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Instructor in Business Law, Part-Time Employment
- Title Insurance Agent Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1975 - Present
- Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association (Luzerne County Bar Association) 1998 - 2000 President
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section
Trial Practice Committee
- Pennsylvania Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section
Judicial Administration Committee, Dispute Resolution Committee
- Pennsylvania Association for Justice
- Middle District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Council of Mediator
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Member
- Sordoni Art Gallery, Wilkes University
Board Member
- McDonald Art Gallery, College Misericordia, Dallas, Pennsylvania
Life Member
- Jewish Federation of Greater Wilkes-Barre
Board Member
- Sordoni Art Gallery, Wilkes University
President, Advisory Board
- Temple B'nai B'rith, Kingston, Pennsylvania
Board Member and Treasurer
- B'nai B'rith Lodge, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Member, Treasurer and Vice-President
- Jewish Community Center, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Board Member
- United Rehabilitation Services, Inc., Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, 1970 - 1972
Board Member and President
- Health and Hospital Planning Agency
Board Member
- Health Services Agency of Northeastern Pennsylvania
Incorporator and Director
- United Health and Hospital Services, Inc., Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Board Member
- Wilkes-Barre Rotary Club
Member and Board Member
- Arthritis Foundation
Board Member
- Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services, Luzerne County, Pa
Board Member
- University of Pennsylvania Alumni Club of LUzerne County, Pennsylvania
President
- University of Pennsylvania Admissionsí Office
- Chairman, Secondary School Committee (for Luzerne County, Pennsylvania)
- Westmoreland Club, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
- Sordoni Art Gallery, Wilkes University
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
PAST EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS:
- Partner - Pugliese, Finnegan & Shaffer LLC
Kingston, PA
1/2008 to present
- Partner - Mahler, Shaffer, Pugliese & Finnegan
Wilkes-Barre and Kingston, PA
1986 - 2007
- Partner - Flanagan, Doran, Biscontini & Shaffer
Wilkes-Barre, PA
1968 - 1986
- Private practice as sole practitioner in Wilkes-Barre, PA
1963 - 1968
