Chad A. Wissinger

With more than 11 years of experience, Chad focuses his litigation practice on construction, environmental and commercial matters.

In his construction practice, Chad represents architects, engineers, owners and construction managers throughout all phases of the design and building process, including risk management, contract negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation at the trial and appellate levels.

In addition, Chad handles a variety of complex environmental litigation matters defending property owners and manufacturers in chemical and toxic tort exposure and property damage cases. On behalf of several clients, he has tried cases before the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board and the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance.

A sample of Chad’s representative matters includes:

• Successfully represented a Pittsburgh-based architectural firm in a three-member panel arbitration involving claims of significant design deficiency related to the construction of a new prison.
• Awarded a directed verdict following a three-week jury trial in which it was alleged that the design professional was involved with improper asbestos abatement, design deficiency and faulty work coordination at a major school renovation.
• On behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance, Bureau of Special Funds, negotiated access agreements, cleanup plans, Act 2 releases and interacted with remediation consultants regarding remediation and damage claims.
• Successfully obtained a dismissal on behalf of a structural engineer in a case involving a severely injured motorist traveling through a construction zone.
• Successfully represented a quasi-public agency in litigation concerning total reconstruction of approximately nine miles of interstate highway, including geotechnical issues of roadway design and construction, limiting contractor’s damage award to $74,000 on a $17,800,000 claim.
• Successfully represented a national solid waste disposal company in a 10-day proceeding before the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board on matters concerning odor discharges and truck traffic.
• Successfully represented the state’s largest health care system in a 14-day, three-judge arbitration regarding a $50 million breach of contract matter concerning a corporate merger.
• Successfully represented minority partners in numerous litigations to take control of family entities operating chain restaurants throughout Western Pennsylvania.

Areas Of Law

• Construction Litigation
• Environmental Litigation
• Commercial Litigation

Education

• J.D., Boston University, 1998
• B.A., Dickinson College, cum laude, 1995
• Policy studies, with honors
• Environmental studies, certificate

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• Pennsylvania Bar Association, House of Delegates voting member
• Allegheny County Bar Association
• State YMCA of Pennsylvania, board of directors
• Sewickley Valley YMCA, volunteer

Presentations

• “Managing Risk in a Difficult Economy: From Unreasonable Contracts through Impossible Schedules, all with Less Money,” Conference, American Institute of Architects, Pittsburgh Chapter, November 2009
• “Law of Engineering Malpractice,” HMS Continuing Education Seminar, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 2009
• “IPD Contracts,” Build Pittsburgh, American Institute of Architects, Pittsburgh Chapter, October 2009
• “It’s Not Only About Hard Hats – Risk Management During The Construction Phase,” American Council of Engineering Companies and the American Institute of Architects, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 2008
• “Construction Site Safety Issues,” HMS Continuing Education Seminar, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, February 2007
• “Risk Management for Design Professionals,” Build Pittsburgh, American Institute of Architects, Pittsburgh Chapter, April 2006

Chad A. Wissinger
Pittsburgh Office
Phone: 412-995-3130
cawissinger@burnswhite.com