PRACTICES
OVERVIEW
Brett Tishler, a partner in White and Williams’ Workers’ Compensation Subrogation practice, practices exclusively in the field of workers’ compensation subrogation throughout the United States. He represents a variety of major insurance carriers and individual claimants to secure recoveries in cases involving complex product liability, negligence, construction accidents, and premises liability litigation. In addition to recovering past paid liens, Brett often helps to negotiate global settlements to close future workers’ compensation benefits.
Brett is known for approaching cases from all angles to find creative and effective solutions for lien recoveries. While Brett’s primary goal is to resolve cases efficiently and cost-effectively, he is nonetheless always fully prepared to go to trial, if necessary. Brett is committed to achieving the best results for his clients and handles all aspects of litigation, including client counseling, initial case assessment, discovery, motions/oral argument, trial and settlement.
Outside the courtroom, Brett frequently meets with insurance companies and employers to discuss various issues involving workplace accident and injury investigations. These activities include training presentations, identifying workers' compensation subrogation issues and exploring all avenues of recovery. Brett also frequently lectures for the National Association of Subrogation Professionals (NASP) at their Spring and Annual conferences, as well as webinars.
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Recognition and Involvement
Recognition & Involvement
Brett was selected in a survey of his peers as a Pennsylvania "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers from 2015 – 2021.
Since 2007, Brett has served as an arbitrator for both the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Credentials
Bar and Court Admissions
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Education
Widener University School of Law, JD, 2006
Temple University, BA, 2003
News & Insights
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Million Dollar Lien Recovery in 1% Strict Contributory Negligence State (Alabama)
White and Williams Partner Brett Tishler recently made a $1,000,000 lien recovery for a client in an aluminum smelting explosion accident, that resulted in horrific burns and the ultimate death of the worker. The matter was venued in a difficult, 1% contributory negligence jurisdiction. Intervening on behalf of the client, Brett aggressively pursued the client’s lien, obtaining a 100% lien recovery. During the litigation, Brett coordinated all elements of the litigation, with plaintiff’s counsel, the employer and the target defendants.
$725,000 Lien Recovery in 1% Strict Contributory Negligence State (North Carolina)
White and Williams Partner Brett Tishler recently made a $725,000 lien recovery for a client in an flash fire case involving industrial cleaning chemicals, which resulted in significant burn injuries to two workers. The matter was venued in a difficult, 1% contributory negligence jurisdiction. In NC, 1% contributory negligence also extends to the employer, where such a finding potentially waives the carrier’s lien in its entirety. Because of this rule, Brett entered the litigation not only to pursue the lien recovery, but also to defend the employer against allegations of negligence to protect against the 1% rule and potential waiver of the lien.
$500,000 Lien Recovery and Extinguishment of Multi-Million Dollar Future Exposure/Future Credit (Illinois)
White and Williams Partner Brett Tishler negotiated a $500,000 lien recovery, in addition to extinguishing a multi-million dollar future exposure in a motor vehicle accident claim involving paraplegic injuries to the worker. This settlement is significant because of multiple factors, including the carrier receiving both a significant lien recovery on past paid claims, in addition to being able to extinguish a multi-million dollar future exposure faced with limited third-party liability insurance.
Confidential Seven Figure Settlement and 100% Lien Reimbursement (Pennsylvania)
White and Williams Partner Brett Tishler negotiated a confidential seven figure settlement and 100% lien reimbursement in a case against an agricultural manufacturer for injuries involving an arm amputation while operating 40 year old farm equipment.
Confidential Settlement and 100% Lien Recovery (Louisiana)
White and Williams Partner Brett Tishler negotiated a confidential seven figure settlement and 100% lien reimbursement in a mower rollover fatality case, arguing the mower was defectively designed and lacked adequate warnings.
- Trucking accident resulting in death and traumatic brain injury to multiple workers. Litigated four-week trial in North Carolina. Helped secure a favorable verdict resulting in a 100% recovery of the subrogating insurer’s $630,000 worker’s compensation lien.
- Negotiated settlement in excess of $1 million in a complex products liability case filed in Pennsylvania Federal Court against an agricultural manufacturer for injuries involving an arm amputation while operating 40-year old farm equipment.
- Motor vehicle accident resulting in paraplegia to worker. Resulted in significant settlement, including 100% lien reimbursement.
- Industrial baking equipment design defect and warnings case, with burn and amputation injuries against foreign manufacturer. Obtained seven figure recovery and 100% lien reimbursement.
- Commercial riding lawnmower rollover design defect and warnings case resulting in a worker fatality. Obtained substantial confidential settlement and 100% lien reimbursement.
- Crane collapse negligence case resulting in catastrophic personal injuries. Obtained significant personal injury recovery and lien reimbursement in 1% strict contributory jurisdiction.
BLOGS & PODCASTS
Podcasts
Subro Sessions
- Workers’ Compensation Subrogation - Tales by the Water Cooler: Part Two – We Got a New Claim, Now What?12.19.23
Brett Tishler, Partner, and Michael Abed, Associate, are back to host the newest episode of Subro Sessions. This is the second of a two-part podcast series, entitled “Workers’ Compensation Subrogation - Tales by the Water Cooler: Part II– We Got a New Claim, Now What?” Brett and Michael are joined again by a surprise guest, Rob Caplan, Partner, to discuss a new workers’ compensation subrogation case. Rob talks about a new loss and gives a critical look into the specifics into the investigation, experts, and other factors to determine if there is potential for recovery.