• Contact

    • Steven Pachman

    Partner

     215-772-7492

    spachman@mmwr.com

    Philadelphia

    Steven Pachman is the Managing Partner of Montgomery McCracken, chair of the Catastrophic Sports Injury and Defense Practice Group, the firm’s Hiring Partner, and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He routinely handles business and personal injury litigation and has extensive experience working in a wide variety of industries including higher education, pharmaceutical and life sciences, and sports medicine. For over 25 years, Pachman has handled high-exposure matters across the United States.

    His practice concentrates on the defense of traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases and catastrophic sports injury matters, and representing individuals and school systems in matters arising out of alleged premature return-to-play decisions and other negligence theories in the sports’ context. His representations include a number of high-profile, nationally-publicized concussion, TBI, heat stroke, and general negligence cases against NCAA member colleges and universities, high schools, and school personnel, including athletic trainers, coaches, physicians, and nurse practitioners. These include cases involving catastrophically-injured football players and other athletes who allegedly sustained prior concussions and Second Impact Syndrome as well as players diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) following a post-mortem autopsy of the brain. Pachman also regularly advises school officials and attorneys, risk managers, athletic departments and their staff, and health care professionals on institutional liability issues concerning sport-related concussions, CTE, Second Impact Syndrome, heat stroke, and other sport-related injuries.

    Pachman is a frequent speaker on the defense of TBI cases and legal matters concerning the proper management of sport-related concussions and other sport-related injuries. In addition, he has authored a number of articles on the topics of how to minimize the risk of legal liability for sport-related injuries and defend against lawsuits arising out of catastrophic sport-related events. Pachman is regularly quoted by national media, including ESPN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, ABC News, and CBS Sports, and has guest lectured at colleges and law schools, including the University of Michigan, the University of Oklahoma, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Maryland, Villanova University, and Virginia Tech. Additionally, he has presented before the NCAA, the Big 10, the Big 12, the Ivy League, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the College Athletic Trainers’ Society, and the American Academy of Neurology.

    Pachman also represents corporations in mass tort actions, insurance coverage matters, business disputes, and product liability cases. His product liability experience includes representing a multi-national computer equipment manufacturer in repetitive stress injury cases and one of the world’s leading chemical companies in an action involving alleged injuries from chemicals and pharmaceuticals. His litigation experience further includes successfully defending a leading music recording and publishing company in a business tort matter and a national university in a defamation action.

    Besides representing individuals and entities in federal and state court, Pachman has handled enforcement actions against broker-dealers brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.

    Pachman received his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Temple University School of Law in 1996, where he was an editor of the Temple Law Review. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, where he was a Dean’s Scholar and graduated summa cum laude, with a B.A. degree in 1993.

    RELATED Practices

    White Collar and Government Investigations
    Product Liability, Toxic Torts and Catastrophic Events
    Commercial Litigation
    Catastrophic Sports Injury Defense
    Litigation
    Sports and Entertainment

    White Collar and Government Investigations

    Montgomery McCracken’s White Collar and Government Investigations Practice is a highly experienced group of attorneys providing extensive experience in a wide range of proceedings, including criminal matters, internal investigations, fraud-related […]

    Learn more about our White Collar and Government Investigations Practice

    Product Liability, Toxic Torts and Catastrophic Events

    Montgomery McCracken’s Product Liability, Toxic Torts and Catastrophic Events Practice has extensive experience representing manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in a variety of products liability and mass tort matters and in […]

    Learn more about our Product Liability, Toxic Torts and Catastrophic Events Practice

    Commercial Litigation

    Montgomery McCracken’s Commercial Litigation Practice has a long and illustrious history. We handle a wide range of individual and corporate disputes involving virtually every area of personal and business endeavors […]

    Learn more about our Commercial Litigation Practice

    Catastrophic Sports Injury Defense

    Montgomery McCracken’s Catastrophic Sports Injury Defense Practice has a national reputation for its successful representations of colleges, universities, and health care professionals in high-exposure sports-injury cases. We have achieved favorable results […]

    Learn more about our Catastrophic Sports Injury Defense Practice

    Litigation

    Montgomery McCracken’s Litigation Department offers a deep bench of skilled and experienced litigators whose practice areas encompass a broad array of industries and substantive legal disciplines.  Our clients include individuals, […]

    Learn more about our Litigation Department

    Sports and Entertainment

    Montgomery McCracken’s Sports and Entertainment Industry Group calls upon the vast array of skill and experience within the firm to provide comprehensive legal services to athletes, entertainers, authors, event organizers, […]

    Learn more about our Sports and Entertainment Industry

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    Credentials

    Selected Representations
    • Represented Philadelphia-based university, head athletic trainer, and nurse practitioner in landmark concussion case involving catastrophically injured football player alleged to have sustained second-impact syndrome. Settled case on favorable terms on eve of trial.
    • Represented youth organization in case arising out of van accident causing traumatic brain injury to minor. Settled case on favorable terms following 5-week jury trial with testimony from 17 expert witnesses in Boston, MA.
    • Represented New York religious institution in case involving claims of neurological damage, including dysautonomia, from fall on ice. Settled case on favorable terms following 4-week jury trial in Ogdensburg, NY.
    • Represented Ivy League university in case involving death of former football player who committed suicide and was alleged to have suffered from CTE. Case was dismissed with prejudice.
    • Represented Philadelphia, Pennsylvania high school in case involving student-athlete football player who allegedly died from sickle cell exertional crisis. Case settled on favorable terms.
    • Represented Big Ten university, athletic trainer, and team physician in case involving former soccer player who allegedly suffered post-concussion syndrome and cognitive impairment from premature return to play following multiple concussions. Case settled on favorable terms.
    • Represented Maryland-based university, head coach, and athletic trainer in case involving death of former football player who allegedly sustained second-impact syndrome. Case settled on favorable terms.
    • Represented head athletic trainer for Big Ten football program in case involving death of student-athlete football player who died from heat stroke allegedly caused by endurance exercises during team practice. Case settled on favorable terms.
    • Represented national soccer organization in class action involving claims that organization failed to mandate and enforce use of protective headgear for youth girl soccer players to prevent or reduce concussive symptoms or injuries. Obtained dismissal.
    • Represented international sports association in class action brought by soccer players claiming damages from concussions and subconcussive injuries. Obtained dismissal on jurisdictional grounds.
    • Represented New Jersey high school in case involving former wrestler who allegedly suffered permanent neurological damage from premature return to play following concussion. Case settled on favorable terms.
    • Represented Ohio high school in case involving alleged traumatic brain injury to student arising from fall from scaffold. Case settled on favorable terms.
    • Represented Massachusetts religious institution in case brought by plaintiff involved in pedestrian-motor vehicle accident who allegedly suffered traumatic brain injury and orthopedic damage. Case settled on favorable terms.
    • Represented Florida high school in case involving former soccer player who allegedly suffered permanent neurological damage. Case settled on favorable terms.
    • Represented Illinois school district in case involving student who allegedly sustained traumatic brain injury after school bus accident. Case settled on favorable terms.
    • Represented Ohio religious school in case involving student who allegedly sustained traumatic brain injury after being struck in head with golf club. Case settled on favorable terms.
    • Represented Illinois university in case involving claims against NCAA and helmet manufacturer by former football player who allegedly suffered concussion and subconcussion-related disorders that evolved into symptoms consistent with CTE.
    • Represented Florida religious institution in case involving student who allegedly sustained traumatic brain injury after fall during two-hand touch football game in gym class. Case settled on favorable terms.
    • Represented Pennsylvania university in case involving various claims of neurological damage, including post-concussive syndrome, from fall on ice. Case settled on favorable terms.
    • Represented New Jersey high school and coaches in case involving alleged negligence resulting in catastrophic football-related injury. Case settled on favorable terms.
    • Represented Washington school district in case involving alleged premature return to play of football player and resultant traumatic brain damage. Case settled on favorable terms.
    • Represent New York university in case involving student who allegedly sustained traumatic brain injury after being struck in head with magnetic barrier gate arm.
    • Represent Oklahoma religious high school, principal, and athletic trainer in case involving alleged negligence during football game resulting in injury to football player.
    • Represent national retailer in case involving employee who allegedly sustained traumatic brain injury after being struck in head with canvas painting. Case scheduled for a December jury trial in federal court in Philadelphia, PA.
    Selected Speaking Engagements
    • Guest Lecturer, University of Michigan, Organization and Administration of Athletic Training, October 2023
    • Presenter, “Traumatic Brain Injury: Litigation & Minimizing Risk,” The National Catholic Risk Retention Group’s Winter Meeting, January 2020
    • Presenter, “Concussions, CTE, and the Law: Minimizing Legal Risk to the Athletic Trainer,” The National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine Conference, June 2019
    • Presenter, “Unresolved Science and Law of Concussion and CTE,” The University of Michigan Injury Prevention Center’s Sport Concussion Summit, May 2019
    • Presenter, “Legal Aspects of Sport-Related Concussion Management,” The 71st Annual Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association Meeting and Clinical Symposium, January 2019
    • Panelist, “Concussion: Reducing Brain Injuries in Youth Football,” University of Michigan Law School, December 2018
    • Presenter, “Concussions, CTE and the Law,” The National Catholic Risk Retention Group’s Risk Management and Legal Defense Workshop, November 2018
    • Presenter, “2018 Higher Education Forum,” October 2018
    • Presenter, “Medical-Legal Considerations,” The American Academy of Neurology 2018 Sports Concussion Conference, July 2018
    • Presenter, “Sports Concussion Claims: Challenges Facing Both Sides of a Litigation,” The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Midwest Conference, June 2018
    • Guest Lecturer, Biomedical Engineering & Sciences Class, Virginia Tech, March 2018
    • Presenter, “Sports Concussion Claims: Are You Ready for an All-Out Blitz?” The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Annual Conference, March 2018
    • Guest Lecturer, University of Michigan, Athletic Training Administration Class, December 2017
    • Presenter, “Concussions, CTE and the Law: Implications, Lessons, and Minimizing Risk,” The National Catholic Risk Retention Group’s Risk Management and Legal Defense Workshop, October 2017
    • Presenter, “Concussions, CTE and the Law: 2017 Update,” College Athletic Trainers’ Society Spring Symposium for Athletic Trainers and Team Physicians, May 2017
    • Presenter, “Concussions and CTE: Legal Implications to the Athletic Trainer,” Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association Annual Convention, January 2017
    • Presenter, “Concussions and CTE Litigation Update,” The National Catholic Risk Retention Group’s Risk Management and Legal Defense Workshop, November 2016
    • Presenter, “Concussions and the Law: A Defense Lawyer’s Perspective…An Agent’s Perspective,” Villanova University School of Law, Sports Law Society, October 2016
    • Participant, Second Safety in College Football Summit, NCAA Sport Science Institute and the College Athletic Trainers’ Society, February 2016
    • Presenter, “Concussions and the Law: Implications, Lessons, and Minimizing Risk,” 25th Annual National Catholic Risk Retention Group Winter Meeting, January 2016
    • Presenter, “Legal Aspects of Concussions,” University of Michigan Injury Center Sport Concussion Summit, September 2015
    • Presenter, “Considerations in Concussion Litigation,” Third Annual Big Ten/Ivy League Traumatic Brain Injury Research Collaboration Summit, July 2015
    • Presenter, “All Eyes on Concussion,” University of Michigan NeuroSport Seminar, May 2015
    • Presenter, “The Legal Landscape of Concussion,” Sports Neuropsychology Concussion Symposium, May 2015
    • Presenter, “Concussion Litigation Update,” University of North Carolina/Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related Neurotrauma Symposium, March 2015
    • Presenter, “Legal Considerations in Sports Medicine,” Oklahoma Sooner Sports Medicine Symposium, January 2015
    • Presenter, “Head Injury Litigation Update,” College Athletic Trainers’ Society Spring Symposium for Athletic Trainers and Team Physicians, May 2014
    • Panelist, “The State of Concussions: Protecting Athletes through Advances in Law, Public Health, and Science,” University of Maryland School of Law, March 2014
    • Presenter, “Concussions: The Legal Landscape and Defense Considerations,” The Safety in College Football Summit, sponsored by the NCAA Sport Science Institute, January 2014
    • Presenter, “Concussions and the Law,” The Fiesta Bowl Spring Summit, May 2013
    • Presenter, “Sports Medicine on Trial,” College Athletic Trainers’ Society Spring Symposium, May 2013
    • Presenter, “Concussion: A Case-By-Case Approach . . . to Litigation,” University of North Carolina Neurotrauma Symposium, March 2013
    • Presenter, “Legal Issues in Catastrophic Sports Injury Cases,” National Athletic Trainers’ Association, December 2011
    • Presenter, “The Athletic Trainer and the Law: Minimizing the Risk of Legal Liability for Athletic Injuries,” 62nd Annual National Athletic Trainers’ Association Meeting and Clinical Symposium, June 2011
    • Panelist, “Traumatic Brain Injury Forum,” Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society’s Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposium, June 2011
    • Presenter, “The Athletic Trainer’s Legal Liability:  What an Athletic Trainer Needs to Know – The Defendant’s Perspective,” Big 12 Medical Aspects of Sport Conference, May 2011
    Selected Publications
    Honors & Awards
    • Selected to The Best Lawyers in America© – Product Liability Litigation – Defendants list in 2021-2025. The Best Lawyers in America© list is issued by Best Lawyers and a description of the selection methodology can be found here.  No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or the highest court of any other state.
    • Selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list from 2012-2024. This list is issued by Thomson Reuters and a description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or the highest court of any other state.
    • Selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star list in 2007, 2008, and 2011. This list is issued by Thomson Reuters and a description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or the highest court of any other state.
    Education

    Law School

    • Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law

    Undergraduate School

    • University of Maryland, College Park

    Collaboration is Our Best Practice