John M. Skrocki

How John Helps Clients

John is known for his depth of experience and team leadership. John defends and advises physicians, nurses, therapists, executives, and facilities in suits alleging medical and professional negligence, often involving catastrophic injury and death. John’s clients include for-profit and not-for-profit entities in hospital, subacute care and skilled nursing facility settings, and at-home care. His day-to-day representation typically includes defending nurses, directors, administrators, physicians, therapists, and facility staff in depositions and through trial.

John has 35 years of medical malpractice litigation experience. He oversees and/or directly handles all aspects of litigation, from pre-suit to pleadings, written discovery, depositions, expert retention, motion practice, pre-trial practice, and trial. He has a well-earned reputation for balancing zealousness with cost-consciousness.

Over his career, John has facilitated hundreds of favorable outcomes for his clients via independent negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, and most importantly, trial.

What Clients Can Expect

John's clients can expect early and thorough claim/suit evaluation with a realistic litigation/resolution plan. His knowledge of the local legal landscape, including opposing counsel, assigned or anticipated judicial assignments, recent trends, and assessment of opposing parties, are an important asset.

John has decades of litigation experience in the Common Pleas Courts of Pennsylvania; in the Philadelphia region, as far west as Cumberland, Lycoming and Northumberland counties; and as far north as Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. He has litigated in federal district court many times. John has also been at the forefront of using arbitration as a means of facilitating efficient litigation management, exploring resolution (if appropriate), and risk minimization.

John also has training and experience in the appellate courts. He started his career clerking for the President Judge of the Commonwealth Court, the Honorable James C. Crumlish Jr. He has extensive brief-writing credits, and presented oral arguments to both Superior Court panels and the Commonwealth Court sitting en banc.

Proof Points

• Secured a defense arbitration award in a significant Stage IV pressure ulcer matter
• Successfully argued QA privilege in multiple Long-Term Care (LTC) cases
• Served as an arbitrator over many years in both Philadelphia and Montgomery County Common Pleas Courts
• Serves as Judge Pro Tem in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court

Outside the Office

John is a lover of family, the arts, music, athletics, and the great outdoors. When he and his wife, Mary Lou, are not running after their two grandsons, they can be found at community sports events, high school or college games, a concert, or live theatre. They are proud parents of three adult children whom they see and visit often.