Bryan Neft Runs for the Commonwealth Court

Candidate: Bryan Neft

Court: Commonwealth Court

Party: Democrat

Pennsylvania Bar Association Rating: Recommended

The following has been edited lightly for length and style.

The Legal Intelligencer: Tell us about your background, where you went to law school, what firms you have practiced at, and areas of law you focus on.

Bryan Neft: I was born and raised in Pittsburgh. My father was a small businessman and my mother was a lawyer who started her career as a home economics teacher. I received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and a law degree from Boston University School of Law. Presently, I live in Pittsburgh’s South Hills with my wife, Julie Cohen, an author, two of our three children and our rescue German Shepherd, Elsa.

I have spent more than 30 years litigating and trying cases, and counseling clients throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and California. I began my career as a clerk for the Pennsylvania Superior Court where I learned the essentials of judicial review. I have practiced before all three state appellate courts, the West Virginia Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. I have practiced in approximately 30 counties across Pennsylvania and in each of the Pennsylvania appellate courts including the Commonwealth Court, the court to which I am seeking election.

The firms in which I have practiced include Spilman Thomas & Battle PLLC; Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti; Klett Rooney Lieber & Schorling; and Frankovitch Anetakis Colantonio & Simon.

My practice has covered a wide variety of areas including commercial litigation, insurance law and insurance bad faith, federal qui tam, health care, land use, antitrust and product Liability.

The Legal: What is one major thing about your career experience that most qualifies you for this position, and why?

Neft: I bring 33 years of experience as a trial lawyer to this position. I served as a law clerk for four years and, during the remainder of my time in private practice, I have handled a wide variety of cases including many of the kind that the Commonwealth Court hears. I have represented school districts and state agencies before the Commonwealth Court on issues of sovereign immunity. I have also handled matters involving insureds in insurance liquidation proceedings. I have also handled land use and zoning matters before the court.

The one thing that stands out about my career is that I have worked on complex commercial disputes that prepare me well for the types of complex cases that come before the Commonwealth Court.

The Legal: What is the main reason Pennsylvania voters should pick you?

Neft: My experience practicing law and my record of hard work to improve the profession of law and the judiciary are unparalleled. My work handling complex legal matters will allow me to handle the complex litigation that Commonwealth Court is known for.

In addition, I have traversed Pennsylvania for the past two and one half years learning about the kitchen table concerns of Pennsylvanians in every corner of our commonwealth. My building relationships across the state, coupled with my decades of legal and community service both regionally and throughout Pennsylvania, is the foundation of my trajectory to win in November. I believe my path to victory runs through every Pennsylvania county, not just a few—that is why I have visited over 40 counties since last summer and am on track to visit all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

The Legal: What will be your approach to moving matters efficiently through the case management system?

Neft: Commonwealth Court has both a trial court jurisdiction and an appellate jurisdiction. The key to moving matters through the trial court system is to work with the parties to have realistic case management deadlines based on the type of case being brought and to hold the parties to those deadlines.

For the appellate cases that come before the court I would work hand in hand with my staff of clerks to ensure that cases are being considered timely and their resources are being used efficiently. Some cases on appeal will demand more focus and attention than others based on their complexity. And staffing of cases will be flexible to accommodate those cases that demand additional time and attention.

The Legal: What would you say to voters regarding your plans to ensure the equal administration of justice for all people?

Neft: First and foremost, every person or entity that comes to the Commonwealth Court is entitled to a full and fair opportunity to have their case heard. This axiom applies to all parties from the pro se litigant and individuals seeking redress of their claims, to government entities and large corporations.

I have also worked hard to expand access to justice—finding legal help for those who cannot afford it. I have done this by representing litigants pro bono, by developing pro bono legal clinics in Allegheny County and by serving as a member and chair of the Pennsylvania IOLTA board, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s board that oversees legal aid programs across the commonwealth. As a member of the Commonwealth Court, I commit to doing more to expand access to justice.

The Legal: Where can voters go for more information about you?

Neft: Voters can learn more about me at my website www.bryanneft.com.