Background
Specter, Howard Alan was born on December 1, 1939 in Pittsburgh. Son of Ben and Ethel (Gorn) Specter.
Specter, Howard Alan was born on December 1, 1939 in Pittsburgh. Son of Ben and Ethel (Gorn) Specter.
University of Pittsburgh (Bachelor of Arts). University of Pittsburgh (Juris Doctor).
Worked at Specter Law Offices, Professional Corporation (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) specializing in Antitrust, Aviation, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death, Medical and Professional Negligence, Multidistrict Litigation, Securities Litigation, Defective or Toxic Products, Environmental Litigation, Complex and Class Action Litigation. Admitted to the bar, 1964, Pennsylvania. 1973, United States. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
1974, United States.
Supreme Court. 1976, United States. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Ninth Circuits. 1981, United States. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.
1983, United States.
Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit. 1989, United States. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Recipient, West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Presidential Award, 1986-1987.
Author: "Class Actions: Job Bias," Trial Magazine, January/February, 1974.
"Recent Developments in Class Actions," Trial Lawyers Forum, January/March, 1974. "Employment Discrimination Class Action Litigation," Civil Advocates Manual, Published by Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy, Hastings College of Law, University of California, 1974 and 1975 editions.
Preparation and Presentation of Fee and Cost Petitions, included in Court Awarded Fees in "Public Interest" Litigation, Published by Practicing Law Institute, 1978. "Weight of Opinion Evidence," published in Forensic Sciences, Matthew Bender, 1981.
"Organization of the File," Trial Preparation: The 100 Day Countdown, PBI Number.
1993-787. Company-Author: "Criteria for Fee Awards," published in Public Interest Practice and Fee Awards, published by Practising Law Institute, 1980. "The Hospital Emergency Room: Haven or Hazard?" Trial Magazine, May, 1983.
"Individual Employment Law and Litigation," The Michie Company, 1989.
"Incentive Awards in Class Action Litigation", 3 Federal Litigation Guide Reporter 591 July 1991. Member, Editorial Board, Federal Litigation Guide Reporter. Member, Editorial Board, Class Action Reports.
Member, Review Panel Committees for Carnegie-Mellon University Department of Engineering and Public Policy: Project on Compensation for Delayed Diseases from Exposure to Chemicals and Drugs, 1979.
Project on Products Liability, 1982. Member, Review Panel, Medical-Legal Aspects of Breast Implants, Leader Publications.
Member: Allegheny County (Chairman, Antitrust and Class Action Committee, 1975-1976), Pennsylvania and American (Member, Sections on: Litigation, Member, Business Torts Committee, 1975. Antitrust, Member, Subcommittee on Multidistrict Litigation, 1975, and Member, Private Litigation Committee, 1978) Bar Associations.
National Association of Securities and Commercial Law Attorneys.
Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County (President, 1989-1990). The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (President, 1982-1983). Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (President, 1976-1977, Western Pennsylvania Chapter).
Texas Trial Lawyers Association.
West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers.
Lifetime Fellow: Roscoe Pound Foundation (Honorary Trustee, 1988). Melvin M. Belli Society (President, 1983-1984).
The firm was founded by Howard Specter, former President of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
The firm concentrates in civil litigation with emphasis on major personal injury and wrongful death actions and complex multidistrict and class action litigation. The practice is nationwide in scope. Mr. Specter and other attorneys have been active in major cases at the national level, including serving as members of the Plaintiff"s Lead Counsel Committee and Steering Committee, Lead or Company-Lead Counsel or other leading roles in such cases as: In Re Baxter Corporation Gammagard Product Liability Litigation.
In Re Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Sales Practices Litigation.
Silicone Gel Breast Implant Products Liability Litigation. Ashland Oil Spill Litigation.
Air Crash Disaster Near Pittsburgh International Airport. Wetzel v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.
In re: Westinghouse Securities Litigation and In re: Chambers Development Company Securities Litigation.
Participation in continuing legal education, as teachers and students, is important for all attorneys, who are active in state and national bar associations and in civic affairs
Member, Editorial Board, Federal Litigation Guide Reporter. Member, Editorial Board, Class Action Reports. Member, Review Panel Committees for Carnegie-Mellon University Department of Engineering and Public Policy: Project on Compensation for Delayed Diseases from Exposure to Chemicals and Drugs, 1979.
Project on Products Liability, 1982.
Member, Review Panel, Medical-Legal Aspects of Breast Implants, Leader Publications. Member: Allegheny County (Chairman, Antitrust and Class Action Committee, 1975-1976), Pennsylvania and American (Member, Sections on: Litigation, Member, Business Torts Committee, 1975.
Antitrust, Member, Subcommittee on Multidistrict Litigation, 1975, and Member, Private Litigation Committee, 1978) Bar Associations. National Association of Securities and Commercial Law Attorneys.
Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County (President, 1989-1990).
The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (President, 1982-1983). Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (President, 1976-1977, Western Pennsylvania Chapter). Texas Trial Lawyers Association.
West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.
Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. Lifetime; Fellow: Roscoe Pound Foundation (Honorary Trustee, 1988).
Melvin M. Belli Society (President, 1983-1984).
Married Elaine Spatz, January 1, 1986.