With experience handling complex matters for national organizations in both state and federal courts, Anne Schmidt Frankel focuses her practice on defending healthcare facilities, schools, nonprofit organizations and other related institutions facing claims of abuse, harassment and misconduct.
Anne has successfully defended catastrophic injury, wrongful death and survival actions on behalf of clients in depositions, discovery hearings, mediation and trial. Her representation extends to grand jury subpoenas, criminal investigations and employment disputes. Anne also serves as outside counsel to educational, healthcare and other organizations in the development of policies and procedures and incident management.
Anne has experience serving as the front line of defense for clients facing criminal or regulatory investigations — including allegations related to sexual misconduct, physical abuse, child abuse and neglect — supporting clients throughout the full investigative process and related litigation.
Prior to joining Stradley Ronon, Anne was a partner at a national law firm based in Pittsburgh, where she was chair of the firm’s sexual misconduct and physical abuse litigation practice and a member of the rapid response and incident management team. She previously was an associate at a civil litigation and medical malpractice defense firm.
Featured Representative Matters
Facilitating defense counsel in a trauma-informed approach to representation of a multi-state health system in class action misconduct litigation.
Representing a behavioral health provider regarding privacy concerns related to criminal investigations, search warrants and subpoenas from regulatory agencies.
Successfully negotiated several pre-suit and early confidential suit settlements in professional liability, abuse and neglect cases for residential care facilities, schools and mental health providers to mitigate potential exposure to reputational and financial interests.
Defended a nonprofit organization against claims of sexual harassment made by a temporary worker of a protected class and successfully negotiated a confidential settlement with contribution from co-defendants.
Represented a nonprofit healthcare organization in negotiating separation with employees placed on extended administrative leave due to a patient injury and resulting criminal investigation.
Provided outside general counsel services to a nonprofit healthcare organization regarding employment policies and practices generally and with regard to specific incidents.
Secured a dismissal for a franchising organization in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas based on the statute of limitations expiration by motion for summary judgment.
Secured a dismissal for a franchising organization in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas at the preliminary objection stage based on legal insufficiency.
Successfully obtained dismissal of an abuse/neglect and professional liability claim, during the motion for summary judgment phase, for a residential care facility in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. The decision was upheld on appeal.
Secured favorable confidential settlement at trial in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, for a school before the close of the plaintiff’s case and the presentation of defendant’s motion for nonsuit in a case of abuse and negligent supervision.
Obtained a medical malpractice defense verdict in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas for a hospital as second-chair trial counsel.
Successfully obtained a low-value confidential settlement in a medical malpractice matter after a favorable outcome on motion for summary judgment in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, for an ambulance provider.
Obtained dismissal of abuse/neglect claim at the motion for summary judgment phase for staffing agency. The decision was upheld on appeal.
Memberships
Member, American Bar Association
Recognitions
Lawyer on the Fast Track, The Legal Intelligencer (2022)
Clerkships
Clerkship to New Jersey Superior Court Judge Richard Wells, Criminal Division
