Lauren Rushak represents national and international clients in business disputes, including tort and breach of contract actions, and provides litigation defense in class action and derivative suits involving claims of fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and civil conspiracy. Clients in the financial services, commercial real estate, and general business industries frequently turn to Lauren to navigate the complexities of high-stakes disputes and lead them to favorable resolutions for their companies.
Education
J.D., Villanova University School of Law, Villanova, Pennsylvania, 1999, Moot Court Board, Recipient of Forensic Economics Studies, Inc., Outstanding Litigation Award
B.A., Pennsylvania State University - University Park, State College, Pennsylvania, 1996, International Politics/French
Ecole Commerciale De La Chambre De Commerce, Paris, 1995
Memberships
- Advisory Board and Contributing Author, Pennsylvania Civil Practice Guide
- Fellow, The Academy of Advocacy of Temple University
- Appointed Member, Local Rules Advisory Committee, Western District of Pennsylvania
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- Fellow, Allegheny County Bar Foundation
- Former Board Member and
President of the Board, Easter Seals of Central and Western Pennsylvania - Co-Chair, Easter Seals Cotillion Committee
- President, Christian Legal Society, Western Pennsylvania Chapter
- Incoming Member of the Board of Directors, Christian Legal Society
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Penn State Alumni Association
State Bar Licenses
Pennsylvania
Court Admissions
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Ct., W.D. of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Ct., M.D. of Pennsylvania
U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit
Financial Services
- Represented national lender in actions against borrowers and guarantors on defaulted multimillion dollar loan agreements and lines of credit, including successfully defending against lender liability claims in state and federal bankruptcy court, successfully obtaining judgments against and pursuing guarantors in state court successfully obtaining a charging order over a guarantor’s interests in a limited liability company, and pursuing separate foreclosure actions against guarantors.
- Represented clients in federal court action brought by offshore captive insurance company where claims involved alleged breach of loan guarantee agreements surrounding clients’ participation in alleged abusive and fraudulent offshore tax shelter scheme. Action settled favorably to clients while jury deliberating. Advisory Jury Trial, Western District of Pennsylvania.
- Represented national bank in large scale predatory lending investigation by State Attorney General.
- Represented national bank in confession of judgment proceedings relating to commercial loan documents and guarantees and involving fraud and misrepresentation claims by borrowers.
- Defended financial lending and servicing company against breach of contract claims related to alleged entitlement to credit life insurance proceeds.
- Represented national bank in litigation stemming from mortgage foreclosure/default proceedings involving, among other things, the application of the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act.
- Represented financial lending and servicing company in action brought by consumers for alleged violations of consumer protection laws, secondary mortgage laws, truth in lending laws and involving alleged unfair trade practices claims.
- Pursued claims on behalf of national bank relating to breaches of loan contracts.
- Defended national bank against claims of negligence, defamation and alleged violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act in state court litigation by borrowers.
- Defended financial lending and servicing company against detrimental reliance / promissory estoppel, breach of contract, fraud, misrepresentation, unfair claim settlement and bad faith claims in state court action by personal representative of borrower’s estate.
- Represented national bank against breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, unfair trade practices and other statutory violation claims (Real Estate Disclosure Act and Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law) relating to sales practices and sales documents.
- Represented national bank against conversion, trespass and assumpsit claims relating to the administration of an estate account.
Commercial Real Estate
- Act as outside general counsel to large residential development company on litigation and landlord/tenant matters.
- Represent national real estate company in various contract and business tort disputes, including not only litigation but advising on pre-litigation strategies and cost-beneficial approaches.
- Represented substantial real estate developer and owner against large scale mechanic’s lien claims surrounding work and improvements performed by tenant.
- Successfully represented mall developer in multimillion dollar contract and tort action against shopping center chain involving real estate disputes, lease disputes, intentional interference claims and related contract and tort claims. Jury Trial, Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
- Represented real estate developer in multi-million dollar breach of contract action against supermarket tenant.
- Defended coal mining company against claims for violation of the Pennsylvania Bituminous Mine Subsidence Act, breach of implied contract / unjust enrichment, breach of contract, and trespass in property damage and subsidence actions by landowners.
- Represent large national real estate company in various contract and business tort disputes.
- Represent national title company in litigation matters involving alleged title defects, tort claims and contractual disputes.
Business Litigation
- Represented international automotive supplier in complex commercial lawsuit seeking damages over $100 million surrounding its purchase of an electrical charging division and fraud, misrepresentation, other business tort and breach of contract claims relating thereto.
- Represent majority members against hostile takeover attempts by minority members.
- Successfully represented municipal authority against putative class action claims relating to billing procedures.
- Represent clients in various courts on corporate, statutory books and records requests both in terms of responding and requesting as a minority member.
- Pursued and defended claims on behalf of trustee of coal company’s estate relating to coal supply agreement with large public utility.
- Defended business director, officer and owners in federal and state court actions involving fraud, misrepresentation breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, and negligence claims – including class action and derivative claims – related to a cellular telecommunication license and ownership/control of a limited liability company.
- Defended corporate directors and officers in federal court litigation involving disputes over a corporate stock purchase agreement and merger agreement.
- Defended coal mining company in state court litigation by landowners, involving breach of contract, fraud, and civil conspiracy claims, in connection with a coal lease and an oil and gas lease.
- Represented international construction and engineering company in multimillion dollar contractual indemnity action, arising out of underlying lawsuits involving an oil refinery expansion project. Jury Trial, Corpus Christi, Texas.
- Represent municipal authority in class actions involving alleged consumer protection violations, unfair trade practices and related claims.