Philadelphia Attorney Heads Up Pennsylvania's Brain Injury Association

Friday July 15

PHILADELPHIA, July 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Stewart L. Cohen , Esq., of COHEN, PLACITELLA & ROTH , P.C., a leading boutique litigation law firm, has been named president of the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania (BIAPA). The association is an affiliate of the Brain Injury Association USA.

Mr. Cohen, of Wynnewood, PA, is a well-known trial lawyer and is very active in issues associated with brain injury. In addition to his other practice areas, he represents brain injury victims. In December 2004, "The National Law Journal" recognized Mr. Cohen for a $25 million brain injury verdict on behalf of a man who was disabled following a car wreck - one of the highest jury awards for any kind of case in the United States during 2004.

One of the founding members of BIAPA, Mr. Cohen has been a board member of the organization since its formation in 2001. As president, he succeeds Drew Nagel, PsyD, Director of Rehabilitation at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and a resident of Cheltenham, PA. The other officers of the board are: 1st VP - Michael Miller, a retired businessman, of Towanda, PA; 2nd VP - Anne Sears, Director, WCC External Affairs, Rider University, of Yardley, PA; 3rd VP - Richard Schmeltzer, Accountant, of Jenkintown, PA; Secretary - Donna Kopicki, Social Worker for the John Heinz Institute of Rehabilitation, of Wilkes-Barre, PA; and Treasurer - William Kelly, PNC Advisor, of Philadelphia, PA.

The mission of the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania is to prevent brain injury and improve the quality of life for survivors and their families through support, education, advocacy and research.

There are 245,000 Pennsylvanians living with brain injury, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control. Every year in Pennsylvania, there are an estimated 2,033 fatalities due to traumatic brain injury. A total of 7,804 Pennsylvanians are hospitalized each year due to traumatic brain injuries sustained in car accidents, work place accidents, falls, assaults, sports accidents and other injuries. Another 41,282 are treated in hospital emergency rooms for concussion and mild brain injury. It is estimated that each year, 2,762 Pennsylvania citizens become severely disabled by brain injury.

The Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania, which is headquartered in Harrisburg, is a 501(c)(3) membership organization and is largely staffed through volunteers. For more information on BIAPA and brain injury issues, visit http://www.biapa.org, or call (717) 657-3601. The Brain Injury Resource Line is (866) 635-709.

Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. is a national law firm devoted to representing the innocent and injured victims of negligence and dangerous products. The firm has a national reputation in mass tort, environmental, pharmaceutical, products liability, subrogation, class action, and personal injury litigation. The firm is currently a leader for plaintiffs' attorneys on the liability issues in the ongoing Vioxx litigation in New Jersey and represents clients from all over the United States. Cohen, Placitella & Roth has offices in Philadelphia, PA, Bala Cynwyd, PA, Harrisburg, PA, and Red Bank, NJ.

Please read our legal disclaimer.

If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI through the negligence or carelessness of others, you may be entitled to compensation.

The assistance of an experienced TBI lawyer can help you find the answers you need and get the compensation you deserve. The filing of a lawsuit may help you recover financial damages to help you with the continuing medical bills and compensate you for your physical and mental suffering. Don't risk your health and peace of mind.