James John Buldas

JAMES J. BULDAS focuses his practice primarily on claims and litigation involving construction, commercial, and insurance coverage disputes. 

Mr. Buldas represents businesses and individuals in federal and state courts matters involving professional liability, commercial disputes, as well as products, premises, construction, boating, and aviation liability.  He has also been involved in catastrophic loss insurance disputes, arising out of floods, fires, and explosions.

Mr. Buldas has handled numerous arbitration hearings, jury trials through verdict, and arguments before the Superior Court of Pennsylvania as well as the array of alternative dispute resolution programs including private mediation, federal court mediation, and conferences throughout the court system.  His diverse practice has led him to successfully argue legal issues that are of first-impression in certain jurisdictions of Pennsylvania.  As a result, several of his cases have garnered the attention of various media outlets.

Mr. Buldas has represented clients in the following representative disputes:

• Investors’ claims against specialty lines re-insurer's board of directors and officers for distributing an alleged deceptive Surplus Note Offering, and fraudulent inducement of investments;
• Contract disputes arising out of the total destruction of a warehouse;
• Coverage disputes pursuant to a local municipalities' Law Enforcement Liability Policies for claims asserted by wrongfully convicted and maliciously prosecuted criminal defendants;
• Business interruption coverage dispute involving an allision of a riverboat gaming casino;
• Builders risk coverage claim arising out of the total destruction of an ASU Dormitory due to a fire allegedly caused by the negligent acts of the general contractors and its subcontractor welders;
• Property insurance coverage litigation arising out of damage to roofing structure as a result of a severe weather storm;
• Insurer's subrogation claim against condominium association, builders, and developers for flood damage, which were allegedly caused by the building's defective fire suppression system;
• Construction/design dispute involving failure of a security and fire protection system in a large warehouse;
• Coverage dispute for alleged occupational respiratory disease claims against coal mining company, and multiple insurers  and re-insurers spanning across a period of over twenty years;
• Coverage dispute and bad faith extra contractual defense arising out of the collapse of a home during ongoing construction renovations;
• Underinsured motorist coverage disputes for death claim resulting from golf cart accident in Florida;
• Defense of father and son for an alleged shooting of a trespasser by minor-child;
• Coverage dispute for severe multi-vehicle pileup accident in Texarkana, Arkansas arising out of an employee’s alleged driving under the influence in a company-provided vehicle;
• Defense of a boat owner against claim for wrongful death arising out of a boat explosion on Lake Erie;
• Defense of motor vehicle operator involved in a fifty car pileup on I-80 resulting in numerous deaths and claims against several commercial trucking companies;
• Several coverage disputes involving sale of residential homes for allegations of fraud and misrepresentations in Seller’s Disclosure Agreement;
• Coverage dispute arising out of alleged due process violations and tortious conduct by college professor against student;
• Defense of commercial airline pilot against bodily injury claims as a result of flying a large scale model airplane;
• Coverage dispute arising out of alleged accidental shooting at a house party in Erie, PA, resulting in death of young adult, and criminal prosecution of shooter;

Mr. Buldas has been recognized annually as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Rising Star.  This distinction is awarded to only 2.5% of all lawyers practicing in Pennsylvania for 10 years or less. 

Mr. Buldas previously served as the Chairman of the Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers’ Section Insurance Coverage Committee.  As a Chairman, he had an opportunity to author and moderate continuing legal education seminars on a monthly basis.

Mr. Buldas is admitted to the Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania and Illinois.  He is also admitted to the United States District Courts for the Western District of Pennsylvania and the Northern District of Illinois.  He is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Defense Institute, and the American Bar Association.