Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Pittsburgh.
Brendan B. Lupetin
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
BRENDAN B. LUPETIN Lupetin & Unatin, LLC — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Brendan Lupetin is a founding partner of Lupetin & Unatin, LLC, a Pittsburgh-based plaintiff's firm exclusively representing individuals and families in medical malpractice and catastrophic personal injury cases. For more than two decades, he has taken on hospitals, physicians, and corporations on behalf of people who have suffered devastating, life-altering harm — and has consistently delivered results when it matters most.
Recognition
In 2024, Brendan was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers — one of the most selective honors in the American legal profession, extended by invitation only to trial lawyers who have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and courtroom excellence. Fellowship is limited to no more than one percent of the total lawyer population of any state.
In 2026, Best Lawyers named Brendan the Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year for Pittsburgh — the highest recognition Best Lawyers confers on a single attorney in a given practice area and city.
Super Lawyers has named Brendan a Top 50 Lawyer in Pittsburgh and a Top 100 Lawyer in Pennsylvania across multiple consecutive years — peer-selected distinctions placing him among the most accomplished litigators in the region and state.
Brendan is also one of only eleven lawyers in Western Pennsylvania invited to active membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and was inducted into the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County in 2011 — one of the youngest lawyers ever admitted to this invitation-only organization of 250 of Allegheny County's most accomplished civil trial lawyers.
A Trial Lawyer Who Goes to Verdict
In 2021, Brendan and his partner Gregory Unatin tried Miller v. Tyrone Hospital to a jury verdict of $10.8 million in the Court of Common Pleas of Blair County — making it the first medical malpractice case tried to verdict in the United States following the COVID-19 pandemic. Their client, a man who suffered permanent brain damage after an allergic reaction during an MRI led to cardiac arrest, had received a top settlement offer of just $3 million before trial. The result speaks for itself.
VerdictSearch has recognized numerous Lupetin & Unatin resolutions in its annual Top Pennsylvania Verdicts and Settlements report. Brendan believes deeply in the jury system: "While many attorneys fear having their client's fate determined by apparent strangers, I believe in our jury system and have the utmost faith that our community's conscience will enforce important safety rules and ensure that justice is always done."
Thought Leadership
Brendan serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he teaches Trial Strategy and Practice — bringing real-world plaintiff's trial experience directly into the classroom. He is also the host of Just Verdicts, a podcast now approaching 75 episodes exploring trial practice, plaintiff advocacy, and the pursuit of justice. Brendan is regularly called upon by media outlets to provide commentary on significant litigation and matters of national importance, and writes for his local bar journal on issues at the intersection of law, professional identity, and trial practice.
Background
A competitive scholarship swimmer at the University of Pittsburgh, Brendan earned his B.S. before receiving his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2005. He is admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
The son of a physician and a trauma counselor, Brendan grew up understanding that compassion and accountability are not opposites — they are partners. That foundation shapes every case he takes.
Outside the office, his greatest joy is time spent with his wife, Lacey, and their three sons, Nathan, John, and Owen.
Overview
- English
- Ethnicity: White
- University of Pittsburgh, Juris Doctorate, graduated 2005
- University of Pittsburgh, B.S. Biochemistry, graduated 2000
- Pennsylvania, 2005
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law - Adjunct Professor
- Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association - Member
- Pennsylvania Association of Justice - Member
- American Board of Trial Advocates - Fellow
- American College of Trial Lawyers - Fellow
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- English
- Pennsylvania, 2005
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law - Adjunct Professor
- Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association - Member
- Pennsylvania Association of Justice - Member
- American Board of Trial Advocates - Fellow
- American College of Trial Lawyers - Fellow
- University of Pittsburgh, Juris Doctorate, graduated 2005
- University of Pittsburgh, B.S. Biochemistry, graduated 2000
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- Ethnicity: White
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, Pittsburgh (2026)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
News & Media
Insights
Case History
Cases
- $2 Million Jury Verdict
Our client in this case was a woman injured by a botched gallbladder removal surgery . The defendant never offered any money to settle this claim before trial.
Denise Westwood received a $2 million medical malpractice verdict after suffering a bile duct injury during a botched gallbladder surgery. Dr. Charles N. Lebovitz was ordered by a jury to compensate Denise Westwood for the problems she experienced following the surgery. The injury resulted in permanent damage to her biliary system and liver, causing multiple hernias and requiring additional corrective surgeries. Westwood lost her job as a nurse’s aide due to the resulting injuries, which limited her ability to lift heavy objects. The lawsuit claimed that Dr. Lebovitz failed to follow proper medical procedures and took shortcuts during the surgery. The jury found him negligent and awarded Westwood $750,000 for past damages and $1.25 million for future losses.
Denise Westwood received a $2 million medical malpractice verdict after suffering a bile duct injury during a botched gallbladder surgery. Dr. Charles N. Lebovitz was ordered by a jury to compensate Denise Westwood for the problems she experienced following the surgery. The injury resulted in permanent damage to her biliary system and liver, causing multiple hernias and requiring additional corrective surgeries. Westwood lost her job as a nurse’s aide due to the resulting injuries, which limited her ability to lift heavy objects. The lawsuit claimed that Dr. Lebovitz failed to follow proper medical procedures and took shortcuts during the surgery. The jury found him negligent and awarded Westwood $750,000 for past damages and $1.25 million for future losses.
- $2.1 Million Jury Verdict
This case was against Target Corporation for a woman who slipped on spilled soda and ruptured her hamstring. The top settlement offer was $85,000.
Melissa Horton slipped and fell in a Target store in Allegheny County after a soda bottle fell on the floor. Target employees coned off the area and began mopping, but they were mopping outside the coned area, causing Melissa to eventually fall. Her fall resulted in a serious injury to her right hamstring, requiring repair surgery and a long recovery period in a body brace, during which she couldn’t perform normal daily activities.
After a three-day trial and a day of deliberation, the jury found Target responsible for the slip and fall due to their negligence. The verdict awarded Melissa $2.1 million in damages, with $1.4 million for past damages and $700 thousand for future damages. Target denied fault, claiming that Melissa’s own actions and lack of attention caused the incident. They argued that she was not paying attention to where she was walking and walked near the spill area, despite ample warning and the area being closed off. However, the jury disagreed with Target’s defense and held them accountable for their actions, resulting in significant financial consequences for the retail store.
Melissa Horton slipped and fell in a Target store in Allegheny County after a soda bottle fell on the floor. Target employees coned off the area and began mopping, but they were mopping outside the coned area, causing Melissa to eventually fall. Her fall resulted in a serious injury to her right hamstring, requiring repair surgery and a long recovery period in a body brace, during which she couldn’t perform normal daily activities.
After a three-day trial and a day of deliberation, the jury found Target responsible for the slip and fall due to their negligence. The verdict awarded Melissa $2.1 million in damages, with $1.4 million for past damages and $700 thousand for future damages. Target denied fault, claiming that Melissa’s own actions and lack of attention caused the incident. They argued that she was not paying attention to where she was walking and walked near the spill area, despite ample warning and the area being closed off. However, the jury disagreed with Target’s defense and held them accountable for their actions, resulting in significant financial consequences for the retail store.
- $2.2 MILLION JURY VERDICT
A Pennsylvania vascular surgeon negligently delayed surgical treatment of a man suffering from critical limb ischemia. Due to the negligent delay, the man suffered an above the knee amputation. The original offer before trial was $125,000. This was one of the largest verdicts in the history of Indiana County, Pennsylvania. This case was worked up by Greg Unatin, and tried to verdict by Greg Unatin, Brendan Lupetin, and Garrett Trettel.
- $3.2 MILLION JURY VERDICT
Our client was a prominent oral surgeon who slipped and fell in an operating room that had recently been wet mopped by janitorial staff. The defendant, St. Vincent Surgery Center, had a policy of not placing wet floor signs while mopping. Two years before our client fell another healthcare worker had slipped, fallen, and been injured under similar circumstances. The Surgery Center vowed to fix the problem by always placing wet floor signs. Unfortunately, the intended change in policy was never communicated to the custodial staff. As a result, they continued to mop the old way by not setting out wet floor signs until after active mopping was completed. Due to his injuries, our client was forced to medically retire at least two years earlier than he had planned. He sustained a significant income loss. We also proved a substantial claim for pain and suffering as well as the loss of ability to do the work he loved.
Brendan Lupetin and Maggie Cooney tried this case together before Judge Erin Connelly Marucci in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County Erie County.
Brendan Lupetin and Maggie Cooney tried this case together before Judge Erin Connelly Marucci in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County Erie County.
- $6.3 Million Jury Verdict
Our client in this case was Brand Marketing Group (BMG) against Intertek Testing Services after one of their subsidiaries botched the testing of his newly unveiled space heater – the Thermablaster.
BMG finally realized the benefit of a relationship cultivated with Ace Hardware since 2009 when in mid-2011 Ace decided to place an order for 4000 Thermablaster heaters. Meanwhile, Interetek, the self-described “leading provider of quality, safety, testing, inspection and certification” held out to Mr. Brand that he should trust their years of knowledge and expertise to assure the Thermablaster met the applicable safety standard and would be safe for homes across the United States. However, and unknown to Mr. Brand, the particular standard applicable to his heater was a standard which Intertek had never tested to before. (co-counseled with Attorney Greg Unatin.)
BMG finally realized the benefit of a relationship cultivated with Ace Hardware since 2009 when in mid-2011 Ace decided to place an order for 4000 Thermablaster heaters. Meanwhile, Interetek, the self-described “leading provider of quality, safety, testing, inspection and certification” held out to Mr. Brand that he should trust their years of knowledge and expertise to assure the Thermablaster met the applicable safety standard and would be safe for homes across the United States. However, and unknown to Mr. Brand, the particular standard applicable to his heater was a standard which Intertek had never tested to before. (co-counseled with Attorney Greg Unatin.)
- $7.25 Million Jury Verdict
Our client was Dr. David Irwin, the former Chief of Pain Management at UPMC Hamot. In 2014, Dr. Irwin slipped on snow-covered ice while exiting the UPMC Hamot Surgery Center through a non-public door, which staff were required to use after hours because the main entrances were locked. He suffered severe back and shoulder injuries, developed chronic pain, and was unable to return to his career in medicine.
Brendan Lupetin & Gregory Unatin represented Dr. Irwin and his wife in 2025. After a week-long trial, the jury found UPMC Hamot negligent and returned a unanimous verdict after only two hours of deliberation. The award — including past and future economic losses, non-economic damages, and consortium damages for Dr. Irwin’s wife — is believed to be the largest slip-and-fall verdict in Erie County history, surpassing the prior record of $3.2 million, also won by Lupetin & Unatin.
Brendan Lupetin & Gregory Unatin represented Dr. Irwin and his wife in 2025. After a week-long trial, the jury found UPMC Hamot negligent and returned a unanimous verdict after only two hours of deliberation. The award — including past and future economic losses, non-economic damages, and consortium damages for Dr. Irwin’s wife — is believed to be the largest slip-and-fall verdict in Erie County history, surpassing the prior record of $3.2 million, also won by Lupetin & Unatin.
- $10.83 Million Jury Verdict
Our client was a man who suffered permanent brain damage after an allergic reaction during an MRI led to cardiac arrest (co-counseled with Attorney Gregory Unatin). The top settlement offer was $3 million.
Brendan Lupetin and Gregory Unatin represented the Miller family in a medical malpractice lawsuit against Tyrone Hospital in Blair County, Pennsylvania. After three years of litigation the case came to trial in the Court of Common Pleas of Blair County. Christopher suffered permanent brain damage during an MRI at Tyrone Hospital.
Brendan Lupetin and Gregory Unatin represented the Miller family in a medical malpractice lawsuit against Tyrone Hospital in Blair County, Pennsylvania. After three years of litigation the case came to trial in the Court of Common Pleas of Blair County. Christopher suffered permanent brain damage during an MRI at Tyrone Hospital.
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