Stephen J. Pokiniewsi, Jr., a member of Anapol Schwartz, is known for his exceptional attention to detail as well as his preparation for all aspects of his cases. He is a lifelong Philadelphia area resident, whose experience attending Catholic parochial schools — St. Bernard Parish School and Father Judge High School — firmly established his moral outlook. His academic career took him to Pennsylvania State University, graduating in 1982, and then Temple University Law school. Temple awarded Mr. Pokiniewski his law degree in 1985. After graduation, he served a one-year clerkship for the Honorable Leonard Sugarman, President Judge of the Chester County Court of Common Pleas. He joined the firm of Anapol Schwartz in 1986.
He focuses his practice on medical malpractice, medical negligence, and personal injury matters. But he is a well-rounded attorney, having secured verdicts in motor-vehicle accident cases, highway design cases, and product liability cases in addition to over 25 medical negligence cases. Mr. Pokiniewski has handled a number of cases involving managed-care health issues, including representing clients in landmark cases involving ERISA preemption and the ability to sue health maintenance organizations (HMOs) when their healthcare decisions result in injury.
In a 2011 personal statement, he wrote, “I found that there is almost no greater pleasure than helping a severely injured person or the family of someone killed by the negligence of others obtain vindication and compensation from the person or company that caused their harm. It not only makes you feel like you have righted a serious wrong, but have helped another person over a very difficult time in their life.”
Mr. Pokiniewski is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, as well as the American, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Associations. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and before the United States Supreme Court. He has written articles for legal publications and has lectured for the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Associations concerning medical negligence issues.
