Michael J. Olley

Michael J. Olley has practiced law for over 35 years and as a veteran trial lawyer, has secured numerous million and multimillion dollar jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients in both state and federal courts. He began his career as a civil litigation defense lawyer and worked at one of Philadelphia’s largest civil defense trial firms before deciding to represent catastrophically injured individuals. Throughout his career representing injured individuals, he has secured numerous jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured railroad workers under the FELA as well as other individuals seriously injured or killed in construction accidents, auto accidents and as a result of defective products and professional malpractice. He has successfully litigated catastrophic and disabling injury cases in both state and federal courts throughout the eastern United States involving severe spinal injury, amputation, neurological and brain injury, chemical exposure and wrongful death.

Mr. Olley has been recognized as a superior trial lawyer with the highest possible AV Preeminent® rating by Martindale-Hubbell® as well as inclusion in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Throughout the course of his career, Mr. Olley has served as an union approved attorney for several railroad unions and has been a member of the Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys and the American Association of Justice.

Some of Mr. Olley’s significant verdicts and settlements on behalf of his injured clients are the following:

$5,500,000.00    Settlement obtained for railroad freight conductor who sustained a foot amputation due to defective equipment;

$3,350,000.00    Settlement obtained for railroad worker who sustained significant injuries when struck by moving equipment;

$2,500,000.00    Jury verdict obtained for railroad conductor who sustained a brachial plexus injury while operating a defective switch;

$2,250,000.00    Settlement obtained for a freight conductor who sustained neck and back injuries due to a defective switch;

$2,100,000.00    Settlement obtained for a railroad signalman who sustained foot injures due to unsafe walking conditions; 

$2,000,000.00    Jury verdict obtained for a railroad yard engineer who sustained a neck injury due to repetitive occupational trauma;

$1,950,000.00    Settlement obtained on behalf of a railroad freight conductor who sustained a severe leg injury due to unsecured equipment;

$1,640,000.00    Settlement obtained for the family of an individual who died after a prescription drug error;

$1,500,000.00    Settlement obtained for a warehouse worker who sustained a severe leg injury due to defective products;

$1,500,000.00    Settlement obtained on behalf of a construction worker who sustained a rotator cuff injury after falling from a stairway;

$1,500,000.00    Settlement obtained on behalf of an office worker who sustained a severe nerve injury after slipping on water from a leaking water heater;

$1,400,000.00    Jury verdict obtained on behalf of a railroad conductor who sustained a neck injury in a motor vehicle accident;

$1,250,000.00   Settlement obtained on behalf of a freight conductor who sustained a low back injury due to equipment failure;

$1,250,000.00 Settlement obtained on behalf of a yard conductor who injured his back after falling in a railroad yard;

$1,250,000.00   Settlement obtained for a freight conductor who sustained foot fractures after falling from a freight car;

$1,200,000.00   Settlement obtained on behalf of a freight conductor who sustained knee and shoulder injuries after being thrown from a railcar;

$1,200,000.00   Settlement obtained for car repairman who sustained a back and shoulder injury attempting to close a railroad car door;

$1,025,000.00    Settlement obtained on behalf of a construction ironworker who sustained a fractured wrist and internal injuries after an unprotected fall;

$1,000,000.00    Jury verdict on behalf of a railroad freight engineer who sustained post-traumatic stress after a railroad yard accident;

$1,000,000.00    Settlement obtained on behalf of a freight conductor who sustained injuries due to a defective handbrake;

$950,000.00    Settlement obtained on behalf of a railroad freight conductor who sustained a hand injury during railroad switching operations;

$914,300.00    Jury verdict obtained on behalf of a SEPTA bus driver who sustained a neck injury due to a product defect;

$900,000.00    Settlement for a locomotive engineer who sustained neck and shoulder injuries due to a defective seat;

$850,000.00    Settlement obtained on behalf of a passenger train attendant who sustained an ankle injury after a fall;

$806,000.00    Settlement obtained on behalf of a locomotive engineer who sustained a spinal injury after a fall from a locomotive;

$765,000.00    Settlement obtained on behalf of a railroad freight conductor exposed to a leaking chemical from a tank car;

$750,000.00    Settlement obtained on behalf of a locomotive engineer disciplined for reporting unsafe conditions;

$750,000.00    Jury verdict obtained on behalf of a railroad locomotive engineer who sustained a shoulder injury during a grade crossing accident;

$750,000.00    Settlement obtained on behalf of a railroad freight conductor who sustained a head injury after being struck by rolling equipment;

$725,000.00     Settlement obtained on behalf of a railroad trackworker who sustained a fractured foot after a fall from a trestle.