Welcome to the Law Practice of Thomas E. Reilly, P.C.- Representing Creditors and Businesses for 40 Years 

About Thomas E. Reilly, Esquire

Thomas E. Reilly, Esquire

Education

1974              Ohio University                        B.A., English 
                       Athens, Ohio                            Honors Degree, General Studies

1977              University of Pittsburgh           Juris Doctor
                      School of Law

Professional Experience

1999-Present        Thomas E. Reilly, P.C.
                              President and Shareholder

                              Representation of banks, leasing companies, commercial and consumer finance    
                              companies, lenders and small businesses, principally in the recovery of obligations,
                              enforcement of security interests and commercial equipment leases and defense.            
                              Practice includes all Pennsylvania Courts, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. District Court,        
                              Third Circuit Court of Appeals and pro hoc vice U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Second
                              Circuit 
                            

1984-1999            Davis Reilly, P.C.
                             Partner

                             Member of the firm representing banks, leasing companies, commercial and consumer
                             finance companies, lenders, utilities, automobile finance companies and small
                             businesses, principally in the recovery of obligations, enforcement of security interests
                             and commercial equipment leases and defense litigation. Practice included all
                             Pennsylvania Courts, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. District Court and Third Circuit
                             Court of Appeals
                       

1977-1984            Davis & Mazzotta, P.C.

                             Associate Attorney and Litigation Manager in firm representing banks, leasing companies,
                             commercial and consumer finance companies, lenders, utilities, automobile finance 
                             companies and small businesses, principally in the recovery of obligations, enforcement
                             of security interests and commercial equipment leases and defense litigation.  Practice 
                             included all Pennsylvania Courts, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. District Court and Third
                             Circuit Court of Appeals

Admitted to Practice Before:

                            United States Supreme Court
                            Third Circuit Court of Appeals
                            United States District Court
                            Pennsylvania Supreme Court
                            United States Bankruptcy Court
                            Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Sixth Circuit
                            Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
                            U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Second Circuit, pro hoc vice

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating

                  AV Preeminent

Professional Affiliations

                             Allegheny County Bar Association, Civil Rules Committee

                             Current Chair of committee that evaluates, comments upon and proposes rules
                             of civil practice in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and the Commonwealth of 
                             Pennsylvania

                             Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Arbitration Committee, Member                                                                

                             Committee organized by the Honorable Stanton R. Wettick to oversee and
                             address issues arising within the Arbitration Division of the Court of Common
                             Pleas of Allegheny County

                              Allegheny County Bar Association, Consumer Lending and Banking Committee
                              of the Corporation, Business and Banking Section, Past Chair

                              Committee organized to address issues involving consumer lending and deposit
                              compliance issues

                              Allegheny County Bar Association, Real Property Section, Past Chair
                              Allegheny County Bar Association, Council of Real Property Section, Member

                              Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Judges Committee concerned with the
                              Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion and Mediation Program  

Presentations and Seminars

                               Honorable Judith K. Fitzgerald Bankruptcy Inns of Courts

                               U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania,
                               Outreach Program

                                       2015, 2016, 2017, 2018  Acted as Lenders Counsel in Mock Trial seeking
                                       to discharge student debt in Outreach Program to High School Students

                               Pennsylvania Bar Institute

                                       Essentials of Pennsylvania Practice (October 29-30, 1998)
                                       "How to Collect a Money Judgment"

                                        Third Circuit Bankruptcy Institute (August 4, 1998)
                                        "Creditors' Remedies"

                                Allegheny County Bar Association

                                         "Interest:  It Isn't Always Simple" (June 1996)

                                         "Land, Lending and the Law" (1997)

                                  Annual Trip-State Bankruptcy Symposium 

                                 Pennsylvania Bar Institute Day on Real Estate (October 2014)

Other Activities

 2013                   First Place - Allegheny County Bar Association Battle of Attorney Bands as member of
                            Reilly Reisman Band - Lead Guitar and vocals

2009-2018           Member of Executive Board - Fields of Nicholson Owners Association, Sewickley, PA
2013 & 2018        President - Fields of Nicholson Owners Association, Sewickley, PA

Significant Appellate and Trial Court Cases

          WRS, Inc. v. Plaza Entertainment, Inc., et al., Civil Action NO.00-2041 U.S. District Court for the        Western District of Pennsylvania, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11808, February 20, 2007.
($2,600,000 Summary Judgment in Creditor's favor against unconditional guarantor)

          WRS, Inc. v. Plaza Entertainment, Inc., el al., 402 F.3d 424, 428 (3d Cir. 2005).
(Appellate Federal Court affirmed District Court decision)

          Copelin v. Spirco, Inc., 182 F.3d 472 (3d Cir. 1999).
(Appellate Federal Court found debtor's Chapter 11 Plan does not discharge non-debtor obligors)

          Marion v. Ford Motor Credit, 176 F.3d 472 (3d Cir.1999).
(Fraudulent statements about debtor's financial affairs result in non-dischargeable debt)

          Sherry v. Associates Commercial Corporation, 60 F. Supp. 2nd 470 (1998), 191 F.3d 445 (3d Cir. 1999)
(Appellate Federal Court affirmed judgment for Creditor in alleged wrongful/unconstitutional repossession where police officers "stood by")

          Dollar Bank v. EM2 Development Corporation, 716 A.2d 671 (Pa. Super. 1998).
(Appellate State Court affirmed decision that Mechanic's Lien of finishing contractor does not date back to the initial site development)

          Ford Motor Credit Company v. Meffe, 513 Pa. 567, 522 A.2d 47 (Pa. 1987).
(State Supreme Court affirmed reversal of trial court order opening judgment as to guarantor)

         First Seneca Bank & Trust Company v. Laurel Mountain Development Corporation, 506 Pa. 439, 485 A.2d 1086 (Pa. 1984).
(State Supreme Court affirmed appellate court opinion sustaining dismissal of Petition to Open Judgment on guaranty)

          Chrysler Credit Corporation v. First National Bank & Trust Company, 746 F.2d 200 (3d Cir. 1985).
(Federal Appellate Court affirmed trial court decision that bank is accountable to Creditor for late return of checks.)

          Ford Motor Credit Company v. S.E. Barnhart & Sons, 664 F.2d 377 (3d Cir. 1981).
(Federal Appellate Court reversed trial court decision that the rights of Secured Creditor were subject to
environmental rule regarding maintaining back filling equipment on strip mine site.)

Expert Witness Testimony

          Vincler & Knoll v. Theodore R. Paul,  U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, 
No. 99-597 (.    ).
(Expert Opinion testimony on the necessity of work performed and the reasonableness
of attorney fees claimed in quantum meruit action for law firm's attorney fees against former client).

          Mason, et al., v. Portnoff Law Associates, Ltd., Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County, Pennsylvania 
No. 10355 (2005).  
(Expert Opinion testimony and authored Expert Opinion in dispute involving reasonableness of attorneys fees incurred in enforcing real estate tax lien).

​                                                       

Practice Areas

The commencement of a Bankruptcy creates what is called an "Automatic Stay".

Whether you are a small business sending out invoices, a company leasing equipment, or a bank lending money, the first step in assuring payment is good, clear, concise documentation supporting your extension of credit.

Civil Courts also provide remedies to recover possession of collateral, such as in Installment Sa

The value of property securing a debt, Collateral Value, is a very significant issue in determini

Although, Courts do not exist to enforce debts, they are a method of resolving disputes.  A Civil

In commercial obligations in Pennsylvania, a Confession of Judgment clause, or Cognovit clause, m

In addition to Creditor's remedies that the Rules of Civil Procedure and Statutes provide, a cour

 

Attorney Tom Reilly is experienced in drafting and preparing all documentation used in Credit Pro

If you are a Creditor with collateral, you are entitled to receive Adequate Protection so the val

After a judgment is acquired in a Court proceeding, a Creditor can undertake “discovery” to disco

For 40 years, Attorney Tom Reilly has drafted and modified documents for a wide variety of Credit

If a Creditor has obtained a Judgment against the entity that owes money, there are a variety of

Drawing on the experience of representing Creditors and Businesses in preparing documentation an

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act This Act provides requirements for attorneys seeking

This Federal Law imposes restrictions and duties on Debt Collectors which includes attorneys.  Th

This Rule is the reason most consumer Purchase Money contracts contain a certain Notice that make

A Creditor might find that the assets the Defendant once owned are now titled in another’s name o

When a third party owes a debt to Debtor, such as a bank or employer, a Creditor's judgment can b

For a Creditor, bankruptcy is another step along the way to the ultimate resolution of the debt.

Acting on the theory that the best defense is a good offense, customers or obligors often commence suit against the Creditor.

A legal action in Mortgage Foreclosure concludes with a Sheriff Sale of real property.

The Bankruptcy Code exempts certain kinds of debts from Discharge because of the way the debt aro

This law provides Consumers with a vehicle to assert claims against Creditors that arise from Con

When a Debtor either pursues Bankruptcy or is placed in Bankruptcy, filing a Proof of Claim is us

Receivership is a remedy used to gain control over collateral assets when a business or individua

The Civil Courts offer Creditors a variety of remedies to enforce collection when a customer fails to pay. It is important to remember that the Courts do not exist to enforce debts, but are a method of resolving disputes.

Pennsylvania has an Interest Rate law that sets the interest rates that a Creditor may charge, se

THOMAS E. REILLY P.C.

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