“My clients are not big companies—I represent regular people and my work has always been motivated by a need to help them.”

Larry Bendesky

Managing Shareholder

Larry Bendesky is one of Pennsylvania’s most respected and accomplished trial lawyers. Despite his decades of complex litigation practice, his workstyle remains very hands-on.

$101,000,000A global settlement worth more than $101 million has been reached in the ...Read Story
$27,000,000Larry Bendesky, Adam J. Pantano and Javier Puga obtained a $27M settlement ...Read Story
$24,000,000Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky attorneys Larry Bendesky, Robert Zimmerman, and ...Read Story
$23,000,000Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky attorneys Larry Bendesky, Adam J. Pantano and ...Read Story
$14,000,000A man whose skull was crushed while he was doing roofing work at a local ...Read Story
$13,000,000A crane operator who lost one leg and suffered serious injuries to the ...Read Story
$12,000,000A roofer who was paralyzed from the neck down after a 40-foot fall will be ...Read Story

Larry Bendesky is the Managing Shareholder of Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky. He has handled more than 200 catastrophic injury and accident cases resulting in verdicts or settlements that have exceeded $1 million, and numerous cases over $10 million, including a $101 million settlement for the collapse of the Tropicana Hotel’s parking garage in Atlantic City. The Tropicana case was the largest settlement of a construction case in U.S. history.

Practice Areas

Larry’s cases have focused primarily on construction accidents and product liability claims, but his experience spans a wide range of incidents, including building collapses, elevator and escalator failures, industrial equipment design defects, power tool defects, roadway design cases, motor vehicle accidents, and consumer product defects. Catastrophic accident cases are complicated, involve tens of thousands of documents, and dozens of fact and expert witnesses. Over his 30-year legal career, Larry has brought his relentless, detail-oriented approach to his cases and has made a significant difference in the lives of thousands of clients.

He has been named a Pennsylvania Superlawyer every year it has been awarded and has been named a Top 100 Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Superlawyer for the past five consecutive years. He has been listed among the Best Lawyers in America each of the past 10 years. Larry has lectured more than 80 times, teaching other lawyers about cross-examination, evidence, construction law, and product liability. After graduating with the Faculty Award as the best lawyer in his Masters in Trial Advocacy (LL.M.) class, Larry has become an Adjunct Professor in the LL.M. Program and has been the Director of its Experts and Depositions Program.

Larry has always been drawn to the struggle individuals face when they do battle with big companies and their large law firms. Larry not only fights for his injured clients, but also feels an obligation to help those who cannot afford a lawyer for their legal problems, as he is active on the Board of Directors of Philadelphia Community Legal Services and Philadelphia Legal Assistance.

Larry’s leadership is not limited to SMB and legal aid. He served as President of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers’ Association from 2017-2018 and has been on its Board of Governors since 2008. He is also on the Board of Governors of the state trial lawyers’ association, PAJ, and is on the Board of Directors of the national trial lawyers’ association, AAJ, as Pennsylvania’s Delegate. He is on the Board of Directors of the Committee of 70 and was the President of the Temple American Inn of Court, a group of prominent lawyers and judges. Larry served at the request of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as a member of its Appellate Rules Committee from 2008 – 2014. Larry has also been a leader in his community, serving as a coach, Commissioner, and President of Lower Merion Little League.

Honors & Awards

Named by Peers to the Top 100: 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List
Named by Peers to the 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List
Named by Peers to the Top 100: 2022 Philadelphia Super Lawyers List
Named by Peers to the Top 100: 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List
Named by Peers to the 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List
Faculty Award, Outstanding Lawyer, Temple LL.M. in Trial Advocacy, 2000-2001
The Best Lawyers in America^®– Personal Injury Litigation (2009-2024)
The Best Lawyers in America^® – Product Liability Litigation (2019-2024)
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers – Top 100 Lawyer in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania (2009, 2015-2020)
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers – Personal Injury Plaintiff: Products Liability (2004-2020)

The awards and accolades displayed on this website were issued to the attorneys, or the entire law firm, by the respective providers of these honors. No aspect of these advertisements have been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Admissions

United States District Court of New Jersey
United States District Courts of the Eastern District Pennsylvania
United States District Courts of the Middle District of Pennsylvania
United States District Courts of the Western District of Pennsylvania
New Jersey State Courts
Pennsylvania State Courts

Education

Pennsylvania State University, B.A. with honors 1984
Delaware School of Law of Widener University, J.D. 1987
Temple University Beasley School of Law, L.L.M., Trial Advocacy with Honors (Faculty Award – Outstanding Student) 2002
Chief Clerk, Honorable James R. Melinson, Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Temple University Beasley School of Law, LL.M. Trial Advocacy (Recipient, Faculty Award as Class’ Outstanding Student/Lawyer)
Adjunct Professor of Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law
Co-Director, Experts and Deposition Program, Temple University Beasley School of Law
Judge Pro Tempore, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
Member, Appellate Rules Committee, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 2008-2014
Hearing Committee Chairman, Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 2002-2003

Professional Organizations

Committee of 70 Board Member (2019-Present)
American Association of Justice
- Leaders Members Forum (2012-Present)
- President’s Club (2019-Present)
- Pennsylvania Delegate, Board of Governors (2018-Present)
President, Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association 2017-2018
President Elect, Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association 2016-2017
Vice President, Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association 2015-2016
Board of Governors, Pennsylvania Association for Justice 2007 to present
Board of Directors, Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association 2008 to present
Board of Directors, Temple American Inn of Court 2004 to present
President, Temple American Inn of Court 2009-2010
Board of Directors, Philadelphia Community Legal Services 2016 to present
Co-Chair, Community Legal Services 2017 Bar Campaign
Board of Directors, Lower Merion Township Little League 2004-2006
President, Lower Merion Township Little League 2007-2009

Lectures and Seminars

Handling Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (April 23, 2024)
Handling Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (April 16, 2024)
Handling Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (April 9, 2024)
Handling Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (April 2, 2024)
Handling Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (March 26, 2024)
Handling Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (March 19, 2024)
Handling Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (March 12, 2024)
Evidence through the Movies Program with Judge Bernstein (Remote) (March 4, 2024)
Handling Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (February 20, 2024)
Handling Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (February 13, 2024)
Handling Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (February 6, 2024)
Handling Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (January 30, 2024)
Handling Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (January 23, 2024)
Handling Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (January 16, 2024)
Evidence through the Movies Program with Judge Bernstein (Zoom) (October 31, 2023)
Experts Lecture to Temple LLM Students (Zoom) (September 27, 2023)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State (March 31, 2023)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State (March 30, 2023)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State (March 24, 2023)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State (March 23, 2023)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State (Remote) (March 16, 2023)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State (March 3, 2023)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State (March 2, 2023)
Evidence through the Movies Program with Judge Bernstein (Remote) (February 28, 2023)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State (February 24, 2023)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State (February 23, 2023)
Judge Bernstein’s Class Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, (February 21, 2023)
Penn State Law (w/Jordan Howell) (January 6, 2023)
DRI Annual PI Practicum CLE Event – Keynote Speaker – Creatively Handling Deposition Issues, Pennsylvania Convention Center (October 27, 2022)
Opening Statements Lecture at Judge Lazarus’ Trial Advocacy Class Temple University Beasley School of Law (October 26, 2022)
Pennsylvania Association of Justice Presentation, “Depositions”, Atlantic City, NJ (Zoom) (July 23, 2022)
Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association Luncheon Lecture, “Depositions”, Philadelphia (Zoom) (April 13, 2022)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State Law (April 1, 2022)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State Law (March 25, 2022)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State Law (Zoom) (March 18, 2022)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State Law (March 4, 2022)
Guest Lecturer at Mark Bernstein’s Litigation Class Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, (February 17, 2022)
Guest Speaker at Sam Pond’s Temple Law Class (Zoom) (October 26, 2021)
Experts Lecture to Temple LLM Students (Zoom) (October 6, 2021)
Guest Speaker at Sam Pond’s Temple Law Class (Zoom) (October 27, 2020)
Experts Lecture to Temple LLM Students (Zoom) (October 8, 2020)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State (Zoom) (April 4, 2020)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State (Zoom) (April 3, 2020)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State (Zoom) (March 28, 2020)
Litigating Cases in the Real World, Adjunct Professor, Penn State (Zoom) (March 27, 2020)
Guest Speaker at Jerry Lehocky’s Drexel Law Class (March 3, 2020)
Opening Statements Lecture at Judge Lazarus’ Trial Advocacy Class Temple Law (February 26, 2020)
Guest Speaker at Sam Pond’s Temple Law Class (October 15, 2019)
Experts Lecture to Temple LLM Students (September 21, 2019)
The Art of Simplifying the Complex Case, PBI, Philadelphia, PA (September 18, 2019)
Depositions Lecture to Temple LLM Students (August 29, 2019)
Opening Statements Lecture at Judge Lazarus’ Trial Advocacy Class Temple Law (March 13, 2019)
Demonstrative Evidence for Trial Lawyers with Judge Bernstein, Drexel, Philadelphia, PA (March 6, 2019)
Experts Lecture to Temple LLM Students (September 13, 2018)
Evidence for Trial Lawyers with Judge Bernstein, PBI, Philadelphia, PA (June 6, 2018)
NJAJ Educational Foundation Inc.’s Personal Injury – Boardwalk 2018 – Top 10 in America: Tricks and Traps of Depositions, Atlantic City, NJ (May 11, 2018)
Cross Examination Lecture with Judge Bernstein – Part III – Advanced, PBI, Philadelphia, PA (January 10, 2018)
Cross Examination Lecture with Judge Bernstein – Intermediate program, PBI, Philadelphia, PA (December 19, 2017)
Cross Examination Lecture with Judge Bernstein – Part I – “My First Cross Examination”, PBI, Philadelphia, PA (November 8, 2017)
Experts Lecture to Temple LLM Students (September 7, 2017)
“Video Compilation of Expert Testimony”, SEAK Expert Witness Course, Clearwater, FL (May 7, 2017)
“Trial Skills and Cross Examination with Judge Bernstein”, PBI, Pittsburgh, PA (March 29, 2017)
“Trial Skills and Cross Examination with Judge Bernstein”, PBI, Philadelphia, PA (February 28, 2017)
“The Catastrophic Injury Case: Quadriplegia, Paraplegia and Spinal Injury Cases”, PBI, Philadelphia, PA (February 17, 2017)
University of Pennsylvania Undergraduate Program, Drexel Law School, Philadelphia, PA (December 8, 2016)
“Practical Approaches to Consumer Product Claims”, Personal Injury Practicum Seminar, Philadelphia, PA (November 1, 2016)
“2016 Hot Topics for Civil Litigators”, New Brunswick, NJ (September 24, 2016)
“High Stakes Mediations: A Look Behind the Curtain”, Bench Bar, Atlantic City, NJ (September 23, 2016)
Experts Lecture to Temple LLM Students (September 8, 2016)
“Trending Technology – In and Out of the Courtroom”, The Legal Intelligencer’s Litigation Summit, Philadelphia, PA (April 6, 2016)
Bucks County Civil Litigation CLE Presentation, Doylestown, PA (March 9, 2016)
“The Art of Being a Paralegal”, The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals’ 2015 Education Conference, Philadelphia, PA (October 23, 2015)
Bench Bar Presentation – Product Liability in PA, Atlantic City, NJ (October 16, 2015)
Experts Lecture to Temple LLM Students (September 10, 2015)
Cross Examination and Depositions Lecture to Temple LLM Students (September 3, 2015)
A Day on Trial:A Roadmap for Trying the Workplace Injury Case, New Brunswick, NJ (July 8, 2015)
“Cross Examination of Expert Witnesses”, Pennsylvania Defense Institute, Bethlehem, PA (June 18, 2015)
Construction Site Accidents, NASP, Blue Bell, PA (April 9, 2015)
Cross Examining the Expert Witness, Berks County Bar Presentation (April 7, 2015)
Cross Examining the Expert Witness, Commercial Litigation Institute (March 18, 2015)
Cross Examination Lecture to Temple LLM Students (September 11, 2014)
Cross Examination Lecture to Temple LLM Students (September 19, 2013)
Cross Examination Lecture to Temple LLM Students (November 23, 2013)
“A Litigation Primer for Paralegals”, The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals’ 2013 Education Conference, Philadelphia, PA (November 8, 2013)
“Powerful and Persuasive Tactics and Techniques and Using Depositions in the Opening Statement – Expanding the Horizon”, Orlando, FL (February 20, 2013)
Workplace Accident Seminar, Rutgers Law Center, One Constitution Square, New Brunswick, NJ (April 6, 2013)
Cross Examination Lecture to Temple LLM Students (November 17, 2012)
Cross Examination Lecture to Temple LLM Students (November 19, 2011)
Cross Examination and Evidence, Bucks County Bar Association (June 8, 2011)
Defense Association CLE, North Hills Country Club (June 7, 2011)
Cross Examination Seminar, Fort Washington, PA ( April 30, 2011)
“Entertaining” Evidence- Cross Examination for the 21^stCentury, Mechanicsburg, PA (December 15, 2010)
“Entertaining” Evidence- Cross Examination for the 21^stCentury, Philadelphia, PA (December 9, 2010)
Cross Examination Lecture to Temple LLM Students (November 19, 2010)
Cross Examination Lecture to Temple LLM Students (November 11, 2010)
“Entertaining” Evidence- Cross Examination for the 21^stCentury, Media, PA (November 10, 2010)
Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Forensic & Litigation Services Conference: Dos and Don’ts of Testifying, King of Prussia, PA (November 10, 2009)
Cross Examination Lecture to Temple LLM Students (October 16, 2009)
Cross Examination Lecture to Temple LLM Students (October 7, 2009)
A.W. Regional Conference: Workers’ Compensation Act, Fort Washington, PA (May 14, 2009)
The Stress and Success of Cross Examination, Allentown, PA (April 28, 2009)
The Stress and Success of Cross Examination, Philadelphia, PA (April 21, 2009)
The Stress and Success of Cross Examination, State College, PA (April 17, 2009)
Evidence on Film, Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges and Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, Pittsburgh, PA (February 20, 2009)
Pennsylvania Association for Justice’s Premises Liability Seminar, Philadelphia, PA (November 11, 2008)
How to Make Your Next Cross Examination The Greatest Cross Examination Ever!, Pittsburgh, PA (April 29, 2008)
Linking Technology to Victory: The Art of Preparing, Settling and Trying Cases in the Digital Age, Philadelphia, PA (December 19, 2007)
Linking Technology to Victory: The Art of Preparing, Settling and Trying Cases in the Digital Age, Pittsburgh, PA (December 14, 2007)
Linking Technology to Victory: The Art of Preparing, Settling and Trying Cases in the Digital Age, Mechanicsburg, PA (December 4, 2007)
The CSI Construction Lawyer: What Happened at the Tropicana Garage? What Did the Focus Group Think? Hear How They Achieved a 100-Million Dollar Settlement, East Rutherford, NJ (October 19, 2007)
Construction Litigation – Tropicana Parking Garage Collapse Litigation, Philadelphia, PA (October 18, 2007)
Judge Bernstein Presents Evidence Through the Movies with Larry Bendesky, Allentown, PA (April 19, 2007)
Judge Bernstein Presents Evidence Through the Movies with Larry Bendesky, Scranton, PA (April 17, 2007)
Judge Bernstein Presents Evidence Through the Movies with Larry Bendesky, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA (April 4, 2007)
Judge Bernstein Presents Evidence Through the Movies with Larry Bendesky, Mechanicsburg, PA (March 29, 2007)
Legal Issues for Pennsylvania Architects – Construction Site Safety Issues, Fort Washington, PA (January 25, 2007)
Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association: Annual Update for Civil Litigators, Philadelphia, PA (October 6, 2006)
Breakfast at Bernstein’s – Evidence with Bernstein, Atlantic City, NJ (September 30, 2006)
Excavation and Trench Safety Procedures in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (August 15, 2006)
Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association: Annual Update PTLA Convention Seminar, Nemacolin, PA (July 7, 2006)
Premises Liability: Strategies for Winning Your Case: Proving Damages, Philadelphia, PA (December 9, 2005)
Damages – Visual Persuasion, Philadelphia, PA (March 15, 2005)
Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association: Annual Update for Civil Litigators, Philadelphia, PA (October 4, 2004)
Liability Issues Resulting From Construction Safety Hazards: The Plaintiff’s Perspective, Philadelphia, PA (May 7, 2004)
Managing the Risk of Construction Safety Hazards: Statutory Employer and Borrowed Servant Doctrines, Philadelphia, PA (May 7, 2004)
Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association: Annual Update Seminar, Philadelphia, PA (October 9, 2003)
Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association’s Orphan’s Court for Plaintiffs’ Lawyers, Philadelphia, PA (April 18, 2002)
Tort Update: Part I – Auto & Product Liability, Philadelphia, PA (October 11, 2001)
Investigating and Putting Together the Product Liability Case Before Suit is Filed, Philadelphia, PA (February 21, 2001)
Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association: Construction Litigation Seminar, Philadelphia, PA (May 12, 1999)
Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association: Construction Site & Other Workplace Injury Program, Philadelphia, PA (1998)
Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association: Damages Seminar, Philadelphia, PA (March 8, 1996)