Steven F. Marino Esquire
Telephone: 215.462.3200 | Fax: 215.462.4763
Prior to founding the law firm of Marino Associates, Mr. Marino was the law partner of the Honorable Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin M. Dougherty in the law firm of Marino & Dougherty, LLP. Mr. Marino has served as a Philadelphia County Assistant District Attorney and legal adviser to the Honorable Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Judge Kevin M. Dougherty, Administrative Judge of the Trial Division. Steven Marino has served as counsel for the most prominent labor union in the Philadelphia region, Local Union No. 98, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ Union. He has been listed as an attorney who has received the top 100 verdicts in Pennsylvania by Verdict Search. Steven F. Marino is a trial lawyer with courtroom experience in excess of thirty (30) years, trying both civil and criminal jury trials to verdict in both the Pennsylvania state and the United States federal courts.
Great Trials Become Great Victories
In a recent case tried before a jury in Dauphin County Pennsylvania, trial lawyer Steven Marino secured what has been characterized as the largest verdict ever recorded in Dauphin County history. A jury awarded his client, Intercollegiate Athletics Team Orthopedic Physician for the Penn State University Football Team and Director of Athletic Medicine for Penn State University Scott Lynch, MD, $5.25 million after finding he was wrongfully demoted by Hershey Medical Center/Penn State Health in 2019. The jury determined the demotion of Dr. Lynch was a direct response, and retaliation against him, for his refusal to permit Coach James Franklin to interfere with his medical autonomy and return-to-play decisions of student athletes.
During the trial, journalist John Luciew of Penn Live, an award-winning writer who covered the trial extensively, praised Steven Marino’s courtroom talent, describing his opening statement as a masterclass in trial advocacy. Luciew depicted Steven Marino as an aggressive and persistent attorney who successfully turned the Lynch vs. Milton Hershey Medical Center’s wrongful termination trial into a referendum on James Franklin’s meddling in medical decisions.
Marino successfully argued that Lynch was ousted from his role with the Penn State football team for resisting interference in medical decisions by head coach James Franklin, despite Franklin and the university being dismissed from the case earlier on technicalities.
Luciew specifically highlighted Marino’s talent for:
Compelling Storytelling:
Marino’s ability to weave a complex legal case—centered on “at-will employment” and retaliation—into a clear, human narrative about a doctor standing up for student-athletes.
Precision and Preparation:
Luciew described Marino’s delivery as precise and highly organized, effectively framing the case as one of medical integrity versus administrative pressure from Penn State football coach James Franklin.
Courtroom Presence:
Marino was noted for his poise and “old-school” trial lawyer gravitas, which Luciew suggested was instrumental in keeping the jury engaged throughout the dense medical and legal testimony.
Detailed Recall:
Memorizing complex facts and timelines without relying heavily on notes
Watch CBS Exclusive Interview with John Liuciew
Reporter speaks on former PSU doctor winning $5 million in case against Penn State Health:
Steven F. Marino is the founder of Marino Associates, P.C. located in the heart of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Pre-Law from the Pennsylvania State University in 1983, and Juris Doctor from Dickinson School of Law in 1988.
He is a two-time All-American Gymnast and a 4-year member of the U.S. National Men’s Gymnastics Team. He has been awarded medals in the 1983 Olympic Sports Festival, 1983 Keystone Games, 1983 Hopewell Games.
He devotes his practice to representing plaintiffs in Complex Civil Litigation including, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Professional Negligence, Premise Liability, Wrongful Death, Sexual Abuse, Workers’ Compensation and Employment Discrimination.
Steven has over 30 years of courtroom experience and has represented clients before Workers’ Compensation Judges and Appeal Boards, various Courts of Common Pleas, Commonwealth, Superior, and Federal Court Judges. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the United States District Courts for the Middle and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania.
Steven has various awards and recognition’s for his efforts in Civil Litigation:
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2018-2026 – The National Trial Lawyers Association
- Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys in PA, 2019-2021 – National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys
- Ranked among the top Personal Injury (plaintiff) attorneys in America, 2019 – Best Lawyers
- Best Lawyers, 2019 Edition – Recognized in top 5% percentile of U.S. Personal Injury Attorneys (Plaintiff)
He has also been featured on local and national media outlets:
- ABC ACTION NEWS CBS 3
- NEW YORK TIMES
- ESPN
- SPORTS ILLUSTRATOR
- LAW.COM
- LAW360.COM
- THE LEGAL INTELLIGENCIER
- THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
- FORBES
- FOX NEWS
- WHYY PBS and NPR
- THE PENNSYLVANIA RECORDS
DICKINSON SCHOOL OF LAW, Carlisle, PA
Juris Doctorate 1988
Activities: Delta Theta Phi, Trial Moot Court Board, ABA Student Division, Student-Teacher Relations Committee, Carlisle Boxing Team 1987-1988.
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, State College, PA
Bachelor of Arts 1984
Pre-Law Major / Business Minor
Activities: Varsity Gymnastics Team 1979-1983, Captain 1983, U.S. National Gymnastics Team 1981-1984.
Honors: 1984 Olympic Hopeful, 1983 Nissen Award Nominee, Parmi Nous Honor Society
KATZ, MURPHY, DANIELLO, & FARREL, Norristown, PA
1988 to February 1989 Served as a law associate; areas of law practiced: personal injury, criminal, domestic, RICO actions. Prepared documentation, discovery, brief writing, and witness preparation.
PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Philadelphia, PA
February 1989 to December 1994 Served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Office of the Philadelphia District Attorney. Assignments: Economic Crimes Unit, Municipal Court Unit, Juvenile Court Unit, Felony-Waivers Unit, Major Trials Unit. Served as lead trial counsel in bench trials and major jury trials which involved misdemeanor and felony criminal charges.
LEGAL ADVISOR CLERK TO THE HONORABLE PHILADELPHIA COUNTY COURT OF COMMON JUDGE PAUL PANEPINTO, Philadelphia, PA
1994 – 1996 Served as the legal advisor and law clerk to Administrative Judge the Honorable Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Judge Paul Panepinto. Assignments: legal research; draft memorandums of law and legal treatises; writing judicial opinions.
PHILADELPHIA COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS MASTER, Philadelphia, PA
1994 – 1996 Served as a master in Philadelphia County Court of Common. Assignments: exercised judicial judgment and entered recommended orders in matters initiated pursuant to the provision of the Pennsylvania Juvenile Act.
MARINO & DOUGHERTY, LLP, Philadelphia, PA
1994 – 2000 Founding partner of the law firm of Marino & Dougherty, LLP.
Served as a trial lawyer for the three man law firm, which included Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin M. Dougherty, dedicated to litigation matters. Primary areas of law practiced: personal injury, criminal defense, domestic relations, and workers’ compensation. Served as lead trial counsel in bench trials and major jury trials representing criminal defendants involving misdemeanor and felony charges in state and federal court systems. Served as lead trial counsel in arbitrations, bench trials and major jury trials representing plaintiffs in personal injury matters and wrongful death proceedings in state and federal court systems. Served as lead trial counsel on behalf of claimants in matters convened before workers’ compensation judges. Served as appellate counsel on behalf of clients in the Pennsylvania Superior Court, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third District and the United States Supreme Court.
LEGAL ADVISOR CLERK TO THE HONORABLE PHILADELPHIA COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS JUDGE KEVIN M. DOUGHERTY , Philadelphia, PA
2000 – 2014 Served as the legal advisor and law clerk to Administrative Judge the Honorable Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Judge Kevin M. Dougherty. Assignments: legal research; draft memorandums of law; prepare legal treatises; writing judicial opinions; advise on the administrative operation of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas – Family Division
MARINO ASSOCIATES Philadelphia, PA
2000 – present Founder of the law firm of Marino Associates. Serves as a trial lawyer for the three man law firm dedicated to litigation matters Primary areas of law practiced: personal injury, criminal defense, and workers’ compensation. Serves as lead trial counsel representing plaintiffs in personal injury matters and wrongful death proceedings in the state and federal court systems. Serves as lead trial counsel representing claimants in matters convened before workers’ compensation judges in the state and federal court systems.
Serves as lead trial counsel representing criminal defendants in the state and federal court systems. Served as appellate counsel on behalf of clients in the Pennsylvania Superior Court, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third District and the United States Supreme Court.
- The courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania November 14, 1988
- The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania May 30, 1996
- The United States Court of Appeals for the Third District March 12, 2001
- The United States Supreme Court April 5, 2004
- The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois(Pro Hac Vice)
- In the District of Dallas,Texas192ND Judicial District(Pro Hac Vice)
- Superior Court of New Jersey Law Division(Pro Hac Vice)
- United States District Court For The District of Delaware (Pro Hac Vice)
- State of New York Supreme Court (Pro Hac Vice)
- United States District Court District of New Jersey (Pro Hac Vice)
- Trial Moot Court Board
- ABA Student Division
- Student-Teacher Relations Committee
- Parmi Nous Honor Society
SPORTS
- Penn State University Varsity Gymnastics Team 1979-1983
- Captain of the Men’s Penn State Gymnastics Team 1983
- United States National Gymnastics Team 1981-1984
- 1983 Nissen Award Nominee
- 1984 Olympic Hopeful
- Carlisle Boxing Team 1987-1988
- Boxing’s Golden Gloves Pennsylvania’s Novice Regional Champion 1987
- Hall of Champions Inductee, 2018, Norristown, Pennsylvania
LAW
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2018-2026 – The National Trial Lawyers Association
- Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys in PA, 2019-2020 – National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys
- Ranked among the top Personal Injury (plaintiff) attorneys in America, 2019 – Best Lawyers
- Best Lawyers, 2019 Edition – Recognized in top 5% percentile of U.S. Personal Injury Attorneys (Plaintiff)
- Best Lawyers, 2020 Edition – Recognized in top 5% percentile of U.S. Personal Injury Attorneys (Plaintiff)
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Justinian Society
CIVIL / PERSONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Delta Theta Phi
- Pennsport Civic Association
- Greater Roxborough Sons of Italy Lodge #2217
- Harrowgate Boxing Club
A Champion Then, A Champion Now
The Iron Cross
Steven Marino • Penn State University Varsity Men's Gymnastics Team 1979-1983 • Two-Time All-American Gymnast
1984 Olympic Hopeful
Steven F. Marino • 1984 Olympic Hopeful • Four Year Member of the U.S. National Gymnastics Team
The Best at What He Does
Steven F. Marino • Nominee of the Prestigious Nissan Award • Captain of the Men's Penn State Gymnastics Team 1983
