News & Blog

in Wilkes-Barre, PA

Elder Law Attorney Answers Question on Gifting Home and Assets

April 9, 2024

As our parents age, many of us are faced with the question of what to do with their assets. Should we encourage them to gift their house or other assets to us, their children? Should we make bank accounts joint with our parents? These are important questions to consider. It’s essential to seek the opinion of an estate planning attorney or elder law attorney before making any decisions. In this blog, we’ll explore the pros and cons of gifting assets and making bank accounts joint with children and explain why seeking professional advice from an experienced probate lawyer is crucial. The Importance of Estate Planning and Elder Law Elder law and estate planning are essential for ensuring your assets are protected and allocated in accordance with your wishes. Estate planning involves designing a plan to distribute your assets after your death, while elder law addresses the legal and financial issues […]

Beyond the Numbers: Unveiling the Tragic Results of Diagnostic Errors

March 19, 2024

In healthcare, diagnoses serve as the cornerstone of treatment and recovery. They guide medical interventions, shape patient journeys, and ultimately determine outcomes. Yet, what happens when these medical diagnoses miss the mark? Diagnostic errors are a silent yet profound threat to individuals and families. Diagnostic errors occur when a diagnosis is missed, wrong, or delayed, leading to severe patient consequences. Medical misdiagnosis and other diagnostic errors can stem from many factors, including misinterpretation of symptoms, flawed testing processes, communication breakdowns among healthcare providers, and even systemic issues within healthcare systems. Research Concludes Burden of Serious Harm from Diagnostic Errors An article first published on July 17, 2023, and updated on August 8, 2023, by BMJ Quality & Safety sheds light on the staggering burden of serious harms resulting from diagnostic errors. The study aimed to estimate the annual US burden of serious misdiagnosis-related harms. The findings by BMJ Quality, which […]

The National Trial Lawyers Announces the Selection of Attorney Robert West as a Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyer in Pennsylvania

May 24, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The National Trial Lawyers is pleased to announce that Attorney Robert West of Distasio, Kowalski & Yelen LLC in Wilkes-Barre has been selected as an NTL – Civil Plaintiff – Top 40 under 40 Trial Lawyer in the state of Pennsylvania. This honor is given to only the top 40 under 40 attorneys for their superior qualifications, trial results, and leadership as young criminal defense and civil plaintiff lawyers. Membership into The National Trial Lawyers 40 Under 40 provides recognition to these distinguished attorneys, and provides essential legal news, information, and continuing education to trial lawyers across the United States. The National Trial Lawyers congratulates Robert West for continuously striving to encompass knowledge, skill, experience, and success. By combining resources, power, and influence, The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 is dedicated to preserving and defending justice for all. To learn more about The National Trial Lawyers, […]

Distasio & Kowalski Law Firm Announces Change to Distasio, Kowalski & Yelen LLC

May 24, 2023

Attorney Jeffrey A. Yelen and Attorney Robert K. West Jr. join the Firm WILKES-BARRE, PA – MAY 9, 2023 – Attorneys Daniel J. Distasio and Michael J. Kowalski are pleased to announce that Attorney Jeffrey A. Yelen has joined the firm as a Partner. With the addition of Attorney Yelen, the firm has been renamed Distasio, Kowalski & Yelen, LLC. Attorney Yelen maintains expertise across a range of sectors, including personal injury, workers’ compensation, social security disability, estates, wills and trusts, real estate, business law and litigation, family law, and criminal law. “We are delighted to welcome someone with Jeff’s unique skill set and his commitment to the local community as a partner in the firm,” said Attorney Kowalski. “Jeff’s expertise enhances the firm’s capabilities, enabling us to better serve our clients with expanded legal services to meet all of their needs,” added Attorney Distasio. Prior to joining Distasio, Kowalski […]

Distasio, Kowalski & Yelen Selected as 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers

June 15, 2022

WILKES-BARRE, PA – JUNE 15, 2022 – Distasio & Kowalski LLC is pleased to announce that attorneys Daniel J. Distasio and Michael J. Kowalski, partners in the personal injury firm, have been named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for the 14th consecutive year. Both have been top-rated in the categories of Personal Injury Attorney, General: Plaintiff, as well as Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff. The partners from Distasio & Kowalski have handled hundreds of complex cases, including birth injury, medical negligence, wrongful death, medical malpractice, as well as auto and tractor-trailer crash cases. Super Lawyers rates lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high level of peer recognition and professional achievement. The objective is to create a comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys. Candidates are first nominated by their peers and then subjected to a multi-phase comprehensive state-by-state selection process. Each year, no more than 5 percent of the […]

Daniel J. Distasio named to Nation’s Top One Percent by NADC

April 8, 2022

Daniel J. Distasio, of Distasio & Kowalski L.L.C., has been selected to the 2022 list as a member of the Nation’s Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. NADC is an organization dedicated to promoting the highest standards of legal excellence. Its mission is to objectively recognize the attorneys who elevate the standards of the Bar and provide a benchmark for other lawyers to emulate. Members are thoroughly vetted by a research team, selected by a blue-ribbon panel of attorneys with podium status from independently neutral organizations, and approved by a judicial review board as exhibiting virtue in the practice of law. Due to the incredible selectivity of the appointment process, only the top one percent of attorneys in the United States are awarded membership in NADC. This elite class of advocates consists of the finest leaders of the legal profession from across the nation. […]