While Flyers Fade on Ice, Stanley Cup Winner Victorious in Court

MEDIA, PA, April 29th, 2011 – While the Flyers seemed destined to be eliminated from the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, former Flyer and Stanley Cup winner Ed Van Impe, represented by Eckell Sparks attorney Pat Henigan earned a hard fought victory in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. Van Impe was a mainstay of the Flyers Stanley Cup winning teams in 1975 and 1976.  In one of the most storied games in Flyers’ history, the hard as nails Van Impe almost caused an international incident when his hit on Valeri Kharlamov resulted in the Russian Red Army team leaving the Spectrum ice; only to return and suffer its only defeat by an NHL team.

Through the same hard work and determination that marked his career, Van Impe built a successful insurance business after his playing days were over.  In 2006, Van Impe sold his insurance agencies Dublin Hall Financial Services, Inc. and Dublin Hall Brokers, Inc to Vlahos Dunn Insurance.  Approximately seven months after the transaction closed, Vlahos Dunn stopped making payments required under the Agreement of Sale.  In June 2007, Van Impe initiated suit in Montgomery County seeking $98,000 in damages for payments due under the Agreement.  Vlahos Dunn denied Van Impe’s allegations and countersued claiming that Van Impe had breached the terms of the Agreement by making material misrepresentations and failing to perform post closing tasks required by the Agreement.  Vlahos Dunn claimed $300,000 in damages against Van Impe.

At trial, Van Impe’s credibility and reputation were severely challenged by the Defendant and the result of the case seemed top hinge completely on credibility determinations.  As during his playing days, Van Impe was candid and earnest.  After the trial and the submission of post- trial briefs, by Order dated April 29, 2011, the Honorable Bernard Moore found in favor of Van Impe awarding him $98,489 in damages with interest accruing at 6% from February 1, 2007.  The total of the award as of May 4, 2011 exceeds $123,000.  Judge Moore further vindicated Van Impe’s reputation by finding in favor of Van Impe on all of Vlahos Dunn’s claims.

Pattrick T. Henigan is an attorney with Eckell, Sparks, Levy, Auerbach, Monte, Sloane, Matthews & Auslander, P.C and possesses over 20 years’ experience handling complex litigation matters. He has tried in excess of 100 cases to verdict and participated in several hundred arbitrations. Pat’s practice focuses primarily on complex commercial litigation in civil and Orphans’ Courts. In addition to representing clients in civil court, Pat has litigated matters before several administrative bodies including the Trademark Appeal Trial Board  To learn more about Patrick T. Henigan, visit his bio page on the firm’s web site.