Associate
Liya Mitchell

Liya is an associate at Palmer and Barr, P.C. and has approximately seven years of civil litigation experience. She currently focuses her practice on civil defense litigation in Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Palmer and Barr, P.C., Liya was Trial Counsel for a large Insurance Company where she handled a wide variety of general liability cases, including premises liability, property, and motor vehicle accidents, including UM/UIM claims. Liya has considerable jury trial experience in Philadelphia and surrounding counties. Liya also worked at a regional defense firm in Philadelphia, where she specialized in general insurance defense, including premises liability, construction, and motor vehicle.

Liya has substantial experience in all facets of litigation, including depositions, witness preparation, discovery, motions, and has first-chaired numerous jury trials successfully to verdict. Liya also has experience with alternative dispute resolution, achieving defense verdicts at binding arbitration.

Liya graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Political Science in May 2011. She received her Juris Doctor from Widener University, Delaware Law School in May 2014. During her time at Widener Law, Liya was the recipient of the Service Excellence Award. She was a member of both the Moe Levine Trial Advocacy Honor Society as well as the Moot Court Honor Society. In 2014, Liya was awarded the Eve Biskind Klothen Law Student Pro Bono Distinction Award by the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Liya cares deeply about pro bono work and giving back to the community. Liya is on the Widener Law Alumni Board. She also volunteers every year as a mentor to first-year law students and as a mock trial coach for a national mock trial competition.

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Email: liya.mitchell@palmerbarr.com

Main: (215) 659-2200

Fax: (215) 659-4077

Direct: (267) 825-7968

  • Education
    • Widener University, Delaware Law School, J.D.
    • Temple University, B.A. Political Science with a minor in Philosophy
  • Memberships

    • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Admissions & Affiliations
    • State Bar, Pennsylvania
    • State Bar, New Jersey
    • United States District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • Honors & Awards

  • Areas of Focus
    • Automobile defense litigation
    • Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist actions
    • Premise Liabilty cases
  • Recent Cases & News
    • Liya defended an intersectional accident that occurred on a 4-lane roadway in Philadelphia. The Plaintiff entered the roadway after making a left-hand turn but claimed that he had completed his left-hand turn before impact. He testified that he had fully established himself in his travel lane when the Defendant entered Plaintiff's lane of travel from the shoulder, striking his vehicle on the passenger side front quarter panel. The Defendant never saw the Plaintiff before impact and claimed that he was traveling in the left-hand lane when he was unexpectedly struck by Plaintiff's vehicle as he drove through the intersection. As a result of the impact, Plaintiff's vehicle struck a third car and sustained disabling damage. Plaintiff alleged he injured his neck and back as well as a medial meniscus tear of the left knee from the accident. The Plaintiff was transported to the hospital emergency room from the scene and had eight months of follow up care. Plaintiff treated with an orthopedic specialist and was out of work following the accident due to his injuries. After a brief deliberation, the Philadelphia County jury found that the Defendant was not liable for the accident and returned a verdict in favor of Liya's client.