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Mark Schmidt is a lifelong resident of southeastern Pennsylvania, graduating from Upper Darby High School (1983), the University of Pennsylvania (1987), and Temple University School of Law (1990). He has practiced in the Workers’ Compensation law field for over Thirty Years. He is a Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist (pursuant to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and PA Bar Assn Rules).
Mark began his career as a law clerk at PMA Insurance Company and became staff counsel upon his admission to the Bar in 1990, defending employers against work injury claims. In 1994, he became a sole practitioner affiliated with a law firm in Delaware County and has represented injured workers against insurance companies ever since. There, he met Vasil Kirifides, Esq., and they opened the firm Schmidt & Kirifides in 1997. Later, when joined by George Rassias, the firm became Schmidt, Kirifides & Rassias.
Mark has argued several “Landmark Cases” before the Supreme and Commonwealth Courts of Pennsylvania in support of the rights of Injured Workers. After being recognized by Law & Politics and Philadelphia Magazine as a “Rising Star” in 2005, he has been named one of Pennsylvania’s Super Lawyers every year since 2007. From 2012 to now, he has earned the Martindale-Hubbell Client Distinction Award and carries the ultimate AV Rating. He has been voted by his clients as a “Client Champion” and “Delaware County Best Workers’ Compensation Lawyer.”
He has been an invited Presenter at CLE Seminars on Workers’ Compensation topics for the Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and Delaware County Bar Associations, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, several Labor Unions, and other Institutions. He has occasionally appeared on Television to speak about Workers’ Compensation issues. He is a member of the Delaware County Bar Association and their Workers’ Compensation Committee, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the Pennsylvania Association for Justice (formerly PA Trial Lawyers Association). He married Deborah Sawyer in 1995, and he and his wife reside in West Chester, Pa., with their two children. Having suffered a severe, work-related low back injury himself in 2008 and again in 2017, Mark is truly sympathetic to the pain each of his clients must go through, as well as the frustration they experience with the Workers’ Compensation “system.” He is uniquely qualified to show compassion and understanding to his client’s needs and concerns.
Mark R. Schmidt authored an Article Published in the Delco Re: View, the Delaware County Bar Associations’ Quarterly News Journal. The article discussed Attorney Schmidt’s involvement in the “Re-Invented Workers’ Compensation Committee of the DCBA” since becoming one of the Co-Chairs of the Committee.
Attorney Schmidt has also led numerous Continuing Legal Education Seminars throughout his career. Most recently, he spoke at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute program, Tough Problems in Workers’ Compensation, on “How to Deal with Difficult Litigators.” He also presented at the Delaware County Bar Association Bench Bar Conference on the issue of “Protecting Medicaid Eligibility,” a topic becoming more prevalent in many fields of law where an individual may become disqualified from Medical Assistance benefits after receiving a settlement, verdict, inheritance or other income greater than the qualifying limits.
Vasil L. Kirifides is a founding member of Schmidt, Kirifides & Rassias. Since 1990, Vasil has been working to ensure that Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Claimants receive all that they are owed under the law. For over 30 years, he has dedicated his practice to defending injured workers against Employers and their insurance carriers. Vasil has argued and won numerous cases before the Appeal Board and the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Two Landmark decisions relied on by many claimants across the state are Sebastiano, involving an injured worker who was the innocent victim of horseplay by co-workers, and Heffernan, where the claimant passed away as a result opioids prescribed for his work injury.
Vasil has been recognized as a Top Lawyer by Main Line Today, The Delaware County Daily Times and has be named a Super Lawyer by Philadelphia Magazine. Vasil has a broad and loyal following of clients in the Hispanic communities of Kennett Square, Reading, Allentown and Lancaster.
Vasil was born and in the Northern Delaware and graduated from St. Joseph’s University (1985) and Western Michigan University – Cooley Law School (1990). He currently lives in Chester County, Pennsylvania with his wife and three children.
KRISTIN BUDDLE is a determined and passionate trial attorney representing injured victims across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Kristin focuses her practice on all aspects of serious personal injury, including wrongful death, motor vehicle and trucking accidents, premises liability, medical negligence and nursing home neglect/abuse claims. Kristin has dedicated her career to zealously advocating for her clients in and out of the courtroom, proudly assisting them and their families to get back on their feet while obtaining the best results for each and every one.
Prior to joining Stampone O’Brien Dilsheimer Law, Kristin litigated hundreds of personal injury and Workers’ Compensation cases, and secured millions of dollars in settlements, verdicts, and awards on behalf of her clients. Among other successes, Kristin was featured in Verdict Search in 2018 for securing a substantial jury verdict in Monroe County, Pennsylvania on behalf of a client who was severely injured as the result defective stairs.
Kristin is licensed to practice in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She currently serves as a certified Arbitrator in the Court of Common Pleas Philadelphia Compulsory Arbitration program, and is a member of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the Pennsylvania Association of Justice. In 2021, Kristin was named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers “Rising Star,” an award bestowed on the top 2.5% of all lawyers in Pennsylvania under the age of 40.
Kristin is a proud graduate of La Salle University, where she earned her degree in both political science and English in 2008. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor in 2011 from Widener University School of Law, where she participated in the trial advocacy program and began her legal career at a private law firm advocating for victims injured as the result of negligence and accidents in the workplace.
ANDREA SASSO began her legal career working as a paralegal for a well-respected insurance-defense firm in 2010 while attending Widener University School of Law at night. She continued to work as an attorney on the defense side for several years defending complex toxic tort, motor vehicle, trucking and construction cases. Andrea’s experience representing insurance companies has proven to be invaluable, giving her a unique understanding of how to develop cases and anticipate strategy with the defense perspective in mind.
Andrea has an intimate understanding of how an accident or malpractice can affect a person and their family. Her strong communication skills enable her to translate the effects of an injury to a jury to maximize compensation for her clients. She understands what is necessary to obtain a great result and will not quit until she accomplishes that goal.
Andrea has successfully represented injured victims and litigated numerous claims at the municipal, arbitration and trial court levels in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She has been successful at resolving cases at mediation and binding arbitration as well. Andrea serves as a certified Arbitrator for the Court of Common Pleas Philadelphia Compulsory Arbitration program.
In 2019 and 2020, Andrea was named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers “Rising Star,” an award bestowed on the top 2.5% of all lawyers in Pennsylvania under the age of 40.
Andrea is a graduate of Widener University School of Law. As a student, she was elected by her class to be the Student Bar Association Representative. As an alumnae, she works to give back to the school volunteering as a member of the alumni board. Andrea is a graduate of Temple University where she was a double major in Communications and Political Science and a member of the Temple University Diamond Gems Dance Team.
Andrea is currently licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for New Jersey, and the State of New Jersey.
Outside of work, Andrea enjoys traveling, summers at the NJ shore, and taking advantage of everything the great city of Philadelphia has to offer. A former marketing professional who worked in concerts and radio prior to law school, Andrea is an avid music fan and can be found attending concerts large and small around the city. Andrea enjoys challenges outside of the court room as well, and has completed the New York, Delaware and Philadelphia marathons. Andrea lives in center city, Philadelphia.