Frank A. Dante

Biography

CO-CHAIR, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, AND MASS TORTS PRACTICE GROUP

Frank Dante concentrates his practice in the area of complex commercial litigation with an emphasis on mass torts, product liability, environmental, and class action litigation. 

His experience includes counseling and defending clients in:

  • Products liability litigation
  • Class action litigation
  • Multidistrict litigation (“MDL”)
  • Mass tort litigation, involving exposure to chemicals and/or alleged hazardous substances
  • CERCLA, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”)
  • Clean Water Act (“CWA”)
  • Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”)
  • Securities litigation
  • Commercial contract disputes and business torts
  • Anti-terrorism Act litigation
  • Alien Tort Claims Act litigation
  • insurance coverage litigation
  • Torture Victim Protection Act litigation

Frank also regularly conducts internal investigations on behalf of clients on various issues, including environmental compliance, product recalls, lending compliance, government contracts, health care compliance, and cybersecurity. 

He also regularly counsels clients on data preservation in compliance with government regulations and court preservation orders.

In 2009, Frank was selected by a panel of judges for The Legal Intelligencer and the Pennsylvania Law Weekly as one of Pennsylvania’s “Lawyers on the Fast Track,” a recognition given to only 30 lawyers throughout Pennsylvania under the age of 40 as the future leaders of the legal community.

Experience

  • Trial Counsel for Chiquita Brands International, Inc., in Anti-terrorism cases centralized in the S.D. Fla. for MDL proceedings.
  • Trial Counsel for Chiquita Brands International, Inc., in Alien Tort litigation involving more than 7,500 Plaintiffs centralized in the S.D. Fla. for MDL proceedings involving wrongful death claims under Colombian common law.
  • Lead Trial Counsel for a global eyewear company in putative class actions brought in California, New York, and Florida alleging false advertising and consumer fraud.
  • Lead Trial Counsel for a major oil company alleging common law claims from a release of petroleum from a pipeline.
  • Lead Trial Counsel for a major oil company in federal RCRA and CWA litigation alleging a release of petroleum from a pipeline.
  • Trial Counsel for a major oil company alleging exposure to benzene-containing products.
  • A global chemical company, in connection with Clean Air Act (“CAA”) permit challenges brought by non-governmental organizations (“NGOs”) regarding construction of a six billion dollar petrochemical facility.
  • A major oil and gas company, with oil and gas lease dispute.
  • A global chemical manufacturer as national coordinating counsel, in more than 150 multi-district environmental pollution and product liability cases involving water contamination.
  • Lead counsel for a global chemical manufacturer in what is believed to be the largest pending natural resource damages case in the United States.
  • A former railroad company, in multi-state class-action litigation involving thousands of miles of former rail corridor that was ultimately settled for a nominal amount following significant victories at the summary judgment stage.
  • Defeated class certification on behalf of global chemical manufacturer in the first putative class action involving the gasoline additive MTBE
  • A publicly-held defense contractor, in various complex commercial matters, including securities and corporate fraud.
  • A publicly-held software company, in an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice into allegations of violations of the Federal False Claims Act for alleged improper billing to the United States, which ended in a nominal settlement and an extension of the contract to provide service to the United States.
  • A publicly-held electronic commerce company, in the successful resolution of an $80 million securities fraud suit for a nominal settlement
  • A publicly-held financial institution, in securities litigation and arbitrations.
  • Won summary judgment in $100 million bad faith claim (decision affirmed by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals).
  • A publicly-held company, in complex enforcement action initiated by the Federal Trade Commission concerning television advertising
  •  A title insurance agent, in class action involving alleged overcharging for title insurance.
  • A death row inmate, in Post Conviction Relief Act proceeding, which resulted in the death sentence being vacated.

Recognitions

  • 2024, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants in Philadelphia, listed in Best Lawyers in America©
  • 2017–2023, “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” in Business Litigation, listed in Super Lawyers
  • 2007–2016, “Pennsylvania Rising Star,” listed in Super Lawyers
  • 2009, Pennsylvania “Lawyer on the Fast Track,” listed in The Legal Intelligencer and Pennsylvania Law Weekly

Affiliations

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Philadelphia Bar Association
  • American Inns of Court
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association

Credentials

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court - New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court - Middle District of Pennsylvania

Education

  • Pennsylvania State University, BA, with honors
  • Temple University Beasley School of Law, JD