Sarah M. Baker
Offices
Pennsylvania
1801 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
New Jersey - Cherry Hill
923 Haddonfield Rd.
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Practice Areas
Construction & Construction Defects
Food & Beverage Liability
Healthcare
Hospitality
Premises Liability
Product Liability
Professional Liability
Experience
Sarah is a partner in the firm’s Philadelphia office. Her practice focuses on medical malpractice, oral and maxillofacial surgery and dental malpractice, professional licensing and premises liability defense. Sarah has tried a number of cases to verdict, both in Philadelphia and its surrounding counties. She has tried dozens of cases at judicial arbitration, many resulting in unappealed defense awards, and has been lead counsel for appellate briefing and argument before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania among other courts. She has won defense verdicts in large medical malpractice matters, and defended dismissals of malpractice cases on appeal.
Sarah also has experience in transportation and appellate work, has developed and presented continuing medical education (CME) materials for medical practitioners, and has been honored to be a speaker at professional conferences.
Prior to joining the firm, Sarah practiced with a specialized insurance defense firm in the Philadelphia area, where she regularly represented physicians, hospitals, pharmacists, and notably, a major regional transportation authority and its contractors, with respect to substantial construction projects in Philadelphia.
In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time in her garden and running.
Court Admissions
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
Notable Matters
- November 2024 defense award at binding private arbitration in favor of a pulmonologist, in a failure to diagnose and treat lung cancer case, in which it was alleged that the disease progressed from treatable to untreatable, while under the pulmonologist’s care.
- Secured across the board defense award in favor of three otolaryngologists in binding private arbitration in June 2023. Clients were accused of failing to properly recognize and treat throat infection which led to prolonged intensive care unit admission.
- Defense verdict in week-long trial in June 2022 in favor of a general dentist in Philadelphia County accused of failing to advise a patient about the existence of a retained root tip, leading to infection and abscess.
- Defense Verdict in December 2021 in favor of hotel owner/operator in premises liability matter alleging negligent maintenance of premises
- Defense Verdict in 3-week trial in June 2021 in favor of physician serving as medical director of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility at which a recently admitted patient passed away during detoxification treatment
- Defense Verdict in 2-week trial in October 2018 in favor of a family medicine physician accused of failing to properly follow a patient’s elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) test results, resulting in prostate cancer related death
- Defense Verdict in October 2017 in favor of dentist and his expanded function dental assistant, who were accused of traumatizing a patient’s uvula during filling replacement, allegedly leading to uvulectomy.
- Defense award at private arbitration in Philadelphia County, in favor of catering/event planning company accused of creating tripping hazard with ill- fitting tablecloths at a celebrity event
- Summary judgment granted in favor of hospital and surgeon in retained sponge case
- Defense verdict for radiologist in month-long stroke trial alleging profound disability as a result of brain stem stroke.
Education
- Dickinson College, B.A., magna cum laude, 2004
- Roger Williams University School of Law, cum laude, 2007
- Phi Beta Kappa
Professional & Community Affiliations
- Phi Beta Kappa
