David A. Damico
David A. Damico
Biography
David A. Damico is a founding member and Chief Financial Officer of Burns White. He shares over 40 years of litigation experience and business acumen with his corporate clients. He also serves on the firm’s Executive Committee.
“At Burns White, we represent excellence in everything we do. Our mission is to provide creative solutions to enhance the bottom-line results for all of our clients.”
With a long history representing Class I, regional, and short line railroads, Mr. Damico has a keen understanding of the challenges and strengths facing the railroad industry. Co-Chair of the firm’s Railroad Law Practice Group, he serves as National Trial Counsel to multiple railroad companies and has tried numerous derailment, occupational illness, toxic exposure, and catastrophic personal injury cases. Mr. Damico is the former President of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (NARTC) which includes top railroad trial and in-house attorneys from the United States and Canada.
In addition to his significant practice in the railroad industry, Mr. Damico serves as counsel on behalf of manufacturers and distributors in complex products liability and toxic tort cases. He also represents self-insured business owners and insurance companies in personal injury and premises liability actions.
Mr. Damico has been recognized by his peers as a Best Lawyer in America® in Railroad Law for 22 consecutive years. He has also received the Lawyer of the Year distinction for Railroad Law by Best Lawyers of America®.
A Pittsburgh native, Mr. Damico is a present and former board member of several local community and social organizations and takes an active interest in numerous philanthropic initiatives that benefit the region.
Credentials
Areas of Law
- Transportation
- Products Liability and Toxic Tort Litigation
- Occupational Illness Litigation
- Litigation
Education
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D., 1984)
- Washington and Jefferson College (B.A., summa cum laude, 1981)
Bar and Court Admissions
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth 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 Western District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
Memberships
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (President, 2018-2019)
- International Association of Defense Counsel
Accolades & Involvement
Honors/Awards
- Selected as “Lawyer of the Year” for Railroad Law by his peers in Best Lawyers in America®, 2024
- Selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America® 2003-2025
- 2019 Pennsylvania Best Lawyers®, for Railroad Law
- Selected for inclusion on the 2004-2010 and 2014-2016 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® lists
- Named Pittsburgh Railroad Law “Lawyer of the Year” in 2014 and 2017
- Selected by his peers for inclusion in Pennsylvania’s Best Lawyers®
- AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 peer rated in Martindale-Hubbell