Jim Dalton

Contact Information:

17 West Gay Street, Suite 200
West Chester, PA 19380

Phone: 610.692.1371
jdalton@utbf.com

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James C. Dalton

Jim Dalton’s practice is focused on commercial, real estate and construction litigaton in trial and on appeal, in state and federal court, and before regulatory agencies, arbitration panels and boards of tax assessment appeals. His clients include privately-held and family-owned businesses of all sizes, public companies, property owners, developers, investors, borrowers, lenders, landlords, tenants and construction companies.

In his fourth decade of practice, Jim is knowledgeable in a wide range of industries and experienced in resolving commercial disputes that range from unfair competition, to the dissolution of partnerships, to employment law matters. He has served as lead counsel on complex litigation claims involving the purchase and development of real property, insurance coverage disputes, eminent domain and lender liability actions. He has also defended and prosecuted professional liability disputes, engineering, contractor and subcontractor claims and surety bond claims.

Prior to entering private practice, Jim served as a Deputy District Attorney for Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Jim’s experience as a district attorney aided him in developing the ability to “think on his feet” in trial and to establish immediate credibility before judges and juries alike.

An ever-pragmatic counselor who is both diligent and prepared, Jim productively advocates his client’s position by balancing ensuing litigation, time and cost. A Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rated attorney, Jim pursues resolution with an ethical and practical approach to problem-solving. A testament to his commitment to those he serves, Jim has maintained client relationships that have spanned decades. He is appreciated by clients and colleagues alike for his analytical skill in assessing the merits of a claim and determining when to proceed and when to settle. Whether immediate resolution behind the scenes is needed or skilled representation in the courtroom is required, Jim is dedicated to delivering the right advice and result at every turn.

Practice Areas

Education

  • Villanova University School of Law , J.D. (1985)
  • Haverford College (1982)
    • B.A., History and Russian Language

Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (1985)
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania (1989)
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (1999)
  • United States District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania (2000)

Memberships

  • Chester County Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Hon. John E. Stively, Jr. Americans Inns of Court
  • Exchange Club Family Center of West Chester
    • Advisory Board Member
James C. Dalton

Rated by Super Lawyers

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Main Line Today Top Lawyer 2023

Latest From James Dalton

17

Aug

13 Unruh Turner Burke & Frees Lawyers Recognized In The 2024 Editions Of The Best Lawyers In America® And The Best Lawyers In America: Ones To Watch®

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees is proud to have ten lawyers recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® and three in The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2024 editions. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Best Lawyers recognitions are compiled …

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7

Aug

Fourteen Unruh Turner Burke & Frees Attorneys Named to Main Line Today’s 2023 Top Lawyers List

We are pleased to announce that fourteen Unruh Turner Burke & Frees attorneys have been recognized on Main Line Today’s distinguished “2023 Top Lawyers” list!

Main Line Today, a prominent regional magazine spotlighting the essence of Philadelphia’s western suburbs, annually curates this prestigious list featuring outstanding legal professionals. The selection process involves nominations from peers …

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21

Jul

Every Attorney At Unruh Turner Burke & Frees Named To The Daily Local News 2023 Top Lawyers List For The Second Consecutive Year

Daily Local News readers voted for Chester County’s Top Lawyers in the annual Top Lawyers Readers’ Choice Poll earlier this year. Readers voted online for their favorite lawyers in various practice areas.

This is the second year that every lawyer at the firm has been recognized and the third consecutive year that firm attorneys have …

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19

May

Fifteen Attorneys at Unruh Turner Burke & Frees Recognized by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® for 2023

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees (“UTBF”) is pleased to announce that eleven attorneys have been selected to the 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list and four firm attorneys have been selected to the 2023 Pennsylvania Rising Stars list. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice …

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25

Jul

Every Attorney at Unruh Turner Burke & Frees Receives the Daily Local 2022 Top Lawyers Reader’s Choice Award

Chester County has voted and the results are in. Every attorney at Unruh Turner Burke & Frees (UTBF), one of Chester County, Pennsylvania’s largest law firms, has been voted a Top Lawyer for 2022 by Daily Local readers. Unruh Turner Burke & Frees’ attorneys were recognized in the following practice areas:

Brian D. Boreman

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16

Jul

Twenty UTBF Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in Chester County by the Daily Local News Readers Choice

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees is honored to have twenty attorneys named to the Daily Local News 2021 Best Lawyers Readers Choice list. UTBF attorneys recognized are:

Brian D. Boreman was selected in Labor & Employment and Employment Discrimination William J. Burke, III was selected in Real Estate Theodore F. Claypoole was …

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31

Jul

Fifteen Attorneys at UTBF Named Top Lawyers by Main Line Today Magazine

We are proud to announce that fifteen attorneys at Unruh Turner Burke & Frees were named to the 2020 “Top Lawyers” list by Main Line Today magazine. Main Line Today is a regional magazine focusing on the communities, traditions and lifestyles of Philadelphia’s western suburbs. Attorneys are nominated by their peers and vetted through …

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23

Jul

Every Partner at UTBF Named a Top Lawyer by Main Line Today Magazine

For the second year in a row, every partner at Unruh Turner Burke & Frees was named to the 2019 “Top Lawyers” list by Main Line Today magazine. Attorneys are nominated by their peers and vetted through the magazine’s editorial process. Sixteen attorneys at the firm, including all partners, were named to the list in …

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27

Jul

Every Partner at UTBF Named a 2018 Top Lawyer

The results are in…

Every partner in our firm was named among the 2018 “Top Lawyers”

We are pleased to announce that 16 attorneys at Unruh Turner Burke & Frees, including all partners, are named to Main Line Today’s “Top Lawyers” list for 2018.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Stephen P. Lagoy*

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31

Jul

Fifty Percent of UTBF Attorneys Named to Main Line Today’s Top Lawyers 2017

UNRUH TURNER BURKE & FREES is honored to have half the firm’s attorneys named to Main Line Today’s Top Lawyers list for 2017.

Litigation: Our litigation department concentrates on business disputes, construction claims, creditor’s rights, employment and labor disputes, estate and orphans court litigation, mortgage foreclosures, real estate contract and title disputes, and shareholder …

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13

Apr

If I win my case, will they have to pay my attorneys fees? The American Rule

By: James C. Dalton

More often than not, the answer to the question posed above is “No”. The general rule in American courts provides that each party to a lawsuit is responsible for paying their own attorneys fees, unless one of the following exceptions applies:

A statute or rule of court authorizes the recovery …

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8

Feb

Breach of Contract or Negligence Claim? The Gist of the Action Doctrine

Your right to sue, and the legal remedies available to you, depend not only on the particular facts of your case, but also on the legal basis or theory of your claim.

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1

Feb

You may still be able to pursue your claim: The Discovery Rule

By: James C. Dalton

Statutes of limitation require that legal claims be filed in court within a specific time period after the claim arises. A claim for breach of contract, for example, must be brought within four years of when the breach occurred and a claim for personal injuries due to negligence is subject …

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5

Oct

Can I Stop My Neighbor From Doing That?

By: James C. Dalton

You arrive home after a hard day’s work, only to find that your always-friendly neighbors have begun installation of a pool/patio/cabana complex, and, their excavation is destroying the roots of the majestic oak which stands on your own property (although the roots extend into the neighbor’s property). Surely, this damage …

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West Chester, PA
17 West Gay Street
P.O. BOX 515
West Chester, PA 19380
(610) 692-1371
Phoenixville, PA
120 Gay Street
P.O. Box 289
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 933-8069