PRACTICES
OVERVIEW
Robert Caplan has been practicing law for more than 34 years and is a Partner and Team Leader of White and Williams’ Workers’ Compensation Subrogation practice. He has industry leading experience recovering workers' compensation subrogation liens for insurance companies and large self-insured companies in addition to litigating complex personal injury cases on behalf of injured workers. Rob represents clients throughout the United States and has successfully pursued workers' compensation subrogation and personal injury cases involving product defects, construction and workplace accidents in numerous federal and state jurisdictions throughout the country.
In addition to litigating and trying cases, Robert is a frequent lecturer at national and regional conferences held by the National Association of Subrogation Professionals (NASP) where he has been a Co-Chair of NASP’s Spring 2023 Conference, “Subrogation Excellence”, and a recurring Track Leader for the Workers' Compensation Subrogation Track at NASP’s annual conferences. Rob also lectures and conducts webinars for insurance companies and large self-insured corporations on issues involving workplace accidents and workers’ compensation subrogation.
If you would like to submit a new workers’ compensation subrogation referral assignment, please click here.
Recognition and Involvement
Recognition & Involvement
Rob is AV® rated by the Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating system for both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards. Rob has also been designated as a Pennsylvania "Super Lawyer”.
Robert was also a two-term, six year Hearing Committee Member for the Disciplinary Board for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
Credentials
Bar and Court Admissions
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
New York
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuits
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuits
U.S. Supreme Court
Education
Temple University Beasley School of Law, JD, 1988
Pennsylvania State University, BA, 1985
News & Insights
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
$19,000,000 Lien Recovery (South Carolina)
White and Williams Partner Robert Caplan recovered $19,000,000 after intervening into a work related action involving a paper manufacturing facility chemical contamination and arc welding burn fatality case. Rob obtained the largest lien reimbursement in South Carolina history.
$1,000,000 Lien Recovery (New Jersey)
White and Williams Partner Robert Caplan recovered $1,000,000 as a lien reimbursement in a case arising from design defects and inadequate warnings in bakery equipment manufactured by a foreign manufacturer and distributed by a US supplier, causing a dominant hand amputation. Rob obtained a 100% lien reimbursement.
Confidential Seven Figure Settlement and 100% Lien Reimbursement (Iowa)
White and Williams Partner Robert Caplan obtained a confidential seven figure settlement, including a 100% lien reimbursement in a case involving a defective industrial cooling fan case resulting in a hand amputation.
Confidential Seven Figure Settlement (North Carolina)
White and Williams Partner Robert Caplan obtained a confidential seven figure settlement, including substantial lien reimbursement in a case involving an industrial wood chipper winch design defect resulting in multiple amputations and head injury. This was a particularly difficult case involving NC’s strict 1% contributory negligence statute and due to the head injuries involved, an incompetent worker who was a ward of the state.
100% Lien Recovery (Louisiana)
White and Williams Partner Robert Caplan obtained a large lien recovery in a case involving a DOT trucking violation when a broken down vehicle improperly re-entered the roadway, causing an unavoidable collision with a fully loaded gasoline tanker truck and ensuing explosion, which led to catastrophic injuries. Late involvement and intervention into mediated settlement negotiations resulted in 100% lien reimbursement.
$1,800,000 Settlement and 100% Lien Reimbursement (Pennsylvania)
White and Williams Partner Robert Caplan obtained a $1,800,000 settlement and 100% lien reimbursement in a motor vehicle negligence case involving a major soft drink beverage truck driver crossing the center line while texting, causing a school bus driver with busload of children to run off the road, resulting in catastrophic injuries to the bus driver.
BLOGS & PODCASTS
Podcasts
Subro Sessions
- Workers’ Compensation Subrogation - Tales by the Water Cooler: Part Two – We Got a New Claim, Now What?12.19.23
Brett Tishler, Partner, and Michael Abed, Associate, are back to host the newest episode of Subro Sessions. This is the second of a two-part podcast series, entitled “Workers’ Compensation Subrogation - Tales by the Water Cooler: Part II– We Got a New Claim, Now What?” Brett and Michael are joined again by a surprise guest, Rob Caplan, Partner, to discuss a new workers’ compensation subrogation case. Rob talks about a new loss and gives a critical look into the specifics into the investigation, experts, and other factors to determine if there is potential for recovery.