About
The firm was formed in 1989 by Stephen P. Casarino, Beth H. Christman and Colin M. Shalk. Since that time, we have represented clients in various areas of civil litigation. Our team has handled thousands of cases and litigated over four hundred jury trials to verdict, earning an AV-rating,* A.M. Best’s Directory, and U.S. News & World Report Tier One rating in the area of Personal Injury Litigation. The firm practices in all Delaware State Courts and Federal Courts for Delaware and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
The firm’s attorneys have distinguished themselves as trial attorneys. They have been members of the American College of Trial Advocates and the American Board of Trial Advocates. One of the few Delaware attorneys to hold the rank of Diplomate in the American Board of Trial Advocates is a member of the firm.
Our attorneys have also served and continue to serve as members of various court created committees including the Delaware Superior Court’s Fee Dispute, Board of Bar Examiners, Board of Professional Responsibility, Civil Procedure Rules, Rules of Evidence, and Rules of Professional Responsibility Rules Committees.
They have also performed educational services by serving on the Bifferato Trial Practice Seminar Committee, planning and presenting at seminars to educate young attorneys and presenting at the New Lawyers Seminar. The firm’s attorneys have served as President of the Defense Counsel of Delaware, members of the Rodney Inn of Court, and as a Hearing Judge for the Department of Insurance. They have also participated in Leadership Delaware. They have coached Mock Trial teams, served as Adjunct Professor for Trial Advocacy and have won the Pete Jones award for years of volunteer judging of the State’s High School Mock Trial Competition.
The firm also has a strong commitment to the community and participates in various community service endeavors, including the Delaware Institute for the Arts in Education, the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware, Special Olympics of Delaware, and Faithful Friends.
For several years, our attorneys have handled some of the most important insurance related cases before the Delaware Supreme Court.
History
The seeds for the Casarino Christman & Shalk law firm were sown in July of 1967 when former Army Captain Steve Casarino joined the Wilmington City Solicitor’s office and several years later went into private practice. He was joined in 1978 by former Air Force Sergeant and Medic, Colin Shalk, who had clerked for then Superior Court Judge Andrew Christie, who later became the Delaware Supreme Court Chief Justice. Steve Casarino and Colin Shalk were joined in 1982, by Beth Christman, the daughter of missionaries.
In 1989 the group branched out to start their own firm. When a number of loyal clients followed, it became clear within a month that the three of them could not handle the volume of work, so the firm hired Donald Ransom, whose name was eventually added to the name of the firm, along with that of Ken Doss, who was hired by the firm a year later.
By 1990, the core group of Casarino Christman Shalk Ransom & Doss. Since that time the firm has handled thousands of cases and tried hundreds of jury trials to verdict.
Providing quality representation to our clients has been the foundation and ongoing motivation for the firm. The emphasis on collegiality, family and fun that started the firm has remained a mainstay.