Francis X. Crowley

Partner

As a member and co-chair of the Consumer Financial Services litigation team, Mr. Crowley regularly represents lenders and financial institutions in a variety of consumer finance litigation matters in federal and state court, including disputes under TILA, RESPA and FDCPA, title and lien priority disputes, state law UDAP claims, eminent domain cases and a wide variety of common law claims. He is experienced with motions practice, oral argument, the discovery process, trial practice and post-trial work.Mr. Crowley also handles complex litigation matters in a wide variety of fields in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies. He regularly represents clients in litigation and disputes in various real estate fields, including acquisition, development, sales, leasing, and title insurance. Mr. Crowley has represented clients in many industries, as well as public agencies and municipal bodies, in disputes and other matters related to: commercial real estate and aircraft foreclosures and workouts commercial and construction contracts real estate development and title product liability real estate disputes commercial landlord – tenant issues shareholder disputes and corporate / partnership dissolutions insurance coverage issues relating to Errors & Omissions, Directors’ & Officers’ and Commercial General Liability policies unfair competition and non-compete agreements environmental liability and related issues municipal and governmental liability civil rights the False Claims Act professional liability construction defects consumer class actions.Mr. Crowley was named a Pennsylvania SuperLawyer for business litigation in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.Representative MattersMr. Crowley has successfully counseled and represented clients in a wide variety of matters including: Major lenders, financial institutions and servicers in a wide variety of consumer finance litigation. Major institutional lenders in foreclosures and other actions to enforce rights under real property and aircraft mortgages. Lenders in disputes over lien priority and title insurance coverage issues. A public port authority in complex litigation with commercial tenants and competitors. A large, urban county in construction disputes, eminent domain proceedings, False Claims Act cases, administrative appeals, and other complex litigation matters. National title insurance companies in coverage disputes and against agents in major defalcation cases. A commercial partnership in a professional malpractice action against a prior law firm. A public waste water authority in construction disputes, environmental matters and permit enforcement cases. Major credit unions and a trade association in challenges by commercial bankers to community charter conversions. Real estate developers in challenges by community activists and objecting competitors. A public port authority in: (a) disputes with tenants over tenant’s obligations to indemnify and defend landlord for injuries on leased premises; (b) coverage disputes with insurers over coverage for injuries; and (c) premises liability cases where insurance is not applicable. A major national theater chain in successfully defending litigation brought by an owner/developer seeking $60,000,000 in an alleged breach of a development agreement and 30-year lease. A public housing authority in acquiring property through condemnation proceedings to construct new senior citizen housing. Developers attempting to void restrictive covenants limiting or preventing the re-development of former golf courses into residential projects. A condominium council in dispute with developer. A partner in a series of disputes involving the dissolution of family-owned partnerships specializing in residential development and construction. Minority partners in a real estate development partnership in claims against a general partner who gained unfair advantage in a sale of property for real estate development.Community Service & AffiliationsMr. Crowley is a recipient of the 1991 Human Rights Honors Award given by the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (for efforts to reduce racial tension in a city neighborhood); the 2007 Hispanic Heritage Teacher Award (for services to disadvantaged youth); the Support Center for Child Advocates 2009 Distinguished Advocate Award (for representation of children in foster care); and the 2009 Edwin P. Rome Award (for pro bono services). Mr. Crowley also is on the boards of several charitable organizations.