A Peek at Our Past

Judicial Leaders

Nauman Smith Shissler & Hall has a long history of producing judicial leaders dating back to 1881 when founder, Wayne MacVeagh, was appointed U.S. Attorney General by President Garfield. Since then, four of the firm's attorneys have been either elected or appointed to the bench… Read On

Public Records

More than 40 years ago, Nauman Smith took its first case involving access to public records. Since then, the firm has represented the media, individuals and businesses trying to obtain access to public documents and proceedings under the Pennsylvania Open Records and Sunshine Acts. Nauman Smith was on the forefront of this issue, handling landmark cases that would have significant impact on the drafting of the most recent version of Pennsylvania's Right-To-Know Law, which took effect in 2009… Read On

Duncan & Hall

Since the firm's beginnings, Nauman Smith has achieved significant results for the railroad industry before state and federal courts and the Public Utility Commission involving such diverse matters as railroad infrastructure, liability in crossing, lading and passenger matters and labor/employee relations. Two definitive 1880 cases that helped shape the rail industry in Pennsylvania include Duncan v. Pennsylvania Railroad Company and Hall v. Pennsylvania Railroad Company… Read On

Lyman D. Gilbert defended U.S. Army Major Marcus Reno

One of the firm's founders, Lyman D. Gilbert, defended U.S. Army Major Marcus Reno in a Court of Inquiry concerning Major Reno's conduct at the Battle of Little Big Horn, also widely known as "Custer's Last Stand," June 25-26, 1876… Read On

Isaac Wayne MacVeagh

One of the firms founders, Isaac Wayne MacVeagh, was appointed U.S. Attorney General by President Garfield in 1881. Struck down by an assassin's bullet just one hundred days after his inauguration, Garfield had little time to achieve much beyond naming his advisers. Because of Garfield's assassination, Mr. MacVeagh remained in his post until December 1881, resigning after securing an indictment against President Garfield's assassin, Charles J. Guiteau… Read On


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