Donald W. Bebenek was one of western Pennsylvania’s most outstanding litigators, with his practice concentrating on medical malpractice. Mr. Bebenek, a partner at Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebenek & Eck, was very active in Pittsburgh’s legal community for many years. In his memory, Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebenek & Eck, created the Donald W. Bebenek Fund in 2000 to support the education and mentoring of attorneys, including but not limited to providing financial support for the “Operation Experience Program” of the Allegheny County Bar Association.

In conjunction with the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Civil Litigation Section and the Allegheny County Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Donald W. Bebenek Fund helped fund a three-hour CLE seminar on Operation Experience on March 1, 2001.

Merle Mermelstein and Jim Schadel facilitated the seminar. Frederick Egler presented the defense perspective, while John Gismondi presented the plaintiff’s perspective. The Honorable Joseph James presented the court’s perspective on Operation Experience.

The CLE seminar was first part of a two-part program on Operation Experience. Attorneys who attended the seminar are required to complete at least two hours of courtroom observation.