Portrait of John Scaldara

John A. Scaldara

Retired Counsel

jscaldara@offitkurman.com
Baltimore, MD – 443.738.1581
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Mr. Scaldara is past chair of the firm’s Construction and Commercial Claims Practice Group, and a member of the Business Litigation Practice Group. Mr. Scaldara brings to the firm more than 50 years of experience in advising clients on various legal issues regarding commercial litigation, alternative dispute resolution, insurance, and other commercial matters. He is a member of both the Business Litigation Department and the Business Law Department of Offit Kurman.

Mr. Scaldara has coordinated and managed mass tort litigation for manufacturers, distributors, and their insurers, throughout the United States. He was one of the first lawyers in the country to design and implement computer database programs for the management of mass tort litigation using a secure website for the notification of claims and transmittal of pleadings and papers to primary, umbrella, and excess insurers. Also, he has designed and implemented product defect warning programs directed to end users of potentially hazardous products.

Mr. Scaldara has negotiated coverage in place agreements with major insurance carriers and insurers. He has successfully worked with both liability and insurance consultants in projecting clients’ long term liability exposure and insurance coverage related to that exposure. He has also assisted consultants in the preparation of client claims filed against national and international liquidating insurers.

Because of his experience in product liability, tort, insurance, and commercial litigation matters, he has successfully advised national clients on the acquisition and divestiture of companies impaired with mass tort liabilities including asbestos, polyurethane foam and product defects endangering end users. These engagements included rendering advice related to insurance coverage, successor liability, and fraudulent conveyance issues. He is experienced in representing clients in both national and international commercial arbitration. Mr. Scaldara received the highest professional (AV) rating from his peers, as reported by Martindale-Hubbell.

Prior to bringing his commercial litigation experience to the Offit Kurman teams, Mr. Scaldara founded and managed several small and midsize law firms in downtown Baltimore.

Services

Firm Highlights

  • Podcasts
    Balancing Full-Time Employment with Side Ventures
    Attorneys Sarah Sawyer and Russell Berger of Offit Kurman discuss how employers should approach employee moonlighting, which has become more common. They emphasize starting with state-specific laws that may limit an employer’s ability to restrict outside work, then evaluating whether a side job creates a real conflict with the employer’s business. They also note practical concerns about performance and whether an employee’s outside work affects focus and commitment. The episode highlights the importance of clear, lawful conflict-of-interest policies, regular reminders to employees, and an avenue for employees to disclose perceived conflicts proactively.
  • Blog Posts
    Fair Housing Frights: Why Disability Accommodation Mistakes Are the Scariest Compliance Risks Facing Housing Providers
    Fair Housing Frights: Why Disability Accommodation Mistakes Are the Scariest Compliance Risks Facing Housing Providers
  • Podcasts
    Reclaiming Yourself When Everyone Needs You: Kerry Docherty on Guilt, Honest Conversations, and Choosing Yourself
    When was the last time you were called selfish, or worried you might be, just for putting yourself on your own list? For those of us in the middle, putting our needs last can feel like the only way to keep everything running, and the guilt of choosing ourselves can be heavy. In this episode, Candace is joined by Kerry Docherty, co-founder of beloved sustainable lifestyle brand Faherty, poet, social activist, children's book author, and author of the memoir Selfish: Unlearning, Reclaiming, and Telling the Truth. Kerry explains why she chose a title that's so activating for women, and describes the moment in therapy when a simple question showed her she wasn't the victim: she had agency. She talks about finding her voice through a writing collective and about telling the truth in print about her marriage, her family business, and herself, including the fallout with loved ones and her husband Alex's response in the final chapter. She also shares the small daily choices that help her reclaim herself, the guilt of leaving home to write, and the honest conversations she and Alex have with their kids. As Kerry puts it, being "selfish" can be "the biggest act of service that we can give other people." Learn more about Kerry Docherty at https://kerrydocherty.co/ Follow Kerry on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kerrydocherty/ Subscribe to Kerry’s poetry Substack at https://substack.com/@kerrydocherty1 Purchase Selfish: Unlearning, Reclaiming, and Telling the Truth at https://bookshop.org/p/books/selfish-unlearning-reclaiming-and-telling-the-truth-kerry-docherty/355b282d003ee8e0 Purchase Somewhere, Right Now at https://fahertybrand.com/products/somewhere-right-now-book-somewhere-right-now Shop Faherty at https://fahertybrand.com/ Follow and subscribe to The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide wherever you listen to podcasts. New conversations are released on the first and third Tuesdays of every month. If this episode resonates with you, leave a five-star rating or review and share it with another sandwich generation caregiver!  
  • Events
    The 2026 Economic, Tax, and Accounting Updates
    We are looking forward to the Mid-Atlantic CFO Roundtable's next event on November 13, 2026. This is a program with topics built for Finance Executives. We are extremely fortunate to have three excellent speakers: Dr. Daraius Irani, Vice President of Business and Public Engagement at Towson University; Mike Stankus, Tax Office Managing Principal at BDO; and Daniel Wahlberg, Managing Partner of Acclare Solutions. The economy is rapidly changing with various factors driving it. The November 3rd midterm elections may also have an impact. Our three expert presenters will discuss the ramifications of the election, and the current year updates to GAAP financial reporting and Federal and State income taxes. Please join us for what will surely be an informative and timely discussion. Meet Our Speakers: Daraius Irani, Ph.D. • Towson University Vice President, Business & Public Engagement Dr. Daraius Irani serves as Vice President of Business and Public Engagement at Towson University as well as the chief economist for the Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI) at Towson University, a policy group providing economic, fiscal impact, and policy analysis to public and private entities.  Dr. Irani is often called upon to provide economic presentations to organizations across Maryland. He has appeared on numerous television programs and in local and regional print media. Dr. Irani holds a Ph.D. in economics from University of California, Santa Barbara. Dan Wahlberg • Acclare Solutions Managing Partner With over 28 years of experience, Dan Wahlberg is a recognized leader in audit and assurance for the Mid-Atlantic’s middle market business community. As a licensed CPA in Maryland and Virginia, Dan has led assurance practices at top regional firms, including serving as Baltimore Audit Managing Partner and Assurance Practice Leader at BDO USA in Baltimore and as Partner and member of the Management Committee at Hertzbach & Company P.A which merged into BDO in 2020. His expertise centers on delivering clarity, strategic guidance, and proactive solutions to middle-market businesses across Baltimore and beyond. His entrepreneurial spirit has led him to begin a new CPA firm this year with four other CPAs serving the business community. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rutgers University and began his career at PWC in New York. He is also deeply engaged in the community, previously serving as President of ACG Maryland and current Board member and as Audit Committee Member for The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore.  Mike Stankus • BDO USA LLP Tax Office Managing Principal Mike Stankus is the Tax Office Managing Principal for the firm’s Baltimore office. He has more than 16 years of experience providing tax planning and preparation and management advisory services for his clients. Mike focuses on advising privately held businesses and their owners on effective growth and tax strategies. He also performs various engagements for mergers and acquisitions and complex cost accounting projects and projections. In addition, he represents various government contracting clients before the DCAA and assists with FAR compliance. Mike’s areas of concentration include working with government contractors, professional service firms, construction companies, and homebuilders.
  • Publications & News
    Offit Kurman Named Among 2027 “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers
    Offit Kurman Named Among 2027 “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers
  • Publications & News
    Offit Kurman Welcomes Three Attorneys to Key Practice Areas
    Offit Kurman Welcomes Three Attorneys to Key Practice Areas
  • Publications & News
    Offit Kurman Attorneys Named to Bethesda Magazine’s 2026 Top Attorneys List
    Offit Kurman Attorneys Named to Bethesda Magazine’s 2026 Top Attorneys List
  • Publications & News
    Offit Kurman Attorneys Recognized in 2027 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars Lists
    Offit Kurman Attorneys Recognized in 2027 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars Lists
  • Blog Posts
    The Other AI Copyright Claim: How YouTubers Are Bypassing the Fair Use Debate
    The Other AI Copyright Claim: How YouTubers Are Bypassing the Fair Use Debate
  • Blog Posts
    Who at NJDEP Is Handling Your NOV or AONOCAPA and Why It Matters
    Who at NJDEP Is Handling Your NOV or AONOCAPA and Why It Matters