Sarah Hart Charette
Top rated Medical Malpractice attorney in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Gross McGinley, LLP
Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice, Criminal Defense; view more
Licensed in Pennsylvania since: 2012
Education: Pennsylvania State University The Dickinson School of Law
Selected to Rising Stars: 2019 - 2025 Details
Sarah Hart Charette is a partner at Gross McGinley, LLP, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and serves the residents of the Philadelphia metropolitan area and the surrounding areas in pressing medical malpractice and criminal law matters, as well as tax law. She emphasizes personalized attention and expeditious service to get her clients relief and respite promptly, and within her decade-plus career, has garnered the adulation of her peers for her judicious advocacy and stalwart dedication.
Before completing her undergraduate studies at Gettysburg College and graduating cum laude with her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2009, Ms. Charette’s academic prowess became evident with her being included in the dean’s commendation list and receiving the Presidential Scholarship. She also maintained an active social life with her integration into the Chi Omega sorority, Pi Lambda Sigma, and Pi Sigma Alpha. She then went on to enroll at The Pennsylvania State University Dickinson Law, where she was a part of the Penn State International Law Review, the International Law Society, and a Cherie M. Public Interest Fellow, among many others. She received her Juris Doctor in 2012, as well as her license to practice in Pennsylvania.
Starting her career as a law clerk for the Honorable Bradford H. Charle of the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas, Ms. Charette gained immense exposure to how her local judiciary operates, and the knowledge gained was bolstered even more when she served as assistant district attorney for the Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office and the Berks County District Attorney’s Office. She uses her experience as a prosecutor to give her clients many opportunities to gain the upper hand in their cases.
Within her legal community, Ms. Charette is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Northampton County Bar Association, and the Bar Association of Lehigh County, the latter organization of which she is the President-Elect. She is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania and the United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Defense, Criminal DefenseFocus areas
Arrest & Arraignment, Assault & Battery, Birth Injury, Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, Debt, Delayed or Incorrect Diagnosis, Dental Malpractice, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Expungement, False Accusations, Felony, Informed Consent, Juvenile Delinquency, Medical Malpractice, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Parole, Probation, Prosecution, Sex Offenses, Tax Evasion, Theft, Traffic Violations
- 50% Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Defense
- 50% Criminal Defense
First Admitted: 2012, Pennsylvania
Professional Webpage: https://www.grossmcginley.com/people/sarah-hart-charette/
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- U.S. Court of Appeals-Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court-Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court-Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- Bar Association of Lehigh County, Board of Directors, 2020
- Bar Association of Lehigh County, Member, 2020
- Pennsylvania Bar Association, 2020
- Dismissal of all charges for a domestic and DUI case following a habeas hearing at the Court of Common Pleas
- Advocated for candidates to be considered for ARD that would typically be deemed ineligible, 2019.
- Obtained state probation for a felony offense carrying a significant incarceration, 2019.
- Achieved a mitigated range sentence where the District Attorney was seeking top of the standard range, 2019.
- Reduced a misdemeanor of fleeing and eluding to a traffic citation, 2018.
- Assisted client in receiving only five years state probation for felony possession with intent to deliver marijuana charge that carries a standard guideline range of 9-16 months incarceration for a minimum sentence, 2018.
- As Pennsylvania legislators consider the legalization of recreational marijuana, learn what the current law is, and what to expect should you violate it., Marijuana law in PA, 2021
- So, you get pulled over and just want to pay a fine and be done with your traffic citation. But paying the fine means you are pleading guilty. Over time, types of traffic citations or repeated traffic offenses can have larger impacts, even years later. Criminal Defense Attorney Sarah Hart Charette addresses possible penalties like points, fines, license suspension, and even incarceration., 2021, PA Traffic Citations
- Bar Association of Lehigh County, Treasurer and Board Member
- Emmaus Main Street Partners, Solicitor and Board Member
- East Penn Chamber of Commerce, Solicitor and Board Member
- March of Dimes, co-chair of executive leadership team, Lehigh Valley March of Dimes walk benefitting March of Dimes Foundation Northeastern PA, 2019
- Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Young Professional's Council, Board of Directors, 2018
- Emmaus Public Library, Board of Trustees, 2020
- 2019-2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® Rising Stars
- 2022 – LVB Forty Under 40
- 2022 – LVB Women of Influence
- Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law, J.D., 2012
- Gettysburg College, B.A., cum laude, 2009
- “Board Leaders of Tomorrow: Let’s Talk Age Diversity”, GLVCC Young Professionals Council, December 2017, https://www.grossmcginley.com/resources/attorney-news/sarah-hart-discusses-age-diversity-for-nonprofits/
- Attorney Privilege in Medical Malpractice Cases: How Far Can It Reach? https://www.law.com/thelegalintelligencer/2018/04/07/attorney-privilege-in-medical-malpractice-cases-how-far-can-it-reach/
- Michael Blum and Sarah Hart Present on HIPAA and Medical Records, https://www.grossmcginley.com/resources/events/michael-blum-and-sarah-hart-present-on-hipaa-and-medical-records/
- Litigation Group Presents on Evidence to Local Bar Associations, https://www.grossmcginley.com/resources/news/litigation-group-presents-on-evidence-to-local-bar-associations/
- During the one-hour course, Gross McGinley’s experienced litigators reviewed the top five evidentiary rules that should be at the forefront of an attorney’s mind when prepping for trial including hearsay, impeachment, damages, privilege, and expert qualifications. Their presentation provided an overview of each topic and how each apply inside and outside of the courtroom. Our litigators also provided suggested references for reviewing evidentiary procedure without attendees having to crack open their old law school textbooks., Co-Presenter, Top Five Evidentiary Pitfalls at Trial, Northampton County Bar Association, Bar Association of Lehigh County, Legal, 2017
- Barry Goldwater once said, “the income tax created more criminals than any other single act of government.” The Internal Revenue Service estimates that approximately 83.6% of taxes are actually paid voluntarily and on time each year. The remaining 16.4% amounts to roughly $441 billion of missing tax revenue. When all is said and done, after late payments and enforcement efforts are considered, the “tax gap” is estimated to be $381 billion. So – what should you do if you receive a Notice from the IRS? Attorneys Sarah Hart Charette and R. Nicholas Nanovic share insights about civil tax fraud (IRC §6663), criminal tax fraud (IRC §7206), and tax evasion (IRC §7201)., Co-Author, Tax Fraud – The One Time You Should Not Live Like Martha Stewart, Network Magazine, 2021
- The presentation, entitled “Medical Records and HIPAA: What You Need to Know”, described the important role medical administrators play in managing HIPAA requirements, electronic medical records, and ensuring their staff is compliant with the law. The presentation provided guidance for medical administrators on the legalities of a medical releases including the challenges surrounding subpoenas, requests for minor records, custody/guardianship issues, Powers of Attorney, medical vs. mental health records, and more. Local PAHCOM members found it to be a great opportunity to learn how to handle these requests and learn about some real world examples of medical records gone wrong., Co-Presenter, Medical Records and HIPAA: What You Need to Know, Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM), Lehigh Valley Chapter., Health Care, 2017
- As courts were closed during the coronavirus, Sarah Hart Charette provided insights into the impact on criminal cases and those about to complete a prison sentence.... Without juries or open courtrooms, defendants in criminal cases can’t have a speedy trial. Defense lawyers are watching closely and bracing for possible appeals, said attorney Sarah Hart Charette, also of Gross McGinley. “This type of time suspension is largely unprecedented in the Pennsylvania judicial system,” Hart Charette said. “Where this will most likely come to a head is a defendant who is currently incarcerated and awaiting trial, since under [the speedy trial rule] a defendant cannot be held in pretrial incarceration in excess of 180 days." Hart Charette said her main concern is that clients who are in jail awaiting trial could end up spending an excessive time behind bars due to the shutdown. Officials in Lehigh and Northampton said last week that they had lowered populations in both facilities by releasing and diverting low-risk defendants., Interviewee, Pennsylvania courts to remain closed to public through April 30 to stem coronavirus; evictions halted statewide, The Morning Call, Criminal Justice, 2020
- Other than the fact that all marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act, and illegal at the federal level, there is nothing simple and straight forward about the law on marijuana use in Pennsylvania (or in any part of the country) right now. From law enforcement to business owners, there is a struggle to understand what is legal as courts and agencies are hard-pressed to keep up with the legalization of marijuana and the conflict between state and federal laws., Co-author, Passing the Smell Test – How Does it Work When it Comes to Medical Marijuana, Network Magazine, Legal, Criminal Justice, 2019
- Throughout the course of medical malpractice cases, depositions are a key component of the process of discovery. In these cases, it is common practice for defense counsel to seek the depositions of family members of named plaintiffs. These depositions can provide crucial information regarding firsthand knowledge of the medical treatment at issue as well as illuminating evidence regarding causation and alleged damages., Author, "Attorney Privilege in Medical Malpractice Cases: How Far Can It Reach?", The Legal Intelligencer, Health Care, Legal, 2018
- Promoted to Partner, 2020
- Healthcare
Selections
- Rising Stars: 2019 - 2025
