Paige Macdonald-Matthes and Jennifer Bruce Obtain $6.8M Judgment in High-Profile Family Winery Dispute

Obermayer litigation attorneys Paige Macdonald-Matthes and Jennifer Bruce secured a $6.8M judgment in favor of their clients, a prominent Gettysburg family, in a long-running dispute involving the Hauser Estate Winery, a family-owned business that later filed for bankruptcy.

As reported in the November 5, 2025, issue of Legal Intelligencer article, “Two Pa. Attorneys Face $6.8M Ruling After ‘Years of Discovery Misconduct’ in Family Winery Dispute,” the Adams County Court of Common Pleas entered a default judgment on October 31, 2025, against the defendants, two licensed Pennsylvania attorneys, their family members, and the related business entities Patrono and Murphy, LLC and Apple Leaf Abstracting & Settlement Company.

The court found them liable for breach of fiduciary duty, professional negligence, and civil conspiracy after determining they engaged in “years of discovery misconduct,” including withholding tax returns and financial records.

Paige Macdonald-Matthes, who led the representation, emphasized the broader significance of the ruling:

“This win has been a long time coming and justice was finally served for our clients who were victimized, in part, by the clear discovery violations committed by the defendants,” Macdonald-Matthes said. “Judge George’s order sends a clear message that the Rules of Civil Procedure, especially those related to discovery, are to be strictly followed.”

Read the full article here.