Diane C. Friend

After over 20 years of experience as a personal injury paralegal with our firm, Diane Friend made the decision to become an attorney so she could advocate more broadly and directly for the clients she has long served.  Her legal journey is fueled by a deep-rooted passion for justice and an unwavering commitment to the people behind the cases.

A defining moment in her career came from a case in which a client’s brother was receiving inadequate care in a nursing home.  Despite doing everything right, speaking to the appropriate people, and following the proper channels, the client kept hitting a wall.  Diane was part of the team that obtained a settlement for the family, solidifying her understanding of the true value of having a strong legal advocate.  Now, as an attorney, she steps fully into that role with the experience, heart, and determination to make a difference.

Diane has a proven track record of success, blending deep legal knowledge with a client-first approach.  She has been an integral part of every personal injury case handled by the firm—managing claims involving everything from minor injuries to complex litigation involving millions of dollars in damages.  Diane is especially skilled at efficiently resolving smaller injury claims while maximizing client compensation.

She has also played a key role in securing some of the firm’s largest verdicts and settlements, including landmark cases in Delaware.  Diane served as the lead paralegal in Cuppels v. Mountaire, which resulted in a $205 million recovery for more than 7,000 class members in Millsboro, Delaware, whose community was being contaminated.  She also contributed to the historic Doe v. Bradley pediatrician sexual abuse litigation as a paralegal for counsel on the Steering Committee, which led to a $123 million settlement against Beebe Medical Center.

Whether handling high-stakes class actions or supporting clients through the aftermath of car crashes, wrongful death, nursing home neglect, slip and falls, or dog bite cases, Diane approaches each case with empathy and a steadfast dedication to achieving justice.  Her commitment to the client experience is a cornerstone of her practice—assuring every person she represents feels supported, heard, and empowered.  A motto she lives by: “If I’d want someone fighting for me, that’s exactly what I’ll do for you.”

Diane earned her J.D. from Delaware Law School in Wilmington, where she had the privilege of learning directly from Delaware attorneys and judges.