Milestones of a Professional
Jane Roach Maughan graduated cum laude from West Chester University and received her law degree from Villanova Law School in 1981, graduating cum laude. She served as an Associate Editor of the Villanova Law Review and graduated as a member of the Honorary Society of The Order of the Coif.
Special Prosecutor & Assistant District Attorney
Commencing in 1981, Mrs. Maughan served as a full time prosecutor for six years, first in Allentown, Lehigh County, under District Attorney (now Pennsylvania Superior Court Senior Judge) William Platt, and then in Monroe County where she was the First Assistant District Attorney. In that time she tried 140 criminal trials, including homicide and death penalty cases. Her years as a prosecutor earned her a reputation for integrity, persistence and competence. She has appeared frequently before the Superior Court and Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and served as instructor at the Allentown Police Academy and the Pennsylvania State Police Academy.
In 1989 the Pennsylvania Attorney General appointed Mrs. Maughan as Special Prosecutor to investigate a Wyoming County lawyer for the theft of client funds. Her successful prosecution of the case led directly to the issuance of new law from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court imposing ethical and criminal liability on attorneys who defraud their clients.
Private Practice in the Monroe County Community
Mrs. Maughan entered private practice in 1989 with Cramer Swetz McManus & Roach. She established Jane Maughan, P.C. in 2001.
Mrs. Maughan continues to litigate cases that trigger major changes in Pennsylvania law. In 1990 she argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in a landmark case that established the time for filing real estate equity actions. In 1991 she successfully established limits in federal court on the liability of hotels and resorts in personal injury lawsuits. In 2002 she took a case to federal court to clarify the availability of damages in employee benefit pension cases. In 2006 she filed a class action of notable statewide impact. In doing so she successfully secured the return of real estate tax records to affordable public access across the state of Pennsylvania. She continued to pursue the protection of affordable public access to real estate tax records in litigation in other counties, and represented Carbon County in litigation to secure real estate tax records in the county’s control.
In 2012, Mrs. Maughan represented an elected township supervisor in a mandamus action in Monroe County that resulted in the resignation of other elected supervisors whose persistent unlawful conduct violated Pennsylvania law governing the conduct of elected township officials.
In the family law arena, Mrs. Maughan has guided hundreds of clients through the challenging experience of asset distribution, custody conflicts and income protection. While she seeks amicable resolution as a constant first priority, her litigation skills are notable. She enjoys the respect of the courts’ conciliators, conference officers, staff and judges because she is solution oriented and committed to meticulous preparation.
“AV” – the Highest Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
Of the more than 250 members of the Monroe County Bar Association, Jane Roach Maughan is one of a few lawyers who has earned the rating “very high to preeminent” in legal ability and ethics from Martindale-Hubbell, a national organization which has published such ratings for more than a century. Each lawyer is rated by peers and judges. Nationally, fewer than 10% of all lawyers hold the “AV” rating.
“Superb” – the Highest Rating from Avvo
Jane Roach Maughan holds the “Superb” rating— the highest rating granted by Avvo. A comprehensive legal market website that rates lawyers., Avvo bases its independent ratings on background data collected from various sources, including public records (such as the state bar associations, regulatory agencies, and court records). The Avvo Rating also takes into account the lawyer’s experience and professional achievements.
Educator of Professionals
Jane Roach Maughan is an elected member and past President of the President of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI). The PBI provides continuing legal education for lawyers across the state of Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Maughan is a frequent lecturer and course planner on legal ethics, real estate and family law matters. She has served on the Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section Council and is an appointed member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Committee on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility. She has served on the PBA’s Task Force on Family Court Reform and its Lawyer Certification and Specialization Board.