Overview
Maria Elena Dryden’s practice focuses on workers’ compensation. Her experience includes decades of drafting briefs and pleadings for submission with all courts in Pennsylvania, including the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation System (PWCS). She has written briefs for the PWC Appeal Board, the Commonwealth Court, and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
Maria Elena began writing briefs for the firm’s Workers’ Compensation Department in 2008, having previously operated her own brief-writing firm. After the Cancer Presumption Law for firefighters was passed in July 2011, she began assisting Willig, Williams & Davidson with firefighter claims. Since then, she has participated in the litigation of hundreds of occupational disease claims, including those for firefighters diagnosed with cancer and heart disease. She has also assisted workers claiming medical and wage loss for orthopedic injuries, hearing loss and psychological injuries.
Prior to attending law school, Maria Elena was a Volunteer Coordinator at Women Against Abuse. Her work included assisting individuals with the intake and administration of Emergency Protection from Abuse Orders, conducting training seminars for volunteers at law schools and colleges, training volunteers and coordinating volunteer schedules.
WHAT INSPIRES ME ABOUT MY WORK
“I am motivated to help people who are being mistreated or taken advantage of in the workplace. It is gratifying to be able to educate individuals about their rights in the workplace.”
AWAY FROM WORK
“I love spending time with my family, reading, playing the piano and traveling around the country—we try to visit a different state every year. I have a black belt in karate, and I love to kickbox.”