Pittsburgh attorney Brad Funari, a partner at Reed Smith, is battling misdemeanor reckless endangerment and a traffic offense after what police describe as a road-rage encounter near his Murrysville home on Sept. 4, 2023. At a nonjury hearing this week, his estranged wife testified that she was nearly hit when Funari’s vehicle allegedly swung back around and accelerated toward the car carrying her and her father. Funari has flatly rejected the account in court, insisting he is the target of a plot tied to an ongoing custody dispute.
The clash first surfaced publicly through testimony this week. According to TribLive, Mira Gornick said she was riding in a car driven by her father when Funari allegedly blocked the road leading to her home, sped off, then returned and drove toward them at speed, forcing her father to swerve out of the way. Prosecutors have charged Funari with a misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment and a traffic violation, and no injuries were reported. The judge told lawyers he would rule on the defense motion to dismiss before the nonjury trial picks back up.
Who Is Brad Funari
Brad A. Funari is listed as a partner in Reed Smith’s Pittsburgh office, where the firm describes him as a litigator handling complex commercial disputes. Records from the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board show him as an active attorney with Reed Smith at 225 Fifth Avenue in Pittsburgh, confirming his current firm affiliation and contact details.
What the Charge Means
Recklessly endangering another person is set out in Pennsylvania law at 18 Pa.C.S. § 2705, where it is defined as conduct that recklessly places another person in danger of death or serious bodily injury. It is graded as a second-degree misdemeanor, and state sentencing rules cap the maximum penalty for that level of offense at two years in prison under § 1104. Outcomes vary, and many first-time offenders in similar cases receive probation instead of jail.
Next Steps in Court
Both sides are expected to continue presenting evidence as the nonjury trial proceeds, depending on how the judge rules on the motion to dismiss. Further reporting will follow once the court issues its decision.
