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Robert C. E. Laney is a partner in the firm. He is primarily engaged in the litigation of commercial disputes and the defense of civil suits on behalf of individuals, insureds and self-insured entities. Rob’s practice includes the defense of catastrophic tractor-trailer and motor vehicle accident cases, wrongful death, legal malpractice claims, unfair trade practice matters, commercial litigation, products liability and premises liability.
He has tried over two dozen jury cases to verdict in state and federal courts in Connecticut, Virginia and North Carolina. Rob has also successfully argued more than a dozen appeals before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the Connecticut Appellate Court and the Connecticut Supreme Court.
Rob holds the highest professional rating from Martindale-Hubbell, AV. He has been a frequent seminar speaker on topics pertaining to civil practice and procedure and the defense of uninsured/underinsured motorist claims, has served as a Special Master for the Superior Court for several years and currently serves as a court-appointed Attorney Trial Referee.
He is a former co-chair of the Fairfield County Bar Association Civil Litigation Committee and member of the Board of Directors of the Fairfield County Bar Association. |
| Professional Affiliations |
• Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association (President, 2010-present; Member of the Board of Directors, 2006-2010)
• State chair of the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
• Member of the Defense Research Institute
• Connecticut, American and Fairfield County Bar Associations
• Selected for inclusion in 2010 Connecticut Super Lawyers® |
| Education |
B.A., College of William & Mary, 1985
J.D., Marshall-Wythe School of Law, College of William & Mary, 1988 |
| Representative Experience |
• Represented five directors of a closely-held corporation in connection with a suit brought by two of the founding shareholders seeking $9 million for alleged theft of intellectual property, unfair trade practices, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract. Obtained a defense verdict for all five directors after an eight day trial.
• Represented a commuter railroad company against a $12 million wrongful death claim brought by the estate of a young woman who was killed when she was struck by a train while walking across trestle. Obtained a defense verdict in favor of the railroad company after an eight day jury trial.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of an excavation company and several of its employees in connection with the wrongful death claims brought by the estates of two employees who asphyxiated while working in a manhole.
• Representation of an institutional equity investment management company in defense of claims including violations of software licensing and maintenance agreements and unfair trade practices.
• Representation of trucking companies in connection with wrongful death and serious injury claims arising out of tractor-trailer accidents. |
| Recent Reported Decisions |
DaGraca, Admr’x., et al. v. Kowalsky Brothers, Inc., et al., 100 Conn. App. 781 (2007)
Lin, Adm’r. v. Metro-North Commuter Railroad Co., 277 Conn. 1 (2006)
Sullivan, Adm’r. v. Metro-North Commuter Railroad Co., 96 Conn. App. 741 (2006)
Auster v. Norwalk United Methodist Church, 94 Conn. App. 617 (2006)
Smith, Adm’r. v. Mediplex of Westport, 273 Conn. 508 (2005)
Coughlin v. Anderson, 270 Conn. 487 (2004) |
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