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Practices

GENERAL LIABILITY

Litchfield Cavo attorneys’ quest for excellence has earned our reputation as a premier litigation defense firm among insurers, self-insured entities and the legal community. Our attorneys are powerful advocates for those facing personal injury, property damage, contractual liability as well as negligence claims.

Thorough, Persistent Defense

Litchfield Cavo attorneys have a solid reputation of efficiently, yet successfully litigating complex matters on behalf of insurance carriers, corporations, financial institutions, regional businesses, municipalities and government entities, and individuals due to their substantial experience of complex matters, including:

  • Business defense | Insured businesses rely on our attorneys to reach successful, cost-effective resolutions as they face many types of lawsuits, including allegations of negligent or insufficient training, compliance, supervision or hiring practice claims.
  • Personal injury defense | Litchfield Cavo attorneys defend negligence and strict liability actions on behalf of our clients including catastrophic injury and death. This includes successfully defend lawsuits against general contractors and subcontractors in construction accidents, owners and operators of personal and commercial vehicles, and owners and managers of residential and commercial property.
  • Personal torts | Litchfield Cavo attorneys defend businesses and individuals accused of wrongful conduct, including defamation (libel or slander), invasion of privacy, statute violations of debt collection, computer use or misuse of confidential data. Such accusations are frequently unfounded and our attorneys vigorously defend clients based on facts, the law and the United States Constitution.
  • Property damage defense | Our attorneys vigorously defend property damage claims that can cost millions of dollars and disrupt business. Our attorneys represent clients against claims arising from construction operations, as well as personal claims against  commercial and residential property managers and owners.
  • Trial counsel | Litchfield Cavo attorneys understand a trial is the last resort for clients, yet are always prepared to take a case to verdict. Our attorneys place clients in the best position to prevail at trial in claims alleging failure to warn, breach of warranty, deceptive trade practices and other matters.
Our General Liability Record
  • Obtained summary judgment in federal court on behalf of insurance agency sued for age discrimination by a former insurance broker who claimed damages in excess of $1.2 million.
  • Jury verdict in favor of Defendant involved in a municipal construction project wherein Plaintiff sought more than $3.5 million for spinal injuries suffered when they fell into an unguarded excavation.
  • Procured voluntary dismissal of hostile work environment claim after producing photographs of Plaintiff engaging in behavior that was contradictory to allegations in complaint.
  • Negotiated favorable settlement for employer after three mediations in an age discrimination federal suit filed by seven former employees laid off in a reduction in force.
  • Obtained jury verdict for employer after a six-day jury trial in a Title VII religious discrimination case; jury found Plaintiff to be an independent contractor rather than an employee.
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of our state governmental entity client in wrongful death/civil rights case related to officer-involved shooting on an Indian reservation wherein Plaintiff was involved in a high speed chase.
  • Successfully defended municipality clients concerning liability for civil rights claims against wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution.
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of municipal employer sued for allegedly violating federal and state whistleblower statutes; although evidence did confirm employee submitted complaints of fraud and abuse, the trial court found there was no evidence that employee’s termination was a result of the complaints.
  • Successfully moved to exclude Plaintiff’s experts’ opinions, reports, and supplemental reports, and successfully defended the state governmental entity client against Plaintiff’s motion to exclude.
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf our state government division client in a civil rights case involving allegations that legislature exceeded its jurisdiction in requiring out-of-state charitable organizations to register with, and obtain a state permit before soliciting from residents; resulted in favorable outcome for our client.
  • Obtained summary judgement on behalf of our governmental entity client in civil rights/commercial litigation case involving reclamation of mining property resulting in favorable outcome for our client.
  • Successfully defended an assisted living community client against Plaintiff’s claim that she fell and broke her hip due to insufficient assistance while leaving her apartment during a mandated overnight fire drill.
  • Obtained favorable summary judgment for property management company client and grocery store in a personal injury action wherein the court held Plaintiff’s slip and fall was caused by a natural accumulation of ice and Defendants owed no duty.
  • Achieved a defense verdict in a mass flooding case in favor of two water supply companies that operate three dams controlling over 12 billion gallons of water.
  • Successfully defended a gas and oil field production automation client in a property damage subrogation case, with alleged damages exceeding $11 million, against a claim that the onsite work had interfered with the emergency shutdown system at a gas compression facility.
Michael P. Baniak
Michael P. Baniak
Local Office Managing Partner
IL – Chicago
T: 312.781.6596
J. Gunter Barber
Associate
TX – Dallas-Fort Worth
T: 817.945.8051
Chaviante U. Bell
Attorney
CA – Los Angeles area
T: 626.683.5087
Christopher T. Bobak
Christopher T. Bobak
Associate
MO – St. Louis
T: 314.396.8609
Leroy Carter III
Associate
LA – New Orleans area
T: 985.869.8703
Bryan Cheah
Associate
NY – New York
T: 212.792.9765
Laurie L. Christensen
Laurie L. Christensen
Local Office Managing Partner
RI – Providence
T: 401.427.4202
Bridget McCormack Ciarlo
Associate
CT – Hartford area
T: 860.413.2710
Andrew S. Connell, Sr.
Andrew S. Connell, Sr.
Of Counsel (Retired)
FL – Fort Lauderdale
T: 954.689.3012
Charles B. Costello, III
Charles B. Costello, III
Associate
NY – New York
T: 212.792.9770
Emily A. de la Cruz
Associate
CA – Los Angeles area
T: 626.683.5078
John C. Deagon, III
Associate
CA – Los Angeles area
T: 626.683.5069
Matthias J. DeAngelo
Matthias J. DeAngelo
Associate
CT – Hartford area
T: 860.413.2715
Claudia B. Diaz
Partner
IL – Chicago
T: 312.781.6677
Dennis M. Dolan
Dennis M. Dolan
Local Office Managing Partner
IL – Chicago | IN – Highland
T: 312.781.6641
Scott T. Fogel
Associate
NY – New York
T: 212.818.0136
Trisha A. Gill
Trisha A. Gill
Local Office Managing Partner - Pittsburgh
PA – Pittsburgh | WV – Charleston
T: 412.291.8242
Daniel Gomez
Daniel Gomez
Partner
FL – Fort Lauderdale
T: 954.689.3026
Jennifer L. Gooden
Jennifer L. Gooden
Associate
TX – Houston
T: 713.418.2037
Kade M.W. Goodwin
Associate
MO – Kansas City
T: 816.648.1425
Melissa L. Gould
Associate
AZ – Phoenix
T: 602.786.6471
Adrian G. Gragas
Adrian G. Gragas
Of Counsel
CA – Los Angeles area
T: 626.683.5066
Nicole E. Grimes
Associate
WV – Charleston
T: 304.833.9956
Alexandria K. Hobson
Alexandria K. Hobson
Local Office Managing Partner
CA – Los Angeles area
T: 626.683.5085
Danielle L. Hofer
Danielle L. Hofer
Associate
NY – New York
T: 212.365.5417
Robert L. Hogan
Senior Trial Counsel
PA – Pittsburgh | WV – Charleston
T: 412.291.8274
Delna R. Kermani
Delna R. Kermani
Associate
NY – New York
T: 212.792.9771
Hak Seop Kim
Associate
NY – New York
T: 212.792.9761
Gregg Kupor
Associate
TX – Houston
T: 713.418.2007
Stephen J. LaMonica
Stephen J. LaMonica
Associate
MA – Boston area
T: 781.309.1503
Sophia L. Lauricella
Of Counsel
CA – Los Angeles area
T: 626.683.5071
Steve Lee
Steve Lee
Associate
CA – Los Angeles area
T: 626.683.5089
Michael T. Lynch
Michael T. Lynch
Partner
CT – Hartford area
T: 860.413.2708
Chunwei
Chunwei "Vicky" Mao
Associate
NY – New York
T: 212.365.5414
Jennifer L. Marino
Jennifer L. Marino
Local Office Managing Partner
FL – Tampa
T: 813.579.9779
Sydney A. Mazur
Sydney A. Mazur
Associate
CT – Hartford area
T: 860.413.2716
Alan J. Mazzulla
Alan J. Mazzulla
Associate
WI – Milwaukee
T: 414.488.1847
Matthew T. McLain
Matthew T. McLain
Local Office Managing Partner
TX – Dallas-Fort Worth
T: 817.945.8038
Rachel M. Mohabir
Rachel M. Mohabir
Associate
NY – New York
T: 212.792.9773
Daniel A. Passer
Associate
NY – New York
T: 212.365.5423
Sydney L. Pickral
Sydney L. Pickral
Associate
NY – New York
T: 212.365.5409
Amy K. Pohl
Amy K. Pohl
Partner
PA – Pittsburgh
T: 412.291.8269
Katharine E. Reisbig
Katharine E. Reisbig
Associate
CT – Hartford area
T: 860.413.2717
Samantha N. Ross
Samantha N. Ross
Associate
NY – New York
T: 212.792.9778
Robert L. Sanzo
Robert L. Sanzo
Partner
PA – Philadelphia | NJ – Cherry Hill
T: 215.999.5774
J. Lucia Schaefer
J. Lucia Schaefer
Associate
CT – Hartford area
T: 860.413.2705
Dawn M. Sigyarto
Dawn M. Sigyarto
Local Office Managing Partner - Philadelphia
PA – Philadelphia | NJ – Cherry Hill
T: 215.999.5777
Won J. Sohng
Won J. Sohng
Partner
NY – New York
T: 212.365.5415
Cherry Srivastava
Associate
NY – New York
T: 212.792.9777
Angela M. Stenroos
Angela M. Stenroos
Local Office Managing Partner
NY – New York
T: 212.818.0142
Javiera B. Sundar
Javiera B. Sundar
Associate
FL – Fort Lauderdale
T: 954.689.3035
Matthew A. Tate
Matthew A. Tate
Partner
MO – Kansas City
T: 816.648.1403
Stephanie Wing Tipton
Partner
IL – Chicago
T: 312.781.6636
Suchi Vuu
Suchi Vuu
Associate
PA – Philadelphia
T: 215.999.5766
Syed M.A. Warsi
Syed M.A. Warsi
Associate
NY – New York | AZ – Phoenix
T: 212.818.0287
Thane A. Williams
Associate
NV – Las Vegas
T: 702.916.0505
Melissa M. Wolin
Partner
NY – New York
T: 212.434.0102
Nicholas O. Zotti
Local Office Managing Partner
LA – New Orleans area
T: 985.869.8702
Rebecca A. Zotti
Of Counsel
LA – New Orleans area
T: 985.869.8707