John W. Dennehy
Partner
617-406-4539 Direct Telephone
617-406-4501 Facsimile
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Experience
John W. Dennehy is a trial attorney in the firm's Professional Practices and General Trial Groups, concentrating in civil litigation. His practice areas include Professional Liability, Business Litigation, Construction Litigation, Insurance Defense and Coverage, as well as Land Use/Real Estate Litigation. John often represents design professionals in various litigation matters, often with high exposures.
John frequently appears in state and federal courts in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He has very successful results as solo and first chair counsel in bench and jury trials in District and Superior Courts, as well as numerous administrative hearings, and arbitrations. Previously, John was counsel at Devine, Millimet & Branch in New Hampshire, and served in the United States Marines.
Admitted to Practice
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire
- United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit
Business and Professional Associations
- Boston Bar Association
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- New Hampshire Bar Association
- Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association
- Charted Property & Casualty Underwriters Society (Boston Chapter)
- Defense Research Institute
Education
- Suffolk University Law School (J.D.)
- University of North Carolina Wilmington (B.A., Honors)
- Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter
Representative Matters
- Achieved numerous dismissals of design professionals through motions for summary judgment and motions to dismiss.
- Successfully represented financial institutions in obtaining control over client accounts valued in several million dollars; and, completed strategic filings to protect a financial institution’s interests from a major New Hampshire ponzi scheme.
- Obtained defense verdict for bank in jury trial where plaintiff claimed multiple surgeries resulted from design defect of automatic teller system. The trial included live cross examination of medical and engineering experts.
- Achieved defense verdict for college in jury trial by demonstrating the school's procedures were reasonable, and by attacking plaintiff's credibility on cross examination.
- Secured defense verdict for trucking company in jury trial by utilizing scene photographs and property damage to prove plaintiff caused the accident.
- Obtained defense verdict for shopping center in jury trial by demonstrating that its snow removal services were reasonable.
- Defense verdict for a New Hampshire city in Superior Court bench trial regarding land use regulations where the amount in controversy for developer was over $800,000.
- Defense verdict for road construction company in bench trial by demonstrating reasonable construction techniques and by arguing causation.
- Obtained defense verdict for defendant in automobile accident by utilizing scene photographs, property damage, and cross examination to demonstrate that plaintiff's speed and recklessness rather than defendant's left turn in front of plaintiff caused the accident.
- Successfully represented railroad in serious engine collision with motor vehicle.
- Co-counsel that represented client in business dispute resulting in over $1,000,000 settlement for client.
- Co-counsel that represented plaintiff in wrongful death action that resulted in $4,500,000 settlement for client at mediation.
- Successfully settled numerous claims, including structured settlements and a $5,500,000 settlement in serious highway accident resulting in two deaths and many severe injuries, as well as a commercial real estate matter that resulted in a large settlement for our clients.
Articles and Publications
Indiana Appeals Court Holds Economic Loss Doctrine Bars Negligence Claims Against Professionals, The Design and Construction Management Professional Reporter, June 2009.
Massachusetts Court Rules Design Team is Not Responsible for Contractor's Failure to Perform Work, The Design and Construction Management Professional Reporter, January 2008.
New Hampshire section of American Bar Association's Manual on Product Liabililty Warnings
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