Practice Areas Overview

Sutter O'Connell provides legal services to commercial clients throughout the United States in a wide variety of practice areas, including:

Appellate

Appellate advocacy is a specialized practice of law involving precise knowledge of procedural requirements and experience in the art of written and oral advocacy.  Few cases reach the appellate level, but those that do shape the law.  The attorneys of Sutter O'Connell have the ability and skill necessary to handle every facet of an appeal - from assisting trial counsel in developing and preserving issues on appeal to oral argument before the reviewing court.  For more information about our appellate practice group, including landmark appeals and recent published opinions, visit our appellate practice page.

Products Liability

We offer experienced defense representation for clients in personal injury claims arising from allegations of a defective auto part. Whether a plaintiff is alleging a design defect, a manufacturing defect, or inadequate warnings or instructions, our legal team is prepared to defend you at the negotiation table and in the courtroom. We conduct a thorough investigation of the vehicles involved in the accident, and work with traffic and scientific experts to independently determine causation. Visit our auto products liability page for more information.

Medical Malpractice

Our attorneys regularly represent hospitals and medical organizations accused of malpractice. We understand the tendency of injured plaintiffs to pursue the party with the deepest pockets, and have the experience and malpractice expertise to combat these claims. Upon investigating the claims against you and consulting with various medical experts in our nationwide network, we will prepare and present an effective defense. Our medical malpractice page has more details on this area of our practice.

Toxic Torts

Claims involving environmental and toxic tort allegations have risen to national prominence as a result of various whistleblowing incidents reported in the news and portrayed in the media. The reality is that this is a complex area of law that turns on a vast amount of data and contributing factors, and often involves a complicated legal evaluation of liability. Our attorneys are committed to uncovering the truth and exposing the weaknesses in the plaintiff’s claim. For more information on this practice area, visit our environmental and toxic tort page.

Commercial Litigation

At Sutter O'Connell, our practice is built on decades of trial experience in state and federal courts throughout the nation. We are equipped to handle complex commercial litigation, and have the trial expertise and legal resources to ensure favorable results. Our case summaries exemplify the depth of our experience and our ability to achieve consistent success for our clients. Our track record of success is a direct result of preparation, experience, and a continual commitment to serving our clients' best interests.

Class Actions

If you are facing a class action lawsuit, the potential impact on your business can be devastating. Class action plaintiff verdicts are typically considerable, and without experienced representation, your company may be ordered to pay an amount that does not reflect your actual liability. Class action procedural rules vary by state and require attorneys with experience specific to that state and the type of claim involved. We have a national practice rooted in decades of trial experience, with the class action expertise needed to handle the complexities of such a claim.

Trucking/Transportation

Personal injury claims arising from trucking accidents are particularly damaging to the trucking company involved since the injuries associated with trucking accidents are often catastrophic. While plaintiffs are quick to point the finger at any truck involved in their accident, a number of other factors, including their own negligent driving, are often to blame for their injuries. We assist clients in presenting a comprehensive defense that details the safety measures, training programs, vehicle inspections, and government compliance protocols that eliminate liability on the part of the trucking company. Our attorneys will prepare a thorough and vigorous defense and are always ready to take a matter to trial if necessary to protect a client's best interests. For further information, please see our trucking and transport page.

Insurance Coverage

Health care remains a hotly contested topic in American politics and media, and insurance-related claims are prevalent in courtrooms throughout the United States. We represent clients facing claims arising out of insurance coverage denials. Many plaintiffs seek to exploit the negative perception of insurance companies to garner settlements and seek coverage when their coverage was properly denied. Our attorneys thoroughly prepare a defense that clearly presents the facts and indicates why coverage was appropriately denied. We have a keen eye for fraudulent or bad faith insurance claims and routinely help clients resolve claims before reaching litigation. In the event litigation is unavoidable, we have the experience and advocacy skills needed to achieve favorable results.

Professional Liability & Legal Ethics

The attorneys of Sutter O’Connell consider themselves privileged to defend lawyers and their firms in professional liability and legal ethics matters. Whether the underlying case may involve simple negligence or a multi-million dollar commercial litigation claim, we understand the key to successful representation is an aggressive approach coupled with the knowledge of the underlying area of law. Our broad range of experience in catastrophic personal injury cases, commercial litigation and mass tort liability allows us to efficiently analyze a professional liability claim and pursue the most expeditious defense strategy. We have also represented attorneys in some of the most high profile disciplinary proceedings brought by The Office of the Disciplinary Counsel, which can have unique procedural and evidentiary hurdles that are difficult to navigate through for those unfamiliar with the process. When an attorney’s professional future is on the line, they should expect world class representation. We have successfully defended those cases for over a decade.

Seek Experienced Legal Representation

For experienced defense representation, contact Sutter O'Connell today for a consultation.