Two Prominent Vermont Trial Attorneys Start New Law Firm

John P. Maley and Christopher J. Maley, previously of Sylvester & Maley, Inc. have started a new law firm dedicated solely to personal injury plaintiff law, Maley and Maley PLLC. Areas of practice include:

• Personal Injury
• Medical Malpractice
• Wrongful Death
• Auto and Truck Accidents
• Product Liability
• Recreational Accidents
• Nursing Home Abuse / Neglect
• Insurance Coverage Disputes

The firm is located at 30 Main Street, in Burlington, Vermont. Both attorneys are Burlington natives and have distinguished careers as trial attorneys including being selected for inclusion in the 2014 edition of  The Best Lawyers in America® for medical malpractice law and personal injury litigation. See full press release for more information.

Trial judge Crawford sworn in as Supreme Court justice

Nice piece in Burlington Free Press on Judge Geoffrey Crawford being sworn in. I would post the photo, but that would be wrong. Check it out here: Praised for his skills inside the courtroom and out, Judge Geoffrey Crawford becomes a Supreme Court justice.

Good for Vermont!

Vermont Wrongful Death Case First Requires Federal Insurance Coverage Verdict

Geico Insurance first denied payment to family of women killed in drunk driving auto accident

The Burlington Free Press reported on the wrongful death case that was put on hold due to the need to file a claim in U.S. federal court to get Geico to pay benefits to family of women killed in an auto accident involving a drunk driver: Geico agrees to pay in Borneman case. Geico initially declined to provide coverage. At issue was a “non-owned automobile clause.” As the article states:

"The wrongful-death lawsuit was filed initially in the civil division of Vermont Superior Court, but that case was placed on hold until a federal-court jury could be asked whether Geico must provide coverage. The federal jury deliberated about 90 minutes after a two-day trial before ruling against Geico on Aug. 21."

According to the plaintiff attorney Chris Maley, “Geico made no offer to settle the case prior to trial. After the jury verdict in our favor, Geico has paid the policy limits of its coverage.”  A previous article: Jury: Geico must cover driver in fatal Burlington crash, covers the ruling that cleared the way for the wrongful death case to resume.

Auto Accident Jury Verdict is $43 Million in Vermont

The Burlington Free Press reported last week on the auto crash trial involving a 51-year old woman who was paralyzed in the accident in which the jury verdict was $43 million award — believed to be the largest in Vermont history.

The suit was filed "against the manufacturer of a car seat that allegedly collapsed on her during a 2007 car accident, rendering her a paraplegic... Johnson Controls Inc. of Milwaukee..."

View the full report here: Jury awards $43M to Essex woman paralyzed in crash.

Christopher Maley Elected President of Vermont Association for Justice

BURLINGTON, VT — Trial attorney Christopher J. Maley was elected president of the VermontAssociation for Justice at its annual convention on May 17. Maley will serve as the organization’s president for the 2013-2014 term.

Maley is a native of Burlington, Vermont, and a partner in the law firm of Maley and Maley PLLC of Burlington. He is a plaintiffs trial attorney practicing is the area of personal injury law, medical malpractice and products liability. See full press release here: Chris Maley.