Connecticut - New York
James J. Reardon
In complex legal matters in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, Jim Reardon has brought his unflappable demeanor and strategic thinking into high profile litigation, intensive negotiations and a range of other matters.
Jim regularly counsels businesses and business owners concerning formation of business entities, drafting operating agreements, navigating successor disputes, and franchise law issues. Jim has been frequently called upon to address shareholder disputes, business divorce, employee raids, breach of non-compete provisions, and theft of trade secrets cases.
In addition, Jim has successfully handled a broad array of matters including breach of contract, business torts, securities fraud, environmental cost recovery, product liability, reinsurance, and insurance coverage, in court as well as in arbitration and mediation proceedings and arbitrations, including FINRA arbitrations. Jim also has represented financial institutions in regulatory and administrative proceedings involving business practices, lending practices, and other issues.
His work for insurance clients has included a “faked death” life insurance case that led to an appearance on the CBS television series 60 Minutes – a case that, unsurprisingly, resulted in a favorable outcome for the client when the purported decedent was located, alive, due to Jim’s investigative efforts. Jim has extensive experience representing life insurance companies, annuity issuers, reinsurance companies, and property and casualty companies. Jim’s considerable experience representing annuity issuers in matters involving annuities has included successfully defending insurers against fraud-based claims, and recovering indemnity from companies active in the secondary markets for insurance products.
Jim is currently representing property and casualty carriers in coverage disputes concerning so-called concrete decay cases involving crumbling residential foundations in Connecticut. At issue is alleged coverage under the language of homeowners’ policies for repair work that often may exceed $100,000 per home.
Jim’s work has taken him to destinations across the United States, as well as to locales abroad. His successes have included trial victories, such as a jury trial verdict in West Virginia state court, and successes due to dispositive motions, such as a recent victory in a federal court in Connecticut. Jim’s experience representing reinsurers includes a recent $3 million summary judgment victory in a federal case involving a contract interpretation dispute over carry-forward provisions in a case where the court not only enforced the reinsurance agreement but also awarded pre-judgment interest.
Admitted to Practice
- Connecticut
- New York
- Massachusetts
- United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
- United States District Court for the Western District of New York
- United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
- United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- United States District Court for the District of Colorado
- United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
Education
- University of Massachusetts, B.A. 1990
- Boston College Law School, J.D. 1993
Professional Affiliations
- Connecticut Bar Association (Insurance, Litigation, and Federal Bar Sections)