James J. Noonan

Partner
P: 
203-541-5045
F: 
203-549-6655
jjnoonan@ryandelucalaw.com
vCard

James J. Noonan is a partner at the firm practicing primarily in the areas of personal injury and insurance defense and particularly on construction litigation, insurance coverage disputes, motor vehicle, premises liability, and uninsured/under-insured motorist cases. Jim also has experience handling professional liability cases, commercial liability matters, products liability and transportation litigation.

Jim is an active trial attorney, having completed numerous trials in various judicial districts across the state and in the federal courts. He has participated in various forms of alternative dispute resolution including mediations and arbitrations and has handled appeals to the Connecticut Appellate Court and the New York Appellate Division, Second Department.

Jim is a frequent guest lecturer at Quinnipiac University and Quinnipiac University School of Law on issues relating to the civil justice system, personal injury law, and legal skills and advocacy. He is a former Captain in the United States Army Reserve, Judge Advocate General’s Corp. During his time in the Army Reserves, he participated in Article 15 proceedings and separation boards brought under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. He served in Germany with the 21st Theater Support Command and completed a temporary tour of active duty in Charlottesville, VA at The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School as the Deputy Director (RC) Training Developments Directorate. From 2000 - 2010 he served with the 4th Legal Support Organization, Bronx, NY.

Jim has been given the highest Martindale-Hubbell rating of "AV" and was recently selected as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He is admitted to practice before the courts of the states of Connecticut and New York, The United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, and The United States Supreme Court. He is a Past President of the Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association and is currently the Connecticut State Representative to the Defense Research Institute (DRI).  He also serves on the DRI Construction Law Steering Committee. 

Professional Affiliations: 
    • Connecticut Bar Association
    • Fairfield County Bar Association
    • Past President of the Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association
    • 4th JAG Officers Association
    • Listed in Connecticut Super Lawyers® (2018-2023). 
    • Included on the Rising Stars list in Connecticut Super Lawyers® (2008-2012).
    • Accepted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2021
    • Connecticut State Representative to DRI 2021 to present
    • Serves on the DRI Construction Law Steering Committee
    Representative Experience: 
      • Successfully defended at trial a claim for personal injuries and statutory and common law recklessness against a 3rd time DWI offender.  The jury returned a plaintiff’s verdict but chose not to award recklessness damages thereby keeping the damage award within the client’s covered policy limits and protecting the client from an excess judgment.
      • Obtained a defense verdict in Danbury Superior Court following a three-day jury trial on behalf of a motorist following a low impact motor vehicle collision.  The claim arose out of a rear-end motor vehicle accident in which the defendant admitted liability.  The defense of the claim was based on the causation of the plaintiff’s claimed injuries.  The plaintiff, a 55-year old former police officer, had a lengthy prior medical history.  The accident was very minor in nature and the treatment post-accident was inconsistent.   Plaintiff presented two medical experts on causation who conceded on cross examination that given the reported injuries at the ER and the inconsistent treatment that followed they could no longer opine that the claimed injuries were due to the accident.  There were also significant credibility issues that were elicited during cross examination of the plaintiff.  The jury returned a defense verdict in 50 minutes finding that the plaintiff failed to prove that he was injured in the accident.
      • Successfully defended at trial and on appeal a breach of contract claim by an insured against his insurance company claiming the insurer failed to pay damages to a 2006 Ferrari F430 Challenge racing vehicle. Plaintiff claimed he was entitled to coverage for damages in excess of $235,000 after the vehicle was crashed at Infineon Raceway in California. Subsequent to the loss the insurance company rescinded the policy based on material misrepresentations. Plaintiff claimed the rescission was improper and the vehicle and damage was a covered loss. After a trial, the court found the rescission was proper due to material misrepresentations at the application and renewal stage of the policy issuance and that the claim was excluded due to the racing exclusion. The Appellate Court affirmed the trial court’s decision.
      • Defended through trial in federal court a roofing contractor in a construction defect and breach of contract claim as a result of significant water damage sustained by the historic Shubert Theater in New Haven, CT following significant weather events. Claimed damages in excess of $600,000 were allegedly due to the negligence of the roofing contractor during repair and replacement of the entire roofing system.
      • Successfully defended an architect in a professional negligence and breach of contract claim on a multi-million-dollar home renovation project. 
      • Successfully defended a national home building and supply company against breach of contract and delay claim following the build of a commercial residential building.  At mediation Jim negotiated a withdrawal of the claim for damages against his client after introducing an insurmountable amount of evidence that the delay claim was not as a result of the carpenter and supplier but was in fact a result of numerous errors on the part of the general contractor. 
      • Defended a fire suppression and sprinkler contractor in an action for damages to a Connecticut school as a result of an allegedly improper installation and maintenance of dry pipe system that malfunctioned causing significant water damage.
      • Obtained a defense verdict at trial on behalf of dog owners sued for an alleged attack that caused life threatening personal injuries to a bicycle rider. Jim established that the plaintiff was unable to prove that the dog that caused the injuries was the defendants' dog.
      • Successfully defended a surgical ophthalmologist in a medical malpractice action based on lack of informed consent. The plaintiff claimed the physician did not adequately advise her of the risks of surgery and the number of procedures which would be required to correct the plaintiff's bulging eyes caused by hypothyroidism. The New Britain jury returned a defense verdict after deliberating approximately two hours.
      • Represented a home nursing service in an action brought by a former home health aide seeking damages for injuries allegedly sustained when a patient for whom the home health aide was caring, propositioned him for oral sex and when the aide refused filed a false claim with the police that the aide had sexually abused him. The aide was arrested and incarcerated for 18 months as a result of this accusation but ultimately was acquitted. The home health aide sued his former employer for negligence and intentional conduct based on failure to warn and creating a dangerous and unsafe work environment. Jim successfully defended the appeal to the New York Appellate Division after a lower court granted summary judgment.
      • Represented a deceased doctor in a motor vehicle v. motorcycle jury trial seeking damages for significant personal injuries sustained by the motorcycle rider when he was allegedly cut off by the deceased doctor. Jim obtained a defense verdict after a jury trial in Stamford Superior Court.
      • Represented a driver involved in a $40-million dollar lawsuit brought by a 26 year old man who suffered quadriplegia after a multiple motor vehicle and tractor trailer accident on I-95 in Fairfield.
      Reported Decisions: 

       

      Waterman v. County of Westchester, et al., 712 N.Y.S.2d 373 (2000)

      Padro v. VNS of New York, 714 N.Y.S.2d 438 (2000)

      Poulin v. Yasner, 64 Conn. App. 730 (2001)

      Sonson v. United Servs. Auto. Ass’n, 152 Conn App. 832 (2014)