About Gerard T Donnelly

Prior to co-founding Hassett | Donnelly, Gerard worked in the insurance industry as an adjuster and investigator. He regularly handles high-exposure matters on behalf of insurers, TPAs, businesses and individuals. Gerard’s practice areas include Civil Litigation, Municipal Liability, Civil Rights Defense, Construction Litigation, Product Liability and Workers’ Compensation.

Gerard has extensive experience defending towns, cities, schools, police departments and other public entities in c. 258 actions, negligence matters, civil rights and employment disputes. He has a long record of defense verdicts and dismissals throughout Massachusetts state and federal courts, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA). Moreover, he has defended local and national businesses in asbestos and class action litigation.

In addition to successful jury trials, Gerard has an extensive record of favorable summary judgment motions and dismissals arising from the novel and evolving legal issues surrounding the defense of public employers such as presentment, discretionary function, public duty rule and various immunities and statutory caps. He has successfully defended a number of well-known non-profit, charitable and religious organizations in high-profile actions across the Commonwealth, often facilitating favorable resolutions over protracted and costly litigation.