Pat Noonan has been engaged exclusively in the litigation of civil cases for the past four decades. Pat has tried more than 200 cases in the state courts, federal courts, and administrative agencies such as the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the Department of Public Health. He has also argued appeals before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Connecticut Supreme Court, and the Connecticut Appellate Court.
Several years ago, in recognition of the fact that most litigants are better served by resolving their disputes than by leaving the resolution to a group of strangers, Pat began to serve as a mediator and arbitrator. Since then, he has handled dozens of different matters, including one very complicated class action that took more than a year to resolve. The other claims involved a variety of topics including employment, medical malpractice, product liability, Title IX, personal injury, commercial litigation, professional liability, sexual misconduct and real estate disputes.
His principal areas of practice, both in ADR and when representing clients, are medical malpractice, employment litigation, Title IX litigation, product liability, professional liability, commercial litigation, personal injury, and civil rights litigation. He successfully defended the first case to be tried under the Connecticut Trade Secrets Act, prevailing at the trial court and the Connecticut Supreme Court.
In his representation of Yale University and other educational institutions, Pat has handled hundreds of cases involving higher education law, including sexual misconduct, employment, student grievances, academic misconduct, and Title IX compliance.
For two years following his graduation from Law School, Pat served as law clerk to Chief Judge T. Emmet Clarie in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. Pat was appointed by the Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut to be the reporter of the Local Rules and a Special Master for the District of Connecticut. In the state court, Pat was appointed by the Supreme Court to serve as an arbitrator for civil cases in the Superior Court.
Pat has been a frequent speaker at seminars for lawyers and other professionals on topics such as federal civil procedure, the rules of evidence, products liability, medical malpractice, jury selection, deposition strategy, and selection of expert witnesses.
The Best Lawyers in America®, 2006 – 2026
Connecticut Super Lawyers®, Medical Malpractice Defense, 2006-2025; Top 50 Connecticut Super Lawyers list
Best Lawyers in the New York area
Who’s Who in American Law
Martindale Hubbell AV rating
Defended medical malpractice action brought against Connecticut kidney transplant surgeon in Boston state court brought by the premier plaintiffs’ medical malpractice law firm in Massachusetts, in a case where the plaintiff died from a virulent infection less than a month after the transplant. The evidence was unequivocal that the infection came from the transplant and that there were signs of that infection present at the time the transplant surgeon approved the use of the donor’s kidney. Trial ended with a defense verdict.
Represented a major Connecticut hospital against a claim that a PA committed malpractice when she attempted to obtain an arterial blood gas sample from a female patient and struck the median nerve during the procedure, which permanently deprived the patient of the use of her left arm. The jury rendered a verdict in favor of the defense, despite the PA’s concession that in retrospect the patient did not need a blood gas sample, and therefore the procedure which caused the permanent nerve injury was completely unnecessary.
Tried employment discrimination case in the New Haven Superior Court in which plaintiff alleged claims of race, gender, and age discrimination against a major university, which led to a jury verdict in favor of the defendant on all counts. The verdict was affirmed on appeal.
Represented a prominent social media company in connection with nationwide multi-district litigation against social media companies in connection with claims that the social media outlets failed to prevent adults from initiating improper relationships with teenagers over the internet.
Defended numerous colleges, universities and preparatory schools in connection with claims of sexual misconduct by students and faculty members.
Defended a major Connecticut law firm in a legal malpractice action in Hartford Superior Court, obtained a defense verdict, and then prevailed in the Connecticut Supreme Court on appeal.
Represented a major Connecticut medical center in medical malpractice lawsuit involving 127 plaintiffs who claimed to have been injured as a result of a nurse diverting pain medication for her own use and re-filling the medication vials with salt solution, thereby depriving patients of the analgesic medication needed during their in vitro fertilization procedures.
Defended six different Superior Court judges before the Judicial Review Council and in civil actions, all of which ended in dismissals of the grievance charges and lawsuit.
Defended a major university against a claim of discrimination on the basis of trans-gender status, resulting in a finding of no discrimination after a 28-day trial before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
Defended a medical device manufacturer in a lawsuit alleging patent infringement. Trial judge granted a motion for directed verdict in favor of the defense after the conclusion of the plaintiff’s evidence following 60 days of evidence. The case was affirmed on appeal.
Represented numerous lawyers in legal malpractice actions filed in the Superior Court and grievances brought to the Statewide Grievance Committee. Four of the legal malpractice cases were tried to conclusion, and a defense verdict was rendered in each.
Represented the athletics department of a major university following termination of a varsity head coach who had been accused of sexual misconduct at a prior institution, which he failed to disclose when applying for his new position. The plaintiff withdrew the action without any payment following conclusion of discovery.