James J. Noonan

Partner
P: 
203-541-5045
F: 
203-357-7915
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 motor vehicle, premises liability, construction and uninsured/underinsured motorist cases. Jim also has experience with professional liability, commercial litigation, transportation and insurance coverage cases.

Jim is an active trial attorney, having completed numerous trials in various judicial districts across the state. He has participated in various forms of alternative dispute resolution including mediations and arbitrations and has handled several 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 Theatre 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.

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, The Southern District of New York and The United States Supreme Court.

Professional Affiliations: 

  • Connecticut Bar Association
  • Fairfield County Bar Association
  • Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association (Board of Directors, 2010-present)
  • 4th JAG Officers Association
  • Included on the Rising Stars list in Connecticut Super Lawyers® (2009-2011/2012)

Representative Experience: 

  • Represented dog owners sued for an alleged attack that caused serious and life threatening personal injuries to a bicycle rider. Jim obtained a defense verdict and 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 trailor 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)