Patricia B. Gary
Of Counsel
Patricia B. Gary focuses her practice on the defense of professional liability actions against architects and engineers. She handles complex commercial disputes for individuals and businesses across a broad range of industries. She provides legal advice to construction project participants in drafting and negotiating their design and construction contracts to carefully allocate risks and responsibilities, and minimize exposure. Patricia also concentrates her practice in the area of insurance coverage litigation. and advice. She has litigated numerous declaratory judgment actions to resolution in state and federal courts and has successfully tried bad faith cases to conclusion.
An experienced appellate attorney, she has briefed and argued over forty appeals before the Massachusetts Appeals Court, Supreme Judicial Court, and U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First and Second Circuits in the areas of professional malpractice, insurance coverage, construction law, breach of contract, intellectual property, trade secrets, unfair competition, False Claims Act, anti-trust, lender liability, bankruptcy, premises liability, products liability and land use.
After law school, Patricia served as a Judicial Clerk to Chief Justice David A. Brock of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
A frequent author, Patricia has contributed to numerous construction industry publications and books. She is the lead editor and author of a new book, Climate Change and the Built Environment, published in January 2022 by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).
Patricia was named a “2021 Top Lawyer” by Boston Magazine.
Admitted to Practice
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire
- U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- Suffolk University Law School (J.D., cum laude)
- Articles Editor and Staff Member of the Suffolk University Law Review,
- Recipient of Best Brief Award, Moot Court Competition (Suffolk University Law School)
- Middlebury College (B.A., English/Fine Art)
Business and Professional Associations
- ACEC | Massachusetts:
- Government Affairs Committee; Jan 2021-present
- Building Engineering Committee; Jan 2021-present
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Development and Construction Law Group, Steering Committee, Jan. 2020-present
- New Hampshire Bar Association
Publications and Speaking Engagements
Books
- Lead Editor, Climate Change and the Built Environment, P. Gary and L. Churchill ed., American Council of Engineering Companies (January 2022).
- Co-editor, Public-Private Partnerships and Design-Build: Opportunities and Risks for Consulting Engineers, D. Hatem and P. Gary ed., American Council of Engineering Companies (3d ed. March 2020).
- Co-editor, Public-Private Partnerships and Design-Build: Opportunities and Risks for Consulting Engineers, D. Hatem and P. Gary ed., American Council of Engineering Companies (2d ed. January 2017).
- Co-editor, Public-Private Partnerships and Design-Build: Opportunities and Risks for Consulting Engineers, D. Hatem and P. Gary ed., American Council of Engineering Companies (1st ed. January 2014).
- Author, Chapter 13, “The Future of Megaprojects,” Megaprojects: Challenges and Recommended Practices, D. Hatem and D. Corkum ed., American Council of Engineering Companies (2010).
- Contributing Author, Chapter 4, “Architect-Engineer Contracting,” Federal Government Construction Contracting, A. Bastianelli III, A. Ness, J.West, ed. American Bar Association (2010)
Speaking Engagements
- Moderator, “Book Talk” Climate Change and the Built Environment, AIA Center for Architecture, New York, NY, June 2022
- Speaker, “Legal, Insurance & Contracting Practices,” ACEC Webinar, June 14, 2022
- Program Chair, ACEC 3-Part On-Line Webinar Series: “Climate Change and the Built Environment,” June 7, 14, 21, 2022.
- Program Chair and Panelist, “Climate Change: Evolving Trends In Insurance, Asset Management and Contracting Practices,” ACEC Annual Convention and Legislative Summit, Washington D.C., May 2022.
- Moderator and Speaker, “Climate Change and Design: Integrating Mitigation and Adaptation into Your Practice,” Donovan Hatem’s Design Professional Roundtable, Boston, MA, May 2022
- Podcast, “Climate Change and the Roles—And Responsibilities—of the Design Professional,” ACEC Engineering Influence Podcast, April 2022.
- Program Chair and Panelist, “Climate Change and the Built Environment: Current Thinking for Design Professionals” ACEC Fall Conference, October 2021, Marco Island, Florida
- Speaker, “Climate Change and Recent Developments in Massachusetts Law”, Half Moon Education, Law for Massachusetts Architects, September 2021.
- Speaker, “Climate Changes Everything”, Environmental Business Council New England’s Third Annual Climate Change and Resiliency Summit, Boston, MA, July 2021.
- Program Chair and Panelist, “Climate Change: Recent Developments in Massachusetts Law,” MassBar Association, Boston, MA, June 2021
- Panelist, “Climate Change: New and Emerging Trends,” Donovan Hatem’s Design Professional Roundtable, Boston, MA, March 2021.
- Panelist, “Climate Change and Resilient Design,” ACEC Spring Conference, Washington D.C., May 2019.
- Panelist, “Do Design Professionals Own the Risk of Climate Change?” Donovan Hatem’s Design Professional Roundtable, Boston, MA, March 2019
- Panelist, “Climate Change and Resilient Design: Risk Management Considerations for Engineers” ACEC Fall Conference 2018, Las Vegas, NV
- Panelist, “A Look Back at What’s Ahead: A Review of 2017 and Recent Cases Impacting Design Professionals,” Donovan Hatem’s Design Professional Roundtable, Boston, MA, February 2018
- Panelist, “Climate Change and Design: What do Owners want from their Design Professionals?” Donovan Hatem’s Design Professional Roundtable, Boston, MA, January 2018
- Panelist, “An Update on the Big Three: Green/LEED, Building Information Modeling and Integrated Project Delivery,” Donovan Hatem’s Design Professional Roundtable, Boston, MA, January 2012.
Articles
- Author, “Supreme Judicial Court Articulates A New Test For Determining The Enforceability Of Contractual Provisions That Limit Liability For Violations Of G.L. c. 93A, §11.” (January 2022)
- Author, “Supreme Judicial Court Clarifies That “All” Statutes of Limitations Were Tolled By Its COVID-19 Tolling Orders” (September 2021)
- Co-Author, “Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency Considerations In Design: Professional Liability Risk Issues for Consulting Engineers,” ACEC Insights, American Council of Engineering Companies (Fall 2017).
- Author, “Massachusetts Appeals Court Affirms Dismissal of Complaint Against Design Professionals Based Upon the Three-Year Statute of Limitations.” Design & Construction Management Professional Reporter (June 2017)
- Author, “Limitation of Liability Provision May Not Preclude Recovery Under Chapter 93A if Claim is Based Upon Fraudulent Conduct,” Design & Construction Professional Reporter (March 2017)
- Author, “Ancient Doctrine Protects State Against Statutes of Limitation and Repose,” ACEC Insights, American Council of Engineering Companies (Fall 2013).
- Co-Author, “The Evolution of Wrongful Death and Serious Personal Injury Claims in Construction Litigation,” 50th Annual Meeting Of Invited Attorneys, Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc. and CNA (2011).
- Author, “Electronic Discovery: Following the Paperless Trail,” Vol. 93, Massachusetts Law Review, 265. Sept (2010)
- Author, “Use of Rental Income In A Chapter 11 Case,” Boston Bar Journal, Vol. 25, No. 4 (1991).
Representative Matters
- Obtained summary judgment for an engineering firm in a $10 million subrogation lawsuit for property damage to a condominium complex, and recovered attorneys’ fees and defense costs under a contractual indemnification provision.
- Obtained summary judgment for structural engineer and a court order that owner of college parking facility breached its duty to defend the engineer under indemnification provision in the parties’ contract, and recovered attorneys’ fees and defense costs incurred by the engineer in underlying, multi-million dollar lawsuit for personal injuries.
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of insurance company in a declaratory judgment action, and an order rescinding all general liability and workers’ compensation insurance policies issued to the insured, on the grounds of material misrepresentations in the negotiation of the policies.
- Obtained summary judgment for a general contractor in an insurance coverage dispute, and a declaratory judgment that the insurer breached a duty to defend the general contractor against lawsuit alleging property damage and defective construction work. Also obtained an award of all attorney’s fees and costs incurred by the insured in defending against the declaratory judgment action brought by the insurer.
- Successfully briefed, argued, and obtained a reversal by the Appeals Court of a Superior Court decision dismissing engineer’s complaint for breach of contract and contractual indemnification.
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of two attorneys and a prominent Boston law firm in a legal malpractice lawsuit arising out of the law firm’s handling of a wrongful death suit (Summary judgment upheld following two appeals and a Rule 60(b) proceeding).
- Successfully briefed appeal and obtained decision by Appeals Court affirming summary judgment in favor of architect of a new high school against wrongful death claim by family of child killed by a motorist.
- Obtained summary judgment for a general contractor in a declaratory judgment action brought by its CGL insurer, and a ruling that the insurer must defend and indemnify the contractor through a trial and later, an appeal, against an owner’s claims for construction defects. Received award of all attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by the insured in defending against the declaratory judgment action.
- Successfully briefed and obtained decision by Appeals Court affirming summary judgment in favor of engineer of wastewater project on grounds that statute of limitations barred owner’s claims for breach of express warranty and professional malpractice.
- Successfully defended firearms manufacturer against multiple federal lawsuits by a competitor alleging patent infringement, trade secret theft, fraud, and unfair competition.
- Successfully petitioned the Supreme Judicial Court for further appellate review of Appeals Court’s decision, and obtained reversal, in part, and decision by SJC in wrongful death case arising from electrocution in which the hotel owner could not recover contractual indemnity against engineer, and electrical contractor could not recover common law indemnity against engineer.
- Following jury verdict, successfully defended firearms designer against post-trial motions, and subsequently, a Rule 60(b) motion for relief from judgment, and three separate appeals to the Appeals Court seeking to vacate the $600,000 jury award and permanent injunction (Jury verdict and permanent injunction affirmed by Appeals Court and appellate attorneys’ fees awarded. In separate appeal, denial of Rule 60(b) motion affirmed by Appeals Court).
- Successfully argued before the Appeals Court and obtained decision by Appeals Court reversing a final judgment against firearm manufacturer in a trade secret case and contempt action.
- Obtained summary judgment for architect and dismissal of a $25 million lawsuit brought by the State of Connecticut against an architect and other design professionals and contractors who designed and built the University of Connecticut Law Library.
- Obtained summary judgment for a Massachusetts real estate agent and dismissal of a lawsuit arising out of a real estate transaction, in which the Buyer alleged that the listing real estate broker misrepresented the condition of the Seller’s home.
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of engineer and dismissal of a multi-million dollar subrogation lawsuit alleging design and construction defects through defense that the suit was time-barred by the statute of repose.
- Successfully briefed and argued appeal on behalf of engineer before Second Circuit Court of Appeals, which affirmed dismissal of False Claims Act lawsuit. (Successfully opposed petition for writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court).
- Obtained dismissal of a qui tam lawsuit against a consulting engineer, and twenty-seven other defendants, arising out of the World Trade Center collapse on 9/11, where the plaintiff challenged the investigative findings of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
- Successfully moved to dismiss a False Claims Act lawsuit brought against a consulting engineer and its sub-consultant, arising out of the World Trade Center collapse on 9/11, where the qui tam plaintiff challenged the investigative findings of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and alleged violations of the False Claims Act.
- Obtained summary judgment for an architect and construction manager, and dismissal of a multi-million dollar antitrust lawsuit brought by the developer of commercial waterfront property in Bridgeport, Connecticut, alleging violations of the Connecticut Antitrust Act and analogous provisions of the Sherman Act, and asserting that alleged conspiracy and corrupt practices adversely effected competition in restraint of trade. (Summary judgment affirmed by Connecticut Appellate Court).
- Obtained summary judgment for a general contractor and a declaratory judgment that an insurance company was obligated to defend and indemnify the general contractor against claims of property damage in an underlying lawsuit. Received an award of all attorneys’ fees and costs that client incurred to bring the declaratory judgment action.
- Following removal to federal court, successfully moved to dismiss lawsuit against aviation insurance broker by a jet charter, maintenance, and repair company and its owner, which alleged that the broker failed to procure proper insurance for the jets and related facilities.
- Obtained dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a property owner against a design professional for damages caused by pile-driving activities at a construction project, by arguing that the Design Professional’s contract limited its involvement in the project to developing the criteria and information in a Project Notification Form submitted to the Boston Redevelopment Authority.
- Obtained summary judgment for an architect and its engineer consultant, and dismissal of all claims brought against the design team by an electrical subcontractor on the Braintree-Weymouth Intermediate Pump Station and Headworks Wastewater Project, which sought additional compensation for electrical work, and challenged the Engineer’s decisions for 15 claims. (Summary judgment affirmed by the Appeals Court and further appellate review denied by Supreme Judicial Court).
Reported Appellate Decisions
- Petric & Assoc., Inc. v. Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co., 196 A.D.3d 518, 146 N.Y.S.3d 847 (N.Y. App. Div. 2d Dep’t 2021) (“Petric II”)
- Petric & Assoc., Inc. v. Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co., 196 A.D.3d 518, 146 N.Y.S.3d 847 (N.Y. App. Div. 2d Dep’t 2021) (“Petric I”)
- DeCicco v. 180 Grant Street, LLC, 95 Mass. App. Ct. 1113 (2019) rev. in part, 484 Mass. 1037 (2020).
- Hudson Specialty Ins. Co. v. Haley & Aldrich, Inc., 159 A.D.3d 1344, 73 N.Y.S.3d 812 (N.Y. App. Div. 4th Dep’t 2018)
- Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London v. Atlantic Constr. Servs., Inc., 92 Mass. App. Ct. 1123 (2018)
- Jordan’s Furniture, Inc. v. Carter & Burgess, Inc., 92 Mass. App. Ct. 1102 (2017)
- Van Liew v. Kurland, 91 Mass. App. Ct. 1120 (2017)
- Powell v. Powell-Ferri, 467 Mass. 651 (2017)
- Diaz v. Ulen, 91 Mass. App. Ct. 1108 (2017)
- Merchants Insurance Group v. Spicer, 88 Mass. App. Ct. 262 (2015)
- Resto v. Delgado, 86 Mass. App. Ct. 1117 (2014)
- CBI Consulting, Inc. v. Trustees of Boston College, 84 Mass. App. Ct. 1111, 2013 WL 5309753 (2013)
- Seaver Electric, Inc. v. J.F. White Contracting Co, Inc., 84 Mass. App. Ct. 1105 (2013)
- Massachusetts Housing Opportunities Corp. v. Whitman & Bingham Associates, P.C., 83 Mass. App. Ct. 325 (2013)
- State of Connecticut v. Lombardo Bros. Mason Contractors, Inc., 307 Conn. 412, 54 A.3d 1005 (2012)
- LeBlanc v. Logan Hilton Joint Venture, 78 Mass. App. Ct. 699 (2011), affirmed in part, reversed in part, LeBlanc v. Logan Hilton Joint Ventures, 463 Mass. 316 (2012)
- Troy Industries, Inc. v. Samson Mfg. Corp. (No. 1), 81 Mass. App. Ct. 1122 (2012), review denied, 962 Mass. 1108 (2012)
- Troy Industries, Inc. v. Samson Mfg. Corp. (No. 2), 81 Mass. App. Ct. 1123, 963 N.E.2d 777 (2012)
- Troy Industries, Inc. v. Samson Mfg. Corp. (No. 3), 81 Mass. App. Ct. 1124 (2012)
- Arcadd, Inc. v. Patterson, 80 Mass. App. Ct. 1111 (2011), rev. denied, 461 Mass. 1103 (2011)
- LeBlanc v. Logan Hilton Joint Venture, 78 Mass. App. Ct. 699 (2011), rev. granted, 460 Mass. 1101 (2011)
- Otto v. Melman, 80 A.D.3d 738, 915 N.Y.S.2d 503 (N.Y.A.D. 2 Dept. 2011), leave to appeal denied, 7 N.Y.3d 703, 953 N.E.2d 1088 (2011)
- Wood ex rel. U.S. v. Applied Research Associates, Inc., 328 Fed. Appx. 744, 2009 WL 2143829 (2d. Cir. 2009), cert. denied, Wood v. Applied Research, Inc., 130 S.Ct. 1285, 175 L.E.2d 1105 (2010)
- Troy Industries, Inc. v. Samson Mfg. Corp., 76 Mass. App. Ct. 575 (2010)
- Clerger v. Commerce Ins. Co., 46 Mass. App. Ct. 1123, 702 N.E.2d 820 (1998), rev. denied, 707 N.E.2d 1079 (1999)
- Fordham v. Business Equip. Corp., 40 Mass. App. Ct. 1123), rev. denied, 423 Mass. 1106 (1996)
- O’Brien v. Christensen, 422 Mass. 281 (1996)
- Cheschi v. Boston Edison Co., 39 Mass. App. Ct. 133 (1995), rev. denied, 421 Mass. 1102(1995)
- Resendes v. Boston Edison Co., 38 Mass. App. Ct. 244, 648 N.E.2d 757 (1995), rev. denied, 420 Mass. 1105, 651 N.E.2d 410 (1995)
- Backman v. Lilly, 38 Mass. App. Ct. 1104 (1995)
- Palhares v. Ritz Carlton Hotel, 36 Mass. App. Ct. 1101 (1994)
- Hartford Cas. Ins. Co. v. New Hampshire Ins. Co., 417 Mass. 115 (1994)
- Jillian’s Billiard Club of America, Inc. v. Beloff Billiards, Inc., 35 Mass. App. Ct. 372 (1993) rev. denied, 416 Mass. 1108 (1993)
- Flood v. Southland Corp., 416 Mass. 62 (1993)
- Remco Distributors, Inc. v. Oreck Corp., 981 F.2d 1245 (1st Cir. 1992)
- Garside v. Osco Drug, Inc., 976 F.2d 77 (1st 1992)
- Sure-Snap Corp. v. State Street Bank & Trust Co., 948 F.2d 869 (2d Cir. 1991)
Additional Information
- Law Clerk to Chief Justice David A. Brock, New Hampshire Supreme Court