Paul Frank + Collins P.C. represents clients in domestic and international business disputes in state and federal courts and arbitration proceedings throughout the United States, with particular emphasis on business-related litigation and the defense of personal injury and product liability claims. We provide regional and local litigation counsel for a number of national companies and handle a wide variety of cases for other clients with unique litigation needs.

These cases often involve allegations of improper conduct in business transactions, including fraud, negligent misrepresentation, interferences with contractual or economic relations, and bad faith and unfair dealing. The firm has represented clients in litigation involving claims under special statutes such as federal and state consumer protection laws and laws relating to unfair trade practices.

Our lawyers also handle numerous cases involving commercial contracts in a wide range of areas such as the purchase and sale of businesses, utility contracts, contracts for the sale or development of intellectual property, construction contracts, and partnership disputes. We are experienced in litigating all types of cases under the Uniform Commercial Code, including contracts for the sale of goods, security interests, loan transactions, banking, procedures and investment.

Commercial + Business Disputes Attorneys:

Paul Frank + Collins represents employers in a variety of settings and has litigated employment lawsuits in both federal and state courts as well as through arbitration proceedings. The firm regularly represents employers in state and federal administrative proceedings including those related to employment discrimination, wrongful termination, workers' compensation, immigration, unemployment compensation, occupational safety and health, Family Medical Leave, and wage and hour.

Paul Frank + Collins has been successful with litigation cases ranging from age discrimination to immigration applications, employee benefits disputes and enforcement of confidentiality and non-compete agreements. The firm's lawyers are skilled negotiators and routinely utilize alternative dispute resolution methods such as early neutral evaluation, mediation and arbitration. In today's climate of dramatically increased employee claims, we feel that it is critical for our practice to also emphasize preventive measures such as prospective advice, proper development of contracts, forms, policies and procedures, training and legal updates. We offer a range of services, both before and after problems arise.

Employment Attorneys:

The Paul Frank + Collins insurance litigation practice covers traditional insurance line claims, claims against and between insurers, and risk management services.

In our traditional  insurance line practice, we  routinely handle the following case: general negligence, injury and wrongful death, including automobile liability; premises liability; air crash disasters; construction accidents; school liability claims; municipal liability (police, fire and highways); product liability (including strict liability); liquor liability; fire loss and property damage; medical malpractice; other professional malpractice; director and officer liability; E &O; and environmental claims including, toxic torts and CERCLA claims. In our practice against and between insurers, we primarily defend insureds against third-party claims. We routinely handle complex coverage disputes, bad faith claims, defense against fraud and inflated claims, indemnification agreements, reinsurance agreements, and excess coverage claims.

Paul Frank + Collins also has significant risk management experience overseeing and coordinating multi-state claims and litigation matters. Depending upon a client's needs, we offer direct oversight of multi-state claims; responsibility for retaining local counsel to defend claims, along with oversight of local counsel and complete, thorough reporting to the client; actual defense of multi-state litigation; assimilation and distribution of important legal decisions, expert witness information, and defense resources between multiple cases in different jurisdictions; and risk management analysis and advice designed to identify a client's potential exposures and assess them against current legal trends and existing law.

Insurance Attorneys:

Defining and protecting your innovation and creativity is increasingly difficult and complex. At Paul Frank + Collins P.C., we understand the new challenges in Intellectual Property protection and can provide litigation solutions in addition to support from our transactional team. Our attorneys work with clients to manage and protect their Intellectual Property portfolios and property, including non-compete agreements, technology licensing, trademark, service mark, trade dress infringement, dilution, unfair competition, counterfeiting, and unfair advertising cases.

In addition to our litigation services, Paul Frank + Collins P.C. also assists clients with their Intellectual Property needs in the context of new business formation, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, due diligence, technology transfers, licensing agreements, asset-based financing, licenses and agreements, employment agreements, higher education, e-commerce, and trademark and copyright registration.

Intellectual Property Attorneys:

Successful alternative dispute resolution (ADR) requires an arbitrator or mediator with sufficient expertise and ability to assess both sides of a dispute in a fair and reasoned manner. 

Mediation and Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE):
A successful mediation can resolve conflicts in a matter of hours rather than tens or hundreds of hours of litigation. Mediation is confidential and puts the parties in control of resolving their dispute in contrast to a public courtroom where mandates are issued by judges and juries.

Arbitration:
Commercial disputes are commonly resolved outside the courts through arbitration. Arbitration can be binding or non-binding and is often cheaper and faster than litigation. Conflicts with highly technical subject matter are often suitable for arbitration. 

Mediation + Arbitration Attorneys:

Experience, skill and resources make the difference at Paul Frank + Collins.  Our lawyers have tried personal injury and wrongful death cases for both plaintiffs and defendants in virtually every courtroom in Vermont.  Our litigation success has been unparalleled when representing defendants, and when working for the plaintiff, we consistently obtain some of the highest court awards in the state’s history.

We have the resources needed to handle these difficult and sensitive cases as quickly and efficiently as possible.  We maintain proprietary computer databases that allow instant access to information on expert witnesses, Vermont jury verdicts, and trial memoranda.  When background investigation is necessary, as it almost always is, our large team of highly experienced paralegals can rapidly compile critical information through interviews in the field, access to other databases and from the Internet.  We also maintain a standing relationship with several private investigation firms. 

We offer free initial consultations as well as contingent fee agreements for most prospective plaintiffs.  When we take a case on a contingency fee basis, we receive no fee unless we are successful in obtaining a monetary award for our client.

Personal Injury + Wrongful Death Attorneys:

Paul Frank + Collins has earned a region-wide reputation for aggressive, results-oriented litigation involving professional liability. With years of litigation and trial experience, we are counsel of choice in the defense of claims for professional negligence brought against insurance brokers and agents. We are well known in the defense of educators in liability litigation. Our experience in construction litigation has brought us to the forefront of litigation both in the defense of and against design professionals such as architects and engineers.

Professional + Fiduciary Liability Attorneys:

Professional Malpractice Defense Attorneys:

Paul Frank + Collins P.C.'s Property and Development practice group dedicates nearly half of its resources to support a highly trained and experienced litigation subgroup for land and construction related disputes.  Whether handling contentious permitting, defending an environmental enforcement dispute, resolving a boundary dispute for a title company, or litigating a construction matter under the AIA form contracts, Paul, Frank + Collins P.C. employs professionals dedicated to advancing their clients' interest.  Local educational institutions, national retailers and wholesalers, alternative energy providers, developers, or top-echelon telecommunications providers utilize Paul Frank + Collins P.C. to accomplish their goals in the often difficult legal environment of Vermont.

Property, Construction + Development Attorneys:

The litigation attorneys at Paul Frank + Collins offer a complete solution for clients confronted with virtually any type of negligent conduct. The litigation team has vast experience with small discreet matters to large, novel, or complicated legal problems. The highly experienced team has successfully resolved cases for both plaintiffs and defendants in the areas of product liability, premises liability, asbestos injury and abatement, motor vehicle law, trucking law, civil arson, dram shop liability, industrial activities, toxic torts, and improper conduct in business transactions, including fraud, negligent misrepresentation, interferences with contractual or economic relations, bad faith, and unfair dealing, among others.

Tort Liability Attorneys:

Paul Frank + Collins represents insurers, employers and employees in workers' compensation proceedings before the Department of Labor, the Superior Courts and the Vermont Supreme Court.  In the fluid, multifaceted and ever-changing world of workers' compensation, we believe it is essential to develop and implement the most effective claim resolution and litigation strategies at an early juncture.  With over 40 years of knowledge and experience in the field, we handle cases that involve a constellation of contested issues involving causation, indemnity benefits, permanent disability benefits, medical benefits, and vocational rehabilitation benefits.  Our workers' compensation practice group understands that successful representation means obtaining favorable results for our clients without subjecting them to unnecessary, protracted litigation.  Whether we are representing insurers, employers or employees, we will bring to the table determination, diligence, and a depth of resources that are commensurate with the scope and complexity of each case.

Workers' Compensation Attorneys: