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Jeffrey S. King

Partner
Boston
+1.617.261.3179
Fax +1.617.261.3175

Primary Practice

Secondary Practices

Education

  • J.D., Harvard Law School, 1991
  • B.S., United States Merchant Marine Academy, 1986, (Highest Honors; Valedictorian)

Admissions

  • Bar of Massachusetts
  • United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • Biography Overview
  • Additional Background
  • Representative Work
Mr. King’s practice has concentrated in complex commercial litigation in a variety of areas, including business disputes, product liability, toxic tort, environmental, real estate, admiralty, and transportation matters. His clients include financial services companies, transportation companies, and manufacturers. He represents commercial interests in various disputes, including deal, shareholder, and loan and contract litigation. His product liability experience has included defense of personal injury/wrongful death claims involving various products, including automobiles, industrial machinery and equipment, medical devices, and consumer products, and he has regularly counseled automobile and other clients on product liability, warranty, consumer fraud, and recall matters. He has acted as national counsel for an automobile manufacturer regarding its product liability and product-related regulatory compliance matters. His toxic tort experience has involved the representation of defendants in asbestos, silica, and lead pigment matters. He is currently on a national coordinating counsel team defending an equipment manufacturer against asbestos exposure claims and trying cases nationwide. His admiralty and transportation experience has involved representing companies in rail service disruption claims and air and motor carrier cargo damage claims, and representing marine entities in personal injury, cargo damage, equipment damage, collision, charter dispute, pollution, and USCG regulatory matters. His environmental experience includes representing companies in regulatory and private cost recovery matters involving Massachusetts (M.G.L. c. 21E) and federal (CERCLA) laws. Mr. King has tried cases in various state and federal courts including in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and South Carolina, and has prepared appeals to the United States Supreme Court, Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Appeals Court of Massachusetts, and the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

Achievements

  • Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating - AV® Preeminent™
  • Selected as a “Massachusetts Super Lawyer” by SuperLawyers Magazine in 2011

Professional/Civic Activities

  • Maritime Law Association (Proctor Member)
  • Holds active United States Coast Guard Third Mate License (unlimited tonnage)
  • United States Navy Reserve (Commander)
  • Greater Boston Diabetes Society (currently on Board of Directors, past President)
  • Greater Boston Guild for the Blind (currently on Board of Directors)
  • Obtained defense verdict after 4-week trial for forklift manufacturer in wrongful death action involving design defect and punitive damage claims arising out of forklift rollover, resulting in quadriplegia and subsequent death. Ginette Morrissette, Administrator of the Estate of Daniel J. Gagnon v. Teledyne Princeton, Inc., United States District Court (D. Mass.) 02-cv-10553-RCL, affirmed by the First Circuit Court of Appeals (09-1787).
  • Obtained defense verdict after 2-week trial for equipment manufacturer in wrongful death action involving asbestos exposure on Navy ships and at land-based facilities. Mulcahy v. Crane Co., et al., Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, 08-L-6223.
  • Represented ADVO in suit by Valassis alleging fraudulent inducement, material adverse change, and breach of merger agreement, in which Valassis had agreed to purchase all of ADVO’s shares for approximately $1.4 billion. Valassis sought to rescind its merger agreement and ADVO counterclaimed seeking specific performance. Approximately 80 depositions taken and voluminous documents produced during 3-month discovery period. Following five days of trial and the close of Valassis’s case, the parties settled for a slightly reduced merger price. Valassis Communications, Inc., et al. v. ADVO, Inc., Delaware Court of Chancery, New Castle County, 2383-N.
  • Represented majority shareholder defendants in appeal of jury verdict in excess of $1.3M (with interest) where minority shareholder alleged breach of fiduciary duties. Obtained complete reversal at Appeals Court level. Kevin O'Brien v. John H. Pearson, Jr. & others, 851 N.E.2d 1093, 67 Mass. App. Ct. 29 (2006). The Supreme Judicial Court granted further appellate review and, after argument, reversed in part, finding violation of fiduciary duty, but vacated jury verdict for further proceedings on issue of damages. 449 Mass. 377 (2007).
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of owner of motor yacht in limitation of liability proceeding, defending against claims arising from fire at marina and resulting property damage and environmental (oil spill) claims. In the Matter of the Complaint of Robert L. Stanton, as owner of the Vessel “MISTY LADY” for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability, United States District Court (D. Mass.) 02-cv-10408-GAO.
  • Obtained summary judgment in favor of equipment manufacturer in series of cases in Massachusetts on grounds that equipment manufacturer is not liable for after-installed components (gaskets, packing, insulation) that it did not manufacture or sell. Robert Dombrowski v. Alfa Laval, Inc., et al., Middlesex Superior Court, Massachusetts, CA 08-1938 (7/1/10 decision).
  • Defended chemical company in series of matters involving claims by utility company regarding coal tar and related contamination at manufactured gas plants (“MGP”) in Massachusetts where utility operated municipal MGPs and chemical company operated a tar recovery operation. Commonwealth Gas Company v. Witco Corporation, United States District Court (D. Mass.); Cambridge Electric Light Company, et al. v. Witco Corp., United States District Court (D. Mass.) ; Commonwealth Gas Company, et al. v. Witco Corp., United States District Court (D. Mass.).
  • Represented various motor vehicle manufacturers and related entities in connection with numerous consumer claims, including product and warranty claims, as well as finance and insurance-based claims and class actions.
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