Patrick M. Noonan
Partner
Patrick M. Noonan has engaged exclusively in the trial of civil cases since 1979. He graduated from Yale University Magna Cum Laude in 1974 and was awarded his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1977. At Yale he received Departmental Honors in English and at the University of Virginia he was awarded the honorary Order of the Coif. For two years following his graduation from Law School, Attorney Noonan served as law clerk to Chief Judge T. Emmet Clarie in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. Thereafter, Attorney Noonan worked for 10 years in the litigation department of the law firm of Wiggin & Dana, five years as an associate and five years as a partner. He joined Donahue, Durham & Noonan, P.C. in 1990.
Attorney Noonan has extensive experience in the area of civil and commercial litigation. He has tried several dozen cases in the state courts, federal courts, and administrative agencies such as the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. 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. His principal areas of practice are medical malpractice, employment litigation, product liability, professional liability, commercial litigation, personal injury, civil rights litigation, and aviation law. He defended the first case to be tried under the Connecticut Trade Secrets Act. In addition, in his representation of Yale University, Attorney Noonan has handled a large number of cases concerning education law.
Attorney Noonan's professional accomplishments have been recognized by his peers through his selection as a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers as well as his election to the American Board of Trial Advocates. Attorney Noonan has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America, The Best Lawyers in Connecticut, and has been designated by Connecticut Magazine as one of "Connecticut's Super Lawyers." The most recent poll placed Attorney Noonan among the top 50 lawyers in the state of Connecticut. He has also been listed in the Best Lawyers in the New York area and in Who's Who in American Law. He 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, Attorney Noonan was appointed by the Supreme Court to serve as an arbitrator for civil cases in the Superior Court.
Attorney Noonan is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, the New Haven County Bar Association and the Lawyer-Pilot Bar Association. He is admitted to the state and federal courts in Connecticut, the Second and Fourth Circuit Courts of Appeal and the United States Supreme Court. He is 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.
Attorney Noonan lives with his wife Denise and their four daughters in Madison, Connecticut. He has been active in his community as a softball and basketball coach for youth sports, a member of the Madison Jaycees, and a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.