Michael F. Hanley

Us Today (802) 295-3151 (802) 295-3151 Home About Michael Hanley Paul J. Perkins Practice Areas Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Strategic Business And Commercial Litigation Medical Malpractice Michael Hanley Michael Hanley Principal Attorney 802-295-3151 Ext. 102 Biography Michael has practiced law in northern New England since 1976. At this time, he primarily represents patients in medical malpractice cases and parties to complex commercial litigation. However, over the years, he has tried almost every kind of case. He has a demonstrated record of obtaining fair and just outcomes for his clients. A large portion of his practice arises from other lawyers who refer complex or difficult matters. His clients have recovered from some of the largest corporations in the world, such as Ulm v. Ford Motor Company, 750 A. 2d 981, 170 Vt. 281 (2000), and many large insurance companies, financial institutions and hospitals. Michael was the lead attorney in a number of cases that significantly changed the law. He represented the plaintiffs in: Russo Griffin, 147 Vt. 20 (1986), which made it significantly easier to recover for legal malpractice; Crump P & C Food Markets, Inc., 154 Vt. 284 (1990), which allowed employees to recover for significant emotional distress arising from wrongful termination; and Thompson Dewey's South Royalton, Inc., 169 Vt. 274 (1999), which expanded the group of persons entitled to recover from persons who sell alcoholic beverages in dram shop actions. Michael is particularly proud of a series of cases where he increased the ability of persons to recover for childhood sexual abuse, including: Earle v. State of Vermont, 170 Vt. 183 (1999), which made it significantly harder for defendants to assert the statute of limitations as a defense; and Doe v. Raymond, et al, No. 07-C-048 (Superior Court of New Hampshire, Grafton County, 2008), which significantly expanded the group of persons who have a duty to protect children from this devastating Other notable cases of Michael's include Robinson v. Springfield Hospital, et al, No. 1:09-cv-75, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10160, 2010 WL 503096 (D. Vt.), and Newland v. North Country Health Care, No. 16-cv-547, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 205522, 2017 WL 6397723 (D. N. H.), two cases in the federal courts of Vermont and New Hampshire that significantly reduced the ability of defendants to avoid the discovery of facts in medical malpractice cases by asserting the so-called “peer-review privilege”. His notable recoveries include: $3.25 million, medical malpractice – psychiatry $3.25 million, Federal Tort Claims Act/medical malpractice – birth injury $2.25 million, fraud and legal malpractice $2.0 million, medical malpractice wrongful death – failure to diagnose bleeding ulcer $1.5 million, products liability $1.375 million, dental malpractice $1.35 million, medical malpractice – respiratory system surgery $1.3 million, products liability $1.275 million, medical malpractice – emergency room $1.175 million, medical malpractice – medication error $1.1 million, medical malpractice – chemotherapy $1.0 million, medical malpractice – medication error $1.0 million, medical malpractice – birth injury $1.0 million, workplace injury $1.1 million, truck accident $1.025 million, medical malpractice – gastric bypass $950,000, medical malpractice – spine surgery $900,000, medical malpractice – bowel surgery $850,000, medical malpractice – hernia repair $600,000, medical malpractice – spine surgery $400,000 sexual assault (statutory cap) Education Notre Dame Law School, Indiana J.D. - 1976 St. Lawrence University, Canton, New York A.B. - 1972 Honors: cum laude Practice Areas Medical Malpractice & Personal Injury Commercial Litigation Bar Admissions Vermont, 1976 U.S. District Court District of Vermont U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit New Hampshire Maine U.S. District Court Northern District of New York U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit United States Supreme Court Professional Associations Windsor County Bar Association, Member Vermont Bar Association, Member American Bar Association, Member The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member American Board of Trial Advocates, Member Honors AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell* Best Lawyers in America U.S. News & World Reports' Best Lawyers New England Super Lawyers Pro-Bono Activities Health Care & Rehabilitation Services of Southern Vermont Board of Directors Vermont Professional Responsibility Board, Chair Representative Cases Honadle v. University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, 115 F.Supp.2d 468, 2000, D. Vt., 2000570006 Ulm v. Ford, 170 Vt. 281, 2000, 2000027342 Earle v. State of Vermont, 170 Vt. 183, 1999, 1999258676 Thompson v. Dewey's South Royalton, 169 Vt. 274, 1999, 1999126589 Waters v. Concord Group Co., Inc., 169 Vt. 534, 1999, 1999047104 Webb v. Navistar Intn'l Transp. Corp., 166 Vt. 119, 1997, 1996279484 Columb v. Columb, 161 Vt. 103, 1993, 1993219864 Barnhart-Graham Auto, Inc. v. Green Mountain Bank, 786 F.Supp 394, 1992, 1992059638 Quechee Lakes Rental Corp. v. Boggess, 158 Vt. 258, 1991, 1992091477 Crump v. P & C Food Markets, Inc., 154 Vt. 284, 1990, 1990090487 Brennen v. The Mogul Corp., 151 Vt. 91, 1988, 1989064427 Sutfin v. Southworth, 149 Vt. 67, 1988, 1988046562 Spaulding v. Cahill, 147 Vt. 273, 1986, 1986145298 Benoir v. Ethan Allen, Inc., 147 Vt. 268, 1986, 1986145299 Russo v. Griffin, 147 Vt. 20, 1986, 1986129904 Vermont National Bank v. Dowrick, 144 Vt. 504, 1984, 1984142159 State v. Carter, 142 Vt. 588, 1983, 1983120752 Martin v. Town of Springfield, 141 Vt. 554, 1982, 1982143294 Thorburn v. Town of Norwich, 141 Vt. 242, 1982, 1982134985 Burroughs v. West Windsor Bd. of Sch. Dir., 141 Vt. 234, 1982, 1982127109 Brower v Holmes Transp. Inc., 140 Vt. 114, 1982, 1981143707 McLaughry v. Town of Norwich, 149 Vt. 49, 1981, 1981134100 Macy v. James, M.D., 139 Vt. 270, 1981, 1981113788 Burroughs v. West Windsor Bd. of Sch. Dir., 138 Vt. 575, 1980, 1980140414 Beresford v. C.W. Gray & Sons, Inc., 138 Vt. 308, 1980, 1980112273 Kilfasset Farms v. State Highway Board, 135 Vt. 363, 1977, 1977120159 Robinson v. Springfield Hospital, 2010 WL 503096 Newland v. North Country Health Care, 2017 WL 6397723 Ulm v. Ford Motor Company, CITE Fraternities Or Sororities Phi Beta Kappa *AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards. Our Firm Thank you for ing us. We will get back to you shortly. Please provide valid information for all required fields below. Name * This field is required. Phone * Valid phone number required. Email * Valid email address required. Message * This field is required. Us Today Plante & Hanley is committed to answering your questions about Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Commercial Litigation and Medical Malpractice law issues in Vermont & New Hampshire. We'll gladly discuss your case with you at your convenience. us today to schedule an appointment. Office Location White River Junction Personal Injury Law Office 82 Fogg Farm Rd White River Junction, VT 05001 802-295-3151 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 708 White River Junction, VT 05001 Home About Michael Hanley Paul J. Perkins Practice Areas Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Strategic Business And Commercial Litigation Medical Malpractice Copyright © 2025 Plante & Hanley, P.C. Terms of Use Privacy Policy Anti-spam