Patricia Hartnett is a seasoned civil and commercial litigator whose practice includes product liability litigation, toxic tort litigation, unfair and deceptive trade practices, business litigation, warranty litigation, and professional liability.  Patricia’s extensive experience in complex product liability defense includes the defense of manufacturers of automobiles, motorcycles, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, marine and trucking products, firearms/paintball guns/air guns, construction equipment, and industrial equipment. She also defends litigation involving the design of everyday consumer and recreational products, such as ATVs, personal watercraft and golf cars. She represents top manufacturers and distributors of automobiles, motorcycles, commercial products, and other products in asbestos and toxic tort litigation. Patricia also has substantial experience in the defense of smoking and health litigation. Her work further includes defending clients in litigation involving retail and commercial warranties, contract and other business disputes, commercial disputes, professional liability, and general tort defense. 

Patricia’s Human Factors degree from Tufts University provides her with a unique background that is well-suited to defending significant cases involving issues of ergonomics, biomechanics, accident reconstruction, product safety and warnings, product design and development, human-machine interface, occupational disability claims, systems engineering, manufacturing processes and equipment, materials science, and fire cause and origin investigations. She also uses her education and skills to coordinate closely with engineering and medical experts to analyze design drawings and specifications, and prepare product testing objectives, accident reconstruction, and causation theories. 

In addition, Patricia represents domestic and foreign business concerns, including manufacturers, distributors and retailers in jury and non-jury trials, arbitrations, mediation, and appeals throughout the state and federal courts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island and in other jurisdictions with the permission of those courts. 

In 2020, Patricia completed the 40-hour mediation program with MWI in Boston to certify as a trained mediator.

Above all, Patricia strives to provide her clients with the highest level of service while helping them achieve their objectives in a focused, ethical and cost-efficient manner.

Before it combined with Smith Duggan in 2023, Patricia practiced for 28 years with Cornell & Gollub in Boston.  

The Boston Business Journal recently reported on Patricia’s elevation to equity-partner status at the firm. You can access that article here.