Jocelyn Sedney is a partner at Brody, Hardoon, Perkins and Kesten, LLP. She has tried numerous cases in Massachusetts state and federal courts, and she has briefed and argued appellate matters before the Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

Practice Areas

Ms. Sedney’s practice areas include municipal liability, toxic torts, products liability, premises liability and civil recovery for crime victims.

Municipal liability. In her municipal liability practice, Ms. Sedney has defended municipalities in disputes involving:

• civil rights
• employment law
• planning and land use

Recently, Ms. Sedney obtained pre-trial dismissal of a case in which a student, who alleged that he was being racially harassed by other students, sued a high school. Ms. Sedney successfully argued on behalf of the school that it had taken appropriate measures to stop the harassment and to offer counseling to the student.

Premises Liability. In her premises liability practice, Ms. Sedney has represented public and private clients in the following matters:

• negligent security
• fire loss litigation

Ms. Sedney has saved property owners millions of dollars either by prevailing in pre-trial motions to dismiss, or by fashioning settlements at a fraction of the total claim exposure. She has represented clients involved in litigation resulting from fires leading to large property losses as well as wrongful death cases involving firefighters and civilians.

Toxic Torts. Ms. Sedney continues to represent clients in cases involving claims of exposure to lead-based paint, pesticides, molds and other toxic substances.

Products Liability. Ms. Sedney has litigated product liability cases for the past seventeen years ranging from automotive product liability to sprinkler systems to footwear.

Crime Victim Recovery. In this area of her practice, Ms. Sedney focuses on advocacy on behalf of the mentally ill. Recently, Ms. Sedney represented a young girl who recovered $2.5 million after being sexually assaulted by a counselor at a residential mental health treatment facility. While seeking to prove the rape, Ms. Sedney sought a court order to obtain a DNA sample from the counselor. She successfully argued the matter before the Supreme Judicial Court, which held that DNA is discoverable in civil lawsuits. The case resulted in a published opinion, Doe v. Senechal, 725 N.E.2d 225 (Mass. 2000).

Prior Experience

Before joining BHPK, Ms. Sedney was a partner with the Boston firm of Morrison, Mahoney and Miller, where she concentrated on the defense of claims involving lead paint and other toxic torts, and products liability. Ms. Sedney was previously associated with the firm of Ely, Guess and Rudd in Anchorage, Alaska. Before becoming a lawyer, Ms. Sedney worked in the mental health profession as a licensed psychiatric care technician.

Teaching and Publications

Ms. Sedney has served as an instructor in premises liability and lead paint liability for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) and various community groups. She is the co-author, along with fellow partner Richard Brody, of The Law of Premises Liability in Massachusetts.

Education

Ms. Sedney graduated from Mount St. Mary’s College and received her law degree from the University of Denver in 1985.

Professional and Community Affiliations

Ms. Sedney is a member of the bar in Massachusetts, Alaska, the United States District Court for the Districts of Massachusetts and Alaska, the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She belongs to the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Massachusetts Women’s Bar Association and the American Bar Association. She also serves as a member of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.