Tony R. Sears, Partner

Practice Focus & Experience:

Mr. Sears’ practice focuses primarily on representing corporations and institutional clients in product liability, toxic tort, personal injury, commercial, and business litigation.  He has experience in all phases of civil litigation, from pre-litigation investigations through appeals.

Mr. Sears’ experience includes defending clients against single and multi-plaintiff cases alleging liability for a variety of injuries, illnesses, diseases, and wrongful death.  He has defended product manufacturers against claims involving a variety of products including joint replacements and orthopedic devices, other surgical implants, and over-the-counter products such as contact lens solution.  He has defended clients in lawsuits alleging injuries arising from exposure to a variety of substances including silica, asbestos, and various chemical constituents of other products, such as PCBs and sodium dichromate.  He also has defended gas and electric utilities against claims involving serious personal injuries and property damage arising from explosions, fires, and other accidents.

Mr. Sears’ commercial and business litigation experience includes litigating complex disputes alleging breach of contract, breach of warranty, and business torts.  He has handled claims arising from intricate, multi-party financing arrangements, equipment leases, contracts for custom-designed goods, and construction contracts.  He has litigated complex issues involving the telecommunications industry and the enforcement of restrictive covenants.  He also has experience defending administrators and fiduciaries in ERISA lawsuits alleging wrongful denial of benefits, breach of fiduciary duties, and related allegations.

Education

• Cornell Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2003
  - Note Editor, Cornell Law Review
  - Judicial Externship, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
• West Virginia University, B.A., summa cum laude, 2000

Bar Admissions

• New York, 2004

Court Admissions

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
• U.S. District Courts of New York (All Districts)

Professional Activities & Memberships

• Monroe County Bar Association
• New York State Bar Association

Selected Publications & Presentations

• Evidentiary Issues Unique to Products Liability Litigation, Products Liability Handbook, chapter co-author with Scott R. Jennette, Esq. (New York State Bar Association, 2d ed. publication forthcoming)
• New York Chapter, Product Liability Desk Reference—A Fifty-State Compendium, chapter co-author with Thomas E. Reidy, Esq. (Aspen)
• NY CLS Desk Edition, Commercial Law Practice Annual, assistant to commentaries author and editor Harold A. Kurland, Esq. (Lexis-Nexis)
• Lifecycle of a Lawsuit—Discovery in State and Federal Courts (Presenter, Monroe County Bar Association, 2008)
• What Law School Didn’t Teach You—CLE for Newly Admitted Attorneys (Co-Chair, Monroe County Bar Association, 2005 and 2006)

Professional Recognitions & Awards

• Selected as Rochester Emerging Bar Leader “REBL” (2008)

Community Activities

Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery, Board Member (non-profit organization devoted to preserving the historic cemetery including the burial sites of Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony)