James C. Gallagher
Of Counsel
With 50 years of experience spanning a wide variety of cases in state and federal courts, both at the trial and appeal level, Jim Gallagher advises clients, helps them assemble an appropriate litigation team, and serves as a mediator in most areas of a dispute.
Email: jgallagher@drm.com
Phone: 802-748-8324
Direct: 802-473-4208
| PHYSICAL | MAILING |
| 90 Prospect Street St Johnsbury, VT 05819-2241 |
P.O. Box 99 St Johnsbury, VT 05819-0099 |
Practices & Industries
Veteran litigator focused on tort actions and commercial law suits.
Jim Gallagher focuses mainly on representing defendants in tort actions and commercial lawsuits, but he has experience in a wide variety of cases and represents both plaintiffs and defendants in his practice. His personal injury negligence practice encompasses cases associated with motor vehicles, premises defects, electrical appliances/facilities, liquor liability, and industrial and agricultural activities. He is a highly effective litigator for commercial disputes, including areas such as partner dissolution and failed leverage buyout. As a native Vermonter, he is also an outdoorsy person who loves to fish, travel, and ski.
Education
Cornell Law School, J.D.; Editor, Cornell Law Review
Tufts University, B.A.
Admissions
Vermont, 1971
U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont, 1971
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1977
U.S. Supreme Court, 1984
Memberships & Activities
Vermont Bar Association, President 2005-2006
Accolades & Awards
2024 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” award for Personal Injury Litigation- Defendants, St. Johnsbury
Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” award for Personal Injury Litigation- Defendants, 2016
Listed in Best Lawyers®, Personal Injury Litigation- Defendants, 2011-2025
Community Involvement
President, Upright Steeple Society
Trustee, Lyndon Institute (1990 – 2020)
President, Lyndon Institute (1994-2003; 2018-2019)
President, Vermont Bar Association (2005-2006)
Reported Cases
Pomfret Farms Ltd. Partnership v. Pomfret Associates, 174 Vt. 280, 811 A.2d 655 (2002)
Knight v. Rower, 170 Vt. 96, 742 A.2d 1237 (1999)
Neel v. Sun, 156 Vt. 239, 590 A.2d 887 (1991)
Caledonian Record Pub. Co. v. Walton, 154 Vt. 15, 573 A.2d 296 (1990)
Smith v. Town of St. Johnsbury, 150 Vt. 351, 554 A.2d 233 (1988)
Greenwood v. Wolchik, 149 Vt. 441, 544 A.2d 1156 (1988)
Village of Lyndonville v. Town of Burke, 146 Vt. 435, 505 A.2d 1207 (1985)
Stowell v. Simpson, 143 Vt. 625, 470 A.2d 1176 (1983)
Douglass v. Skiing Standards, Inc., 142 Vt. 634, 459 A.2d 97 (1983)
Fox v. McLain, 142 Vt. 11, 451 A.2d 1122 (1982)
Preston v. Chabot, 138 Vt. 170, 412 A.2d 930 (1980)
Little v. Gray, 137 Vt. 569, 409 A.2d 574 (1979)
State v. Ryan, 135 Vt. 491, 380 A.2d 525 (1977)
Dunn v. State Highway Bd., 135 Vt. 26, 370 A.2d 626 (1977)
Lamoille Grain Co., Inc. v. St. Johnsbury and Lamoille County R.R., 135 Vt. 5, 369 A.2d 1389 (1976)
Martin v. Furman Lumber Co., 134 Vt. 1, 346 A.2d 640 (1975)
Hill v. Grandey, 132 Vt. 460, 321 A.2d 28 (1974)
State v. Arbeitman, 131 Vt. 596, 313 A.2d 17 (1973)
Lee v. Wheeler, 130 Vt. 624, 298 A.2d 851 (1972)
Tracy v. Vinton Motors, Inc., 130 Vt. 512, 296 A.2d 269 (1972)
Languages
Italian