Our Professional Directory

Neal F. Pratt Partner
Practice Focus:	Litigation
Office:	Portland, ME
Phone:	207.791.3000
Fax:	207.791.3111
Email:	npratt@preti.com
vCard:	Download Neal's vCard

Neal Pratt is a trial lawyer and partner in Preti Flaherty's Portland, Maine office, and a member of the firm's Litigation, Business Law and Sports Law Groups. He has successfully tried numerous cases to juries, judges, arbitrators and administrative authorities. His handling of many controversial and high profile cases prompted Maine's largest newspaper to observe that "Pratt has earned the reputation as a skilled trial lawyer and top-notch litigator." Prior to joining Preti Flaherty, Neal was a partner, General Counsel and Trial Department chair at another major Maine law firm.

Having litigated in State and Federal Courts in various states, Neal concentrates on commercial litigation, product liability matters, and construction claims. He also has extensive experience in insurance coverage disputes, professional liability complaints, employment litigation, and white collar criminal defense. In addition, Neal has a growing ADR practice and is frequently asked to mediate disputes involving a wide variety of subject matters.

In the public sector, Neal serves as Chairman of the Board of the Cumberland County Civic Center, Maine's largest public arena, and most recently acted as its chief negotiator and spokesman in connection with the new lease agreement between the Civic Center and the American Hockey League's Portland Pirates. He also chairs a Joint Task Force charged with planning long-term renovations for the Civic Center.

Neal is recognized by several prominent peer and client review organizations, including The Best Lawyers in America® (construction litigation), Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business® (commercial litigation), New England Super Lawyers® (business litigation), and Lawdragon Magazine (commercial litigation; general litigation). He is also a Fellow of the Maine Bar Foundation.

Representative Matters

Commercial Litigation

• Won arbitration hearing resulting from partnership dispute over distribution and allocation of proceeds of $79 million timberland sale. Blanchet Woodlands, LLC v. Pelletier Woodlands, LLC, Arb. No. 50 180 T 00274 08.
  
• Obtained stipulated judgment and favorable settlement on behalf of client arising out of series of related lawsuits in State and Federal courts involving multiple parties and multimillion dollar claims of fraud, breach of contract, unfair competition, civil conspiracy, fraudulent transfers and defamation. SN Commercial LLC v. Guptill Farms, Inc. et al., Wash. Cty. Sup. Ct. Dkt. No. RE-04-02; Downeast Ventures v. Washington County, et al., U.S. Dist. Ct. Dkt. No. CV-05-87; SN Commercial LLC, et al. v. Terry Pinkham, et al., Hnck. Cty. Sup. Ct. Dkt. No. CV-04-62; Machias Savings Bank v. Guptill Farms, et al., Wash. Cty. Sup. Ct. Dkt. No. RE-05-12; Key Bank v. Jasper Wyman & Son, Cumb. Cty. Sup. Ct. Dkt. No. CV-03-715; Millea v. Guptill Farms, Inc, et al., Wash. Cty. Sup. Ct. Dkt. No. RE-02-21.
  
• Won summary judgment in Federal Court in defense of corporate client in multi-million dollar civil rights suit alleging conspiracy among court-appointed receiver and several public and private entities to destroy construction company. Downeast Ventures v. Washington County, et al. Dkt. No. CV-05-87 (D. Me.).
  
• Successful defense at arbitration and in Texas Federal Court of underground fuel storage tank leak-detection system manufacturer against $20 million product liability, fraud and breach of contract claims. Intelligent Controls, Inc. v. Practical Tank Management, Inc., Arb. No. 11-181-00454-00; FFP Operating Partners, L.P. v. Intelligent Controls, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 4:01-CV-00577 (N. D. Tex.).

Product Liability

• Won jury verdict in Federal Court for appliance manufacturer in products liability action alleging that defective exhaust fan caused building fire. Canning v. Broan-NuTone, LLC, Dkt. No. 05-CV-15-B-JAW (D. Me.).
  
• Won jury verdict in Federal Court for appliance manufacturer in products liability action alleging that defective coffeemaker caused building fire. Finley v. Mr. Coffee, Dkt. No. 95-CV-167-B (D. Me.).
  
• Won jury verdict in Federal Court as co-trial counsel for automobile manufacturer in defense of claim that design defect caused door misalignment that led to passenger ejection and resulting brain injury. Dube v. American Isuzu Motors, Inc., Dkt. No. CV-96-80 (D. Me.).
  
• Won jury verdict as co-trial counsel in defense of heavy equipment dealer against claim that bulldozer design defect caused accident resulting in permanent brain injury. Brown v. Metco, Cumb. Cty. Sup. Ct. Dkt. No. CV-91-937.
  
• Won jury verdict in Federal Court as co-trial counsel for automobile manufacturer in defense of claim that defective roof design caused plaintiff's quadriplegia following automobile-moose collision. Brawn v. Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd., Dkt. No. 91-0926 (D. Me.).

Construction Litigation

• Won jury verdict of nearly $1 million in Vermont Federal Court for general contractor following wrongful termination from construction of large commercial landfill. J.A. McDonald, Inc. v. Waste Systems International Moretown Landfill, Inc., Dkt. No. 2:99-CV-172 (D. Vt.).
  
• Won summary judgment in Federal Court on behalf of commercial contractor in "Miller Act" case resulting in substantial damage award, plus attorney fees, in construction dispute arising out of U.S. Navy contract for aircraft hangar renovations at Brunswick Naval Air Station. United States ex. rel. Doten's Construction, Inc. v. JMG Excavating and Construction Co., Inc., et al., Dkt. No. 2:03-CV-134 (D. Me.).

General Litigation

• Won summary judgment in Maine Superior Court, and successfully defended appeal in Maine Supreme Court, in wrongful death action on behalf of a wood products manufacturer following a workplace fatality involving employee of independent trucking company. Estate of Joseph Nichols v. Huber Engineered Woods, LLC, Aroostook Cty. Sup. Ct. Dkt. No. CV-06-142; Law Ct. Dkt. No. ARO-09-505. Also prevailed on summary judgment together with local counsel on related insurance coverage dispute in North Carolina. Huber Engineered Woods, LLC v. Canal Insurance Co., Mecklenburg County Superior Court Dkt. No. 08-CVS-4611.
  
• Won summary judgment in Federal Court on behalf of a long-term disability insurance carrier in "ERISA" action in defense of claim of wrongful termination of benefits. Tripp v. Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Co., Dkt. No. 1:03-CV-40 (D. Me.).
  
• Represented Maine's first State-supported mail-order pharmacy in defense of highly-publicized and controversial claims of illegal internet sale of scheduled drugs. In Re: PIN Rx, LLC, #2006-PHR-3215.

Criminal Defense

• Won "not guilty" jury verdict on behalf of duck hunter in widely-publicized homicide trial arising out of shooting death of hunting companion. State v. Mercer, Sag. Cty. Sup. Ct. Dkt. No. CR-97-153.
  
• Won "not guilty" verdict in high-profile juvenile arson trial following high school fire. State v. Armstrong, Dkt. Nos. BELDC-JV-2000-0092/93.
  
• Negotiated dismissal of criminal charges against two Rhode Island businessmen accused of scheming their way into celebrity Martha Stewart's coastal Maine estate. State v. Moretti and Cimalore, Hnck. Cty. Sup. Ct. Dkt. Nos. CR-04-302/303.
  
• Represented author of letter to infamous "Juror No. 4" that led to mistrial in New York criminal prosecution of Tyco executives Dennis Kozlowski and Mark Swartz. Navigated extensive national media coverage, and facilitated decision by New York prosecutors not to pursue jury tampering charges.

Publications

• Construction Contracts: Pay Attention to the Billing, The Newsletter (Summer 2000)
• Closing the Deal with a Handshake: The Enforceability of Oral Contracts, Business Profile (Jan/Feb 1998)
• Hosting A Party? Maine's Liquor Liability Law Applies to You, MSBA "Ask a Lawyer" Column (1994)
• The Law of Home Construction Contracts, The Maine Subcontractor (September 1990)
• The Physician's Dilemma: Treating Newborn Infants with Congenital Birth Defects, 8 New Hampshire Trial Bar News 39 (Fall 1988)

Professional Memberships

• Fellow, Maine Bar Foundation
• American Bar Association
• Maine State Bar Association
• Cumberland County Bar Association
• Maine Trial Lawyers Association
• Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Edward T. Gignoux Inn of Court

Admissions

Maine; U.S. District Court, District of Maine; U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit

Civic Involvement

• Chair, Cumberland County Civic Center Board of Trustees (Trustee since 2002)
• Chair, Joint Task Force with City of Portland, Cumberland County and Portland Pirates AHL hockey franchise appointed to explore long-term renovation options for Cumberland County Civic Center (2007-present)
• Member, Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce Policy Soundings (2005-2006)
• Board of Directors and Coach, Scarborough Little League (2004-present)
• Board of Directors and Coach, Scarborough Kids' Travel Baseball (2005-present)
• Scarborough Zoning Board of Appeals (1998-2003)
• Assistant Coach, Scarborough/Gorham American Legion Baseball Team (2001-2002)
• Trustee, Scarborough Public Library (1998-1999)
• Candidate for Cumberland County District Attorney (1998)
• Steering Committee, Maine Week Without Violence (1998)
• Instructor, Junior Achievement (1995-1996)
• President, Southern Maine Men's Baseball League (1993-1994)
• Judge, Maine State High School Mock Trial Program
• Judge, University of Maine School of Law Moot Court Program