Robert M. Elmer

Robert M. Elmer is an exceptional trial lawyer with a track record of success in the courtroom. He focuses primarily on commercial litigation, and has considerable experience in the areas of insurance coverage, real estate, employment law, as well as cases involving professional liability. Mr. Elmer is also an accomplished appellate court attorney.

Mr. Elmer taught Health and Hospital Law as an Adjunct Professor of Law at New England School of Law from 2003 through 2006.

Mr. Elmer primarily practices in the courts of Massachusetts, but has also practiced in the courts of Rhode Island and New York.

Representative Accomplishments

Mr. Elmer successfully obtained a jury verdict following a two-week trial dismissing a commercial lease claim against his client in excess of $1 million based on an affirmative defense of waiver. He also secured a defense verdict in a wrongful death claim against a physician corporation alleging failure to diagnose lung cancer. In addition, Mr. Elmer successfully defended a client through to a jury verdict, and also obtained a six-figure counterclaim for breach of contract in a case alleging bad faith insurance practices and violations of Chapter 93A.

On the appellate level, Mr. Elmer persuaded the 1st Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to uphold a declaratory judgment he obtained from the U.S. District Court. The lower court declared that his client, an excess insurer, had no obligation to reimburse a professional liability insurer for a pro rata share of $5 million in defense costs.

Mr. Elmer obtained a six-figure settlement, including attorneys' fees, in an ERISA matter on behalf of a client whose claim for long term disability benefits was denied by the long term disability plan administrator. In a regulatory matter, Mr. Elmer persuaded the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Plumbers and Gas Fitters to suspend and ultimately amend certain regulations that were inequitable to his client.

Professional Affiliations

Mr. Elmer is a Junior Fellow of the Boston Bar Foundation. He is a member of the Boston Bar Association, Rhode Island Bar Association and American Bar Association.