D. Lee Roberts Jr.
Partner
Practice focuses in the areas of construction litigation, tort litigation and contract litigation, including the defense of claims arising out of product liability and negligence. Has litigated hundreds of cases in 37 states, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Representative Cases/Experience
- Served as lead counsel for renowned Las Vegas casino and resort in the longest civil jury trial in Nevada history; defended against thousands of individual claims. Jury verdict was $58 million less than final pre-trial demand. Defense verdict on construction manager's claims for delay damages, extended home office overhead and punitive damages.
- Served as lead counsel for internationally acclaimed circus troupe following a catastrophic injury resulting from alleged product liability at Las Vegas venue; five-week jury trial resulted in favorable settlement after closing arguments of $18 million less than final pre-trial demand.
- Extensive arbitration experience, including limiting a construction manager to less than $7 million on more than $34 million in claims.
- Settled $20 million trade contractor claim after start of trial for less than 20 percent of claim.
- Recovery of $3.3 million on $4 million in affirmative claims on Denver 10th Circuit Courthouse historic renovation.
- Obtained policy limits of over $2 million in professional negligence lawsuit against architect and consulting engineers.
- Obtained $300,000 settlement of matter in Court of Federal Claims case in which the federal government sought $9 million in reprocurement costs and liquidated damages following termination for default
Professional Activities and Honors
- Named a top Business Lawyer by Chambers USA in its annual listing of “America’s Leading Business Lawyers” for 2004, 2005 and 2006
- Named 2007 Georgia “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers and Atlanta magazines in the category of Construction Litigation
Professional Memberships and Affiliations
- American Bar Association (Member, Forum Committee on the Construction Industry; Bid Protest Committee; Sections on Public Contract Law and Litigation, 1985-present).
Admissions to Practice
- State Bar of Nevada
- State Bar of Georgia
- U.S. District Court, District of Nevada
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second, Ninth and Tenth Circuits
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Education
- B.A., University of Virginia, 1983; Echols Scholar
- J.D., College of William and Mary, 1986
Speeches
- Lecturer, Nevada Construction Law, Sterling Educational Services, May 2006.
- Panelist, with Clark County District Judge Michael Cherry, "ADR in Construction Litigation," American Bar Association Section of Litigation, Las Vegas, NV, November 2005.
- Frequent speaker at educational seminars, including past seminars sponsored by: Network of Trial Lawyers, Association of General Contractors, National Society of Professional Estimators, American Institute of Constructors, Auburn University School of Engineering, North Carolina State University and the Virginia Bar Association.