Sean Healy is the managing partner of the Phoenix office of Lewis Brisbois, member of the general liability litigation group, co-chair of the Directors & Officers and Securities Litigation Practice, and vice chair of the Professional Liability Practice. With more than 25 years of experience as a litigator, he has tried 46 jury trials and over 130 bench trials and arbitrations combined. He is a member of ABOTA.

He litigates a variety of complex commercial, contract, and professional liability matters. These include lawsuits brought against licensed professionals, directors and officers, insurance agents, real estate agents, architects and engineers, lawyers, software engineers (“Tech E & O”), and a variety construction industry professionals. He has also handled a variety of class actions, including claims involving universities, insurance agents, and businesses related to the release of protected data. In addition to defending professionals in civil actions, he has also represented clients in ADA claims and employment disputes involving allegations of discrimination.

Mr. Healy also litigates general liability and products liability matters, including high exposure cases involving wrongful death and catastrophic injuries. Sample cases include motor vehicle accidents, shootings and assaults, trucking accidents, road design allegations, police and fire department personnel, heavy equipment and consumer products, and premises liability. Finally, he has handled many dram shop and medical malpractice claims.

Examples of trials and arbitrations Mr. Healy handles include the following clients: insurance agents/brokers, medical professionals, vehicle drivers, a city and its police department, and landowners. Mr. Healy has tried several high-stakes cases to verdict, including cases where damages in the eight figures were sought. In one such trial where $153 million was sought in a wrongful death claim, Mr. Healy obtained a defense verdict.

Examples of complex litigation Mr. Healy has handled include: 

• Lawsuit against commercial broker, its independent broker, and numerous developers for alleged fraud involving hundreds of deals spanning numerous states. Initially, the damages sought were in the nine figures.
• Lawsuit against directors and officers of a mining company for alleged misrepresentations in a private placement offering.
• Lawsuit against founder of online gaming company from allegations of securities fraud during sales of shares during fundraising rounds.
• RICO and antitrust lawsuit against residential real estate association consisting of a 1000-page complaint.
• Lawsuits against lawyers for alleged malpractice related to advice given to businesses and their owners during financing and/or business transactions.
• Claims against software company for alleged errors in code allegedly resulting in eight figures in damages to a fortune 500 business.
• Represents franchisor in various commercial disputes and lawsuits, including those being brought against former franchisees and business partners.
• Lawsuits against insurance brokers for malpractice during the procurement of large commercial policies.

Mr. Healy began his career as a county prosecutor in 1997 where he tried felonies and misdemeanors. He has been in civil practice since 1999. 

Publications

Professional Presentations

• “Best Practices for Investigating Premises Liability Claims,” Lewis Brisbois Client Presentation, March 2024
• “Nuclear Verdicts: Causes & Prevention,” Co-Speaker and Presenter, October 25, 2023
• “Claims 101: A Basic Approach to Common Claims,” Co-Speaker and Presenter, October 24, 2023
• “Material Increase in Size of California Employment Law Verdicts & Issue-Spotting Evidence which May Lead to Runaway Verdicts,” Co-Speaker and Presenter, February 2023

• “Tips for Ethically Protecting Your Clients, Yourself and the Rights of Third Parties,” Co-presenter, January 6, 2020

• Rule 30(b)(6) Depositions and Rule 68 Offers of Judgment, Sean Healy, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP (1.0 hours CLE), Speaker and Presenter, May 2, 2019
• "Let's Be Blunt: The 'Growth' of Marijuana Legislation and its Impact on Insureds," 2018 Argo Panel Meeting, Speaker and Presenter, May 18, 2018
• LBBS presentation:  Effective Strategies for Reducing Plaintiffs' Economic Damage Claims, June 2017
• Premises Liability - Overview of subject for institutional client, Speaker, May 23, 2017 
• “Fiduciary Duties & Financial Lines: The Origin, Evolution and Future,” PLUS, Speaker, May 11, 2017 
• Products Liability Presentation for large insurer, Speaker, Dec. 5 (Part I) and 16 (Part II), 2016 
• “Risk Transfer Opportunities, Indemnity and Tender of Defense Issues in Arizona,” Seminar for insurer, Speaker, Aug. 2016 
• Half-day Presentation on Casualty, Fair Claims Handling, and Class Action/D&O/Securities for large insurer, Organizer and Speaker, Aug. 2016 
• Professional Liability and Directors and Officers Case Law Update - Presentation for large insurer, brokers and riskmanagers - Speaker, May 2016 
• “Morris, Damron and Cumis - What You Need to Know,” Seminar for large insurer, Speaker, Mar. 2015 
• Current Employment Law Issues Presentation for large insurer, Organizer, 2015 
• “Pre-litigation Settlement Strategies,” Seminar for Institutional Client – Speaker, Oct. 2014 
• “Products Liability Claims Handling (Parts I & II),” Seminar for Institutional Client – Speaker, Jul. & Oct. 2014 
• “Ethics for Adjusters,” Third Annual Arizona Continuing Education Seminar for Claims Analysts - Speaker, May 2013, 2011 
• “Liability 101,” Seminar for risk managers from several of Arizona’s top 100 largest companies - Speaker, Jan. 2013 
• “The Role of the Director: Defining Their Responsibilities,” National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) event attended by telecom industry directors, officers and counsel - Speaker, Nov. 2012 
• Products Liability Webinar to large institutional client - Speaker, Apr. 2012 
• “Summary of Arizona Law on Directors and Officers,” Corporate Counsel Division, Maricopa County Bar Association - Speaker, October 2009 
• Mock Trial Presentation to the National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters (NAIIA) - Author & Presenter, 2009 
• “Insurance Claims Jeopardy,” - Speaker to Institutional Client and Attorneys, 2009, 2007, 2005 
• National Business Institute, Institute for Paralegal Education, “ Analyzing Records for the Arizona Paralegal” - Ethical Considerations - Speaker, 2004 
• Lorman Education Services, Premises Liability in Arizona - Speaker, 2002 
• “Subrogation in Arizona” - Speaker to Institutional Client, 2002 
• Lorman Education Services, Products Liability in Arizona - Speaker, 2002 
• “The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth...Ethical Issues for Testimony That Straddles the Line of Truthfulness” - Presenter, 2000 
• “Access to the Media...Can You Try Your Case Before Trial?” - Ethical Issues In Cases Receiving Media Coverage - Discussion Moderator, 1999

Admissions

• State Bar Admissions
  • Arizona
• State Supreme Courts
  • Arizona Supreme Court
• State Appellate Courts
  • Arizona Court of Appeals
• United States District Courts
  • United States District Court for the District of Arizona
• United States Courts of Appeals
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Admissions

Arizona State and Federal Court

Associations

• Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), Member, 2017 
• American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Admitted 2015 
• Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, Member of Board of Directors, 2004-2007 
• Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, Young Lawyers Division, President, 2003-2004, Board Member, 2002-2003 
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member, 1998-2003 
• Arizona Trial Lawyers Association, Member, 1998-2001 
• Inn of Court, 1999-2001 
• Lawyers for Literacy, 1998-2000 

Awards & Honors

Southwest SuperLawyers - Listed in 2015-2018

Education

University of San Diego School of Law

Juris Doctor, 1997

Colgate University

Bachelor of Arts, 1993

University of Arizona

Honors Program, 1989-1990