Brett Matthew Hager, Attorney

Brett M. Hager joined Sanders & Parks in 1999, and is a Shareholder and Director in the firm. He practices in the areas of catastrophic injury and wrongful death, aviation law, including airplane crashes resulting in both injury and wrongful death, patent litigation, construction litigation (including mechanic's liens), commercial litigation, and small business formation and representation.

Mr. Hager is a licensed private pilot with extensive aviation experience. He handles virtually all manner of aviation cases from repair disputes between aircraft owners and FBOs up to personal injury and wrongful death cases arising out of aviation accidents. He has the technical understanding necessary to evaluate and prosecute a wide variety of cases, whether they arise out of engine or structural failure, maintenance failure, failure to comply with Airworthiness Directives, or simple piloting error. Exemplary cases have involved mid-air collisions, powerline strikes, in-flight wing separation, and engine failure within two hours of overhaul. Mr. Hager also has the experience and know-how to pursue any and all avenues of potential recovery, including employer liability for business flights, insurance, worker's compensation, governmental liability (including as to air traffic control negligence), and other sources. Whether it is a Beechcraft, Cessna, Piper, Diamond, Cirrus, Lancair, Dessault, Hawker, or Learjet, and whether it is a single engine, twin engine, piston, jet, land, seaplane, or helicopter, Mr. Hager would like to offer his assistance in evaluating your case.
 
Mr. Hager also handles traumatic injury and wrongful death cases arising out of vehicle rollovers (including SUVs, 15-passenger vans, mini vans, pick-ups and other vehicles), tire defects and tread separations (such as missing or inadequate gum strips, nylon cap, and improper cure, and including as against Cooper Tire, Continental Tire, General Tire, Michelin Tire, Bridgestone/Firestone Tire, Goodyear Tire, Uniroyal Tire, Dunlop Tire, Kelly Springfield, Yokohama, Kumho Tire, Westlake, Compass, YKS, Chinese tire manufacturers, and other tire manufacturers, retailers, sellers and installers), roof crush, seatbelt failure, passenger and driver ejections, gas tank explosions and fires, and other automotive defects (including as against Ford, GM and Daimler Chrysler). Mr. Hager also handles motorcycle and ATV accidents.

In addition to the foregoing types of cases, Mr. Hager is a seasoned commercial litigation attorney. His skillset ranges from construction law (including construction defect, contract disputes, indemnity issues, and mechanic's liens) to high-tech patent infringement litigation, business formation and consultation to "outside" general counsel services, and things in between. Mr. Hager is a strong believer that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," especially in commercial settings. Often times, costly litigation can be avoided by utilizing counsel at the earliest signs of a dispute brewing, and this can save the parties significant attorneys' fees and profound aggravation by avoiding litigation. However, if litigation is or becomes necessary, Mr. Hager will work diligently and efficiently to bring your commercial or intellectual dispute to an efficient and satisfactory resolution.

Mr. Hager was admitted to the Arizona Bar in 1998 and the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona in 1999. In addition, Brett is a member of the Maricopa County and American Bar Associations. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for Arizona Blind and Deaf Children's Foundation, and represents Brambley Hedge Rabbit Rescue and Akita Advocates  Relocation Team Arizona as pro bono counsel.

Mr. Hager graduated from Tulane Law School, magna cum laude, in 1997, was a Notes and Comments Editor of the Tulane Law Review, a member of the Order of the Coif and Phi Delta Phi, and published articles in both the Tulane Law Review and Tulane Environmental Law Journal. After law school Mr. Hager served a clerkship with the Honorable Nauman Scott in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Prior to joining Sanders & Parks, he practiced with the firm of Aspey Watkins & Diesel in Flagstaff, Arizona. Mr. Hager holds his Private Pilot certificate, is a member of AOPA (Airplane Owners and Pilots Association), and is an avid SCUBA diver and equestrian.