Ms. Jocelyn M. Sedney | Attorney

Jocelyn Sedney is a partner at Brody, Hardoon, Perkins and Kesten, LLP.  She litigates on behalf of individuals, businesses and insurance companies.  She practices in both trial and appellate courts in Massachusetts as well as in the First Circuit federal courts.  She began her practice in Alaska, trying cases in the state trial court, and arguing cases before the appellate courts of both Alaska and the Ninth Circuit. 

Practice Areas

Ms. Sedney's practice areas include toxic tort litigation, insurance coverage, professional malpractice, employment law, fire loss litigation and civil recovery for sexual assault victims. 

Toxic Torts.  Ms. Sedney continues to represent clients in cases involving claims of exposure to lead-based paint, pesticides, molds and other toxic substances. 

Insurance Coverage.  Ms. Sedney interprets and advises insurers as well as insureds on issues related to insurance coverage.

Professional Malpractice.  Ms. Sedney represents professionals who are accused of wrongdoing.  She has years of experience representing lawyers as well as other professionals including real estate agents, insurance agents and accountants.

Fire Loss Litigation.  Ms. Sedney has been involved in representing parties in some of the most devastating fire loss cases in the Commonwealth.  These cases have involved both large property loss and catastrophic personal injuries.  She represents property owners, contractors and installers of fire protections systems.  Ms. Sedney often coordinates cause and origin investigations, pre-litigation investigations and early retention of experts in an effort to provide clients with the best possible defense should litigation ensue.

Sexual Assault Civil Recovery.  Ms. Sedney is also involved in working with victims of sexual assault/discrimination to obtain civil recovery.  She focuses on advocacy for mentally ill victims of sexual assault.  Ms. Sedney represented a young girl who was awarded $2.5 million after being sexually assaulted by a counselor at a residential mental health treatment facility.  Ms. Sedney sought a court order to obtain a DNA sample from the counselor to establish paternity.  She successfully argued the matter before the Supreme Judicial Court, which held that DNA is discoverable in civil lawsuits.  The case resulted in a published opinion, Doe v. Senechal, 725 N.E.2d 225 (Mass. 2000).

Prior Experience

Before joining BHPK, Ms. Sedney was a partner with the Boston firm of Morrison, Mahoney and Miller, where she concentrated on the defense of claims involving lead paint and other toxic torts, and products liability.  Ms. Sedney was previously associated with the firm of Ely, Guess and Rudd in Anchorage, Alaska.  Before becoming a lawyer, Ms. Sedney worked in the mental health field.

Teaching and Publications

Ms. Sedney has served as an instructor in premises liability and lead paint liability for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) and various community groups.  She is the co-author, along with fellow partner Richard Brody, of The Law of Premises Liability in Massachusetts.

Education

Ms. Sedney graduated from Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland and received her law degree from the University of Denver College of Law in 1985.

Professional and Community Affiliations

Ms. Sedney is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, Alaska, the United States District Court for the Districts of Massachusetts and Alaska, the First Circuit Court of Appeals, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.  She belongs to the Massachusetts Bar Association and the American Bar Association.  She is also a member of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.  She is actively involved in her community through both her neighborhood association and other civic groups.