Paul Sanson has over 30 years of litigation experience, including a clerkship in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and three years as a trial attorney in the Honors Program for the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice in Washington D.C. He practices in complex business and commercial matters, particularly in franchising, antitrust and trade regulation, and petroleum marketing. Paul has represented clients, including major oil companies, national and regional distributors and franchisors, and national corporations, has been lead trial counsel in jury and bench trials in both state and federal trial courts, and has argued cases before the Court of Appeals for the First and Second Circuits and the Connecticut Supreme Court. He recently had a case before the U.S. Supreme Court which ruled in his client's favor 9-0 on both issues. Paul also served in the United States Navy from 1968-1971.
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: Commercial Litigation; 2006-2012
- Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers: Litigation: General Commercial; 2002-2011
- Listed as a Connecticut Super Lawyer®: Business Litigation, Franchise/Dealership; 2007-2012
- AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
- American Bar Association: Franchise Law Section; National Forum on Franchising; Litigation Section
- Connecticut Bar Association: Federal Practice Section (Executive Committee Member and Former Co-Chair); Franchising Section (Executive Committee Member and Former Chair)
- Princeton University: National Annual Giving Committee; Section Chair for Connecticut and Rhode Island
- Connecticut Exeter Alumni Association
- Noah Webster House: Former Trustee
- West Hartford Historical Foundation: Former Trustee
$5.5 Million Judgement for Client Following a Trial Involving Antitrust, Unfair Trade Practices and Breach of Contract Claims
In a case on the Connecticut state court complex litigation docket, the owner of a large gasoline terminal sued our clients claiming antitrust violations, breach of contract, unfair trade practices, misrepresentation, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. All of the plaintiff’s claims were disposed of before trial, and the case went forward solely on our client’s counterclaim for breach of contract. After two trials and two appeals, the court awarded our clients $5.5 million in damages and attorneys' fees.
Settlement of Claims by Franchisor Alleging Breach of Contract, Trademark Violations, and Unfair Trade Practices
We were asked by our client to bring a lawsuit in federal court in North Carolina against a distributor for trademark infringement and other violations of the Lanham Act, breach of contract, and violations of the North and South Carolina unfair trade practices acts. After multiple summary judgment rulings in our client’s favor, defendant agreed to pay $800,000 to settle the case.