Peter E. Heppner has a split practice involving representation of plaintiffs in serious personal injury cases, and insurance defense.  He handles cases in the federal and state courts at the trial level and the appellate level.  He assists in coordinating efforts of a group of attorneys and paralegals who are dedicated to the representation of injured parties in claims involving products liability, premise liability, motor vehicle torts, construction accidents, and other complex claims where there are significant and serious injuries.

 

He has successfully represented plaintiffs through trial, arbitration or mediation in cases involving death or serious injury caused by defects in property, motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, defective products, multi-district litigation and business disputes.  A substantial portion of Attorney Heppner’s practice is dedicated to such claims.  

 

On the insurance defense side, Attorney Heppner represents insurers and insureds in all aspects of personal injury.  Lynch & Lynch has an extensive insurance defense practice in which Attorney Heppner participates.  While Attorney Heppner spends considerable efforts in defending insureds in personal injury litigation, his insurance defense practice primarily involves representation of insurers with respect to coverage issues, compliance with M.G.L. c.176D and bad faith litigation arising out of alleged errors by the insurer in the claims handling process.  

 

Attorney Heppner has successfully handled many coverage disputes through the claims, trial court and appellate court levels.  He has participated in preparation of policy language revision to reflect the intention of the insurers with respect to coverages afforded under the policies.  He is frequently consulted by various insurers with respect to issues involving duty to defend, duty to indemnify, and policy interpretation issues.  He welcomes informal consultations, formal referrals, and appointment as an arbitrator in this field.  

 

Attorney Heppner’s representation of insurers also includes a substantial practice defending insurers against allegations of violations of M.G.L. c.93A, M.G.L. c.176D, or other alleged extra contractual liability.  He has successfully represented insurers in the state courts and federal courts with respect to such claims.  He has testified on behalf of insurers concerning appropriate claims handling practices, the requirements of M.G.L. c.176D, and the insurer’s compliance therewith.  He is frequently informally consulted on such issues and ancillary matters such as insurer obligation with respect to liens, ERISA, Medicare, claims of assignees, as well as all other areas of claims handling, and accepts formal referrals with respect to such matters.  

 

Attorney Heppner’s entire professional practice has been dedicated to civil litigation and insurance matters.  He graduated from Boston University in 1984 with a BA from the School of Management.  He then began his career as a claims representative at Liberty Mutual Insurance before moving to Hanover Insurance Company.  He attended law school at Suffolk University while working at Hanover Insurance Company, and graduated cum laude in 1991.  He has been named as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer and has achieved an AV (pre-eminent) rating by his peers, as published in Martindale Hubbell®.  He has been a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association Appellate Bench Bar Committee.  He has been with Lynch & Lynch since starting his legal career in 1991.