ATTORNEYS
David S. Hoopes
Mr. Hoopes is a principal of the firm and a member of the Litigation Group and the Commercial Real Estate Group. He is a business law generalist, who has extensive litigation experience, but also regularly represents and counsels business clients in zoning and other land use matters, real estate purchase and sales, leasing and financing transactions, real estate title matters, business formations and transactions, and employment matters. Mr. Hoopes’ decades of experience as a business litigator has given him perspectives and insights that have proven invaluable when representing clients in transactional and other non-litigation matters.
Mr. Hoopes has tried cases in a variety of jurisdictions and has argued appeals before the Connecticut Supreme and Appellate Courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Massachusetts Appeals Court. He has served as a National Institute of Trial Advocacy faculty member and has lectured concerning real estate topics.
Mr. Hoopes’ transactional and business formation clients include entrepreneurs, developers, investors, lenders, non-profit organizations, municipalities, and housing authorities.
Mr. Hoopes has a special interest in land use. Throughout his career he has represented numerous developers and property owners in applications before planning and zoning commissions, zoning boards of appeals, wetlands commissions, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and in zoning appeals. He has represented applicants in numerous successful applications under Connecticut’s affordable housing law and has obtained land use approvals for many other substantial commercial, residential and school projects. Mr. Hoopes is a member of the Glastonbury Zoning Board of Appeals.
Recent Representative Experience
Defense of an eight-figure claim against a shopping center developer resulting in a zero-damage jury verdict, affirmed on appeal.
Prosecution of a seven-figure claim between financial services institutions resulting in a favorable settlement shortly before trial.
Prosecution of complex breach of fiduciary duty and related claims, involving real estate ventures, resulting in a seven-figure settlement and liquidation of partnership assets.
Prosecution of claim for corporate looting resulting in a seven-figure settlement.
Successful prosecution of claim for emergency injunction against enforcement of a municipal cease and desist order, permitting a 750-student magnet high school to open as scheduled.
Defense of claims against officers and directors of an aerospace company, and prosecution of claims against his clients’ insurer, resulting in a final judgment for his clients on all claims and reimbursement of all legal fees.
Defense of complex intra-creditor claims concerning the insolvency of an automobile wholesale resulting in judgment for his client on all claims, and later recovery of legal fees in a vexatious litigation action.
Numerous construction cases.
Representation of insureds in title insurance claims matters, involving disputes concerning easements, adverse possession, surveys and title searching standards and many other issues.
Representation of buyers, sellers and lenders in commercial real estate and real estate finance transactions.
Prior Practice Experience:
Hoopes & Morganthaler (2004 – 2026)
Education:
Dave graduated from University of Massachusetts at Amherst (B.A., History, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, 1981) and University of Connecticut School of Law (J.D. with honors, 1984).
Bar Admissions:
Connecticut and Massachusetts
Court Admissions:
U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Professional & Civic Organizations:
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Connecticut Bar Association, Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section
Member, Hartford County Bar Association