Overview

Chris Habersaat, a Director in the firm’s Litigation group, brings to his practice more than 17 years of experience focusing on civil litigation matters including business and commercial disputes, land use and other real property disputes, insurance coverage disputes, environmental and transportation matters. Chris has represented private and public companies, governmental agencies and individuals before federal and state courts, administrative agencies and arbitration tribunals. Chris has been appointed as a Special Assistant Attorney General and has represented the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in litigation brought in state and federal courts.

Representative Experience

• Appointed Special Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to defend a putative class action lawsuit brought in Federal Court in New Jersey, and subsequently appealed to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, by out-of-state residents challenging the constitutionality of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority's FASTLANE toll discount program.  Yerger v. Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (2010).
• Represented a property owner in a lawsuit and subsequent appeal brought by an abutting property owner claiming that an "easement for light and air" prevented the development of a building in a manner that would obstruct the windows of the abutter's building above the first and second floors.  Ganiatsos v. Board of Appeals of Boston & another (2010).
• Represented a leading independent pharmacy services provider in a Federal Court constitutional-based lawsuit challenging the termination of a State correctional facilities pharmaceutical contract.  Correctional Medical Care, Inc. v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Office of Pharmacy Services, et al (2009).
• Represented a state transportation authority in a lawsuit brought by an unsuccessful bidder challenging the award of a $155 million contract for paratransit services known as THE RIDE.  Kiessling Transit Inc. v. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, et. al. (2009). 
• Represented a developer in a commercial property lawsuit and subsequent appeal concerning an option and right of first refusal to purchase several units in a condominium building in Boston and the expedited dissolution of a lis pendens in a case of first impression under G.L c. 231, §15 .  Gallipault v. Wash Rock Investments LLC, et al (2005).
• Represented a state transportation authority in a series of lawsuits brought in the Massachusetts trial and appellate courts challenging the award of a $100 million contract for the manufacture and installation of system-wide automatic fare collection equipment.  Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc. v. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, et al.; Thales e-Transaction, CGA v. Massachusetts Bay Transportation  Authority (2002).
• Represented a major national telecommunications provider in various real estate disputes including zoning and access disputes with City and Town municipal authorities and governmental agencies.
• Represented property owners in lawsuits alleging bodily injury and property damage claims arising out of alleged exposure to mold.
• Represented property owners in administrative enforcement proceedings brought by the DEP arising out of alleged illegal landfilling, disposal of hazardous materials and filling of wetlands.
• Represented domestic and international insurers and real estate entities in several matters involving structural and subsurface failures of buildings sustained at retail locations throughout the US causing extensive property damage and interruption of business.
• Represented domestic insurers in matters involving failures that occurred at a state-of-the-art wastewater and sewage treatment facility in Boston over a period of years causing interruption of processing and extensive property damage.