Attorney Biography for Belt, David L.

David L. Belt graduated from Yale University, magna cum laude, in 1965, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Epsilon, the national economics honor society. Between 1965 and 1967, he served in the United States Army as a military intelligence officer, including a tour of duty in Vietnam between 1966 and 1967, where he was awarded the Bonze Star Medal for Meritorious Achievement. After David’s Army service, he attended the Yale Law School , graduating in 1970.

Since joining the firm in 1970, David has handled a wide variety of civil litigation matters including antitrust, unfair trade practices, contract, employment, securities and other complex civil disputes as well as personal injury lawsuits. He has tried cases in both the state and federal courts and has argued appeals before the Connecticut Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

David has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of commercial litigation and antitrust and in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a leading lawyer in general commercial litigation.

David is a member of the Executive Committee of the Antitrust and Trade Regulation Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, of which he has served as Chair. He is the co-author of The Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (1994) and the author of “The Standard for Determining ‘Unfair Acts or Practice’ Under State Unfair Trade Practices Acts,” published in the Connecticut Bar Journal in 2006;"Unfair Trade Practices" included in the Connecticut Lawyers Desk book (Conn. Bar Ass'n 2000), "Private Actions under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act," published in the Connecticut Bar Journal in 1990; and "The Connecticut Anti-Trust Act: A Guide to Interpretation," published in the Connecticut Bar Journal in October 1980.

David is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Quinnipiac University School of Law, where he teaches Antitrust and Trade Regulation and has taught antitrust law at the University of Connecticut School of Law. He has lectured to other lawyers on antitrust law, unfair trade practices, franchise litigation, and trial and appellate technique. David has been appointed by the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut to serve as a Special Master to hear discovery disputes in complex cases and served as Counsel to the Grievance Committee of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.

Significant Representations:

• Lead counsel for real estate investment firm claimed by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection of improperly charging apartment tenants for water based on a ratio utility billing system; resolved by an assurance of voluntary compliance.
• Lead counsel for plaintiff limited partner in a convertible securities investment management and hedge fund firm in action alleging that general partner and others had sold the businesses of the partnership to insiders and third parties at less than fair market value.
• Co-counsel representing magazine publisher in action alleging that publisher had breached contract and made misrepresentations in connection with the printing of a book. See SLC Turnberry, Ltd. v. The American Golfer, Inc., 240 F.R.D. 50 (D. Conn. 2007).
• Lead counsel for machine and tool company in action in which major firearms manufacturer alleged it had misappropriated trade secrets. Counsel for partner in venture capital firm in dispute with firm.
• Lead counsel for co-owner of dental practice in successful negotiation of breakup without litigation.
• Connecticut counsel for major national law firm in action by the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority alleging that law firm was negligent in issuing opinion letter regarding transaction between plaintiff and Enron Corporation. See Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority v. Murtha Cullina, LLP., 40 Conn. L. Rptr. 239, 2005 WL 3291920 (Conn. Super. Oct. 31, 2005).
• Connecticut counsel for underwriters at Lloyds of London in action by insurer to recover from reinsurers a major portion of the $1.15 billion the insurer had paid to resolve approximately 17,000 asbestos-related claims. See Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co. v. Ace American Reinsurance Co., 40 Conn. L. Rptr. 480, 2005 WL 3663930 (Conn. Super. Dec. 14, 2005).
• Lead counsel for major real estate developer in action in which seller of commercial shopping centers alleged developer had made misrepresentations and had tortiously interfered with contract between seller and its employee. See Beckenstein Enterprises-Prestige Park, LLC v. Lichtenstein, 37 Conn. L. Rptr. 627, 2004 WL 1966863 (Conn. Super. Aug. 11, 2004).
• Co-counsel in defense of civil RICO and unfair trade practices action by liability insurer alleging that defendant billed insured’s for services not provided. See Allstate Insurance Co. v. Seigel, 312 F. Supp. 2d 260 (D. Conn. 2004).Lead counsel for major supermarket chain in class action alleging improper collection of sales tax and unfair trade practices.
• Counsel for energy conservation contractor in action by competitor alleging that it had conspired with public utility to exclude it from access to utility’s small business conservation program. See North American Energy Systems, LLC v. New England Energy Management, Inc., 269 F. Supp. 2d 12 (D. Conn. 2002).
• Connecticut counsel for video game manufacturer in action claiming violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act and the Connecticut Product Liability Act brought by administratrix of estate of minor alleging that video game caused son’s friend to stab him. See Wilson v. Midway Games, Inc., 198 F. Supp. 2d 167, 106 ALR 5th 759 (D. Conn. 2002).
• Co-counsel for aircraft leasing company in litigation and arbitration proceedings alleging breach by major international aerospace manufacturers of contract to implement program to re-engine popular business jet. See Retrofit Partners I, L.P. v. Lucas Industries, Inc., 47 F. Supp. 2d 256 (D. Conn. 1999), aff’d, 201 F.3d 155 (2d Cir. 2000); Lucas Aerospace Ltd. v. Advanced Executive Aircraft Ltd., 292 A.D. 2d 201, 738 N.Y.S. 2d 211 (App. Div. 2002).
• Lead counsel for public corporation in action by former president of corporation alleging breach of alleged termination agreement.
• Lead counsel for defendant general partners of real estate limited partnership in action alleging mismanagement of $12 million apartment complex.
• Lead counsel for software development company and its directors in individual and derivative action by former president alleging wrongful termination and breach of employment agreement.
• Lead counsel for defendant stock brokerage firm in action by estate to recover funds allegedly stolen from brokerage account by stockbroker by means of forged checks.
• Lead counsel for major Connecticut law firm in defense of claim for retaliatory discharge brought by former employee. See Ventura v. Cummings & Lockwood, 117 F. Supp. 2d 114 (D. Conn. 1999).
• Co-counsel for plaintiff in claim against health benefit plan administrator and its corporate customer for breach of contract, bad faith, unjust enrichment, interference with contract and unfair trade practices which deprived plaintiff of the fees he earned. See Feen v. Benefit Plan Administrators, Inc., 28 Conn. L. Rptr. 137, 2000 WL 1398898 (Conn. Super. Sept. 7, 2000); Feen v. Benefit Plan Administrators, Inc., 1999 WL 33972 (D. Conn. Jan. 13, 1999).
• Connecticut counsel for co-defendant in multidefendant actions in which the State of Connecticut and a labor union health fund sought to recover for health care costs alleged to have been incurred as a result of the use of tobacco products. Connecticut Pipe Trades Health Fund v. Philip Morris, Inc., 153 F. Supp. 2d 101 (D. Conn. 2001).
• Lead counsel for large incorporated medical practice in successful negotiation of departure of a number of shareholders without litigation.
• Lead counsel for former president of iron works that constructed works by artist Alexander Calder in action claiming conspiracy to defraud purchaser concerning Calder work constructed by the company. See Andre Emmerich Gallery, Inc. v. Segre, 1997 WL 672009 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 29, 1997).
• Lead counsel for defendant law firm and its members in action by resigning member of professional corporation seeking to require firm to compensate him for the value of his shares and alleging violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act.
• Lead counsel for major national insurance brokerage firm in successful action to enjoin former employee from violating noncompete agreement. See Alexander & Alexander of Connecticut, Inc. v. Cronin, 1996 WL 409227 (Conn. Super. June 27, 1996).
• Lead counsel for fifty percent owner of corporation engaged in the processing and resale of recyclables in action for dissolution of corporation.
• Lead counsel for defendant fund manager in action involving a claim for a multimillion-dollar fee in connection with the placement of investment interests. See Conning Corporation v. Davenport Group, 1992 WL 329298 (Conn. Super. Nov. 2, 1992); Conning Corporation v. Davenport Group, 6 Conn. L. Rptr. 340, 1992 WL 98135 (Conn. Super. Apr. 20, 1992).
• Lead counsel for defendant law firm in federal action alleging violation of securities laws, misrepresentations and breach of fiduciary duty in connection with sale of condominium project.
• Lead counsel for plaintiffs in securities class action alleging misrepresentations in connection with the sale of limited partnership interest, settling case for $3.4 million, representing 86 percent of the plaintiffs’ original investments.
• Lead counsel for principle of insurance brokerage firm in federal action alleging sexual harassment.
• Co-counsel for defendant employer in wrongful discharge action where employee had been terminated for secretly recording conversations with supervisors. See Heller v. Champion International, Inc., 891 F.2d 432 (2d Cir. 1989).
• Lead counsel for co-defendant in antitrust, civil RICO and fraud action alleging a horizontal conspiracy among scrap paper suppliers to bribe purchasing agent of paper board manufacturer. See Federal Paper Board Company v. Amata, 693 F. Supp. 1376 (D. Conn. 1988).
• Lead counsel for co-defendant audio equipment designer Mark Levinson in successful defense of action in which plaintiff claimed he could not use his own name in a competing business after assigning trademark rights in his name to plaintiff. See Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc. v. Cello, Ltd., 799 F.2d 814 (2d Cir. 1986).
• Trial counsel for real estate developer in multi-million dollar claim for monopolization of local shopping center market by use of shame zoning appeals to block development of a regional shopping center. See Landmarks Holding Corp. v. Bermant, 664 F.2d 891 (2d Cir. 1981) (appeal by prior counsel).
• Co-counsel in defense of crimination antitrust case charging conspiracy to rig bids for road tar contracts with municipalities. See United States v. Koppers Company, Inc., 652 F.2d 290 (2d Cir. 1981).
• Co-counsel for plaintiff in major antitrust litigation involving claim that defendant had monopolized the plain paper office copier market; jury verdict for plaintiff of $37.3 million after a 14 month trial before case was dismissed by the court on legal grounds. See SCM Corp. v. Xerox Corp., 70 F.R.D. 508 (D. Conn. 1976); SCM Corp. v. Xerox Corp., 77 F.R.D. 10 (D. Conn. 1977); SCM Corp. v. Xerox Corp., 463 F. Supp. 983 (D. Conn. 1978), aff’d, 645 F.2d 1195 (2d Cir. 1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 1016 (1982).