Overview

David is an accomplished trial lawyer with more than 30 years of courtroom experience. Prior to co-founding Hassett | Donnelly, David served as an Assistant District Attorney, Middle District, Worcester. He is an AV-Preeminent rated attorney with an exemplary track record of defense verdicts and dismissals throughout the region. In addition to regularly appearing in state and federal courts, David has argued insurance coverage issues before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

His areas of practice include Civil Litigation, Toxic Tort Litigation (including lead paint, carbon monoxide, mold and asbestos), Business and Commercial Litigation, Catastrophic Injury and Wrongful Death, Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith, Trucking Litigation, Class Action Defense, Construction Litigation, Hospitality and Liquor Liability and Professional Liability.

David is frequently called upon to provide defense strategy to insurers and defend companies in high-stakes litigation. He recently led a team at Hassett | Donnelly providing a national carrier with detailed coverage analysis in response to thousands of unique and complex first-party claims made throughout the country.

David has been selected by his peers for inclusion in “The Best Lawyers in America” (2012-2021) in the fields of Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. He is a proud member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) and American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), invitation-only memberships earned only through extensive jury trial experience and the demonstration of high personal character and an honorable reputation. He is a Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one half of one percent of all American lawyers. David previously served on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association (MassDLA).

Education
  • Boston College Law School, J.D.
  • College of the Holy Cross, B.A., cum laude
Admissions
Memberships
  • Massachusetts Bar Association
  • Connecticut Bar Association
  • Worcester County Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
  • International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
  • The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
  • Litigation Counsel of America (LCA)
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
  • Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association (MassDLA) – Board of Directors
  • Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
Select Results
News
Successful Interlocutory Appeal Featured in Lawyer’s Weekly Successful Interlocutory Appeal Featured in Lawyer’s Weekly
11.14.2017 | News | Press | Massachusetts Lawyer’s Weekly

Successful Interlocutory Appeal Featured in Lawyer’s Weekly

Dealy and Hassett featured in DRI’s The Voice Dealy and Hassett featured in DRI’s The Voice
12.09.2016 | News | Press | Defense Research Institute

Dealy and Hassett featured in DRI’s The Voice

View All News
Recognitions
  • David has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America list for Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2012-2024).
  • David is a proud member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only membership earned only through extensive jury trial experience and the demonstration of high personal character and an honorable reputation.
  • David is a Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America. The LCA is a highly selective, invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one half of one percent of all American lawyers.
  • David is a proud member of the CLM, a membership achieved exclusively through peer nomination by a CLM Fellow.
  • David is honored to be a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel. The IADC is an invitation-only professional association for corporate and insurance defense lawyers around the world.
  • David has been included in the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the area of Litigation (2006-2021, 2023).