Kelcie B. Reid’s primary areas of practice include commercial and general liability litigation, product liability defense, bad faith litigation, and insurance coverage opinions on first-party commercial property and third-party liability claims. She has experience in all stages of litigation from pre-litigation through trial in state, federal, and tribal court.
Kelcie has extensive experience in defending claims brought under the Connecticut Product Liability Act in both state and federal court. She has also had success in arguing summary judgment in complex litigation matters.
Kelcie has been involved in several nationwide litigation matters involving product liability disputes. She routinely facilitates in the management of high-damages personal injury matters across multiple states. She advises and defends manufacturers and servicers of complex machines such as elevators, escalators, and construction equipment, with an emphasis on component part and system functions.
Kelcie also provides coverage opinions and advice to several national insurance companies, and defends insurers against bad faith and unfair insurance practices claims. She regularly advises insurance companies throughout New England and in other states on first-party commercial property claims handling and litigation, and on third-party coverage issues and litigation arising under a variety of policy forms, including directors and officers, commercial general liability, and excess and umbrella.
Some examples of favorable outcomes include:
- Obtained complete defense verdict following a two-week jury trial in a multi-party product liability case alleging catastrophic injuries (second chair).
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of business client in matter alleging liability arising out of luxury motor vehicle theft.
- Co-authored an amicus brief on behalf of the Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association (CDLA) to the Connecticut Supreme Court in a case that ultimately ruled in favor of the defense’s argument.
- Secured dismissal of all claims for extra-contractual damages in a federal insurance coverage case arising out of subpoenas issued by a federal grand jury.
- Obtained dismissal of all bad faith claims in a federal insurance coverage matter involving allegations of abuse by an insured in multiple jurisdictions.
- Prevailed on a motion to strike arising out of an assault on public property, and co-authored the winning brief on appeal.
- Prevailed on motion to dismiss claims brought against a local business and its former officers in a construction contract dispute.
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of local business in complex litigation matter alleging serious car crash injuries to six young plaintiffs.
- Struck an apportionment complaint by property owner against elevator service contractor.
- Successfully mediated a multi-party, multi-jurisdictional bad faith claims handling matter arising out of storm damage to commercial property.
- Obtained favorable mediation results for an excess insurance carrier in a matter alleging $150M in damages.
- • Severed and obtained a no-pay dismissal for insurance carrier client in a trucking matter in which the plaintiff alleged bad faith claims handling and bad faith denial of benefits.
- Provided multiple coverage opinions on assault cases for an insurer’s multinational corporate client.
- Obtained dismissal of a lawsuit against a Maine retailer based on co-briefing a novel issue concerning the scope of legal duty.
- Author, The Ordinance or Law Endorsement: Ordinance or Law Coverage in Connection with Direct Physical Loss and Code Upgrades, DRI For the Defense (May 2020)
- Co-Author, whitepaper on jurisdictional interpretations of “direct physical loss” in first-party property COVID-era claims (March 2020)
- Author, Original Federal Jurisdiction over Direct Actions Against Risk Retention Groups, DRI For the Defense (November 2018)
Admissions
- Connecticut
- U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
- Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Court
- Mohegan Tribal Gaming Disputes Court
Memberships
- Connecticut Bar Association
- Connecticut Defense Lawyers’ Association, Board Member, 20242026
- Connecticut Public Health Association
Community Involvement
- Kids in Need of Defense (Pro Bono)
- Connecticut Veterans Legal Center (Pro Bono)
- Pro Bono Service through the Connecticut Federal Court System
- UConn Law Small Claims Workshop
- Volunteer judge, Connecticut Science Olympiad
- Participation in Homeless Experience Legal Protection (H.E.L.P.)
Education
- J.D., with Honors, University of Connecticut School of Law, 2016
- Connecticut Scholar
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Law & Interpretation
- B.A., cum laude, Linguistics/Psychology, University of Connecticut, 2013
- Honors Scholar
- Alumnus of the first graduating class of the Special Program in Law
- Master of Public Health, University of Connecticut Graduate School, 2016
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America® Ones to Watch distinction in Insurance Law, 2023-2026, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2023-2026
- Super Lawyers® Rising Stars distinction in Insurance Coverage, 2019-2025
- Connecticut Defense Lawyers’ Association, Rising Star Award, 2024
- U.S. District Court (D. Conn.), Certificate of Special Recognition for Pro Bono Service
- Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health
- Phi Beta Kappa