E-mail: med@psh.com

We value your interest in Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP. However, your e-mail and any information in your e-mail to this individual are not protected by the attorney-client privilege. An attorney-client relationship, and an obligation for us to maintain your communications in confidence, can be created only after proper checks for potential conflicts with current clients are conducted and an agreement of representation is reached. By clicking “OK”, you acknowledge that, unless you are a current client of PS&H, we have no obligation to maintain the confidentiality of any information you submit to us.

OKCancel

(tel) 401-861-8250     (fax) 401-861-8210

Ms. Darigan is co-chair of the Firm’s Litigation Practice Group.  She specializes in complex commercial, business and regulatory litigation representing insurance companies, financial institutions and corporations in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies.  Ms. Darigan also represents corporate and individual fiduciaries in contested trust and probate matters in the probate and superior courts.

Ms. Darigan leads the Firm’s Electronic Discovery Team, which advises clients on the preservation, collection and production of electronically stored information, including pre-litigation document and information management strategies.  She is a Mentor in the Firm’s Mentoring Program and co-founded and assists with the administration of PS&H WAVE (Women AdVocates for Enterprise), a Firm initiative designed to help women in business advance professionally.

 

HONORS

• Recognized as a Litigation Star by Benchmark: Litigation, a guide to America’s leading business litigation firms and attorneys
• Selected by her peers as a Rhode Island Super Lawyer
• AV® Preeminent Rated from Martindale Hubbell, highest possible rating on both legal ability and ethics based upon the confidential opinion of peers and judges
• Providence Business News 2005 40 Under Forty Honoree

 

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

INSURANCE LEGAL REPRESENTATION

• Defended insurance company in state-wide consumer class action in a unique case involving parallel proceedings in state and federal court resulting in favorable settlement
• Obtained dismissal in precedent setting case involving the interplay between the jurisdiction of regulatory agencies and private contract claims
• Advised insurance company in comprehensive regulatory investigation and examination
• Represented insurance company in rate hearing before administrative agency in which requested rate increases were approved
• Successfully represented insurance company in administrative action challenging contractual relationships with auto body repair shops
• Defended title insurance company in action alleging civil RICO violations in which all charges were dismissed

 

TRUSTS AND ESTATES LEGAL REPRESENTATION

• Negotiated favorable settlement for trustee in breach of fiduciary duty and breach of loyalty claims arising from 2008 financial markets collapse
• Advised fiduciaries and secured court orders releasing them from liability in several complex trust accounting matters
• Represented beneficiaries and obtained favorable settlement in claims against estate for improper distribution of tangible property
• Secured court order confirming trustee’s authority over challenge by beneficiary
• Successfully settled several contested actions concerning trustee’s breach of fiduciary duties to beneficiaries
• Obtained approval of comprehensive estate plan for guardians of incapacitated ward
• Secured approval for termination of a small trust and distribution plan

 

COMMERCIAL AND REGULATORY LITIGATION

• Arbitrated breach of contract claims for foreign corporation resulting in a significant award that was upheld on appeal
• Advised national corporation in complex receivership proceedings resulting in favorable settlement
• Successfully defended corporation in claim to redeem shares
• Advised corporation on contract rights and remedies under asset purchase agreement resulting in settlement

 

BANKING INDUSTRY EXPERTISE

• Represented financial institution in precedent setting cases involving core banking procedures
• Reached favorable settlement for financial institution in action alleging conversion
• Successfully defended numerous financial institutions in wrongful foreclosure and eviction actions in state, federal, district and housing courts

 

EDUCATION
Catholic University of America, J.D., 1992

George Washington University, B.A., 1989

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Rhode Island Bar Association
   Executive Committee, Member
   House of Delegates, Member
   Superior Court Bench/Bar Committee, Co-chair
Rhode Island Bar Foundation
   Fellow
Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association
    Member
New England Bar Association
   Board Member
American Bar Association
   Litigation and Business Law Divisions, Member
Litigation Counsel of America
   Fellow
Defense Counsel of Rhode Island
   Member
Defense Research Institute
   Member
Leadership Rhode Island
   Class of 2000

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

“Social Media in the Workplace: Why You Should Care,” The Anchor, June 2011

"There's Still Time to Make that New Year's Resolution:  Get Your Records Retention Plan in Place,"  Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP, Take Note e-alert, January 2011

 

"TGIF: Thank Goodness I'm the Fiduciary - Update Regarding the Trustee's Duty to Inform"  Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP, Take Note e-alert, December 2010

 

 “Is Your Email Marketing CAN-SPAM Act Compliant?,” The Anchor, December 2010

 

“Protecting Your Customers’ Private Financial Information,” The Anchor, August 2010

“Flood Insurance – Protect Yourself from Errors and Omissions Claims,” The Anchor, May 2010

“Your Insurance Company Terminates Your Contract – What Can You Do?,” The Anchor, February 2010

 

“Carrying Out Your Legal Duties to the Insurer: Agency Contracts,” The Anchor, August 2009

 

“Protecting Your Insured and Your Agency:  Diligence in Preparing Applications,” The Anchor, May 2009

 

“Legal Duties Owed by Independent Insurance Agents Under Rhode Island Law,” The Anchor, February 2009

 

“Optional Business Entity Licensing with the Department of Business Regulation,” The Anchor, September 2008

 

“Back on the Record with Rhode Island Records Retention,” The Anchor, June 2008 

 

"ESI Management and E-Discovery: Successful Strategies, Inside the Minds:  e-Discovery Best Practices," Aspatore Books, 2008

 

 

REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP 2011 Annual CLE Ethics Seminar
Ethics in Negotiation

 

The Women's Summit 2011
Be a Mentor - Change a Life

 

Leading Women SENE – 2010
Social Media – Smart Business Strategies

 

Women’s Fund of Rhode Island – 2010
Success:  Holding the Ladder – Steps to Building Career Savvy

 

Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP Annual CLE Ethics Seminar – 2010
Ethical Issues in a Contentious Digital World

 

Partridge Snow & Hahn Litigation Seminar – 2009
Stay Cool in the Hot Seat: Reducing the Stress of Litigation 

 

TGIF Series (Thank Goodness I’m the Fiduciary) – “Duties & Protections for Fiduciaries”
Citizens Bank, Anawon Trust Company, The Washington Trust Company – 2007 
U.S. Trust/Bank of America – 2008
Rockland Trust Company – 2009
BNY Mellon Wealth Management – 2010   

 

TGIF Series (Thank Goodness I’m the Fiduciary) – “My Beneficiary is Broke! Asset Protection Planning: Protecting the Beneficiary and Trustee”
Citizens Bank – 2009 

 

“E-Discovery: What Is It and Why You Should Care”
Roger Williams Hospital, Providence College, Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, Taco, The Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company – 2008

 

Estate Planning Round Up – 2007
“The Bull’s Eye Is On Your Back”

BAR MEMBERSHIPS
Rhode Island, 1992
U.S. District Court, Rhode Island, 1993
Massachusetts, 1993
U.S. District Court, Massachusetts , 1993
U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit, 1997
U.S. Supreme Court, 1997