Dev K. Sethi

Dev Sethi litigates and tries a wide-range of complex injury and death cases throughout Arizona. He has Martindale Hubbell's highest rating, AV, and he is listed in "Best Lawyers." Dev is also recognized as an Arizona Super Lawyer in the area of plaintiff's products liability litigation.
Dev has been at the forefront of auto product defect litigation. He played a key role in uncovering the Goodyear Load Range E tire scandal and worked to hold Ford Motor Company responsible for the danger posed by their now notorious 15-passenger vans. Dev is currently representing families in product liability suits against the nation's largest corporations including General Motors, Ford, Pentair Pools and Invacare.

In addition to his work in the area of products liability, Dev has represents vulnerable individuals in abuse cases; individuals and families in suits against state, local and federal government agencies in a wide range of issues; and individuals involved in trucking and bicycle accidents.

In 2012, Dev obtained and collected a $5,000,000 judgment against a Tucson hospital that discharged his client, who was under the influence of hospital administered morphine, without an escort. Dev tried that case to a Pima County jury, obtained a complete victory for his client, and worked to defend the jury's decision in the Arizona Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Arizona. The one talking about my 2012 verdict, that says’ You can read more about Dev’s landmark victory here..

Prior to joining the firm, Dev worked in Nevada and Arizona as a defense lawyer representing insurance companies and other corporations. Like Ted Schmidt, Dev worked for O'Connor Cavanagh, a large defense firm that was recognized by Arizona Business Magazine as "The Best Firm in Arizona". This experience provides Dev with unique insight into the tactics and strategies of defendants, and he is proud to put this knowledge to work for people harmed by the very companies he once defended.

A graduate of Duke University (A.B. 1994) and the University of Arizona College of Law (J.D. 1997), Dev served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of International and Comparative Law. He remains active in the law school community, serving as an Adjunct Professor and as a member, and former President, of the Law College Association Board of Directors. In 2004, the University of Arizona Alumni Association recognized Dev with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award.

Dev is active in many professional and legal organizations. He is member of the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association Board of Directors and President of the Arizona Minority Bar Association. Dev frequently volunteers his time to serve as a faculty member teaching continuing legal education courses.

Dev is also an active Board Member of the Children's Museum Tucson and Ben's Bells. When not working, in the office or with various community endeavors, he coaches youth soccer.

Dev is married to Olivia and they have two young children.

Areas of Practice:

Products Liability

Medical Malpractice

Premises Liability

Automobile Accidents

Bicycle Accidents

Governmental Liability

Elder Abuse

Litigation Percentage:

100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions:

Nevada, 1997

Arizona, 1998

U.S. District Court District of Arizona, 1998

Education:

University of Arizona College of Law, Tucson, Arizona, May, 1997
J.D.
Law Journal: Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law, Note and Comment Editor, 1995 - 1997

Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 1994
A.B.
Major: Public Policy Studies

Published Works:

Ten Tips for Settling a Case, Arizona Attorney, September, 2007

Successfully Handling the Products Liability Case, The Advocate, March, 2006

Politics Threaten Arizona's Independent Judiciary, Inside Tucson Business, January 23, 2006

Liability Waivers and Releases: Worth the Paper They Are Printed On?, American Bar Association Journal for Small Firms and Solo Practices, May, 2004

Please Release Me: Prospective Exculpatory Covenants in Arizona, Arizona Attorney, March, 2003

Representative Cases:

Allstate Ins. Co v. Universal Underwriters, 178. 3d 106 (Arizona Court of Appeals Division Two 2000)

Classes/Seminars Taught:

Speaker, All India Institute of Medical Science Forum on Indians in America

Speaker, City Of Las Vegas Arts Council, 1998

State Bar of Arizona Mandatory Professionalism Course (Trial Practice and Diversity Sessions)

Chair, State Bar of Arizona CLE by the Sea, 2008

Proving the Product Defect, American Association of Justice Annual Convention 2007, 2007

Chair, The Curmudgeon's Guide to the Law, State Bar of Arizona Annual Convention 2007, 2007

Chair, Trial Practice Section Presentations, State Bar of Arizona Annual Convention

Chair, Civil Justice and the Power to Do Good, State Bar of Arizona Annual Convention 2005, 2005

Chair, Hot Issues in Trial Practice, State Bar of Arizona Annual Convention 2004

Winning Short Trial Strategies

Successful Deposition Strategies

Negotiating and Settling Injury Cases

I Know What You Did Last Summer - What Secrets Social Networking Sites Hold

Prosecuting and Defending UM/U1M Cases

Handling Automobile Accidents - A to Z

Topics in Complex Litigation, State Bar of Arizona CLE by the Sea

State Bar of Arizona 2004 Bench and Bur Roundtable

Advanced Legal Writing

Writing to Win

White Mountains Trial Skills Seminar, 2003

White Mountains Trial Skills Seminar, 2004

Advanced Cross-Examination and Impeachment Techniques

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words - Developing and Using Visual Themes

Effective Representation in the Mandatory Arbitration System

Cross-Examination of Economic Experts in Personal Injury and Death Cases

Joint Tortfeasor Liability in Arizona

Employer Obligations for the Acts of Employees and Independent Contractors

Please Release Me: The Application of Liability Waivers in Arizona

Winning Your Case in Opening Statement

Medical Malpractice 101 - A Primer for Fourth Year Medical Students

Honors and Awards:

Martindale Hubbell AV Rated

University of Arizona Alumni Association Distinguished Young Alumni Award, 2004

Inside Tucson Business "Up and Comer", 2006

Pima County Young Lawyers Division Outstanding Member Award, 1998 - 2003

Southwest Super Lawyers 2010

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Fox Theatre Foundation - Bollywood, 2004 - 2007

Member, Fox Committee

Tucson Children's Museum, 2006 - Present

Board of Directors

Tucson Children's Museum, 2008

Golf Tournament Chair

Tucson Children's Museum, 2008

Executive Committee

University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, 2001 - Present

Adjunct Professor

University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, 2007 - Present

Law College Association Board, Executive Committee

University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law

Friend of the Dean

University of Arizona College of Fine Arts, 2005 - 2006

Dean's Advisory Board

Arizona Trial Lawyers Association, 2005 - Present

Board of Directors

Arizona Minority Bar Association, 2000 - 2002

Secretary

Arizona Minority Bar Association, 2002 - 2003

V.P.

Arizona Minority Bar Association, 2004 - 2006

President

State Bar of Arizona - Consumer Information and Education Task Force, 2008

State Bar of Arizona - Diversity Task Force, 2006 - Present

State Bar of Arizona - Leadership Institute

Board of Directors

State Bar of Arizona - Trial Practice Executive Council, 2002 - Present

State Bar of Arizona - Trial Practice Executive Council, 2007

Chair

State Bar of Arizona, 2005 - Present

Appointments Committee

Supreme Court of Arizona Judicial Performance Review, 2006 - Present

Pima County Young Lawyers Division, 1999 - 2001

Treasurer, Board of Directors

Pima County Young Lawyers Division, 2002 - 2003

Golf Tournament Chairman

Pima County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Law Week, 1998 - 2000

Chair

American Association of Physicians of Indian Decent (APPI) - National Pro Bono Counsel

Indian Association of Southern Arizona, 2001 - 2002

Board of Directors

Indian Cultural Center of Tucson

Founding Member and Trustee

Tucson Big Brothers Big Sisters, 1998 - 2000

Board of Directors

University of Arizona Supreme Court, 1996 - 1997

Chief Justice

Pro Bono Activities:

Wills for Heroes, 2005 - 2007

Meet a Lawyer, 1998 - 2003

VLP Referral Panel, 1998 - Present

Languages:

Hindi