Tacktill, Scott Allen

Alan has been representing personal injury claimants since 1964, and is a founding partner in the law firm of Sylvester and Maley.

Alan has been a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers since 1982. He has been recognized by his peers as one of the top personal injury trial lawyers in Vermont for the past 3+ decades. He is one of only 1880 lawyers in the United States that has been continually listed in Best Lawyers in America since its first publication in 1983. Mr. Sylvester has served as President of the Vermont Trial Lawyer's Association, and as a member of its Board of Governors.

He has represented several clients in cases of national significance.

In 1977, he took on the recreation and sports industry in the precedent setting case of Sunday v. Stratton, 136 Vt. 293 (1978). In that case, he alleged the defendant was negligent in the maintenance of one of its ski trails thereby causing the plaintiff to fall and suffer personal injuries rendering him a quadriplegic. After a several week trial, the jury awarded the plaintiff $1,500,000.00. Following the verdict defendant attempted several times to settle for less than the total award. Mr. Sylvester steadfastly refused to accept any amount less than the $1,500.000.00 award plus interest and court costs. After several motions for a new trial were denied the defendant appealed to the Supreme Court. Alan won the appeal in spite of strong opposition from the recreation and sport's industry, including the filing of an amicus curi brief by the ski industry. Only then did the defendant pay the full $1,500.000.00 plus interest and costs.

Alan has extensive experience in handling complex, serious, personal injury cases. Since the Sunday case he has been successful in recovering by jury verdict and settlement sums ranging between $1,000,000.00 and $5,400,000.00 for his clients on 20 occasions. He has also had multiple verdicts and settlements ranging from $100,000.00 to $ 750.000.00.

In a case widely reported in the national news media Alan was brought in as trial counsel shortly before trial in a lawsuit against the State of Vermont Social and Rehabilitation Services Department. He recovered $1,000,000.00 from the State for its alleged failure to properly and adequately respond to allegations of sexual abuse against two young girls by their step-father.

In another case receiving national attention, Alan successfully sued a national debt collection agency in a case wherein he alleged that his client suffered a heart attack and died because of the intimidating and bulling tactics of the collection agency.

In defective product cases involving personal injury and wrongful death caused by carbon monoxide poisoning Alan has recovered over 3 Million Dollars for his clients. And, with partner Michael Brow, recovered $1,800,000.00 against the operator of a motor vehicle, an automobile manufacturer, and a parts supplier in a lawsuit alleging personal injuries, wrongful death and defective product design.

In a Dram Shop personal injury claim against the driver of a motor vehicle and a college rathskeller, Alan recovered $4,925,000.00 when his client, a passenger in the motor vehicle, was seriously injured when the driver lost control of the vehicle and smashed into a tree.

Alan's ability to obtain full, just, and adequate compensation for his clients has continued in recent years.

In 2001 he recovered $ 4,850,000.00 for his client against the driver of a motor vehicle for wrongful death.

In 2003 Mr. Sylvester, with partners Mike Brow and Amy Sylvester obtained a jury verdict in a Wrongful Death case in the United States District Court for the State of Vermont for $2,522,193.00. It was reportedly the highest wrongful death verdict ever obtained in the State of Vermont. Alan and his partners were able to recover the entire amount of the jury verdict.

In 2004, in another wrongful death case, Alan was able to recover for his client $5,400,000.00.

In 2005, Alan and partner, Michael Brow, recovered $2,500,000.00 in a recreational boating accident case.

Mr. Sylvester has also recovered sums in excess of a million dollars for his clients in many medical malpractice cases.

Alan was admitted to the Vermont bar in 1964, the U. S. District Court for the District of Vermont in 1965, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit in 1968, and U.S. Supreme Court in 1980. He received his BA Degree from the University of Vermont in 1960, and his JD Degree from Albany Law School of Union University in 1964. He has been a member of the State of Vermont Professional Conduct Committee, and Board of Bar Examiners.