Christian M. Echavarri-Junco

Christian Echavarri-Junco is a Senior Counsel in the Litigation Department.  Christian’s practice focuses on a wide range of civil and commercial litigation.  Before joining the firm, Christian worked in the areas of journalism and public relations. From 1983 to 1986, he labored as a business journalist in a Puerto Rico business-oriented newspaper, where he wrote and edited the retail/wholesale and small business sections of the newspaper. From 1986 to 1989, Christian was the Press and Communications Director for the Secretary of Commerce of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

As an attorney with O’Neill & Borges, Christian has represented clients such as Schindler Elevator Corporation, Procter & Gamble, CNA, OMC Corp., Genmar Holdings, Chris Craft, Best Foods Caribbean, Kmart Corporation, Stewart Enterprises, Bank of Boston, Ralston Purina, Phillips Medical, the Puerto Rico Tourism Development Fund, American International Insurance Co., and Falken Tire, among others, in a wide variety of cases in the Puerto Rico local, the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and before Puerto Rico administrative agencies.

Recent representative work: by Mr. Echavarri:

-Obtained early dismissal, with prejudice, via motion to dismiss in the Puerto Rico Court of First Instance in a multimillion dollar tort and product liability action against a local LPG manufacturer and its distributor involving an explosion and resulting in the destruction of a house and the death of a person.

 -Obtained a very favorable settlement in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico representing defendants in a $40.0 million tort and product liability suit against importer, distributor, home LPG delivery service and their insurers resulting from a gas explosion in a residence that killed a married couple and injured their minor child.

–Obtained a very favorable settlement representing defendants in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico in a tort and product liability claim in excess of $24.0 million dollars against manufacturer, designed and distributor of an automobile tire. Manufacturer dismissed via dispositive motion early on in case.

Obtained dismissal via summary judgment in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico in a tort, product liability and maritime law claim. Suit sought in excess of $14.0 million dollars against manufacturer and distributor of marine steering system that allegedly failed, causing accident and resulting in paraplegia of boat occupant.  Summary dismissal affirmed by First Circuit.

Represented commercial warehouse owner in law suit against manufacturer and installer of roof-sealing products and their insurers. Suit alleged defective product, faulty installation, breach of contract, breach of warranty and tort damages. Obtained early default judgment against main defendant manufacturer, affirmed by the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, paving way for a substantial settlement for the plaintiff.