Doug Melcher is a licensed attorney who has more than fifteen years of experience in the private practice of law. He focuses his practice on advising and representing individuals, small businesses, and non-profits in matters involving civil litigation in Washington, DC.
Doug advises and represents clients in a wide range of matters, including disputes concerning business relationships, real estate, and commercial transactions involving individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies, for-profit and non-profit corporations, and citizens associations. He represents clients in trial court proceedings, appeals, administrative hearings, mediation, and arbitration.
Doug has written extensively about the laws of the District of Columbia, including for his blog, currently known as D.C. Law Blog. He is also the author of Tort Claims and Defenses in the District of Columbia, which is a handbook for lawyers who need detailed technical information about the laws of the District of Columbia applicable to civil claims for assault, battery, false imprisonment / false arrest, conversion, trespass to chattel, trespass to realty, negligence (including employer negligence, legal malpractice, medical malpractice, motor vehicle negligence, premises liability, and other cases), strict liability for defective products, defamation (libel and slander), injurious falsehood, invasion of privacy, fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, malicious prosecution, abuse of process, spoliation of evidence, loss of consortium, and other torts as well as a wide range of defenses.
Doug earned his law degree, with high honors, from The George Washington University Law School where he served as a member and editor of The George Washington Law Review. Prior to attending law school, he earned a bachelor of science degree from Syracuse University, and a master of science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Doug is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and, as such, is authorized to represent individuals and entities in proceedings before the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and agencies of the District of Columbia such as the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings. He is also authorized to represent individuals and entities in various federal courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Doug also has been admitted pro hac vice to litigate individual cases in courts throughout the country.
Doug is proficient in Spanish and has lived in Guatemala and Peru. He currently reside in the District of Columbia.
Practice areas
Handling all phases of civil litigation, administrative litigation, and arbitration, including pre-litigation demands and negotiations, pleadings, motions, discovery, mediation, settlement, trial preparation, trial, appeal, and post-judgment relief.
Languages spoken
English, Spanish
Douglas C. Melcher, Attorney-at-Law
5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 440
Washington, DC, 20015
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
DC | Good Standing | 2000 | 02/09/2021 |
Legal answers | 0 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Client Champion Award | Martindale-Hubbell | 2021 |
Peer Reviewed | Martindale-Hubbell | 2017 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
District of Columbia Bar | Member | N/A |
Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. | Member | N/A |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Blog | D.C. Law Blog (more than one-hundred articles from 2011 to present) | 2021 |
Book | Tort Claims and Defenses in the District of Columbia | 2014 |
Law Journal | Article / CommLaw Conspectus | 2000 |
Law Journal | Note / The George Washington Law Review | 1998 |
Law Journal | Case Note / The George Washington Law Review | 1998 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
The George Washington University Law School | JD - Juris Doctor | 1999 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MS - Master of Science | 1996 |
Syracuse University | BS - Bachelor of Science | 1993 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Business Loan Dispute Case | Obtained Dismissal With Prejudice for Defendants |
Consumer Protection Cases (more than two dozen) | Obtained Settlements for Plaintiffs |
Jail Death Case | Obtained Seven-Figure Settlement for Plaintiff |
Professional Malpractice Case | Obtained Confidential Settlement for Plaintiff |
Slip-and-Fall Case | Obtained Confidential Settlement for Plaintiff |
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Clifford Cohen, Litigation Attorney on Oct 12, 2021
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer. My estate planning client had a need for an experienced litigator. Doug and I worked together over a two year period. He really did a great job and he achieved a positive result for my client who was very happy with his work. I highly recommend him to anyone with a general litigation need.
Ryan Posey, Litigation Attorney on Jul 13, 2018
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Doug is a brilliant thinker, writer, and lawyer. I have had the opportunity to work with him, and he has a level-headed and pragmatic approach, combined with excellence in his work. I highly recommend Doug.
Clifford Cohen, Litigation Attorney on Oct 12, 2021
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer. My estate planning client had a need for an experienced litigator. Doug and I worked together over a two year period. He really did a great job and he achieved a positive result for my client who was very happy with his work. I highly recommend him to anyone with a general litigation need.
Ryan Posey, Litigation Attorney on Jul 13, 2018
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Doug is a brilliant thinker, writer, and lawyer. I have had the opportunity to work with him, and he has a level-headed and pragmatic approach, combined with excellence in his work. I highly recommend Doug.
Glenn Engelmann, Appeals Attorney on Jul 6, 2017
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer. I have worked with Doug in connection with 2 separate matters. I have found him to extremely knowledgeable with strong legal instincts. Doug works incredibly hard on behalf of his clients and is easy to work with. He is a highly skilled advocate.
Jacob Lebowitz, Litigation Attorney on Jun 28, 2017
Relationship: Worked together on matter
A talented lawyer who deeply cares about his clients and getting them the best possible result.
Peter Anderson, Litigation Attorney on Mar 9, 2017
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Doug is an extremely intelligent attorney who will find arguments others won't. He also literally wrote the book on tort claims and damages in the District of Columbia. I would recommend his services to anyone looking for a competent attorney for a litigation matter in D.C. and surrounding jurisdictions.