by Ryan C. McKeen I’ve had two contractors at my home that have fully complied with the existing Connecticut Home Improvement Act. That’s two out of many. The truth is that the Connecticut Home Improvement Act requires full compliance by contractors with its many provisions. This past session, the legislature passed and Governor Rell has … Read more
by Ryan McKeen Yesterday, I had a conversation with a lawyer who informed me that New York does not have no fault divorce. Instead, the parties must prove fault. I was shocked to learn this. In Connecticut, divorce is the only area of practice that I can think of where the ultimate outcome is never … Read more
by Ryan McKeen Jon: “I don’t hate Kate BUT….” I hear “it was nice BUT all the time.” For example, it was a great restaurant BUT the service was horrible or it was a great movie BUT it was too long. The truth is great restaurants have great service and great movies end too soon. … Read more
by Ryan C. McKeen Counseling clients in a divorce is a little like being an airline pilot. Clients are a lot like airline passengers and the process of divorce is a lot like a flying on a commercial aircraft. For starters, passengers know their final destination……getting a divorce. I often think divorce cases follow the … Read more
by Ryan McKeen Effective July 1, 2009, the cost of litigating claims in Connecticut is going up: 1. the jury fee in civil actions, from $ 350 to $ 425; 2. the filing fee for bringing a case in the Superior Court, from (a) $ 225 to $ 300 and (b) from $ 120 to … Read more
by Ryan C. McKeen No two things are more alike than courts and airports. Walk into both and you’ll pass through security. Sometimes you’ll have to take your shoes off. Your bag will certainly pass through an X-Ray machine. People have luggage. Once inside, you’ll find yourself in a bustle of activity. People everywhere. You’ll … Read more
by Ryan McKeen Sometimes I love reading cases. In D’Amico v. Tomkalski, 1999 WL 162985 (1999), Judge Pellegrino writes a home run of an opinion. The plaintiff, a baserunner in a softball game, was struck by a ball thrown by a second baseman as he was either on the base path or moving out of the base path. … Read more
by Ryan McKeen Learning from the little things. I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting on litigation and with good reason. Other than a real estate closing, forming a company, or doing an estate plan – it’s most of what I do. A few weeks back, I was involved in a small dispute between a … Read more
by Ryan C. McKeen Alright, it’s actually $3 Charles but that’s beside the point. Two Buck Chuck is made by Charles Shaw and is exclusive to Trader Joe’s. According to Trader Joe’s website “Two Buck Chuck” has become the nation’s best selling wines. I love it. There’s always a case in my house. Unfortunately, Lou Merloni’s home … Read more
by Ryan C. McKeen This morning while making breakfast, I had a local news station on. Somewhere between making the coffee and my english muffin, I heard a newscaster say that “so and so is suing so and so for fifteen thousand dollars.” I thought to myself “probably not.” I hear this several times a year … Read more