April 2011 - CT Personal Injury Lawyer

CT Judicial Branch Should Improve Family Courts By Scheduling Family Relation Mediations

Ask anyone who has been in CT’s family courts what happens when they go to court. Almost without fail, that person will say “I waited in the hallway” for most of the day. Most of my clients have to take the day off from work to attend family court. Early arrival is usually imperative so … Read more

Make Connecticut More Business Friendly: Create A “Medium Claims Docket”

by Ryan McKeen

Over the next several days, I’m going to write a series of posts of improvements that I think should be made to Connecticut’s courts. The creation of a “medium claims” docket would help make Connecticut a more business friendly state. Sometimes I advise small businesses to use the small claims system even though their debt … Read more

Joan’s House Has Been Saved!

by Ryan McKeen

Some stories reaffirm my faith in humanity. This is one of them. Two weeks ago, I wrote about a neighbor who was about to lose her home. Once her friends found out about this, they created a website seeking donations. Through charity of Joan’s friends, neighbors, and strangers – enough money was raised to bring … Read more

2nd Circuit Rules Burlington Adminstrators Weren’t “Douchebags”

by Ryan McKeen

The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit laid the smack down on Avery Doninger today. Effectively putting an end to the largest law suit ever brought in part over eligibility for the high office of Senior Class Secretary. Four years ago, Ms. Doninger was in high school. She became upset when administrators … Read more

Only In Connecticut….

by Ryan McKeen

These are your laws. I can’t make this stuff up. Here’s how our legislature defines who is a skier: “Skier” shall include the following: …a person utilizing the passenger tramway whether or not that person is a skier, including riders on a passenger tramway operating during the nonskiing season. Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 29-201(e)(2). As ski season is … Read more

Two Outstanding Law Related Podcasts

by Ryan McKeen

I love the podcast. My two favorite podcasts are: “NPR’s Planet Money” and “This American Life”. If you’re looking for something to listen to, check out these two episodes: “A Former Crack Dealer on The Economics Of Drugs”: My favorite thing about economics is that when done well it tells the truth about human behavior. … Read more

What Would You Tell A Law School Class of 2011?

by Ryan McKeen

On May 21, 2011, I’ll again stand before a graduating law school class. This time as President of the school’s alumni association. Having sat through many a graduation speech, I will keep this one very short. Probably about 2.5 minutes. No one is there to hear me. Plus, I really like short speeches. Maybe I should tweet it and keep it to 140 characters. So I’ll ask you, my enlightened readers, what would you say to the graduating class of 2011?

Facing Foreclosure In CT? There’s Hope…

by Ryan McKeen

Federal home loan modification programs are a cruel joke. Fortunately, there’s new hope for Connecticut residents facing foreclosure:

(More below the break)

Save Joan’s House

by Ryan McKeen

Joan’s house sits at the bottom of a big hill. It’s a hill that I’ve ran up and down – hundreds of times. Sometimes, I see Joan. She may be sitting on her porch or gardening. We usually wave and say “hi” to each other. I continue up the hill. She goes on with her … Read more

Thoughts On “The Bysiewicz Bill”

by Ryan McKeen

The Courant’s Daniela Altimari is reporting that the Judiciary Committee is going to take up a bill that would alter the requirements to serve as attorney general. Last year, in Bysiewicz v. DiNardo the Connecticut Supreme Court found that a candidate for attorney general must have 10 years of practice with at least some of it being litigation and perhaps trial practice.

The Court left open the question of how much experience was necessary and just concluded that Bysiewicz who admitted to having no litigation experience did not meet the statutory requirements. Thus, the Court provided little guidance to anyone seeking the office in the future just how much experience one needed to qualify.

This inevitably leads to wasteful and stupid litigation. See Dean v. Jepsen.