“Ryan, I have jury duty coming up, what will the lawyers ask me?” says a friend at a summer picnic. We just finished 3 days of jury selection on a food safety case in Hartford. The topic of jury selection is at the front of my mind. So here you go. In Connecticut we have … Read more
We’re often asked: “How do I calculate pain and suffering?” Injured persons in Connecticut are able to recover for pain and suffering. These damages are in addition to “economic damages” things like medical bills and lost wages. The answer is perhaps unsatisfactory to folks who like certainty. There is no formula to enable a jury … Read more
Summer in New England always ends with a thunderstorm. Always. This past weekend was hot. Walking between Hartford courts on Friday – I could have sworn it was the hottest day of the year. On Sunday morning the skies turned grey, the wind picked up, the rain was pouring, and there was thunder. As quickly … Read more
Juggling my schedule is difficult. In this short week, I have a panel meeting, 3 pretrials, a status conference, an evidentiary hearing, multiple client meetings, and we start jury selection. There’s a telephone conference with my accountant. And another one with a vendor. Those are just my professional obligations. On the personal side there is … Read more
I’ve been there. Running along a sidewalk on a nice fall morning. I’m enjoying the crisp weather. Looking at what is ahead of me. And suddenly I’m on the ground. Fortunately, aside from a scrape I’m okay. I look back to see what caused my fall and I notice the sidewalk is uneven. I’m lucky. … Read more
It’s a beautiful summer day. I’m on a walk. The weather is perfect. As I make my way down by the river, I’m listening to an audio book. I’m learning from Gerry Spence about how to make a closing argument. Spence is one of the greatest trial lawyers ever. He teaches a college in Wyoming … Read more
I’ve seen a lot of bad leases in my career. Often placing unnecessary burdens on landlords. There’s one in particular that is sold at a big box store that I see a lot. Its terms add months onto an already long eviction process. So below I am pasting a free Connecticut residential lease. It is … Read more
I am often asked “Do I have a case?” The answer requires understanding the law, investigating the claim, and listening to the client. Every situation is different. Only an experienced Connecticut injury attorney can answer this question. I always ask myself two questions: (1) what do I have to prove? and (2) can I prove … Read more
Good morning. It is September 1st. September is the most glorious time in Connecticut. I used to despise September as it meant going back to school. I loved and still love the freedom of summer. As an adult, I welcome the richness of September. There’s no school to go back to. The weather is warm … Read more
Bed Bugs are nasty. Spending a night in a hotel room should not result in welts, the destruction of your furniture at home, and a weeks long fumigation process. Shouldn’t happen. But bed bugs can happen even at a 5 star hotel that is very clean. A traveler unknowingly brings them into the hotel in … Read more