Our Blog
Explore our blog for legal resources, insightful articles, personal reflections, and timely information if you find yourself in need of legal counsel.Surviving Drunk Driving Checkpoints in Connecticut
When a Connecticut police officer motions you into a weekend checkpoint queue, try not to panic. It's understandable why you might become anxious even if you haven't had a drop of alcohol. Police officers get into your personal space. They sniff you for the scent of...
How Will a Felony Conviction Affect the Rest of My Life?
If a Connecticut police officer arrests you for a felony crime, remember these two critical pieces of advice: Remember your right to remain silent. Call a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. There’s a simple reason for invoking your right to remain silent....
Larceny is More Complicated Than You Think
Is it possible to engage in an act of larceny without understanding that you’ve committed a crime? Connecticut’s Larceny statutes cover a variety of actions, events, and circumstances. The statutes are sometimes wordy and complicated. You might not fully understand...
What Happens When You’re Arrested For Assault?
Even if you consider yourself non-violent, there’s always a chance that someone will accuse you of an assault crime. Most importantly, when you’re arrested for assault, connecting with an experienced criminal defense attorney is the most important step you can take....
The Possible Consequences of Your First DUI/DWI Conviction
Connecticut DUI/DWI statutes are pretty straightforward. Chapter 248 §14-227 forbids drivers from operating a vehicle while under the influence of liquor or any drug or both. It's also a crime to operate a vehicle with an “...elevated blood alcohol content...” of...
What Happens When I Go to Court?
Before a judge or jury decides your future, you will make several appearances in court. Every appearance is critical because it may affect the outcome of your case. It's important to discuss your case with a criminal defense attorney before you enter the courtroom for...
Do I Really Need an Attorney if I’m Arrested for A Drug Crime?
When you’re arrested for a drug crime, you need immediate assistance from a criminal defense attorney. The personal costs can be high when you try to work out your criminal charges on your own. An experienced criminal lawyer knows what to expect and can help you...
Five Things You Need to Know If You’re Charged With a Felony
When a police officer decides that you’ve committed a felony, your arrest is just the beginning. Once you’re fingerprinted, photographed, and processed into the system, your case takes on a life of its own. After your arraignment, bail consideration, and other...
Advocacy Matters
Advocacy Matters Law is so complex that many lawyers have gravitated to specific niches. For example, lawyers who structure large company mergers and acquisitions do not appear in family court to argue child support cases. The law in each, and the expectations of...
Groundhog Day – Failed Drug Policies
We have seen how this Movie Ends Prohibition and the long fought war on drugs are failures. The policies are failures under any measure, but the federal government, having learned nothing, is doubling down, looking to charge drug dealers under federal criminal...
308a Benefits – Delaying the Inevitable
After PPD Benefits - 308a Benefits Can Help As I wrote in my post “PPD Benefits in Workers’ Compensation Claims”, once you are assigned your PPD rating the clock is running on your benefits. The realization that time is running out is truly frightening. An experienced...
Public Schools Must Protect our Children . . . Up to a Point
Schools Must Protect Your Kids. . . Up to a Point Accountability is preached in nearly every classroom from the time your little one waddles off the bus to the day they hopefully graduate. While public schools might strictly apply this concept to their students, they...
Medical Malpractice Cases can be Real Whodunits
A True Whodunit Medical malpractice cases are maddening. Discerning the responsible party can be complicated even in a "simple" medical malpractice scenario. For example, you go to a hospital for surgery. The doctor screws up in an obvious way. You are now a medical...
Past Transgressions: Can I get a Pardon or Expungement?
I got in trouble when I was younger, can I get a pardon or expungement? Yes, if you got in trouble when you were younger, Connecticut has an avenue to get a pardon or expungement. Connecticut provides three ways to help its residents move past their prior...
PPD Benefits in Workers’ Compensation Claims
What are PPD Benefits? The Clock is Ticking. PPD benefits are the workers' compensation benefits you receive when your work-related injury reaches Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI). MMI is reached around the one year mark from the date of injury or date of...
If You are a Suspect – Don’t Talk to Police
Don't Talk to Police "Don't talk to police" is a phrase that I repeat to family, friends, clients, even non-criminal clients. I have admonished people before to heed this advice. Previously, I provided a helpful video from Law School Professor James Duane. Prof. Duane...
Young Drivers, Harsh Penalties
Young Drivers, Harsh Penalties As a general rule young drivers are bad drivers. This makes sense. The more we practice something the better we get. Young drivers lack the driving hours to be proficient. They are also young, which means they make poor choices due to...
The “Lost” Criminal Jury Trial – Don’t Fall for the Nostalgia
Criminal Jury Trials are More Scarce About once a year a major news organization runs a story lamenting the infrequency of criminal jury trials. Don't fall for the nostalgia. Three quotes from the August 7, 2016 New York Times: [The lack of criminal jury trials is] a...
What happens after you file a personal injury lawsuit?
What Happens After You File a Personal Injury Lawsuit? A lot happens between filing a personal injury lawsuit and your trial date. Below is a brief and general overview. A Complaint Begins a Personal Injury Lawsuit Complaint - A complaint begins a lawsuit. It notifies...
Do Workers’ Compensation Claims go to Trial?
Workers' Compensation Claims Go to Trial, but Not the Way You Think Worker’s compensation claims go to trial, but not in the traditional sense. A trial, in a personal injury lawsuit, generally resolves all outstanding issues. If the plaintiff wins then they are...
Marijuana is Legal in Connecticut, Right?
Marijuana is Legal in Connecticut, Right? No. No it is not. Marijuana is not legal in Connecticut. While much of the country has moved towards what is inevitable - the legalization of marijuana - Connecticut is taking half-measures. It is not legal, but for small...
How Much Does a Personal Injury Attorney Cost?
The "No Fee if We Lose" Line Isn't Unique - That Policy is Pretty Universal Common question, perhaps the most common for me - what does a personal injury attorney cost? The answer is nothing. TV/Billboard lawyers claiming they don't get paid unless you get paid are...
What is a repetitive work injury?
Repetition makes perfect and also sometimes injured. Repetitive work injuries can sometimes sneak up on you. Think about a baseball player who tears his UCL (elbow) ligament. It happened because after thousands of throws, repeating the same motion over and over again,...
The police report in my criminal case is inaccurate – what can I do?
The police report in my criminal case is inaccurate – what can I do? Pray. You can pray. Unless the error in the inaccurate report is obvious or there is evidence that the events could not have unfolded in the manner described, the report will stand. If you end up at...
How to Not Get Locked Out of the Legal Process
When do I have to file a lawsuit for a personal injury case? Personal injury lawsuits must be filed on time or you risk being locked out of the legal process. Generally speaking, you have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. This number can change...
Can I settle my Workers’ Compensation Case?
Can I settle my Workers’ Compensation Case? You can settle some workers' compensation cases, but not the way you might imagine. Workers’ compensation claims are not like a personal injury case. There is no judge or jury at the end assigning a final value to the case....
What is a Plea Bargain?
Plea Bargain a/k/a Let's Make a Deal? A plea bargain is the most common way a criminal case is resolved and is, simply put, a form of risk management. A plea bargain is usually* an agreement to plead guilty, or nolo contendre, or under the Alford doctrine, to a crime...
I was in a Car Accident, do I need a Lawyer?
Do you need a car accident attorney? My answer is maybe you need an auto accident lawyer. It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish and whether or not you have been harmed. If you are not injured, have not sought medical treatment, feel fine, and the...
Occupational Disease and Workers’ Compensation
How dirty is your workplace? When we think of workers’ compensation injuries it is easy to imagine that all the injuries are sudden and traumatic, e.g. I was on a construction site and the scaffolding collapsed, or I tried to lift a 50 pound bag and my back went out....
I am on the pre-trial docket/judicial pre-trial docket, what does that mean?
Like everyone else, a judge has a boss and is evaluated partially based how they handle their docket. “The docket” simply means the full list of cases that the judge has to consider. A judge has great leeway in how they structure the flow of cases in their courthouse,...