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Michael T. Ryan has been an attorney with the firm since 1982. Since then, he has successfully defended a wide range of civil cases, including professional liability, legal malpractice, construction claims, civil rights, wrongful death, governmental liability, products liability, and railroad liability. Mike has defended a number of class action lawsuits, has tried over twenty cases to verdict in state and federal court and has participated in various forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mock jury trials, mediation and arbitration. He has also handled numerous appeals to the Connecticut Supreme Court and the Connecticut Appellate Court.
Mike is currently the Chairman of the Board for the Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association and served as its President for the 2007-2008 term. He is a member of the Council of Bar Presidents of the Connecticut Bar Association and has recently been elected as a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel. Mike has frequently lectured at seminars on topics pertaining to civil practice and procedure and recently served as the Chairman of the Seminar and Events Committee of the Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association. |
| Professional Affiliations |
• Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association (Chairman of the Board, 2008) (President, 2007-2008)
• Member, Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (2008- )
• Executive Board, Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association (2001-present)
• Defense Research Institute
• Professional Liability Underwriting Society
• American Connecticut and Fairfield County Bar Associations
• Selected for inclusion in 2010 Connecticut Super Lawyers®
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| Education |
B.A., Boston College, magna cum laude, 1979
J.D., Boston College, 1982
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| Representative Experience |
• Represented a local private high school and baseball coach in a lawsuit alleging traumatic brain injury sustained during a baseball practice. Plaintiff also sued a local hospital for medical malpractice and the manufacturer of a baseball helmet, alleging product liability. Mike obtained a defense verdict after a jury trial in Stamford Superior Court.
• Represented the owner of a local shopping center in a jury trial seeking contractual indemnification for the amount of a judgment and attorney’s fees awarded in a prior jury trial against the tenant, a national retailer. Mike obtained a defense verdict after a jury trial in Bridgeport Superior Court.
• Represented a commuter railroad company in a suit in federal court seeking damages under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act. Mike obtained a defense verdict after a jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut in New Haven.
• Successfully defended the owner of an office building in Bridgeport sued by an architectural firm claiming damage to its architectural drawings and models, business interruption and losses resulting from a lockout. The case was tried twice due to a mistrial during the first jury trial. At the second trial, the jury returned a verdict for the defendant on one count and a verdict for the plaintiff on another count, but awarded no damages.
• Successfully defended a food distributor in a product liability action alleging brain injuries, kidney damage and other serious injuries resulting from e-coli poisoning caused by the ingestion of vegetables purchased at a local grocery store.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of an attorney in a lawsuit alleging defamation and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Mike successfully defended the appeal to the Connecticut Appellate Court.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a local public high school in a suit alleging damages and injuries sustained when the plaintiff fell from bleachers at a track meet. The Court held that the claim was barred by the doctrine of municipal immunity.
• Obtained dismissal of a civil RICO action filed against an attorney in federal court.
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| Recent Reported Decisions |
Primerica v. Planning & Zoning Commission of the Town of Greenwich, 211 Conn. 85
Clark v. Bridgeport, 212 Conn. 804
Falby v. Zarembski, 221 Conn. 14
Slekis v. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, 56 F. Supp.2d 202
Daddona v.Gaudio, 156 F. Supp.2d 153
McManus v. Sweeney, 78 Conn. App. 327 |
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