Richard T. Meehan, Jr

Richard T. Meehan, Jr.

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Practice Areas:

  • Criminal and Civil Litigation
  • Appellate Work
  • Family Law

Biography

Richard T. Meehan, Jr. has established himself as one of the top trial attorneys in the State of Connecticut since his admission to the Bar in 1974. Richard T. Meehan, Jr. has excelled in the practice of law in successfully representing clients in criminal and civil cases. His skill and achievements have led to Richard T. Meehan, Jr. being certified as a CRIMINAL TRIAL SPECIALIST by the NATIONAL BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCACY (NBTA).

Board certification is given only after a thorough screening of the credentials and trial abilities of an applicant, including: documentation of their experience, judicial and peer references, and after successful completion of a rigorous examination. Possessing the NBTA certificate means that the lawyer has been held to a higher standard of professional and personal conduct. NBTA lawyers maintain active trial practices and are required to submit a disclosure of misconduct annually, and meet the criteria for recertification every five years. Mr. Meehan, Jr. has successfully defended clients in many of the most highly publicized criminal cases in Connecticut. His widely recognized legal abilities have enabled Richard T. Meehan, Jr. to obtain multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in complex medical and dental malpractice and personal injury litigation. His success in personal injury cases has been featured in professional periodicals, as well as statewide print and broadcast media. Mr. Meehan's 2.6 million-dollar verdict against a surgeon, in 1995, is reputed to be one of the largest awards against a single physician in Connecticut to date. That case has been featured in the national media, and was the subject of an investigative series on Channel 3, Eyewitness News. His recent 1.2 million-dollar settlement for a machine operator who suffered a traumatic amputation is reported to be the largest tort recovery against an employer despite the limitations of Workers Compensation. Mr. Meehan has made a significant contribution to the development of Connecticut caselaw in a number of appellate cases, having argued before the Connecticut Supreme Court and the Connecticut Appellate Court on twenty-five appeals. Mr. Meehan also served as a consultant to the Rules Committee of the Superior Court in the drafting of the Rules of Practice in Criminal Cases first published in 1976.

He is a Past President of the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, the youngest member then elected to this prestigious position. He has lectured frequently to the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association-People's Law School, Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, and Fairfield County Detectives School, and has held appointments as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Legal Studies Program at Sacred Heart University, and as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Quinnipiac College School of Law, where he teaches an advanced criminal trial practice course. In addition, he has served as an Alderman for the City of Bridgeport from 1974-1979 and during that time was twice elected President of the Bridgeport Common Council, a position second in authority to only the Mayor.

Richard T. Meehan, Jr. is admitted to practice in the State of Connecticut as well as the United Stated District Court for the District of Connecticut, Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Meehan has served as a volunteer Special Master in the Superior Court, conducting settlement conferences in personal injury cases, as well as having served on numerous panels as an arbitrator. In 1999 Mr. Meehan was appointed as a Fact Finder and Arbitrator for the Superior Court by the Chief Court Administrator. Mr. Meehan is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, and the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Mr. Meehan began his legal career as a law clerk to Justice Herbert MacDonald of the Connecticut Supreme Court. A 1974 honors graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law, Mr. Meehan served as Research and Special Projects Editor of the Connecticut Law Review, and was the recipient of awards for excellence in the fields of Torts, Contracts and Criminal Procedure.

Mr. Meehan has been recognized in Who's Who in American Law; Who's Who in Connecticut, Who's Who in Society; Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America and the Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers. Mr. Meehan has served as a volunteer to numerous organizations throughout Fairfield County, most recently as President of the Advisory Board for Catholic Family Services. In addition, the father of five sons, he has been active in community youth organizations for the past twenty-five years. He has served as an officer and coach for the Shelton Youth Flag Football League and as assistant coach for the Boy's Varsity Basketball Team for Notre Dame High School of Fairfield.

Education

  • University of Connecticut School of Law, Hartford, Connecticut
    • J.D. – 1974
    • Honors: With Honors
    • Law Review: University of Connecticut Law Review, Board of Editors, Research and Special Projects Editor, 1973 – 1974
  • University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana
    • B.A. – 1970

Bar Admissions

  • Connecticut, 1974
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1975
  • U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 1975
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1980

Professional Associations

  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Member, 2014
  • American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, 2014
  • Bridgeport Bar Association
  • Connecticut Bar Association, Member
  • Connecticut Bar Association, Federal Judiciary Committee, Member
  • Connecticut Bar Association, Human Trafficking Committee, Chairman
  • Connecticut Bar Association, Lawyer to Lawyer Dispute Resolution Committee, Member
  • Connecticut Bar Association, Media and the Law Committee, Member
  • Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Member
  • Connecticut Judicial Review Council, Alternate Member, 2018 to Present
  • Connecticut Judicial Review Council, Chairman, 2016 to 2018
  • Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, Member
  • Fairfield County Bar Association
  • Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, Criminal Law Section, Chairman, 1981 - 1982, 1984 - 1985
  • Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, Executive Committee, 1982, 1987 - 1990
  • Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, President, 1986 to 1987
  • Greater Bridgeport Bar Association Grievance Task Force, 1996 to 1997
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Connecticut State Chairman
  • Motorcycle Injury Trial Lawyers Association
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
  • National Board of Trial Advocacy, Advisory Board
  • Trial Law Institute & Member, Diversity Law Institute, Member

Current Employment Position

  • Managing Partner

Past Positions

  • Hon. Herbert S. MacDonald, Justice, Connecticut Supreme Court, Clerk, 1974 to 1975
  • Bridgeport Airport Commission, Commissioner, 1977 to 1979

Honors

  • Lifetime achievement Award by the Conn Law Tribune
  • AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
  • 10 Best Attorneys, American Institute of Personal Injury Lawyers
  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
  • Fellow, American College of Board Certified Lawyers
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Connecticut, The National Trial Lawyers
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Lifetime Achievement Award, The National Trial Lawyers
  • Excellence in Medical Malpractice Award, Lawyers of Distinction
  • Top Ten Criminal Defense Attorneys, Nationally Ranked, National Academy of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • AVVO Rating 10/10
  • Recipient, United Way Community Builders Award
  • Catholic Charities Volunteer of the Year Award
  • Super Lawyers, Connecticut Magazine
  • Top Fifty Lawyers, 2006, 2012, 2013
  • New England Super Lawyers
  • American Jurisprudence Award for Torts, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company
  • American Jurisprudence Award in Advanced Criminal Procedure, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company
  • American Jurisprudence Award, Contracts, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company
  • AVVO Client Satisfaction Award
  • Ten Best, Client Satisfaction Award, American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
  • Bar Registry of Pre-Eminent Lawyers
  • Who’s Who in American Law
  • Who’s Who in Society
  • Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders in America
  • Who’s Who in Connecticut
  • Who’s Who in the East

Classes & Seminars

  • Fact Finder and Arbitrator, Connecticut Superior Court, 1999 to Present
  • Adjunct Professor of Law, Criminal Trial Practice, Quinnipiac University, School of Law, Hamden, Connecticut, 1997 to 2000
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, Paralegal Studies Program, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut, 1976 to 1979
  • Lecturer, Ethics for the Criminal Practitioner; how to keep from getting your ticket punched, Connecticut Trial Lawyer’s Association, 2008 to 2008
  • Lecturer, Law and the Media, Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists, 2005 to 2006
  • Lecturer, Criminal Practice–The Rules Have Changed, Greater Bridgeport Bar Association Seminar, 12/11/1995 to 12/11/1995
  • Lecturer, An Alphabet Soup Guide to the G.A., Greater Bridgeport Bar Association Seminar, 01/31/1994 to 01/31/1994
  • Lecturer, Pretrial Diversion Programs and Alternative Dispositions in Criminal Cases, Greater Bridgeport Bar Association Seminar, 1989 to 1989
  • Lecturer, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association – People’s Law School, Fairfield University, 1988 to Present
  • Lecturer, Criminal Law, Fairfield County Detective School, 1988 to 1989
  • Criminal Procedure Rules Changes, Greater Bridgeport Bar Association News Brief, 1995 to 1995
  • Opinion Columnist, “Another View”, Norwich Bulletin, 2007 to Present
  • Columnist, “Due Process” com, 2009 to Present

Representative Cases

  • State v. Damato-Kushel, CT. S. Ct., 2017
  • McBurney v. Paquin, SC 18345 (CT. S. Ct.), 2011
  • State v. Jennings, 101 Conn. App. 810, 2007
  • Efthimiou v. Smith, 268 Conn. 499, 2004
  • State v. Hall, 82 Conn. App. 435, 2004
  • State v. Orhan, 52 Conn. App. 231, 1999
  • State v. Vega, 48 Conn. App. 178, 1998
  • State v. Smith, 46 Conn. App., 1997
  • Muller v. Muller, 43 Conn. App. 327, 1996
  • State v. Miller, 34 Conn. App. 258, 1994
  • State v. Rogers, 18 Conn. App. 104, 1989
  • State v. Boucino, 199 Conn. 207, 1986
  • State v. Cardona, 6 Conn. App. 124, 1986
  • State v. Sharpe, 195 Conn. 651, 1985
  • State v. Thompson, 5 Conn. App. 157, 1985
  • State v. Maiocco, 5 Conn. App. 347, 1985
  • State v. Cassidy, 3 Conn. App. 374, 1985
  • State v. West, 192 Conn. 488, 1984
  • State v. Falby, 187 Conn. 6, 1982
  • State v. Graham, 186 Conn. 437, 1982
  • State v. Kish, 186 Conn. 757, 1982
  • State v. Conger, 183 Conn. 386, 1981
  • State v. Gaynor, 182 Conn. 501, 1980
  • State v. Cosgrove, 181 Conn. 562, 1980
  • Norwalk Vault Co. v. Mountain Grove Cemetery, 180 Conn. 680, 1980
  • Liptak v. State, 176 Conn. 320, 1978
  • Sanchione v. Sanchione, 173 Conn. 397, 1977
  • State v. Huot, 170 Conn. 463, 1976

Pro-Bono Activities

  • Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
  • City of Bridgeport, Board of Aldermen, 1975 to 1979
  • Bridgeport Common Council, President, 1977 to 1979
  • Christian Tomas Meehan Hope Foundation for SIDS, Founder
  • Christian Tomas Meehan Hope Foundation for SIDS, Director
  • Advisory Board of Catholic Family Services of Fairfield County, President, 1997 to 2004
  • Notre Dame High School, Fairfield, Connecticut, Advisory Board, 1992 – 2000; 2007- 2010
  • Notre Dame High School, Fairfield, Connecticut, Assistant Boy’s Varsity Basketball Coach, 1999 to 2001
  • Junior High School Boy’s and Girl’s Basketball, St. James, Stratford, Connecticut, Coach, 1983 to 1989
  • Junior High School Boy’s Basketball, St. Lawrence School, Shelton, Connecticut, Coach, 1990 to 2006
  • Bridgeport North End Little League, 1978 to 1985
  • Shelton American Little League, 1985 to 1993
  • Shelton Flag Football League, Coach, 1986 to 2005
  • Shelton Flag Football League, Vice President, 1991 to 1995

Published Works

  • Contributor, The Biggest Legal Mistakes Physicians Make, and How to Avoid Them, SEAK Publishing, 2005
  • Contributor, The American Encyclopedia of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, University of Tennessee

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Certified Criminal Trial Specialist, National Board of Legal Specialty Certification, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014
  • Certified Civil Trial Specialist, NBTA, 2009
  • Certified Pre-Trial Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2009, 2014
  • Certified Civil Trial Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2009, 2014