Attorneys Faulkner, Boyce and Graves named in The Best Lawyers in America

For over a decade, Dale Faulkner and Tom Boyce have been recognized each year by their peers as civil trial specialists for inclusion in the national treatise The Best Lawyers in America. The 2010 edition is different in only one regard, it will also include the firm’s third partner Shelley Graves who has been likewise selected for inclusion for the field of personal injury litigation.

2010 Supplement to Faulkner and Graves' Connecticut Trial Evidence Notebook Released

Connecticut Trial Evidence Notebook by Dale Faulkner and Shelley Graves continues to draw raves from trial lawyers throughout Connecticut. The book, a publication of Lexis-Nexis, is updated each year with a supplement.

2009 Charitable Contributions

The firm takes pride in giving back to their community. In addition to its annual participation in the holiday Adopt-a-Family program sponsored by the New London Neighborhood Alliance, the firm has made donations to: the New London Firefighters Local 1522, the Groton Town Police Benevolent Association, Hospice of SE CT, the United Way Campaign, Backus Foundation/Breast Cancer Survivors Fund, the Clark Lane Middle School, St. David's Episcopal Church, St. Therese Church, CT River Watershed Council, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, American Cancer Society, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the CT Bar Foundation.

Tire Falls Off = $386,500.00

Debra Cutolo (age 50) was driving her Dodge Ram pick-up truck and as she was turning into the Groton Post Office parking lot, the front driver's side wheel became dislodged causing Debra to violently lunge forward. her truck had just been serviced by Holmgren Subaru four days before. Debra went to the Emergency Room that day with complaints of right arm pain.

Following the accident, Debra continued to have complaints of right arm pain and eventually had to have two arthroscopic surgeries performed on her right shoulder. This was very troublesome to her because she worked as a barber at the naval submarine base and needed her right arm to perform the duties of her employment. Following the surgeries she was unable to return to her job.

At trial, Holmgren Subaru admitted it was responsible for the accident, however it denied it was responsible for the need for Debra to have surgery. The defendant argued Debra’s right shoulder pain and need for surgery was due to her work as a barber over the past 30 years and the repetitive use of her right arm. The jury rejected his argument and on May 13, 2009, after deliberating four hours, returned a verdict in favor of Debra Cutolo for a total of $386,500.00. This award included $136,500.00 for her lost wages and medical bills, and $250,000.00 for her pain and suffering. Prior to trial, Holmgren Subaru's attorney offered $50,000.00 to settle her case. This case was tried by Attorneys Burgarella and Faulkner.

Putrid Beer = Big Settlement

A woman who was served a beer at a local restaurant became violently ill. It quickly became apparent that the tap had not been purged of the poisonous cleaning agent. Parts of her larynx, esophagus and stomach were burned. Even though she made a good recovery, Attorney Faulkner was able to settle her case at mediation for a sum in the high six figures. (A confidentiality agreement prevents us from providing further details.)

Dog Bite Award for Permanent Scarring to Five Year-Old Girl

The minor child was attacked by a golden retriever suffering bites to her right elbow, right forearm and right wrist. The wounds healed with visible scarring, including a hypertrophic scar, near the young girl’s elbow. A plastic surgeon opined that while a revision surgery might soften the appearance of the scarring, the scars would remain visible and that there was even a risk that the scars would be worsened by the surgery. Additionally, the little girl was now fearful around dogs and she was self-conscious of her scars especially when her classmates asked or teased her about them. Attorney Graves further argued that it was probable that the young girl’s upset about the appearance of these scars would increase as she entered into adolescence and young adulthood. The arbitrator awarded $67,760.05.

Pharmacy Wrongly Gives Toddler Prozac

When a 2 1/2 year old developed hives his doctor prescribed Prelone to reduce the itch and rash. The child's Mom presented the prescription to a pharmacy in Lisbon. Shortly after receiving this first dose, the boy became feverish, sluggish, and vomited violently. This led to the discovery that the drug in the bottle was Prozac, not Prelone. The boy developed serantonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening adverse drug reaction. This lawsuit was settled for a six figure sum. (A confidentiality agreement prevents us from providing further details.)

Insulation Installer Fall Results in $550,000.00 Settlement

Mr. W installed insulation in new homes, he collected nearly $550,000.00, in a settlement after falling off a faulty work platform at a construction site. Mr. W, who immigrated from Poland, was sent to a house being built in Newtown by Newtown Properties to install insulation in the ceiling. As he stood on a platform on the second floor, the platform collapsed and he fell about nine feet down to the first floor. His shoulder and wrist were seriously injured and both required surgery. The defendant denied any knowledge or control over who built the platform and whether it was defective.

Burgarella Named to Hall of Fame

Kara Burgarella was recently inducted into the Guilford High School Hall of Fame in ceremonies held at The Woodwinds in Branford. Kara, whose maiden name, was Crismale, starred in basketball there. Following Guilford, she starred at Colgate, a Division One school.

$222,000.00 Award for Accident Related Ulcers

Attorney Graves secured an award at arbitration for over $222,000.00 for a client who developed ulcers from the anti-inflammatory medications prescribed as a result of a car accident. The client was rear-ended in 2003 and suffered severe strains to her neck and back as well as the onset of post-traumatic headache. For these injuries, she was properly prescribed by her doctors various anti-inflammatory medications. Her chronic use of these medications caused her to develop several ulcers approximately 18 months after the accident. The ulcers required surgical repair. Recoveries were made from both the at fault driver’s automobile insurance carrier as well as the client’s underinsured motorist policy.

Electrical Cord Causes Tangle at Hair Salon

The plaintiff was a 75 year-old woman attending her regularly scheduled standing appointment at her local franchise hair salon. As she stood up from the stylist's chair, her feet became entangled in electrical cords running in the area of the chair and counter causing her to violently fall to the floor slamming her right shoulder on her way down. These cords were a hazard waiting to happen at this salon.

The plaintiff was rushed to the emergency room and diagnosed with a dislocated right shoulder. Later when she followed with an orthopedic specialist, she was diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear requiring surgical repair. The plaintiff, although older and retired, was very active in her local community and an avid quilter. She made incredible quilts and Santa dolls which she donated to homeless children's shelters and our Troops in Iraq during the holiday season. After her accident, it was difficult and painful for her to quilt and knit.

With the work of Attorney Kara M. Burgarella, her case settled for $212,500.00

$605,000 Settlement for TBI/PTSD Claim

A federal lawsuit brought by Attorney Graves on behalf of a truck driver resulted in a total settlement of the claim in the amount of $605,000.00. Our client was operating a flatbed truck in the course of his employment when an elderly woman ran a stop sign causing the two vehicles to collide. The elderly woman was killed in the accident and our client suffered a mild traumatic brain injury and a post traumatic stress disorder. The brain injury caused the plaintiff to have difficulty regulating his emotions as well as a tremor in one of his arms. Recoveries were made from both the at fault driver’s automobile insurance carrier as well as the underinsured motorist policy of the plaintiff’s employer.

Attorney: Evidence Shows Buck Killed Wife
August 29, 2006, The Day, Joe Wojtas

An attorney for the estate of Leslie Buck has revealed in court documents that police and New London State’s Attorney’s Office have shown her evidence that supports the estate’s contention that the 57 year old school teacher was killed by her husband, Charles in 2002. Attorney Shelley L. Graves has written that evidence shows Leslie Buck was struck on the forehead by an object the day she died and that the resulting head injuries were not enough to kill her.

Drugstore Error Leads to $350,000 Jury Verdict

A jury in Putnam awarded toddler Madeleine Mirante and her parents $350,000.00 as a result of a drugstore’s error in delivering Prozac to her instead of Prilosec. The jury of four women and two men awarded Madeleine who was one year old at the time of her injury $250,000.00 and $50,000.00 to each of her parents, Renee and Chris Mirante, for their emotional distress. The case was tried by Dale Faulkner and Kara Burgarella.

Notorious Specyalski Case concludes

The civil case of Heather Specyalski v. Neil Esposito pending on the Complex Litigation Docket in Waterbury concluded by way of a confidential agreement between the parties. The case involved a single car high speed collision on Route 9 in Cromwell as a result of which Neil Esposito was killed and Heather Specyalski suffered numerous life threatening injuries. The case gained notoriety when the Connecticut State Police reversed their original finding that Esposito was the driver and charged Specyalski with vehicular manslaughter. A lengthy six week criminal trial ensued. Represented by respected criminal defense attorney Jeremiah Donovan, and her civil counsel Shelley Graves, Ms. Specyalski was acquitted of all charges.

Pfizer Sued Over Accident, Contract Worker Injured when Acid Bottle Exploded
January 29, 2005, The Day, Anthony Cronin

A Waterford man has filed suit against Pfizer, Inc., alleging that the pharmaceutical maker was negligent and caused him serious injuries when a bottle of acid exploded near his work area. George J. Boras, a 25 year old Quaker Hill resident, filed suit against Pfizer in New London Superior court earlier this month. . . . . Attorney Dale P. Faulkner of the New London law firm of Faulkner and Boyce said Friday that Boras was injured Nov. 7, 2003 while working as a contracted laboratory technician at Pfizer’s sprawling research campus in Groton. According to the lawsuit, Boras was working in a chemical processing room when a capped, one-liter bottle of corrosive formic acid exploded on a nearby cart. Since publication of this article, the lawsuit was resolved by attorneys Faulkner and Graves via a confidential settlement agreement.

Jury awards $3.2 million dollars to car crash victim

Faulkner and Crismale obtained a $3.2 million dollar jury verdict for car crash victim Timothy Waters and his wife Judy. Mr. Waters, a 45 year old truck driver was hit head-on while driving on Route 32 in Norwich. He suffered multiple fractures in his hips and legs resulting in long term hospitalization, surgeries, severe disability and an impairment of his earning abibility. Waters, et al v. Antonino, et al.

 

Disclaimer

We have successfully represented many clients. Of course, your case will be decided on its own facts and we cannot imply that our previous success will result in us winning your case.