Patron Law Firms
Richard Meehan, Jr.
| Richard Meehan, Jr. | |
| Meehan, Meehan & Gavin, LLP | |
| Member | |
| Meehan, Meehan & Gavin, LLP | |
| Bridgeport, Connecticut | |
| 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. Rich Meehan has excelled in the practice of law in successfully representing clients in criminal and civil cases. His skill and achievements have led to him being certified as both a CRIMINAL TRIAL SPECIALIST and a CIVIL TRIAL SPECIALIST by the NATIONAL BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCACY (NBTA), becoming only the fourth lawyer in Connecticut to achieve that distinction. 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. Rich also serves as an advisor to the faculty of NBTA and is a member of the NBTA Board of Examiners. Connecticut Magazine honored him as one of the Top Fifty Super Lawyers of 2006, and as a Super Lawyer in 2007, 2008 and 2009. He has been named, recently, to the list of New England Super Lawyers. Most recently he was chosen as a Charter Fellow of the LITIGATION COUNSEL OF AMERICA, TRIAL LAWYER HONORARY SOCIETY. He has achieved the highest level of recognition by Martindale-Hubbell with an AV rating, ranking him among the most distinguished lawyers in the country.
He has successfully defended clients in many of the most highly publicized criminal cases in Connecticut. His widely recognized legal abilities have enabled Rich to obtain multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in complex medical malpractice and personal injury litigation. RIch has successfully represented numerous plaintiffs in complex dental malpractice cases. 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. A former Connecticut Supreme Court Law Clerk, Rich has made a significant contribution to the development of Connecticut case law in a number of appellate cases, having argued before the Connecticut Supreme Court and the Connecticut Appellate Court. Rich 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. Rich has been a featured speaker with a number of civic organizations and has appeared as a guest and legal commentator on Good Morning America, Catherine Crier, Live, CourtTV; The O'Reilly Factor, on Fox Cable News Network, Connecticut Newsmakers, NBC30-WVIT; Good Morning Connecticut, WTNH, as well as being a frequent guest on statewide radio talk shows, including WTIC 1080 Talk Radio, WICC, WNLK. Most recently Rich served as a frequent contributor and featured legal analyst on several programs on CourtTV now TruTV , including The Best Defense with Jami Floyd, and Courtside with Ashleigh Banfield and Jack Ford. He has also been featured as a legal analyst on CNN, NBC, as well as by the Associated Press, the New York Times, The Connecticut Law Tribune, and other print and broadcast media. His editorial comments have been featured in the Connecticut Post, The State's Most Wanted, The Hartford Courant, The Waterbury Republican American, and most recently he has become a weekly editorial contributor to the Norwich Bulletin. Mr. Meehan recently authored a chapter in a treatise entitled, The Biggest Legal Mistakes Physicians Make, and How to Avoid Them, SEAK Publishing, 2005. He has authored chapters on RICO (Racketeering), Conspiracy and Insanity and the Death Penalty, in a legal anthology recently published by the University of Tennessee entitled, The American Encyclopedia of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. He is a Past President of the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, the youngest member elected to this prestigious position. He has lectured frequently to the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, The People's Law School, Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, and Fairfield County Detectives School, and held an appointment as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Legal Studies Program at Sacred Heart University. Mr. Meehan has served on the faculty of Quinnipiac Law School as an Adjunct Professor where he taught 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 City Council, a position second in authority only to the Mayor. Rich 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. He 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 the Chief Court Administrator appointed him as a Fact Finder and Arbitrator for the Superior Court. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the Connecticut Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers, and the Federal Circuit Bar 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 Pre-Eminent Lawyers. Rich has been active in numerous civic organizations, including having served as President of the Advisory Board for Catholic Family Services. For his work on that charity, Mr. Meehan has been recognized as the Catholic Charities Volunteer of the Year and as a recipient of the Community Builder's Award from the United Way. He has served as a member of the Parish Council for St. Lawrence Church in Shelton. He has also served as a coach and officer for Bridgeport's North End Little League, Shelton Little League, and Shelton Flag Football League. The father of five sons, Mr. Meehan has coached youth athletics at many levels, including Little League and Babe Ruth baseball, varsity and junior varsity boys' and girls' basketball, and as a volunteer assistant boys' basketball coach at Notre Dame High School of Fairfield, where he now serves as a member of the school's advisory board. An avid sportsman, Mr. Meehan is an accomplished flyfisherman, boater and motorcycle enthusiast. He is married to the former Kathy Lynn Mucci and is the proud grandfather of eight. |
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