Monthly Archives: August 2015

Collins of Old Lyme Named a ‘Best Lawyer in America’ … Again

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Attorney John A. Collins III

Attorney John A. Collins III

John A. Collins, III, of Old Lyme has again been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 22nd Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® 2016. Collins is an attorney specializing in the field of Personal Injury Litigation at Suisman Shapiro Attorneys at Law in New London.

Two of Collins’s fellow attorneys at Suisman Shapiro, Matthew E. Auger and Matthew Shafner, were also named in the Best Lawyers listing — Auger in the practice area of Medical Malpractice Law and Shafner in the area of Workers’ Compensation Law.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey.  Over 55,000 leading attorneys cast more than 6.7 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas.

Best Lawyers first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in over 65 countries. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.

“Best Lawyers is the most effective tool in identifying critical legal expertise,” said CEO Steven Naifeh. “Inclusion on this list shows that an attorney is respected by his or her peers for professional success.”

Collins has successfully obtained verdicts or public settlements up to $10 million on behalf of injured victims over a 29-year law practice.  He currently serves as the Managing Partner of Suisman Shapiro.  The Connecticut Bar Foundation honored Attorney John A. Collins, III, in 2005 with his selection as a Life Fellow.  “Selection as a Fellow requires demonstrated superior legal ability and devotion to the welfare of the community, state and nation, as well as to the advancement of the legal foundation”.  (Source: Connecticut Bar Foundation)

Auger handles serious personal injury cases, including wrongful death claims, automobile collisions, slip and falls, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and product liability.  Mr. Auger is a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate with the National Board of Trial Advocacy.  He is also a Captain in the Judge Advocate General Corps of the United States Naval Reserve.

Shafner is a nationally recognized lawyer in the fields of asbestos injury, personal injury, maritime injury and workers compensation. He was admitted to practice in Connecticut, the Federal Courts of Appeals in the 1st and 2nd Circuits and the U.S. Supreme Court.  His reported decisions have been published by the Appellate Court, Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals in the 1st and 2nd Circuits.  Attorney Shafner is a member of the Million Dollar Advocate Forum.

In 2015, Best Lawyers recognized Matthew Shafner as “Lawyer of the Year.” He is only the ninth person ever to receive the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association’s lifetime achievement award since the association formed in 1954.

Suisman Shapiro Attorneys at Law is located at 2 Union Plaza, P.O. Box 1591, New London CT 06320. For further information, call (860) 442-4416 or visit www.suismanshapiro.com

Legal News You Can Use: Know Your Rights When Unexpected Injury Occurs

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Car_accidentAn unexpected injury can be frightening and disorienting, whether from an automobile accident, slip-and-fall, or a “freak” accident.  It is helpful to know your rights, and consider in advance the important steps you should take in these situations.

#1. Seek Emergency Medical Care

This may seem obvious, but take a minute to be sure you’re alright!  If you are able to do so, check on any passengers in your vehicle, or on others who may have been injured in a motor vehicle accident.  Once you have taken precautions for your safety, move your vehicle out of the lane of travel, if possible.  Then, call 911.

If you refuse treatment at the scene, go directly to your doctor or the local emergency clinic to be checked out, even if you think your injuries are minor.  Often times it is well after the adrenaline wears off that we start to experience pain.

#2. Inform Authorities and Get Copies of Reports

Wait for the police to arrive on the scene, and, respectfully ask that the other driver do the same.   If you have been injured in an accident on the premises of a business, notify the manager or supervisor immediately, or, inform the homeowner if you have been injured on residential property.  Always remain calm during the course of any conversations with the police, authorities, business representatives, or other parties involved.  Remember to ask for copies of any accident reports that are generated.

#3. Exchange Insurance Information and Take Photos

Try to get the names and contact information for any witnesses to the accident. If you have been in a motor vehicle accident, you should exchange insurance information with the other driver.  If you were injured on residential or commercial premises, ask for contact information for the appropriate insurance company.  Take photos of any visible injuries and damage to your vehicle or property.

#4. Don’t Ignore Follow-up Medical Treatment, and Keep Good Records

Don’t skip follow-up appointments, and be sure to obey the recommendations of any medical professionals who are treating you. Not keeping your medical appointments or failing to follow your doctors’ advice may hinder the healing process, and can also have an impact on any compensation to which you may be entitled. Insurance companies often try to reduce compensation for failing to do these things, calling it “failure to mitigate damages”. Your medical records will provide documentation in the event that the insurance company asks for it.    Save copies of doctors’ notes, time off from work, and receipts from any expenses incurred.

#5. Seek Legal Counsel

It’s important to understand your rights after an accident. It usually takes time to assess the full nature of your claim, including your injuries, property damage, loss of wages, out-of-pocket expenses associated with the claim, etc.  Do NOT sign any documents, releases or checks from the insurance company without first consulting with an attorney.

Beware of insurance companies who are quick to offer you cash after you have been injured.  Often, accepting a cash payout from an insurance company shortly after the incident means signing a written promise that you will not bring a claim or a lawsuit against the insurance company or the party they insure.  If you discover additional injuries or property damage after you have made this promise, you may inadvertently waive future recovery to which you may be entitled.

#6. Claims

Many, but not all, motor vehicle collisions have a two-year statute of limitations.  This means that you have the right to bring a lawsuit claiming damages arising out of the collision up to two years after the date on which it happened.  On the other hand, in some situations, if you fail to notify certain parties within as little as 60 to 90 days that you intend to bring a claim, you may forfeit certain legal rights. The time limits prescribed by Connecticut law vary depending on the type of accident and if the responsible party is an individual, business, municipality, or other entity; where the accident occurred, and other factors.

It is wise to consult with a competent attorney who can advise you as to the statute of limitations that applies to your particular situation.  It’s important to understand your rights after an accident. Many people mistakenly assume that if they file a lawsuit, they will be required to go through the stress and anxiety of a court trial.  However, the majority of lawsuits that are filed settle before reaching the point of a trial.  Following the important steps above will help make the road to physical, emotional and financial recovery much smoother.

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Attorney John A. Collins III

Editor’s Note: Suisman Shapiro Attorneys at Law is the largest law firm in eastern Connecticut, serving the community for over 70 years with a wide range of legal services.  John A. Collins III is the Managing Partner of the firm and a Director/Shareholder who concentrates in the areas of Personal Injury Law and Civil Litigation. For more information, visit www.suismanshapiro.com or call (860)442-4416.

Suisman Shapiro is located at 2 Union Plaza, P.O. Box 1591, New London, CT  06320

Exhibit by Old Lyme’s Acclaimed Photographer Burt on Show at CT River Museum

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Tri-colored heron ©Wm Burt (15.2 x 20)

Tri-colored heron ©Wm Burt (15.2 x 20)

An exhibition of photos by William Burt of Old Lyme titled, “Water Babies – The Hidden Lives of Baby Wetland Birds,” is on show at the Connecticut River Museum through Oct. 12, at the Connecticut River Museum. This is the fourth of William Burt’s photo exhibitions, each based on one of his books, to show at the Museum.

The exhibition features 40 framed archival pigment prints, all made by the photographer, and 18 text panels quoting passages from the book of the same name. The pieces are sequenced such that every “water baby” is juxtaposed with the adult bird it becomes.

For 40 years, photographer William Burt has chased after the birds few people see: first rails, then bitterns, nightjars, and other skulkers – and now these, elusive creatures of a very different kind: the Water Babies. They are the subjects of his coming book, and also this exhibition at the Connecticut River Museum in Essex. The book will be published in October 2015 by W. W. Norton/Countryman.

Red-necked phalarope ©Wm Burt

Red-necked phalarope ©Wm Burt

The “babies” are the downy young of ducks, grebes, gallinules and shorebirds, herons, and other wetland birds – those that get their feet wet, as it were – and challenging they are, to birder and photographer alike: quick-footed, wary, and well-camouflaged, to say the least; and temporary.

You have only a week or two each year in which to find them. But above all else, they are endearing. From the comic-monster herons to the fuzzy ducklings and stick-legged sandpipers, these tots have personality, and spunk. You see it in their faces, each and every one.

To find these youngsters and adults, Burt prowled their wetland breeding grounds each spring and summer for some seven years, all over North America, from the Arctic Circle to the Gulf of Mexico. The result is a portrait of these wild birds of the wetlands as both young and old, unknown and known, new and familiar.

Burt is a naturalist, writer, and photographer with a passion for wild places and elusive birds – especially marshes, and the shy birds within. His feature stories are seen in Smithsonian, Audubon, National Wildlife, and other magazines, and he has written three previous books: Shadowbirds (1994); Rare & Elusive Birds of North America (2001); and Marshes: The Disappearing Edens (2007).

Burt’s photo exhibitions have been shown at some 35 museums across the U.S. and Canada. He lives in Old Lyme, Conn.

For more information on this and other museum programs, visit www.ctrivermuseum.org.

The Connecticut River Museum is located at 67 Main St., Essex and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 860-767-8269 or visit www.ctrivermuseum.org.

Old Lyme Land Trust, Black Hall Outfitters Sponsor Kayak Regatta, Sept. 20

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A kayakker's-eye view taken during last year's regatta.

A kayakker’s-eye-view taken during last year’s regatta.

On Sunday, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m. the Old Lyme Land Trust and Black Hall Outfitters will jointly sponsor the Second Annual Old Lyme Land Trust Kayak Regatta. This event will consist of a two hour kayak tour of one of Old Lyme most beautiful and pristine tributaries.

The group will be led by Barry Gorfain, a certified kayak guide who is also the flat water and sea kayak committee chair of the CT Appalatian Mountain Club. Depending on the number and interest of the participants, the group may elect to explore the nearby Roger Tory Peterson Great Island Preserve and the adjacent Long Island Sound.

The tour will begin on a rising tide from the Black Hall Marina on the Black Hall River on 132 Shore Rd, Old Lyme. This  facility, which has been completely renovated since last year’s event, is one of the most picturesque sites on the Connecticut coast having a vista looking westward past the Old Saybrook Lighthouse and as far as Long Island.

The regatta can be enjoyed by all ages.

The regatta can be enjoyed by all ages.

Looking inland you can see the serene tidal marshes of the Black Hall River, which extend northward for several miles.  This important tributary is not only the feeding ground for many wading and swimming species of birds, but has become a spectacular winter habitat for a growing number of Bald Eagles.

Black Hall Outfitters has become a unique destination on the Connecticut shore offering almost anything you might need for enjoying Long Island Sound. What was once a quaint bait shop, is now a multi-service marina including rental and sale of kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards. The store can also arrange individual and group outings to some interesting local waterways and beaches. Their website is blackhalloutfitters.com.

Participants can bring their own kayaks or rent them. Black Hall Outfitters has both single- and multi-person kayaks for rent, as well as sit-in or on-top kayaks. Call ahead to reserve your kayak.

Choose your own pace during the regatta.

Choose your own pace during the regatta.

The Old Lyme Land Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving Old Lyme”s natural, scenic and historic land and water resources for the benefit of the public now and for generations to come. Founded in 1966 the trust now preserves over 1,000 acres.

One of the trust’s priorities is to protect waterways and several of our properties can be seen along the Black Hall River and the lower Connecticut River.  Another priority is to create access by creating trails on our many preserves so the public can discover for themselves the beauty of our New England forests.

For more information, visit the trust’s web page .

“The Preserve” Advocate Suellen Kozy McCuin Passes Away After Unexpected, Brief Illness

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Suellen Kozey McCuin, 49, of Essex, beloved wife of J. Scott McCuin of Essex and sister of Marilyn Abrahamsson of Old Lyme, passed away Friday, Aug. 21, with her family and friends at her side after an unexpected and brief illness. Her obituary states, “She was an outstanding leader in the fight to protect the 1,000 acre forest now known as “The Preserve” located in her childhood town of Old Saybrook and her current home in Essex.”

Her obituary also notes, “She graduated from Old Saybrook High School and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Central Connecticut State University. She was a parishioner at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Essex, CT. Suellen enjoyed a successful career in government affairs and was most recently Executive Director for the Connecticut Council of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.”

State Representative Philip Miller (D-36th) described her passing as, “A loss for everyone. One of the very best people I have ever known.”

He continued, “Of all of us who helped save the thousand acres, she is the only one of us who was indispensable. We could have never succeeded without her. Over the years, we had hundreds of phone calls and dozens of coffee conversations.”

Miller added, “She was an original, a deeply genuine, kind hearted person of great dignity. My heart aches for her family, especially Scott, Maddy, and little Owen. So many of us will miss our dear friend. She walks in the spirit world now. Gone but never to be forgotten.”

Calling hours for celebrating Ms. Kozey McCuin and her life will be at the Swan Funeral Home, 1224 Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook on Friday, Aug. 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. A mass service and reception will be held on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 10 a.m. in the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, 14 Prospect St., Essex. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Kozey McCuin Children Education Fund, c/o Essex Savings Bank, PO Box 950, Essex, CT 06426, or The Old Saybrook Land Trust.