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Representation in Civil Appeals in Connecticut

Since the 1950s, the lawyers at Jackson O’Keefe, in Hartford, have played a significant role in the development of Connecticut law, successfully arguing cases before state and federal appellate courts. The rulings issued in these cases have been cited in hundreds of subsequent court opinions, in law review articles, and in legal treatises. If you need effective and experienced representation in the appeal of a civil matter, contact Jackson O’Keefe to schedule a confidential consultation.

Your case does not end in the trial court. In general terms, an “appeal” is a request for a court to review the decision of an inferior tribunal – either a lower court or an administrative agency – to determine whether the decision is properly supported by evidence and consistent with the law. In many cases, erroneous Connecticut Superior Court judgments can be reversed on appeal.

Selecting the right appellate attorney can be the key to prevailing on appeal. When your case is heard in trial court the judge or jury weighs the evidence presented, and assesses the credibility of witnesses. As the case reaches the appellate court, factual issues and witness credibility are usually no longer considered. The appeal focuses exclusively on the law, and its correct interpretation. For this reason, an appeal must make a compelling case that the trial court made an error of law, and in fact, the law is on your side. Therefore, it is important to select an appeal lawyer who has both a full grasp of the legal issues involved, and comprehensively understands the law so thoroughly that he or she is able to present new and subtle nuances within the law as clear and forceful arguments in your favor.

The appeals process differs dramatically from the trial process. Successful appellate advocacy requires a meticulous review of the trial record, a proven ability to exhaustively research and distinguish complex legal issues, the oral and written communication skills to effectively present legal arguments to a panel of judges, and the capability to respond instantaneously to subtle challenges to legal arguments.

The attorneys at Jackson O’Keefe have defended appeals before:

  • the Connecticut Appellate Court
  • the Connecticut Supreme Court
  • the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • the United States Supreme Court

Because of the firm’s success in appellate advocacy, Fortune 500 companies regularly seek appellate counsel from Jackson O’Keefe. The firm’s knowledge of appellate procedure also benefits the firm’s civil litigation clients, as the attorneys understand what issues are appealable and how to preserve those legal issues for appeal.

The lawyers at Jackson O’Keefe are committed to providing professional representation as effectively and efficiently as possible. The firm manages cases carefully to minimize expense and protect the interests of its clients. The firm has represented individuals and businesses throughout the area for over 50 years. Contact the firm to discuss your civil appeal.

Attorney Joseph M. Busher is the firm’s primary appellate lawyer. He has handled numerous Connecticut appeals, covering a wide range of subjects. The results they have obtained have been cited hundreds and hundreds of times by other courts and other lawyers. The Connecticut appellate lawyers at Jackson O’Keefe have helped shape Connecticut law in a number of areas. They have the experience and skills to handle very complex appeals, as well as the more straight-forward variety, efficiently and effectively.

Attorney Busher began working with an appellate law firm and has continued his appellate practice with Jackson O’Keefe since 1996. He has been involved with the following appeals since 1995:

Benjamin v. Bailey, 234 Conn. 455 (1995); Doe v. Marselle, 38 Conn. App. 360, rev’d, 236 Conn. 845 (1996); Sung v. Butterworth, 235 Conn. 400 (1996); Roberto v. Honeywell, Inc., 43 Conn. App 161, cert. denied, 239 Conn. 945 (1996); Borkowski v. Sacheti, 43 Conn. App. 294 (1996); Jaworski v. Kiernan, 241 Conn. 399 (1997); Martin v. Town of Plainville, 240 Conn. 105 (1997); Belliveau v. Stevenson, 123 F.3d 107 (2d Cir. 1997); Edwards v. Tardif, 240 Conn. 610 (1997); Lodge v. Arett Sales Corporation, 246 Conn. 563 (1998); Deray v. Gallagher, 164 F.3d 617, 1998 WL 650577 (2d Cir. 1998); Bonamico v. City of Middletown, 49 Conn. App. 605, cert granted, 244 Conn. 923, on remand, 47 Conn. App. 758 (1998); Hines v. Davis, 53 Conn. App. 836 (1999); Coelho v. ITT Hartford, 251 Conn. 106 (1999); Marshall v. O’Keefe, 55 Conn. App. 801 (1999); DiMaria v. Silvester, 89 F.Supp.2d 195 (D.Conn. 1999); Washington v. Christie, 58 Conn. App. 96, cert. denied, 254 Conn. 906 (2000); Team Rental Group v. ITT Hartford Group, 59 Conn. App. 110 (2000); Westbrook v. ITT Hartford Group, 60 Conn. App. 767 (2000); Rangel v. Parkhurst, 64 Conn. App. 372 (2000); Millbrook Owners Association, Inc. v. Hamilton Standard, 257 Conn. 1 (2001); Top of The Town, LLC v. Somers Sportsmen’s Association, Inc., 69 Conn. App. 839 (2002); Preston v. O’Rourke, 74 Conn. App. 301 (2002); Mozeleski v. Thomas, 76 Conn. App. 287, cert. denied, 264 Conn. 904 (2003); Taylor v. Windsor Locks Police Dept., 71 Fed.Appx. 877, 2003 WL 21697441 (2d. Cir. 2003); Barry v. Quality Steel Products, Inc., 263 Conn. 424 (2003); Ahearn v. Fuss and O’Neill, Inc., 78 Conn. App. 202 (2003); Denniston v. Cash Home Center, Inc., 76 Conn. App. 906 (2003); Stanley v. Lincoln, 75 Conn. App. 781 (2003); Scoville v. Shop-Rite Supermarkets, Inc.,86 Conn. App. 426, cert. denied, 272 Conn. 921 (2004); Wexler v. DeMaio, 280 Conn. 168 (2006); Pedro v. Miller, 281 Conn. 112 (2007); Read v. Town of Plymouth, 110 Conn. App. 657, cert. denied, 289 Conn. 955 (2008); Grady v. Town of Somers, 294 Conn. 324 (2009); Nanni v. Dino Corp., 117 Conn. App. 61 (2009); Picco v. Town of Voluntown, 295 Conn. 141 (2010); Pack 2000, Inc. v. Cushman, 126 Conn. App. 339 (2011); Coe v Watertown, 301 Conn. 112 (2011); McRae v. McRae, 129 Conn.App. 171 (2011); McRae v. McRae, 139 Conn. App. 75 (2012); Tarro v. Mastriani Realty, LLC, 142 Conn. App. 419 (2013); Doe v. Waraksa, 13-959-CV, 2014 WL 1189853 (2d Cir. Mar. 25, 2014); Pack 2000, Inc. v. Cushman, 311 Conn. 662 (2014); Financial Consulting, LLC v. Commissioner of Insurance, 315 Conn. 196 (2014); Pappas v. Town of Enfield, 602 F. App’x 35 (2d Cir. 2015); Fleming v. Dionisio, 317 Conn. 498 (2015); Pramuka v. Town of Cromwell, 160 Conn. App. 863, cert. denied, 320 Conn. 908 (2015); Gov’t Employees Ins. Co. v. Barros, 184 Conn. App. 395 (2018)