Practice Areas

Appellate Advocacy Law Firm
Connecticut Appeals Lawyers

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 argued appeals before

  • the Connecticut Appellate Court
  • the Connecticut Supreme Court
  • the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 2nd 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.

Attorneys Andrew J. O'Keefe and Joseph M. Busher are the firm's primary appellate lawyers. Together and separately they have 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 O'Keefe has been involved in the following appeals over his career:

Sheary v. Hallock's of Middletown, Inc., 149 Conn. 188 (1962); Kelly v. Bliss, 160 Conn. 128 (1970); Meade v. Warehouse Transport, Inc., 165 Conn. 553 (1973); Grecki v. New Britain, 173 Conn. 759 (1977); Slicer v. Quigley, 180 Conn. 252 (1980); McKinley v. Musshorn, 185 Conn. 616 (1981); Sullivan v. State, 189 Conn. 550 (1983); Bielaska v. Waterford, 196 Conn. 151 (1985); Isaac v. Mount Sinai Hosp., 3 Conn. App. 598, cert. denied, 196 Conn. 807 (1985); Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Abbott Laboratories, Inc., 636 F.Supp. 546 (D.Conn. 1986); Fuehrer v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp., 673 F.Supp. 1150 (D.Conn.1986); Taylor v. American Thread Co., 200 Conn. 108 (1986); Donahue v. Windsor Locks Bd. of Fire Com'rs, 834 F.2d 54 (2d Cir. 1987); Dodd v. Norwich, 603 F.Supp. 514, aff'd, 827 F.2d 1, cert. denied, 484 U.S. 1007 (1988); Rosenblit v. Danaher, 206 Conn. 125 (1988); Cabinet Realty, Inc. v. Mansfield, 210 Conn. 813 (1989); Foster v. Smithkline Corp., 211 Conn. 806 (1989); Hughes v. Glastonbury, 19 Conn. App. 411, cert. denied, 212 Conn. 815 (1989); Isaac v. Mount Sinai Hosp., 210 Conn. 721 (1989); Manning v. Barenz, 24 Conn. App. 592, cert. granted, 219 Conn. 914, aff'd, 221 Conn. 256 (1992); Pagani v. BT II, L.P., 220 Conn. 902 (1991); Gagne v. National R.R. Passenger Corp., 26 Conn. App. 74, cert. denied, 220 Conn. 932 (1991); Bouley v. Norwich, 25 Conn. App. 492, cert. granted, 220 Conn. 915, rev'd, 222 Conn. 744 (1992); Pratt v. Old Saybrook, 225 Conn. 177 (1993); Scrapchansky v. Town of Plainfield, 226 Conn. 446 (1993); Rossi v. Stanback, 31 Conn. App. 703, cert. granted, 227 Conn. 912, rev'd, 230 Conn. 175, on remand, 36 Conn. App. 328 (1994); Roberto v. Honeywell, Inc., 33 Conn. App. 619, cert. denied, 229 Conn. 909 (1994); Sung v. Butterworth, 35 Conn. App. 154, cert. granted, 231 Conn. 940, app. dismissed, 235 Conn. 400 (1995); Doe v. Marselle, 38 Conn. App. 360, rev'd, 235 Conn. 915 (1995); Borkowski v. Sacheti, 43 Conn. App. 294, cert. denied, 239 Conn. 945 (1996); Roberto v. Honeywell, Inc., 43 Conn. App. 161, cert. denied, 239 Conn. 941(1996); Martin v. Plainville, 240 Conn. 105 (1997); Edwards v. Tardif, 240 Conn. 610 (1997); Bonamico v. Middletown, 49 Conn. App. 605, cert granted, 244 Conn. 923, on remand, 47 Conn. App. 758 (1998); Lodge v. Arett Sales Corp., 246 Conn. 563 (1998); DiMaria v. Silvester, 89 F.Supp.2d 195 (D.Conn. 1999); Coelho v. ITT Hartford, 251 Conn. 106 (1999); Marshall v. O'Keefe, 252 Conn. 918 (2000); Washington v. Christie, 58 Conn. App. 96, cert. denied, 254 Conn. 906 (2000); Millbrook Owners Ass'n, Inc. v. Hamilton Standard, 257 Conn. 1 (2001); 261 Conn. 916 (2002); Top of The Town, LLC v. Somers Sportsmen's Ass'n, Inc.; Mozeleski v. Thomas, 76 Conn. App. 287, cert. denied, 264 Conn. 904 (2003); Scoville v. Shop-Rite Supermarkets, Inc., 272 Conn. 921 (2005); Wexler v. DeMaio, 88 Conn.App. 818, rev'd, 280 Conn. 168 (2006); Pedro v. Miller, 281 Conn. 112 (2007); Read v. Plymouth, 110 Conn.App. 657, cert. denied, 289 Conn. 955 (2008); Nanni v. Dino Corp., 117 Conn. App. 61 (2009); Pack 2000, Inc. v. Cushman, 126 Conn. App. 339 (2011).

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, --- Conn. --- (2011); Mcrae v. Mcrae, --- Conn. App. --- (2011).

Jackson O'Keefe
Hartford CT Appellate Attorneys

Jackson O’Keefe handles appellate advocacy matters throughout the State of Connecticut, including clients in West Hartford, Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, Old Lyme, Ellington, Tolland, North Haven, Wallingford, Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, Cromwell, Bethlehem, Moodus, East Haddam, Hadlyme, Madison, Middletown, Hartford, Southington, Plantsville, Hartford County, New Haven County, Middlesex County, New London County and Litchfield County.

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36 Russ Street
Hartford, CT 06106-1571
Phone 860.278.4040
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Southington Office
97 North Main Street
Southington, CT 06489
Phone 860.276.8100
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Fax 860.527.2500
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