Bert taught high school both before and during law school, and continues to be active in teaching. Bert ran the People’s Law School Program in New London for several years, and currently assists middle school students each year in New London to prepare for annual mock trial exercises. Bert also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he has taught a semester course in Trial Advocacy each fall since 1998.
Bert has been named Best Lawyers’ 2013 and 2015 New London Area Lawyer of the Year for Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury Litigation. Bert has also been designated as one of the top 50 attorneys in the State of Connecticut by Connecticut Super Lawyers®.
In April of 2016, Bert was honored to be named a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, which limits membership to 500 Fellows from the United States.
Bert has been admitted to practice law in Connecticut since 1986, and in Rhode Island since 1987. His practice has focused exclusively on plaintiff’s personal injury litigation. In his work, Bert seeks to promote consumer and patient safety, and is particularly proud of two of his cases, one by verdict and the other by settlement. The former involved a product liability verdict in favor of a burn victim, wherein the Court ordered that product safety data in the possession of a non-party foreign manufacturer be produced over the objection of a defendant seller here in America.
The latter involved the settlement of a hospital malpractice case on behalf of a family which included the hospital’s implementation of patient safety procedures, as well as the designation of a family member to a working hospital committee seeking to improve patient safety. A number of the cases Bert has resolved have been in excess of one million dollars.
Bert is listed in Best Lawyers in America, in Connecticut and New England Super Lawyers, and admitted to the United States Supreme Court.
EDUCATION:
- University of Connecticut School of Law, Hartford, Connecticut, 1986
- Honors: Cum Laude
- College of the Holy Cross, 1978
- Honors: Magna Cum Laude
- Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
BAR ADMISSIONS:
- Connecticut, 1986
- Rhode Island, 1987
- U.S. District Court District of Rhode Island, 1987
- U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 1988
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1993
CERTIFICATION/SPECIALTIES:
- National Board of Trial Advocates, 2000
- National Board of Trial Advocates – (Recertified), 2005
CLASSES/SEMINARS TAUGHT:
- Speaker, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association
- Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Connecticut School of Law, Trial Advocacy, 1998 – Present
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:
- Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association 2009-2010 (President)
- Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, 2008 – 2009 (President Elect)
- Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, 1993 – Present (Member, Board of Governors)
- Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, 2003 – Present (Present Member, Executive Committee)
- Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association (Member, Medical Malpractice Committee)
- American Association of Justice (Member)
- Connecticut Bar Association (Member)
- New London County Bar Association (Member)
- Rhode Island Trial Lawyers Association (Member)
- Rhode Island Bar Association (Member)
- Connecticut Traumatic Brain Injury Association, 1992 – 1998 (Board of Governors)
PAST EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS:
- Justice Donald F. Shea, Supreme Court of Rhode Island, Law Clerk, 1986 – 1987
HONORS AND AWARDS:
- Martindale Hubbell Preeminent Lawyers (AV Rated), 2004 – Present
- New England Super Lawyers, 2007-Present
- Connecticut Magazine Super Lawyer, 2006- Present
- Best Lawyers in America, 2005- Present
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), 2000 – Present
- Selected as a James W. Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation
- New London Area Best Lawyers Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiff’s Lawyer of the Year for 2013 as selected by Best Lawyers
Personal Injury Cases (CT & RI):
- Car accident injuries
- Slip and fall injuries
- Injuries caused by dogs and other animals, dog bites
- Truck and tractor trailer accident injuries
- Motorcycle accident injuries
- Traumatic brain injury, mild TBI
- Spinal cord injuries
- Bicycle accident injuries
Medical Malpractice Cases (CT & RI):
- Surgical errors
- Birth injuries
- Failure to diagnose
- Infections, MRSA
- Medication errors
Nursing Home Injury & Neglect Cases (CT & RI):
- Bed sores
- Falls
- Infection
- Medication errors
- Elder abuse
- Misconduct with elders
Sexual Misconduct Cases (CT & RI):
- Priests and Ministers
- School Teachers
- School Coaches
- Extended Statute of Limitations
Product Liability Cases (CT & RI):
- Defective design
- Defects in manufacturing
- Failure to provide adequate guards
- Failure to warn of dangers and defects
Business Litigation Cases (CT & RI):
- CUTPA (Connecticut Unfair Trade Practice)
- Breach of Contract
- Tortious Interference with business and contracts
- Connecticut Trade Secrets
CONTACT :
Polito & Associates LLC
567 Vauxhall Street Ext. Suite 230
Waterford, CT 06385
Ph: (860) 447-3300
Email: hpolito@politolaw.com
Website: Go here
