You were honored with a major Community Service Award from the Urban League of Greater Hartford because of your extensive community involvement. Does your visible presence at things like the McDonough School Mentoring Program and being a precision drill and marching instructor for the Pathfinder Scout Group encourage city kids to pursue a career in law? After all, it’s a field that does not have strong minority representation.
My primary goal in working with youth is to instill leadership qualities. They learn the importance of self worth. Too often a lack of confidence will impede their individual development and the growth of our group as a whole. However, youth learn that through intense practice and persistence, perfection can be achieved. The students see the passion I have for my profession; consequently, some have expressed an interest in pursuing law. Although I would love to see them all become lawyers and add to the diversity within our profession, I want them to make an independent decision about what career will bring them the greatest satisfaction. (I must confess that most of my young people are leaning towards the medical profession. I don’t take this personally.)
Your bio says you tried the “longest dental malpractice case ever in Connecticut’s history,” convincing a jury to give the plaintiff nothing for pain and suffering for his client, a Danbury dentist. What contributed to the case’s longevity and how big of a field is dental malpractice?
Here is the recipe for longevity: (1) Add one plaintiff who claims that the dental surgery has caused a plethora of physical and emotional problems; (2) Include 125 health care providers with whom the plaintiff treated for all of the same symptoms she had prior to the dental surgery; and (3) mix in our defense, which was substantiated by a leading psychiatrist, that the plaintiff suffered from a psychiatric disorder known as undifferentiated somatoform disorder. (In other words, there were psychogenic components to the plaintiff’s subjective complaints.) These factors provided for a jury selection and trial over a four-month period. Although medical/dental malpractice is not the hotbed for litigation, it is constant. Given my experience in representing health care providers, I am also asked to handle various matters before the Connecticut Department of Public Health involving disciplinary matters. Most of my litigation, however, is in other areas.
You did a pro bono case with Greater Hartford Legal Aid to prosecute a class action against the Connecticut Department of Social Services because of inadequate dental care for children with Medicare. That case increased funding for the program. How’s that issue faring with pressure to cut the state budget? Are the kids still getting their dental care?
God bless Greater Hartford Legal Aid for its fight for the rights of children in this case. As a result of the settlement, the state is obligated to fund dental services for Husky A kids at a minimum amount of $20 million per year for four years. Even with the current recession, the agreement, which was approved by the court in August 2008, is binding. This agreement is enforceable both as a contract and the court’s contempt enforcement powers, if necessary. The kids are getting their dental care.
