Ralph J. Monaco, Attorney

Attorney Ralph J. Monaco is a Board Certified Trial Lawyer, a distinction held by very few attorneys. He has extensive experience with jury and court trials in both federal and state court and has had many significant verdicts for the firm's clients. He practices in civil and commercial litigation, with an emphasis in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, medical malpractice, insurance litigation, municipal litigation and workers' compensation. In addition, he has extensive experience in business contract litigation and land use. Attorney Monaco regularly handles catastrophic injury cases against major corporations. He has been involved in mass tort cases including the Dalkon Shield litigation, Vioxx litigation, and the Rhode Island nightclub fire litigation in which he participated in a successful $176 million settlement. Moreover, Attorney Monaco has tried cases against major automotive companies, insurance companies, trucking companies and product manufacturers. He is one of the leading attorneys in the country in litigation over baseball and softball "hot bats" made from advanced aluminum and composites that propel balls at speeds that exceed human reaction time. Due to his experience and understanding of the many complex facets of the "hot bat" litigation, various media outlets including WFAN in New York have interviewed him.

Attorney Monaco was named the New Leader of the Law for New London County in 2002 by the Connecticut Law Tribune. Since that time, Connecticut Magazine named him to its list of Connecticut Super Lawyers and New England Super Lawyers in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. In 2009, he received the Publisher's Award from the Connecticut Law Tribune for challenging the State of Connecticut's attempt to remove funds from the Attorney Client Security Fund.

Attorney Monaco will be serving as the 87th President of the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) for the 2010-11 term, being the second youngest person to hold the position. In the past, he has also served as Treasurer of the CBA and Chairman of the CBA Young Lawyers Section. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the CBA Litigation Section. Attorney Monaco is on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, where he is a Life Fellow. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. Attorney Monaco served Jury Committee of the Chief Justice's Public Safety and Trust Commission, which committee made recommendations on improving the jury system.

Attorney Monaco is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts in Connecticut and New Jersey. He also is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. Attorney Monaco is a graduate of Fordham University and Quinnipiac University School of Law, graduating with honors from both schools.

Attorney Monaco has argued numerous cases before the Connecticut Supreme Court, Connecticut Appellate Court and United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. His reported cases include:

Honan v. Greene , 37 Conn. App. 137 (1995); Branch v. Occhionero, 239 Conn. 199 (1996); McIntosh v. McIntosh, 47 Conn. App. 907 (1997); New Milford Block v. Grondahl, 51 Conn. App. 454 (1999); Kroll v. Steere, 60 Conn. App. 376 (2000); Kroll v. Sebastian, 58 Conn. App. 262 (2000); Olynciw v. Stop n Shop, Inc., 67 Conn.App. 773 (2002); Grasso v. ZBA, 69 Conn. App. 230 (2002); DaCruz v. State Farm, 69 Conn.App. 510 (2002); L'Homme v. Dept. of Transportation, 72 Conn.App. 64 (2002); Cheryl Terry Enterprises v. City of Hartford, 262 Conn. 240 (2002); Jenkins v. Kos, 78 Conn.App. 840 (2003); Malchick v. Division of Criminal Justice, 266 Conn 728 (2003); DaCruz v. State Farm, 268 Conn 675 (2004); Cheryl Terry Enterprises v. City of Hartford, 270 Conn. 619 (2004); Hayes v. Caspers, 90 Conn. App. 781 (2005); Cote v. Machabee, 87 Conn.App. 627 (2005); Miskimen v. Biber, 272 Conn. 916 (2005) Terry v. Terry, 102 Conn.App. 215 (2007); Columbia Air Services v. State of Connecticut, 293 Conn. 342 (2009).

Attorney Monaco also serves on the Essex Planning Commission, New London Catholic Charities Advisory Board, and Villa St. Francis Board of Directors.