Attorney Seifert is a graduate of Trinity College, Hartford and Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio. He was a research assistant in products liability and criminal law. He is the recipient of the Criminal Law Book Prize. He has been practicing law in Connecticut since 1981. In October of 1987, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, William H. Rehnquist, swore Attorney Seifert in to practice before the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Representative matters include breach of contract cases, professional malpractice actions, toxic tort litigation, insurance bad faith cases, personal injury cases, probate, trusts, estates and appeals. In 1990, he successfully represented three contestants in the Ethel Donaghue will contest case, the largest will contest case ever brought to trial in Connecticut at that time. He also has been a trustee and executor of various estates over the years. Attorney Seifert has argued successfully before the Connecticut Appellate Court, the Connecticut Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. Representative appellate decisions are: State v. Graham, 200 Conn. 9 (1986), which expanded the right to impeach witnesses; Schmidt v. Yardney Electric Corporation, 4 Conn. App. 69 (1985), which expanded employee rights to sue employers for wrongful discharge; State v. Merritt, 36 Conn. App. 76 (1994), aff'd 233 Conn. 302 (1995), which affirmed the Frye doctrine and set the precedent that horizontal gaze nystagmus testing evidence is inadmissible unless qualified by a scientific expert; Charles Black, Administrator v. Goodwin, Loomis & Britton, Inc., Maryland Casualty Company, 239 Conn. 144 (1996), a landmark bad faith insurance case which created new insurance consumer rights, affirmed the use of stipulated judgments and upheld the constitutionality of the offer of judgment statute; Walsh v. Stonington, 250 Conn. 443 (1999), a significant environmental appeal which confirmed that municipal state-regulated plants may be held liable in private nuisance for the pollution damages incurred by a small number of private citizens; and State v. Payne, 260 Conn. 446 (2002), a landmark decision in which the appellant's criminal convictions were reversed solely on the basis of prosecutorial misconduct.

Polito & Harrington Personal Injury Lawyer, Humbert J. Polito, Jr. was recently selected as 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs in the New London, CT area. Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this accolade particularly significant. These lawyers are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer-review assessments. Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Bert has previously been named Best Lawyers’ New London Area Lawyer of the Year for Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury Litigation 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2024. 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. Bert also being designated as one of the top 50 attorneys in the State of Connecticut by Connecticut Super Lawyers® is 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.

James M. Harrington is a Connecticut-based, board-certified civil trial attorney who has dedicated his career to fighting for those injured due to negligence. With a practice focused entirely on personal injury and wrongful death litigation across the state of Connecticut, James brings more than a decade of experience, a proven record in the courtroom, and deep local roots to every case he takes. Born and raised in southeastern Connecticut, James’s connection to the community runs deep. His father owned and operated The Wayfarer in New London for over 35 years, and James spent much of his youth in and around New London and Waterford. Today, James continues to serve his home state with pride, representing clients in towns and cities across eastern and central Connecticut.

Amanda J. DiFrancesca is an associate attorney of Polito & Harrington. Amanda joined the firm after clerking for a criminal defense firm, where she helped to serve incarcerated clients. Amanda is the youngest of two children, born and raised in Preston, Connecticut. Amanda graduated from the University of Connecticut and went on to receive her master’s degree in social work from Southern Connecticut State University, where she studied client counseling and social justice. She graduated from Quinnipiac University School of Law, magna cum laude, in 2024. At Quinnipiac, Amanda received the Distinguished Academic Achievement in Constitutional Law, Best Appellee’s Brief: 2022 Dean Terence H. Benbow Intramural Competition, and Cornelius W. Wickersham Jr. awards. She served on the e-board of the Quinnipiac Health Law Journal and competed on the Moot Court Honor Society team. Throughout law school, Amanda served in the Quinnipiac University Civil Justice Clinic, where she helped to draft habeas corpus petitions and worked on compassionate release law reform. She also gained experience interning for a personal injury firm, where she drafted settlement breakdowns and worked with medical providers to obtain reductions for clients. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys reading and being outdoors.

Joseph T. Coppola II is Polito & Harrington’s newest associate, joining the firm after working at a Fortune 500 insurance company, where he handled employment matters all across the United States, including cases involving discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Joe is the oldest of five children, born and raised in Madison, Connecticut. Joe is a graduate of Bryant University and Roger Williams University School of Law. At Roger Williams, Joe was awarded academic scholarships during each of his three years at the school based on academic merit. Joe also received recognition from the Feinstein Center for outstanding commitment to pro bono legal service, having performed over 100 pro-bono service hours within the community during his time in law school. In addition to his involvement within the school, Joe was fortunate enough to gain a great deal of experience through internships in his spare time. Joe served as a legal intern for the Rhode Island Department of Revenue, the Rhode Island Office of the General Treasurer, and as a law clerk for a firm focused on cases involving personal injury, products liability, and premises liability. During his third year in law school, Joe was accepted into two competitive programs which promote experiential education; The Roger Williams Business Start-up Clinic and the Corporate Counsel Externship Program. At the Business Start-up Clinic, Joe was one of only two students who worked at the clinic as an advanced student practitioner with a temporary license from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Joe not only gained valuable experience in advising and assisting clients with entity formation issues, contracts, articles of incorporation, trademark applications, as well as applications to form 501-(c)(3) corporations, but he also maintained a role as a supervisor and advisor to other clinic members and assisted them with their respective clients. In addition to his work with the Business Start-up Clinic, Joe simultaneously participated in Roger Williams’ Corporate Counsel Externship program, where he was offered a externship position in the legal department at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island under the company’s general counsel. Joe gained valuable exposure to the healthcare industry, medical claims, and general insurance knowledge that to this day allows him to better serve his clients who may be suffering from life changing injuries. Today, Joe proudly represents clients who have been injured in personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, and medical malpractices cases, both in Connecticut State Court and in the Tribal Courts for Connecticut’s two casinos, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. In his spare time, Joe enjoys hiking, camping, archery, and restoring musical instruments.

Ryan P. Barry received his B.A., with honors, from the University of Connecticut and his J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law. During law school, Attorney Barry worked as a Judicial Extern for United States District Court Judge Dominic J. Squatrito. He was also selected to membership on The Connecticut Law Review and is the author of "ERISA's Purpose: The Conveyance of Information from Trustee to Beneficiary," 31 Conn. L. Rev. 735 (1999). Attorney Barry is admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut, the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, the Manchester Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and the Connecticut Association of Municipal Attorneys. In July 2018, Attorney Barry was appointed by the judges of the Superior Court to serve for a 3-year term on the Statewide Grievance Committee. Attorney Barry is also a Life Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, membership for which is by invitation only, and is evidence of professional distinction. He has been named to Connecticut Super Lawyers List since 2020 for his work in personal injury.

With over four and a half decades of practicing law, Attorney Brian J. Woolf, Esq. brings a wealth of legal knowledge and vast experience to his practice, having advocated for countless defendants in criminal proceedings and assisted many individuals in securing compensation for significant and life-altering injuries. Brian offers comprehensive legal services across a broad spectrum of areas including criminal defense matters. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Brian moved on to complete his undergraduate studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, in 1972. He then furthered his education at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a master's degree in 1974, and achieved his law degree with honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1977. Throughout his distinguished career, Attorney Woolf has been acknowledged for his professionalism and dedication to the field of law. His accolades include being named a Top Attorney in North America and receiving the Outstanding Service to the Criminal Defense Bar Award from the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He actively participates in several key legal organizations, such as the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Connecticut Bar Association. Attorney Woolf's dedication to both the legal field and his clients is reflected in his continued commitment to justice and excellence in every aspect of his career and community contributions.

Steven I. Melocowsky is a founder of Melocowsky and Melocowsky. He provides legal commentary for local television stations such as FOX Ct News and WFSB regarding high profile criminal and civil trials. Attorney Melocowsky handles personal injury and negligence claims, criminal matters, family matters and assists with real estate closings. He has extensive litigation experience in Hartford, Tolland, Middlesex, New Britain and Windham counties as well as local Probate Courts. Attorney Melocowsky has successfully represented individuals against major insurance companies, municipalities, hospitals and large businesses. He has also defended criminal clients and has served as a mentor for other local counsel. Attorney Melocowsky is associated with AARP, ARAG, Hyatt Legal Plans and Legal Club of America. He has conducted seminars for local insurance companies and lectures at the University of Connecticut. Attorney Melocowsky graduated from the University of Miami Law School in 1996 and the University of Connecticut in 1993. He remains actively involved in the local Hartford county community teaching, coaching, and providing legal assistance to many local organizations including a local womens group and other non-profit and charitable organizations. Attorney Melocowsky is also a successful triathlete.

Nicholas T. Kocian is the president and founder of the Kocian Law Group. Nick has practiced law for over thirty years focusing on personal injury matters, including but not limited to medical malpractice, motor vehicle, products liability, construction, premises liability and workers’ compensation claims. He has handled cases at all stages of litigation and trial, including civil jury trials, court/bench trials, formal hearings before the Workers’ Compensation Commission, and hearings at the CRB appellate level. Nick has also appeared before the Connecticut Supreme Court. Prior to establishing the Kocian Law Group, Nick was associated with a prominent New York Wall Street firm where he defended physicians and hospitals in medical malpractice claims throughout New York. In this position, Nick worked with leading trial lawyers, becoming skilled in litigating and preparing cases and gaining an extensive understanding of how insurance carriers defend medical malpractice claims. Nick initially opened his own solo attorney practice in Hartford, Connecticut. His firm was founded on the principle of providing professional, immediate and personalized legal representation to individuals who have been injured or harmed by the negligence of others. Nick’s philosophy is that the needs of the client come first and being a lawyer means always standing up for the rights of your clients, regarding significant events and issues that affect their lives, and fighting for truth and justice. Today, the Kocian Law Group has evolved into a multi-specialty practice committed to protecting the rights of individuals and families with attorneys working across four office locations in Connecticut and one office in New York.