John E. Studley Jr., Attorney

Mr. Studley founded the Firm in 1988. Before 1988, he was associated as a trial lawyer with the firm of Gallitano & Gattozzi of Plymouth, Massachusetts. He has represented clients in hundreds of family law and probate court matters and has conducted numerous complex divorce and custody trials. He has tried civil and criminal jury trials in the Courts in Plymouth, Bristol, and Norfolk Counties. Mr. Studley has been appointed guardian ad litem by the Judges of Plymouth County in over forty cases ranging from high conflict divorce/custody matters to the settlement of estates. His experience also includes jury trials and arbitrations of numerous personal injury cases including a wrongful death verdict for $1.2 million and a recent three-panel arbitration award of $337,000 involving a traumatic brain injury.

Mr. Studley was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in January of 1985. He graduated from New England School of Law in 1984 and received a Bachelor of Arts degree Cum Laude from Quinnipiac University in 1981. As a long-time member of the Board of Directors of the Plymouth County Bar Association, he served as the Association's President in 2001. In addition, Mr. Studley was a Corporator for the Bridgewater Savings Bank and member of the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Brockton for many years. In addition, he is also a longstanding member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and Massachusetts Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Representation of Injury Victims

Mr. Studley has represented hundreds of victims of negligence. He frequently uses outside experts such as economists, vocational-rehabilitation specialists, investigators, and accident reconstructionists to prepare and present the claims of the injured. The types of claims he has prosecuted include wrongful death, serious automobile/motorcycle collisions, premises liability, mild to moderate traumatic brain injuries, and other serious injury claims.

Litigation of Contested Divorce and Custody

In addition to personal injury matters, Mr. Studley has developed a significant family law practice. He has tried numerous custody and divorce cases to judgment wherein various mental health professionals have testified as experts. Mr. Studley has been appointed by the Courts to represent children in high-conflict custody cases and the elderly in probate and estate matters. Mr. Studley recently obtained, as court appointed counsel working with a Conservator, a multi-million dollar settlement for an elderly widow based upon undue influence and wrongful conversion claims. Mr. Studley was an invited panelist and participant in the Probate & Family Court Department Substance Abuse Training Workshop held by the Plymouth County Probate Court and was also an invited lecturer at a Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education seminar entitled "Trying the Child Custody Case."

Persons Charged with Crimes

Mr. Studley represents individuals charged with violations of criminal statutes. His jury trial experience in this area includes motor vehicle homicide, indecent assault and battery, larceny, operating under the influence, and other serious felonies and misdemeanors. Mr. Studley believes strongly in the trial by jury system and in holding the government to its burden of proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in each case in which he is involved.