At the Botelho Law Group we have different attorneys, with different specializations; to help your case is individual needs. When choosing a lawyer or law firm, one size does not fit all, for this reason, we employ a number of attorneys and legal professionals who are equipped to handle any situation that may arise. Many legal issues that arise for our clients have overlapping matters in different Areas Of Law. Maybe during your Divorce, it would be better if you filed Bankruptcy to handle your financial situations; in a case such as this, we can service all your needs. It’s this type of full-service that allows us to best represent our clients and all their legal needs.

Christopher M. Lefebvre, Esq. practices family, bankruptcy and consumer protection law with his father in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Chris is a member of the debtor/creditor committee of the Rhode Island Bar Association and is a frequent speaker on consumer matters. He was the 1995 recipient of the Rhode Island Bar Association's Pro Bono Publico Award for his commitment to equal access to justice for the poor. To date, his largest case was the Sears bankruptcy class action suit where 190,000 former debtors received restitution in excess of $175 million. Chris received his B.S. from Boston College and his J.D. from Suffolk University Law School.CASES OF INTEREST:Melfi v. WMC Mortgage Corp., 568 F.3d 309 (1st Cir. 2009) : TILA class action case where mortgage company left spaces on model form blank for date of refinancing and date of actual deadline for rescission. District Court held that these technical deficiencies did not violate TILA and First Circuit affirmed. Petition for Rehearing en banc and/or Panel Rehearing filed 6/25/09. If denied, Plaintiff intends to seek a petition for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court.Bonney v. Washington Mutual Bank, 596 F.Supp.2d 173 (D.Mass. 2009): Borrower alleged that mortgage company's failure to include the transaction date on the notices of rescission violated TILA. Although the magistrate judge agreed that such a notice stated a claim, the District Court disagreed and called omitting such information "merely technical."Tenney v. Deutsche Bank Trust Corp., 2009 WL 415510 (D.Mass. 2009): Borrower signed a "Certificate of Confirmation of Notice of Right to Rescind."at the closing which both "confirmed" that he would not exercise his right to rescind and stated that the three business days for rescission had already elapsed, when they had not. District Court held that the Borrower had stated a TILA claim and case would not be dismissed.Deandrade v. Trans Union LLC, 523 F.3d 61 (1st Cir. 2008): Consumer litigation under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regarding the credit bureaus' alleged failure to reinvestigate and delete a disputed debt from consumer's credit report.Megitt v. Indymac Bank, F.S.B., 547 F.Supp.2d 56 (D.Mass. 2008): TILA class action case regarding blank spaces on model form.Dixon v. Calusa Investments, LLC, 554 F.Supp.2d 139, (D.R.I. 2008): Consumer brought a putative class action against a creditor, claiming that it had violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) in sending out various mailers.In re Chiappone, 2007 WL 4178510 (Bankr.D.Conn. 2007): Successful adversary litigation on behalf of non-debtor wife and her divorce attorney regarding non-dischargeability of certain domestic support obligations and related attorney fees arising from Rhode Island Family Court divorce decree.Dixon v. Shamrock Financial Corp., 482 F.Supp.2d 172 (D.Mass.2007): Consumer sued under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) for creditor sending solicitation offering free consultation for purposes of, inter alia, restructuring his debt.Sullivan v. Greenwood Credit Union, 499 F.Supp.2d 83 (D.Mass. 2007): Class action on behalf of creditors who received a "pre-approved" letter for a home loan from credit union, claiming that the credit union unlawfully accessed the credit reports of the recipients.Park v. Ford Motor Co., 928 A.2d 469 (R.I. 2007): Consumer class action against truck manufacturer that failed to provide security system listed on window sticker as a standard feature.In re Wilding, 475 F.3d 428 (1st Cir. 2007): Bankruptcy Court and B.A.P. both held that Debtor could not avoid judicial lien that had already been satisfied, but the First Circuit reversed and held that if the lien existed at the filing of the bankruptcy petition and was not satisfied until afterwards the lien could be avoided.Palmer v. Champion Mortg., 465 F.3d 24, (1st Cir. 2006): TILA litigation where borrower alleged notice of rescission was confusing because dates which were completed had already passed by time borrower received notices in mail.In re Montes, 2006 WL 3898386 (Bankr.D.R.I. 2006): On Debtor's Complaint, Banrkuptcy Court held any obligation for car repairs could not be deemed an extension of the original retail installment contract and was merely an unsecured claim discharged in bankruptcyMorrissey v. Webster Bank, N.A., 417 F.Supp.2d 183 (D.Mass. 2006): Consumer who was not customer of bank brought action against bank, challenging adequacy of fee notices posted on automatic teller machines (ATMs) owned by bank under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act.Belini v. Washington Mut. Bank, FA, 412 F.3d 17 (1st Cir. 2005): As matter of first impression, TILA permits damages claim based on lender's alleged failure to respond properly to borrower's notice of rescission.In re Watson, 403 F.3d 1(1st Cir 2005): Litigated to the First Circuit issue of whether or not cost of private school tuition for Chapter 13 debtors' minor children was "reasonably necessary" expense so as to be included in "disposable income" available to debtors for payments under their chapter 13 plan (no longer relevant under BAPCPA).Hoefs v. CACV of Colorado, LLC, 365 F.Supp.2d 69 (D.Mass. 2005): Consumer brought action against collection agency, law firm, and lawyer alleging violations of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and state law - arbitration compelled.In re Ladds,2005 WL 1365078 (Bankr.D.R.I. 2005): Bankruptcy Court denied non-debtor spouse's request for abstention to allow litigation regarding litigation against debtor wife regarding non-dischargeability of certain credit card debt to proceed in Rhode Island Family Court.Rodrigues v. Members Mortgage Co., Inc., 323 F.Supp.2d 202 (D.Mass. 2004): TILA class action against mortgage company and lender alleging violation of disclosure requirements in federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Massachusetts Consumer Credit Cost Disclosure Act (CCCDA).Barrett v. Avco Financial Services Management Co., 292 B.R. 1 (D.Mass. 2003): Class action to recover for creditor's alleged practice of attempting to collect discharged prepetition debts pursuant to "reaffirmation agreements" which did not satisfy statutory requirements.Mann v. Chase Manhattan Mortg. Corp., 316 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2003): Chapter 13 debtor-mortgagors sued to recover for mortgagee's alleged violations of automatic stay.Arruda v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 310 F.3d 13 (1st Cir. 2002): Former Chapter 7 debtors brought putative class action against creditor-retailer, its affiliated entity, and retailer's law firm, alleging that defendants violated the Bankruptcy Code, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and/or state law by entering into post-discharge redemption agreements with plaintiffs without bankruptcy court approval.In re Lamanna, 285 B.R. 347 (Bankr.D.R.I. 2002): Litigation regarding dischargeability of student loan obligations where Bankruptcy Court adopted the "hybrid approach" to student loan dischargeability, whereby the undue hardship analysis is applied to a debtor's educational debt on a loan-by-loan basis.In re Singleton, 284 B.R. 322 (D.R.I. 2002): Bankruptcy Court could only certify debtor class from Rhode Island district regarding creditor's alleged violation of discharge injunction in connection with reaffirmation agreements.In re Larocque, 283 B.R. 640 (Bankr.D.R.I. 2002): Bankruptcy court exercised its discretion to deny enforcement of arbitration clause and retained jurisdiction over TILA dispute.In re Mann, 249 B.R. 831, (BAP 1st Cir. 2000): Bankruptcy Appellate Panel affirmed that consumer debtor could "strip off" wholly undersecured second mortgage on residential real property and treat it as unsecured.Conley v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 222 B.R. 181 (D.Mass. 1998): At the time, the largest class action case in bankruptcy court history, holding Sears liable for obtaining unauthorized reaffirmation agreements from Debtors and failing to file them with various bankruptcy courts.In re Kheng, 202 B.R. 538 (Bkrtcy.D.R.I. 1996): Debtor allowed to "strip off" portion of nonresidential real estate mortgage that was undersecured and continue to pay agreed to monthly mortgage payments for term of note under chapter 13 plan.

Stephen comes to the firm with a background in law enforcement. He has extensive experience in labor relations, including contract negotiations, grievance arbitrations, and employee discipline. He is a graduate of Roger Williams University School of Law, cum laude. While attending law school, Stephen served as a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Francis X. Flaherty in the Rhode Island Supreme Court and was a Presidential Scholarship recipient, as well as a member of the Honors Program. He was also a member of the 2014 Kappa II class of Leadership Rhode Island. Stephen is admitted to practice law in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

OVER 100 TRIAL VERDICTS BY ATTORNEY DAVID MOROWITZ AS LEAD COUNSEL Professional, experienced and compassionate legal representation. David Morowitz is an ex-criminal prosecutor who has worked for prosecutor’s offices in Manhattan, Miami, and RI. David drove a yellow taxi cab at night in Manhattan to put himself through college and law school. He then spent 12 years working with law enforcement. He worked in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office for District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, the Miami State Attorney’s Office for State Attorney Janet Reno, and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office for Attorney Generals James E. O’Neil and Jeffrey Pine.

Ronald J. Resmini is one of Rhode Island’s Foremost Trial Attorneys handling cases of personal injury, accident and tort law, having concentrated in this area for more than 50 years. Mr. Resmini was sworn in before the Bar in June, 1969 when he was on leave from the United States Army Security Agency. Following 3 years of active duty, where he attained the rank of Captain, he began a clerkship with the Rhode Island Supreme Court under Justice William E. Powers. As a private practitioner, he became involved in the Indigent Defender Program, was a founder of IOLTA, and a founder of court-annexed arbitration. In addition, he was the Assistant Town Solicitor for the Town of Coventry, as well as a part-time Instructor at Roger Williams School of Law. A Pre-Law Summer Internship with the Neighborhood Legal Service Program provided an added opportunity to be exposed to the needs of the individual. With expertise developed from the clerkship at the RI Supreme Court, the Law Firm of Ronald J. Resmini, Esq., became instrumental in clarifying numerous RI Laws and statutes, as well as successful appeal to the First Circuit Court of Appeals reviewing Habeas Corpus proceedings. Mr. Resmini argued numerous cases before the Rhode Island Court clarifying uninsured motorist law, Public Duty Doctrine, jurisdiction, negligence, insurance coverage, interspousal immunity, physical contact elements for phantom vehicles, and many other clarifications of the law. After producing more than 20 legal handbooks, Mr. Resmini was requested by Butterworth Publishing Company to Author a two-volume treatise entitled, Tort Law and Personal Injury Practice, which is part of the RI Practice Series (Butterworth 1990, with Annual Supplements). Later, Mr. Resmini published a two-volume series entitled, RI Actions and Remedies; a two-volume work on Civil Procedure after the major revision of the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure, entitled RI Civil Practice and Procedure (Michie Law Publishers, 1996, with Annual Supplement). Also, Mr. Resmini has published many articles in the RI Bar Journal and Law Review articles in Suffolk University Law Review, including the Law of Uninsured Motorist Insurance, the Law of Products Liability in Rhode Island, and the Law of Domestic Relations in Rhode Island. For the past 25 years, Mr. Resmini’s firm has enjoyed the Ranking of AV, the highest ranking available through Martindale- Hubbell. Ronald J. Resmini was a Board Examiner for the National Board of Trial Advocacy in 1991. Furthermore, Mr. Resmini has been awarded the honor of Massachusetts Senior Attorney of the Year for the year 2010 when Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and the Massachusetts Bar Association celebrated Excellence in the Law in May, 2010. This is a testament to Mr. Resmini’s hard-work, dedication, and determination seeking justice for his clients and improving the legal profession, not only for his clients, but all attorneys and lawyers alike. He was also awarded the Hall of Fame Award for Excellence in the Law in 2021. Mr. Resmini has been selected to the prestigious “Super Lawyers” list of top attorneys in Rhode Island for year(s) 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a rigorous, multiphase rating process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. In addition, Mr. Resmini has been selected to the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys.The National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys is an organization devoted to recognizing the top Personal Injury attorneys in the nation. With over a million attorneys in the United States, choosing the best lawyer is difficult. However, through a stringent selection process, the NAOPIA awards the best Personal Injury attorneys in each state with our most prestigious honor of being named “TOP 10”. The very few attorneys (less than 1%) that are good enough to make this list have demonstrated an extraordinary amount of knowledge, skill, experience, expertise and success in their practice of Personal Injury. This dedication continues with Mr. Ronald J. Resmini at the helm with the support of his three sons, R. Jason Resmini, Esq., Adam J. Resmini, Esq., and Andrew Resmini, Esq.

My name is Tom Thomasian and I have dedicated my career to practicing criminal defense law in Rhode Island. I did not start out as a private RI defense lawyer but rather as an attorney for the Public Defender’s Office. It was there that I learned I could be a voice for the voiceless. Being a criminal lawyer is about making a system that is overwhelmingly stacked against you, hear what you have to say. It’s about guaranteeing your rights won’t be violated. No person should ever feel bullied by a system that is meant to protect them from police misconduct or overzealous prosecution.

Attorney Kara Hoopis Manosh has devoted her career to defending the rights of the accused, handling numerous cases across Rhode Island's courtrooms. Nationally trained by esteemed organizations like The Institute for Criminal Defense Advocacy and The National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, she brings exceptional expertise to each case. Manosh earned her LL.M in Trial Advocacy from the California Western School of Law, specializing in Federal Criminal Law. Recognized for her outstanding legal acumen with a "Superb" Avvo Rating of 10.0 and acknowledgments from the SuperLawyers organization, she is committed to justice both inside and outside the courtroom. As an Assistant Public Defender at the Rhode Island Office of the Public Defender, Manosh gained extensive experience across various divisions, including Adult Trial and Newport County. Additionally, she has contributed her expertise to organizations like the Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc., and the California Innocence Project. Admitted to the bars of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, as well as the United States District Court for the State of Rhode Island and the First Circuit Court of Appeals, Manosh remains actively involved in court panels. She continues to enhance her knowledge through expert training and collaboration in areas such as neuropsychology, DNA analysis, and criminal street gangs. Committed to helping individuals rebuild their lives after the trauma of criminal accusations, Manosh provides tireless advocacy to every client she represents. With a comprehensive understanding of the law and a compassionate approach to client representation, she remains steadfast in her pursuit of justice.

Since 1982, Attorney Graham has represented clients in many diverse areas of the law. He has represented hundreds of clients in the area of consumer bankruptcy law. In addition, Attorney Graham has represented clients in family court, in criminal matters, in civil matters [especially defending clients being sued for debts in District Court, Superior Court and US District Court], in probate matters and for personal injury cases. Attorney Graham graduated from RI College in 1979 with a BA in History and Political Science, and received his JD from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1982. He has practiced in Oklahoma, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. We take a personal, caring approach with our clients who are not just treated as a file, but as an individual person.

I have been a practicing attorney for the past 37 years, concentrating in Family Law, Personal Injury, Probate and Civil Litigation. If your case is contested, whether it be a divorce, custody, personal injury, or almost any matter requiring litigation, you need a trial lawyer in your corner. I have successfully litigated numerous jury trial (injury cases), and non-jury matters(divorce, custody etc.) Call me for a free initial consult.