Bridgeport Law Firm, MeehanLaw, LLC

Richard T. Meehan Senior Partner
Phone: 203-333-1888

Email: Richard T. Meehan ›

Bachelor of Arts, University of Notre Dame, 1970
Juris Doctor, with honors, University of Connecticut, 1974
Admitted to practice in State and Federal Courts in Connecticut, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, United States Supreme Court.
Currently the managing partner in MeehanLaw, LLC Bridgeport, Connecticut, with a concentration in criminal and civil litigation, appellate work, and labor relations.The firm and Richard T. Meehan, Jr., individually, have received an AV rating (Pre-Eminent–Highest Rating) by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory for over twenty five years.
AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, 1988-Present.
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2013-Present.
Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2011-Present. Connecticut State Chairman
Charter Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, 2007- Present.
Fellow, American College of Board Certified Lawyers, 2013- Present.
Member, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) 2014-
Certified Criminal Trial Specialist, National Board of Legal Specialty Certification, November, 1994; recertified 1999; 2004, 2009, 2014.
Certified Civil Trial Specialist, National Board of Legal Specialty Certification, December, 2009, recertified 2014.
The National Trial Lawyers, Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Connecticut, 2010- present.
Advisory Board, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2002- present.
Fact Finder and Arbitrator, Connecticut Superior Court, 1999 – Present.
Adjunct Professor of Law, Quinnipiac University, School of Law, Hamden, Connecticut, 1997-2000; Criminal Trial Practice.
Adjunct Associate Professor – Paralegal Studies Program – Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut, 1976-79.
Clerk, Hon. Herbert S. MacDonald, Justice, Connecticut Supreme Court, 1974-75.
Board of Editors, University of Connecticut Law Review 1972-73, Research and Special Projects Editor – 1973-74.
Recipient: United Way Community Builders Award, 2002; Catholic Charities Volunteer of the Year Award, 2000; Connecticut Magazine Super Lawyers, 2006-present (voted Top Fifty Lawyers, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2014); New England Super Lawyers 2007-present; American Jurisprudence Award for Torts, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company, 1972, American Jurisprudence Award in Advanced Criminal Procedure, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company, 1972, American Jurisprudence Award – Contracts, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company, 1972. AVVO Client Satisfaction Award, 2014. American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, Ten Best, Client Satisfaction Award, 2014.
Member of the Connecticut Bar Association; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association; Greater Bridgeport Bar Association (Executive Committee 1982, 1987-90, Chairman – Criminal Law Section 1981-82, 84-85, President 1986-87). Motorcycle Injury Trial Lawyers Association.
Member, Connecticut Bar Association, Federal Judiciary Committee, Lawyer to Lawyer Dispute Resolution Committee, Media and the Law Committee. Chairman, Human Trafficking Committee
Member, Irish 100 Trial Lawyers
Board of Aldermen, City of Bridgeport 1975-79.President Bridgeport Common Council, 1977-79.Commissioner, Bridgeport Airport Commission 1977-79.
Bar Registry of Pre-Eminent Lawyers; Who’s Who in American Law; Who’s Who in Society; Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders in America; Who’s Who in Connecticut; Who’s Who in the East
Greater Bridgeport Bar Association Grievance Task Force, 1996-97
Lecturer, Connecticut Trial Lawyer’s Association, “Ethics for the CriminalPractitioner; how to keep from getting your ticket punched” April 2008
Lecturer, Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists, “Law and the Media” 2005, 2006
Lecturer, Greater Bridgeport Bar Association Seminar -“Criminal Practice–The Rules Have Changed” – December 11, 1995
Lecturer – Greater Bridgeport Bar Association Seminar
– “An Alphabet Soup Guide to the G.A.” – January 31, 1994
Lecturer – Greater Bridgeport Bar Association Seminar – “Pretrial Diversion Programs and Alternative Dispositions in Criminal Cases” – 1989
Lecturer – Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association – People’s Law School, Fairfield University 1988 – Present.
Lecturer in Criminal Law – Fairfield County Detective School 1988 – 1989
“Criminal Procedure Rules Changes” Greater Bridgeport Bar Association News Brief, October, 1995
Opinion Columnist, “Another View” Norwich Bulletin, 2007-present; periodic column discussing law related topics
Columnist, “Due Process” CtPost.com, 2009-present
Mr. Meehan recently authored a peer reviewed chapter in a treatise entitled, The Biggest Legal Mistakes Physicians Make, and How to Avoid Them, SEAK Publishing, 2005.He has authored peer reviewed chapters on RICO (Racketeering), Conspiracy, and Insanity and the Death Penalty, in a legal anthology recently published by the University of Tennessee entitled, The American Encyclopedia of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
Partner, M&M Associates, real estate partnership, 1979 – Present
Founder and Director, Christian Tomas Meehan Hope Foundation for SIDS– creator, Hopeline for SIDS; a collaborative effort training and making available to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)parents first responders, including pastoral or secular counseling as well as medical and legal consultants
President, Advisory Board of Catholic Family Services of Fairfield County, 1997- 2004
Advisory Board, Notre Dame High School, Fairfield, Connecticut 1992 – 2000; 2007- 2010
Assistant Boy’s Varsity Basketball Coach, Notre Dame High School, Fairfield, Connecticut, 1999-2001
Coach, Junior High School Boy’s and Girl’s Basketball, St. James, Stratford, Connecticut 1983-1989;
Coach, Junior High School Boy’s Basketball, St. Lawrence School, Shelton, Connecticut 1990-2006
Bridgeport North End Little League, 1978 – 1985
Shelton American Little League 1985 – 1993
Shelton Flag Football League, Coach 1986 – 2005
Vice President – 1991 – 1995
Married to Kathy Lynn Mucci.Children:Michael, 45; Brian, 42; Daniel, 38; Timothy, 34; Richard, 24.
Representative cases before the Connecticut Appellate and Supreme Courts:
- McBurney v. Paquin, SC 18345 (CT. S. Ct., Oct. 4, 20011)
- State v. Jennings, 101 Conn. App. 810 (2007)
- Efthimiou v. Smith, 268 Conn. 499 (2004)
- State v. Hall, 82 Conn. App. 435 (2004)
- State v. Orhan, 52 Conn. App. 231 (1999)
- State v. Vega, 48 Conn. App. 178 (1998)
- State v. Smith, 46 Conn. App. (1997)
- Muller v. Muller, 43 Conn. App. 327 (1996)
- State v. Miller, 34 Conn. App. 258 (1994)
- State v. Rogers, 18 Conn. App. 104 (1989)
- State v. Boucino, 199 Conn. 207 (1986)
- State v. Cardona, 6 Conn. App. 124 (1986)
- State v. Sharpe, 195 Conn. 651 (1985)
- State v. Thompson, 5 Conn. App. 157 (1985)
- State v. Maiocco, 5 Conn. App. 347 (1985)
- State v. Cassidy, 3 Conn. App. 374 (1985)
- State v. West, 192 Conn. 488 (1984)
- State v. Falby, 187 Conn. 6 (1982)
- State v. Graham, 186 Conn. 437 (1982)
- State v. Kish, 186 Conn. 757 (1982)
- State v. Conger, 183 Conn. 386 (1981)
- State v. Gaynor, 182 Conn. 501 (1980)
- State v. Cosgrove, 181 Conn. 562 (1980)
- Norwalk Vault Co. v. Mountain Grove Cemetery, 180 Conn. 680, 1980
- Liptak v. State, 176 Conn. 320 (1978)
- Sanchione v. Sanchione, 173 Conn. 397 (1977)
- State v. Huot, 170 Conn. 463 (1976)
Mr. Meehan has been a featured speaker with a number of civic organizations and has appeared as a guest and legal commentator on Good Morning America, Open Court with Lisa Bloom, Best Defense with Jami Floyd, Courtside with Ashleigh Banfield and Jack Ford, TruTV (formerly CourtTv); Fox Cable News; The O’Reilly Factor; Connecticut Newsmakers, NBC-WVIT;WTNH; WFSB; as well as being a frequent guest on statewide radio talk shows, including WTIC 10080 Talk Radio, WICC, WNLK.He has been featured as a legal analyst on CNN, NBC, as well as by the Associated Press, the New York Times, The Connecticut Law Tribune, and other print and broadcast media.His editorial comments have been featured in the Connecticut post