Richard T. Meehan Jr.

Richard T. Meehan, Jr. has established himself as one of the top trial attorneys in the State of Connecticut since his admission to the Bar in 1974. Richard T. Meehan, Jr. has excelled in the practice of law in successfully representing clients in criminal and civil cases. His skill and achievements have led to Richard T. Meehan, Jr. being certified as a CRIMINAL TRIAL SPECIALIST by the NATIONAL BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCACY (NBTA). Board certification is given only after a thorough screening of the credentials and trial abilities of an applicant, including: documentation of their experience, judicial and peer references, and after successful completion of a rigorous examination. Possessing the NBTA certificate means that the lawyer has been held to a higher standard of professional and personal conduct. NBTA lawyers maintain active trial practices and are required to submit a disclosure of misconduct annually, and meet the criteria for recertification every five years. Mr. Meehan, Jr. has successfully defended clients in many of the most highly publicized criminal cases in Connecticut. His widely recognized legal abilities have enabled Richard T. Meehan, Jr. to obtain multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in complex medical and dental malpractice and personal injury litigation. His success in personal injury cases has been featured in professional periodicals, as well as statewide print and broadcast media. Mr. Meehan's 2.6 million-dollar verdict against a surgeon, in 1995, is reputed to be one of the largest awards against a single physician in Connecticut to date. That case has been featured in the national media, and was the subject of an investigative series on Channel 3, Eyewitness News. His recent 1.2 million-dollar settlement for a machine operator who suffered a traumatic amputation is reported to be the largest tort recovery against an employer despite the limitations of Workers Compensation. Mr. Meehan has made a significant contribution to the development of Connecticut caselaw in a number of appellate cases, having argued before the Connecticut Supreme Court and the Connecticut Appellate Court on twenty-five appeals. Mr. Meehan also served as a consultant to the Rules Committee of the Superior Court in the drafting of the Rules of Practice in Criminal Cases first published in 1976. He is a Past President of the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, the youngest member then elected to this prestigious position. He has lectured frequently to the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association-People's Law School, Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, and Fairfield County Detectives School, and has held appointments as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Legal Studies Program at Sacred Heart University, and as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Quinnipiac College School of Law, where he teaches an advanced criminal trial practice course. In addition, he has served as an Alderman for the City of Bridgeport from 1974-1979 and during that time was twice elected President of the Bridgeport Common Council, a position second in authority to only the Mayor. Richard T. Meehan, Jr. is admitted to practice in the State of Connecticut as well as the United Stated District Court for the District of Connecticut, Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Meehan has served as a volunteer Special Master in the Superior Court, conducting settlement conferences in personal injury cases, as well as having served on numerous panels as an arbitrator. In 1999 Mr. Meehan was appointed as a Fact Finder and Arbitrator for the Superior Court by the Chief Court Administrator. Mr. Meehan is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, and the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Mr. Meehan began his legal career as a law clerk to Justice Herbert MacDonald of the Connecticut Supreme Court. A 1974 honors graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law, Mr. Meehan served as Research and Special Projects Editor of the Connecticut Law Review, and was the recipient of awards for excellence in the fields of Torts, Contracts and Criminal Procedure. Mr. Meehan has been recognized in Who's Who in American Law; Who's Who in Connecticut, Who's Who in Society; Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America and the Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers. Mr. Meehan has served as a volunteer to numerous organizations throughout Fairfield County, most recently as President of the Advisory Board for Catholic Family Services. In addition, the father of five sons, he has been active in community youth organizations for the past twenty-five years. He has served as an officer and coach for the Shelton Youth Flag Football League and as assistant coach for the Boy's Varsity Basketball Team for Notre Dame High School of Fairfield. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Richard T. Meehan Jr. included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Lifetime achievement Award by the Conn Law Tribune, 2020 - Present AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, 1988 - 2021 10 Best Attorneys, American Institute of Personal Injury Lawyers, 2019 - 2021 Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2013 - 2021 Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2011 - 2021 Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, 2007 - 2021 Fellow, American College of Board Certified Lawyers, 2013 - 2021 Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Connecticut, The National Trial Lawyers, 2010 - 2021 Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Lifetime Achievement Award, The National Trial Lawyers, 2018 - 2021 Excellence in Medical Malpractice Award, Lawyers of Distinction, 2018 - 2021 Top Ten Criminal Defense Attorneys, Nationally Ranked, National Academy of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2017 - 2021 AVVO Rating 10/10 Recipient, United Way Community Builders Award, 2002 - 2021 Catholic Charities Volunteer of the Year Award, 2000 - 2021 Super Lawyers, Connecticut Magazine, 2006 - 2021 Top Fifty Lawyers, 2006, 2012, 2013 New England Super Lawyers, 2007 - 2021 American Jurisprudence Award for Torts, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company, 1972 - 2021 American Jurisprudence Award in Advanced Criminal Procedure, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company, 1972 - 2021 American Jurisprudence Award, Contracts, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company, 1972 - 2021 AVVO Client Satisfaction Award, 2014 - 2021 Ten Best, Client Satisfaction Award, American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, 2014 - 2021 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 Other Sources of Feedback About Richard T. Meehan Jr. Included on the 2025Connecticut Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2024 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2023 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2022 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2021 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2020 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2019 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2018 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2017 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2016 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2015 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2014 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2013 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2012 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2011 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2010 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2009 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2008 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2007 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2006 Connecticut Super Lawyers list

• Managing Partner

• Hon. Herbert S. MacDonald, Justice, Connecticut Supreme Court, Clerk, 1974 - 1975
• Bridgeport Airport Commission, Commissioner, 1977 - 1979

• Fact Finder and Arbitrator, Connecticut Superior Court, 1999 - Present
• Adjunct Professor of Law, Criminal Trial Practice, Quinnipiac University, School of Law, Hamden, Connecticut, 1997 - 2000
• Adjunct Associate Professor, Paralegal Studies Program, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut, 1976 - 1979
• Lecturer, Ethics for the Criminal Practitioner; how to keep from getting your ticket punched, Connecticut Trial Lawyer’s Association, 2008
• Lecturer, Law and the Media, Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists, 2005 - 2006
• Lecturer, Criminal Practice–The Rules Have Changed, Greater Bridgeport Bar Association Seminar, December 11, 1995
• Lecturer, An Alphabet Soup Guide to the G.A., Greater Bridgeport Bar Association Seminar, January 31, 1994
• Lecturer, Pretrial Diversion Programs and Alternative Dispositions in Criminal Cases, Greater Bridgeport Bar Association Seminar, 1989
• Lecturer, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association – People’s Law School, Fairfield University, 1988 - Present
• Lecturer, Criminal Law, Fairfield County Detective School, 1988 - 1989
• Criminal Procedure Rules Changes, Greater Bridgeport Bar Association News Brief, 1995
• Opinion Columnist, “Another View”, Norwich Bulletin, 2007 - Present
• Columnist, “Due Process” com, 2009 - Present

• State v. Damato-Kushel, CT. S. Ct.
• Year: 2017
• McBurney v. Paquin, SC 18345 (CT. S. Ct.)
• Year: 2011
• State v. Jennings, 101 Conn. App. 810
• Year: 2007
• Efthimiou v. Smith, 268 Conn. 499
• Year: 2004
• State v. Hall, 82 Conn. App. 435
• State v. Orhan, 52 Conn. App. 231
• Year: 1999
• State v. Vega, 48 Conn. App. 178
• Year: 1998
• State v. Smith, 46 Conn. App.
• Year: 1997
• Muller v. Muller, 43 Conn. App. 327
• Year: 1996
• State v. Miller, 34 Conn. App. 258
• Year: 1994
• State v. Rogers, 18 Conn. App. 104
• Year: 1989
• State v. Boucino, 199 Conn. 207
• Year: 1986
• State v. Cardona, 6 Conn. App. 124
• State v. Sharpe, 195 Conn. 651
• Year: 1985
• State v. Thompson, 5 Conn. App. 157
• State v. Maiocco, 5 Conn. App. 347
• State v. Cassidy, 3 Conn. App. 374
• State v. West, 192 Conn. 488
• Year: 1984
• State v. Falby, 187 Conn. 6
• Year: 1982
• State v. Graham, 186 Conn. 437
• State v. Kish, 186 Conn. 757
• State v. Conger, 183 Conn. 386
• Year: 1981
• State v. Gaynor, 182 Conn. 501
• Year: 1980
• State v. Cosgrove, 181 Conn. 562
• Norwalk Vault Co. v. Mountain Grove Cemetery, 180 Conn. 680
• Liptak v. State, 176 Conn. 320
• Year: 1978
• Sanchione v. Sanchione, 173 Conn. 397
• Year: 1977
• State v. Huot, 170 Conn. 463
• Year: 1976

• Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
• City of Bridgeport, Board of Aldermen, 1975 - 1979
• Bridgeport Common Council, President, 1977 - 1979
• Christian Tomas Meehan Hope Foundation for SIDS, Founder
• Christian Tomas Meehan Hope Foundation for SIDS, Director
• Advisory Board of Catholic Family Services of Fairfield County, President, 1997 - 2004
• Notre Dame High School, Fairfield, Connecticut, Advisory Board, 1992 – 2000; 2007- 2010
• Notre Dame High School, Fairfield, Connecticut, Assistant Boy’s Varsity Basketball Coach, 1999 - 2001
• Junior High School Boy’s and Girl’s Basketball, St. James, Stratford, Connecticut, Coach, 1983 - 1989
• Junior High School Boy’s Basketball, St. Lawrence School, Shelton, Connecticut, Coach, 1990 - 2006
• Bridgeport North End Little League, 1978 - 1985
• Shelton American Little League, 1985 - 1993
• Shelton Flag Football League, Coach, 1986 - 2005
• Shelton Flag Football League, Vice President, 1991 - 1995

• Connecticut, 1974
• U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1975
• U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 1975
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1980
• Specialties and Certifications
• Certified Civil Trial Specialist, NBTA, 2009
• Certified Pre-Trial Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2009, 2014
• Certified Civil Trial Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2009, 2014

• American Board of Trial Advocates, 2014 - Present (Member)
• American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, 2014 - Present
• Bridgeport Bar Association
• Connecticut Bar Association (Member)
• Connecticut Bar Association, Federal Judiciary Committee (Member)
• Connecticut Bar Association, Human Trafficking Committee (Chairman)
• Connecticut Bar Association, Lawyer to Lawyer Dispute Resolution Committee (Member)
• Connecticut Bar Association, Media and the Law Committee (Member)
• Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (Member)
• Connecticut Judicial Review Council, 2018 - Present (Alternate Member)
• Connecticut Judicial Review Council, 2016 - 2018 (Chairman)
• Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association (Member)
• Fairfield County Bar Association
• Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, Criminal Law Section (Chairman, 1981 - 1982, 1984 - 1985)
• Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, Executive Committee, 1982, 1987 - 1990
• Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, 1986 - 1987 (President)
• Greater Bridgeport Bar Association Grievance Task Force, 1996 - 1997
• International Academy of Trial Lawyers (Connecticut State Chairman)
• Motorcycle Injury Trial Lawyers Association
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Member)
• National Board of Trial Advocacy, Advisory Board
• Trial Law Institute & Member, Diversity Law Institute (Member)