Jim Bergenn's practice is comprised of complex criminal and civil litigation, including white collar crime and government investigations, substantial personal injury and wrongful death cases, and other trials involving substantial consequences. Using his over 30 years of experience as a trial attorney and instructor, he is called upon regularly to use his trial skills, and experience with investigations and experts in diverse significant cases.
Jim handles a wide range of criminal cases, representing targets of investigations, criminal defendants, grand jury and other witnesses, and corporate and individual victims of crimes. He works in cases prosecuted by the gamut of federal, state and local authorities, such as the US Attorney's Office, The Chief State's Attorney's Office, State and Federal Grand Juries, the FBI, the State Police, the SEC, the DEA, the ATF, the DOD, the IRS, the FDA, the FTC, the Office of Inspector General for various Federal Agencies, the various state regulators such as the Attorney General, the DEP, the DOH, the DMR, the DCF, the Office of Consumer Protection, and the local police.
In the Personal Injury area, he represents people in all types of personal injury cases including accidents involving motor vehicles and motorcycles, products and premises liability, construction accidents, drownings, boating accidents environmental hazards and medical malpractice. He handles sexual assault cases on behalf of both adult and children victims. The injuries in the cases he has prosecuted include death, burns, RSD, paralysis, blindness and Legionnaire's disease. He uses technology to help jurors understand in simple terms what might otherwise be complex, including video reconstruction, videotaped depositions, and clear use of illustrations, charts, maps and highlighted documentary evidence. Most of his cases use expert witnesses, including accident reconstruction experts, and economic and medical experts to establish damages.
Distinctions
· Connecticut Statewide Grievance Committee for New Haven Ethics Panel
· CBA Task Force on Confidentiality and the Courts Commission
· State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, Advisory Commission on Wrongful Convictions
· President's Award, Catholic University of America
· AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
· Listed as a Connecticut Super Lawyer®: Criminal Defense: White Collar, Personal Injury Plaintiff: General, Business Litigation; 2006-2012
· Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar; 2009-2012
· Chosen as a member of The Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a voluntary membership organization that admits only attorneys who have won million dollar verdicts or settlements, and of which fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members
Professional Affiliations
· American Bar Association
· Connecticut Bar Association: Executive Committee of Criminal Justice Section; Chair of Media and Law Committee
· Hartford County Bar Association
· National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
· Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
· Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association: Board of Governors
Community Involvement
· American Constitution Society Lawyers Steering Committee
· Town of Glastonbury: Former Conservation Commissioner
· Town of Glastonbury: Former Chairman, Democratic Town Committee
· Town of Glastonbury: Former Boys and girls soccer and basketball coach
· Lector and Religious Education Instructor
· Hartford Apartment Improvement Program, Inc.: Former Board President
· Connecticut Friends for ALS Research
Experience
Criminal Defense Litigation
Conviction Overturned
Overturned Criminal Conviction
Won Sole Acquittal in Wells Fargo Robbery by Puerto Rican Independence Revolutionaries
Defense of Federal Money-Laundering Charges
Wrongful Death/Catastrophic Injury Litigation
$3,500,000 SETTLEMENT - Bicycling Crash - Catastrophic Traumatic Brain Injury
$1,850,000 SETTLEMENT - Boating Accident - Regional Pain Syndrome (RSD)
$1,700,000 SETTLEMENT - Fatality Resulting from Domestic Dispute
$1,500,000 SETTLEMENT - Medical Malpractice - Failure to Diagnose
$1,100,000 SETTLEMENT - Motor Vehicle Accident - Permanent Traumatic Brain Injury
Multi-Million Dollar Personal Injury Settlement
Other
Purchase and Redevelopment of Approximately 400 Acres of Property in the Town of Preston, Connecticut
Takings and Eminent Domain
Settlement of Nationally Certified Class Action
Car Accident Claim Reduced from $1.2 Million to $1,000 Award
Appointed Special Prosecutor in State Police Conduct Case
Reversal of Federal Bribery Conviction Before the Second Circuit
Resolution of Fraud and Abuse Claims
"Trial Lawyers Care" Attorney
Dispute with Construction Project Architects
Representation of CEOs and Other Senior Executives
Bonus Payments
Eight-figure Settlement in a National Class Action Lawsuit for Breach of Contract and Deceptive Practices Claims
Publications
July 13, 2007, Truth Hard To Find When Investigating Political Corruption
News
September 2, 2011, "Best Lawyers in America" Recognizes 30 Lawyers from the Firm
April 2011, 35 Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named a "Top Lawyer" in Hartford County
October 28, 2010, "Super Lawyers" Recognizes 47 Lawyers From Shipman & Goodwin LLP
September 23, 2010, "Best Lawyers In America" Recognizes 27 Lawyers from Shipman & Goodwin LLP
June 28, 2010, Bike Crash Case Has Lessons For Reluctant Lawyers
June 27, 2010, Stan Simpson Show: Perez Verdict
October 27, 2009, Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named 2010 Connecticut Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
August 10, 2009, 25 Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Recognized as "2010 Best Lawyers in America"
March 2, 2009, Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named 2009 Connecticut Super Lawyers & Rising Stars and Featured in Connecticut Magazine
January 15, 2009, Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys James W. Bergenn and William J. Ronalter Named to Million Dollar Advocates Forum
December 4, 2008, Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Recognized as "2009 Best Lawyers in America"
November 7, 2008, Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named 2009 Connecticut Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
August 22, 2008, New England Estates v. Town of Branford case - Final brief filed
April 25, 2008, Attorneys Named By Super Lawyers®
September 11, 2007, New England Estates v. Town of Branford Litigation
February 1, 2006, Thirty-Five Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named Connecticut "Super Lawyers®"
Events
March 15, 2012 , Continuing Legal Education Seminar
March 24, 2010, Fraud Awareness and Prevention in The Legal Community
November 7, 2008, Raising the Bar: A Bench Bar Symposium on Professionalism in the Judicial District of Hartford
February 25, 2006, International Civil Litigation and the USA Including White Collar Criminal Issues
February 25, 2006, White Collar Criminal Issues
February 1, 2006, Media and the Law
October 25, 2004, Connecticut Environmental Laws & Regulations
Connecticut Trial Advocacy