Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder, PC

Bios

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  Joel Lichtenstein

  Attorney

  In the book, Damages, author Barry Werth says, "[Joel] Lichtenstein had ... a psychiatrist's empathy, a banker's perspicacity, a doctor's concern..." Joel has devoted his entire legal career to handling medical malpractice cases. To date, he has reviewed more than 30,000 medical malpractice files. For more than 45 years Joel has led Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder's medical malpractice investigation team. Joel is well known for his medical knowledge and his ability to analyze complex medical problems and malpractice cases. Joel was a contributor to the President's Commission on medical malpractice concerning medical malpractice in the 1970s. Prior to joining Koskoff, he worked for five years at a leading plaintiff's firm in New York, and then served as Executive Vice President and Head of Claims for a New York insurance company, in charge of medical malpractice litigation. Joel has been a frequent lecturer to trial lawyer groups on issues relating to the investigation and detection of medical malpractice. He has also lectured to hospital and medical societies concerning liability issues.

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  Carey Reilly

  Attorney

  Carey Reilly has been with the firm for over thirty-five years. What drives her practice of law is the desire to champion the interests of the unheard, the disenfranchised, the forgotten. Leveling the playing field so the "little guy" can fight the establishment on equal terms is the true power of the law in her view. Carey's ability to grasp, advance and argue the law in complex factual settings - both at trial and on appeal -- is the cornerstone of her successful practice. For decades, Carey has fought to expand the time limitations a victim has to sue a negligent party. On this issue alone, she has argued eight times before the Connecticut Supreme Court. One such victory was on behalf of a Koskoff client who was unknowingly infected with the AIDS virus thirteen years earlier when she received a contaminated blood transfusion as a teenager. In this landmark decision, Carey won her client the right to sue. Carey has also fought to change the law, which, due to her efforts, now prohibits gender discrimination in jury selection and allows a person to sue for injuries caused by a social host's negligent service of alcohol to minors. Since 2006, each year Carey has lectured to hundreds of Connecticut trial lawyers regarding the notable Supreme and Appellate decisions of the prior year. She is also an Editor-in-Chief of, and frequent contributor to, the Connecticut trial lawyers' publication FORUM - a thought leadership magazine in the field of trial advocacy that is published twice a year. Carey is a tireless worker and believes in that ability of the law to effect great social change.

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  Josh Koskoff

  Attorney

  Josh represents the third generation of Koskoffs at Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder. Known for his dedication, compassion, and creativity, Josh brings a fresh and unique perspective to all his cases. Like his father and grandfather, Josh believes strongly in the role of the lawyer as a fighter whose sole purpose is to improve his clients’ lives through the legal system. He views the law as working only when it works for all people and not just the powerful. His personal concern for the welfare of each of his clients has won their trust and devotion. Josh has won substantial, record-setting medical malpractice and other verdicts throughout Connecticut and has also taken on powerful interests in cases with national implications. He recently achieved a historic settlement for 9 families of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in a landmark case against the Remington Arms Company: the manufacturer and marketer of the assault rifle used to carry out the attack. The settlement of $73 million was the entire amount of insurance available from the bankrupt company, and to date is the only settlement won against a gun manufacturer for a mass shooting in American History. A major component of the settlement was the right to release internal corporate documents obtained during the lawsuit to the public. Josh also represented Sandy Hook families against controversial "conspiracy theorist" Alex Jones for his false claims that the Sandy Hook shooting was staged and that the families were actors. Last year, Josh and partners Chris Mattei and Alinor Sterling obtained a verdict in the case totaling almost $1.5 billion - the largest verdict in Connecticut history, and the largest defamation verdict in American history. In 2019, Josh filed another groundbreaking lawsuit against Harvard University on behalf of the Connecticut descendant of an enslaved father and daughter who were abused as part of a “scientific study” conducted by a racist Harvard scientist in 1850. Josh won another landmark legal decision when the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recognized for the first time that institutions have a legal duty to treat descendants of enslaved and indigenous people with respect and dignity. He also currently represents 80 women against Yale University in a sprawling drug diversion case that has attracted national attention and spawned the hit podcast series “The Retrievals” by Serial. Regardless of whether it’s a case of national importance, or it involves helping one family cope with catastrophic or life changing loss, Josh feels most rewarded fighting for his clients to try to help them have better and more satisfying lives.

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  Antonio Ponvert III

  Attorney

  With compassion and concern for his clients, Antonio Ponvert III represents child and adult victims of catastrophic personal injury, sexual abuse, wrongful death, deprivation of Constitutional rights, police misconduct, and other abuses of power. He cares deeply about his clients and how their injuries have altered their lives, and is passionately committed to obtaining maximum justice for his clients and to punishing wrongdoers. Since joining Koskoff in 1999, Antonio has earned multiple record-breaking verdicts and settlements, including the second largest personal injury verdict in Connecticut history ($41.75 million) on behalf of a young woman who contracted Tick-Borne Encephalitis on an overseas school trip, a $20 million verdict against a rabbi for child sexual abuse, and the only wrongful death settlement in history with the manufacturer of Skoal smokeless tobacco on behalf of the surviving wife and children of a man who died from tongue cancer. Antonio has won substantial compensation for victims of child sexual abuse at private schools, and for mentally ill prisoners, suicide victims, and people abused and tortured by prison guards and by psychiatric hospital staff. He achieved substantial monetary and injunctive relief for female correctional officers who were victims of sexual harassment and discrimination, and for the Guardians Black Police Officers Association in one of the longest-running race discrimination cases in the nation.

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  Kathleen Nastri

  Attorney

  Kathleen’s focus is on medical malpractice, personal injury, and other complex cases. She is known for the thoroughness she brings to each of her cases, and the compassion and empathy she has for each of her clients. Kathleen has obtained numerous precedent-setting and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, including a $58 Million verdict, the largest medical malpractice verdict in Connecticut history, for a Norwalk family whose son suffered a birth injury that resulted in cerebral palsy. Recently, she won a $12.3 Million verdict for the family of a 5-year-old girl who drowned at the Waterbury Boys & Girls Club. Whether through her commitment to provide the best possible representation to her clients, or her fierce conviction to do whatever she can to protect the civil justice system, Kathleen’s goal is always to make a difference. In 2017, Kathleen was elected President of the American Association of Justice, and she continues to serve on the Association’s Board of Governors. She has also held numerous leadership positions with Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA), including becoming its first woman president in 2003, and is on the editorial board of CTLA’s Forum Magazine.

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  Bill Bloss

  Attorney

  “Bill is one of the outstanding trial lawyers in Connecticut. He is a litigation powerhouse for plaintiffs and, at the same time, has a unique ability to enhance our commitment to lawsuits that promote consumer rights and social justice,” said Atty. Michael Koskoff. Bill Bloss is widely regarded as among the most thoughtful and insightful attorneys in Connecticut, and his advice is widely sought by people across the legal and political spectrum. At Koskoff, Bill concentrates on significant personal injury cases as well as complex civil and criminal litigation in both state and federal courts. Bill has represented individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries, including the loss of limbs, severe burns, spinal cord injuries, blindness, and death of loved ones – all as a result of the negligence of others. Bill also represented Common Cause and Connecticut Citizen Action Group in federal litigation that led to the overhaul of the state primary election system, and he represented the state Comptroller, several members of the General Assembly and a former Governor in elections-related matters. He brings a depth of understanding complex issues to every case he handles. Earlier in his career, Bill served as a law clerk to Senior Judge Robert C. Zampano of the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, and then to Judge Carolyn Dineen King of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Houston.

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  J. Craig Smith

  Attorney

  Craig Smith specializes in cases involving complex legal questions and the vindication of plaintiffs’ rights at both the trial and appellate level. Craig is perhaps best known nationally for representing multiple victims from across the US who have been burned by exploding cooking spray cans, as well as for appearing on behalf of his cousin in a Georgia case before the United States Supreme Court in 2009. This case, Mohawk Industries, Inc. v. Carpenter, 130 S. Ct. 599, 175 L.Ed. 2d 458 (2009) went into the history books both as Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s first written opinion, and also as a substantial victory for civil rights plaintiffs battling large corporate defendants who see to use the appellate process to delay trial. Among a number of multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts, other representative matters include an appearance in front of the Connecticut Supreme Court in a case against a trucking company for the wrongful death of a truck mechanic, a substantial verdict against Ford Motor Company involving fraud in South Carolina, and a $1.7 million verdict against the Town of Darien, CT on behalf of a motorist who was struck by a tree on a town road. Before entering the legal profession, Craig had a successful acting career in the theater, movies, and television. His appearances include roles in the movie Queen, the sequel to Roots, with Martin Sheen and Halle Berry; a regional tour of A Streetcar Named Desire; and the television show The Heat of the Night. Craig hails from Woodstock, Georgia.

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  Alinor Sterling

  Attorney

  Alinor believes the law is a powerful weapon in the fight against injustice, and she has devoted her career to that fight. She represented nine families of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in a landmark case against the Remington Arms Company - the manufacturer of the assault rifle used to carry out the attack. Alongside law partner Josh Koskoff, her work led to the families' settlement of the case for every dollar of available coverage, $73 million, and the right to publicly share Remington's internal documents. The case has been compared to the first tobacco cases, in which documents obtained were used to hold cigarette companies accountable for the public health crisis they had created. Alinor also represents Sandy Hook families in a suit against internet supplements and survival gear salesman Alex Jones for his false claims that the Sandy Hook shooting was a "hoax" and that it was staged by actors. The trial of this case resulted in a judgment of roughly $1.5 billion in favor of the clients. Alinor's appellate wins include Soto v. Bushmaster, the landmark case in which the Connecticut Supreme Court allowed Sandy Hook families' case to proceed against Remington; Lafferty v. Jones, in which the Connecticut Supreme Court affirmed severe sanctions against Jones for abusive litigation conduct; Munn v. The Hotchkiss School, affirming a $41.5 million damages verdict in favor of an injured student; and Gagliano v. Danbury Hospital, confirming a $9.6 million verdict against the hospital based on its resident's negligence. Alinor is presently Vice President of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA). She also co-chairs CTLA's Rules and Amicus committees and has written numerous amicus briefs for CTLA and other organizations that promote civil justice. She is a board member of the International Festival of Arts and Ideas in New Haven.

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  David M. Bernard

  Managing Attorney

  David Bernard is a civil litigator who practices in the areas of personal injury law, products liability, class action litigation and appellate law. David recently won a $10 million verdict for a woman who was in a coma as a result of improperly administered anesthesia during a routine surgery. Prior to joining Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder in 2010, David worked as a creditors' rights attorney at Day Pitney LLP handling all aspects of commercial litigation on behalf of creditors including corporate bankruptcies, restructurings, commercial collections and foreclosures and various other contract disputes. David also has significant experience in family law and education litigation, representing clients in divorces and custody disputes as well as school planning and placement team meetings (PPTs) and disciplinary proceedings. David currently serves on the Woodbridge Board of Education and chairs it's policy committee. He also serves on the Board of Governors of ACES (Active Cooperative Educational Services). He is an active member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, the New Haven Bar Association, New Haven Inns of Court and the American Association for Justice. David received his B.A., with distinction, in 2001 from the University of Michigan and his J.D., with honors, in 2004 from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

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  Christopher M. Mattei

  Attorney

  Chris Mattei is widely regarded as a highly effective courtroom advocate, and has been called upon to handle some of the highest profile trials in the State of Connecticut over the past decade. His areas of focus include civil rights, products liability, catastrophic personal injury and complex civil litigation. Described by one New York Times reporter as an “incredible powerhouse lawyer,” Chris’s practice is devoted to protecting individuals and the public from corporate and institutional abuse. Chris currently serves as lead counsel on behalf Sandy Hook families and first responders against right wing conspiracy theorist, Alex Jones, and the corporate entities involved in promoting the lie that the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax. In 2019, Chris organized and coordinated the defense of 11 protesters in the City of Bridgeport, who were arrested during a memorial demonstration. Chris recruited 11 attorneys to represent the protesters pro bono, and secured dismissals for every defendant. Prior to joining Koskoff in 2015, Chris served as Chief of the Financial Fraud & Public Corruption unit with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut. Chris also directed the Connecticut Public Corruption Task Force, a multi-agency investigative unit tasked with combating corruption at all levels of government, which grew out of several of Chris’s high-profile corruption prosecutions. As an Assistant United States Attorney, Chris oversaw and served as trial counsel in the prosecution of former Governor John G. Rowland and others on campaign finance and obstruction of justice charges. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, Chris supervised ground-breaking investigations and prosecutions of pervasive fraud in the residential mortgage backed securities (“RMBS”) market, including assets that were supported by the federal government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program. Following law school, Chris served as law clerk to United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson.

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  Preston Tisdale

  Attorney

  More than 40 years ago, Preston began his legal career at Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder. He later left to pursue other legal and civic ventures. Preston’s legal accomplishments and his devotion to community service made him a welcome addition back at Koskoff in 2010. Prior to returning to Koskoff, Preston served as the Director of Special Public Defenders for the State of Connecticut, Office of Chief Public Defender. Preston held this position since its inception and administered all Special Public Defender operations and functions within the Division of Public Defender Services. Before this appointment, Preston headed the Fairfield Judicial District Public Defender’s Office. Preston is the President of the Public Justice Foundation. He serves on the Board of Governors of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA)and the American Association for Justice (AAJ), on the Connecticut Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparity in the Criminal Justice System, and has served as a faculty member of both the National Defender Training Program and the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA)Continuing Legal Education Program. He has also served on the Connecticut Supreme Court Chief Justice’s Criminal Justice Committee, on the Connecticut Hate Crimes Advisory Committee. He has served as a member of the CBA Professionalism Committee and the Professional Discipline Section. In other civic capacities, Preston serves on the Boards of Directors for Fairfield County’s Community Foundation and the Bridgeport Public Education Fund, Inc., and on the Advisory Board for the Center for Children’s Advocacy. He is also the Immediate Past Chairperson of Regional Youth/Adult Social Action Partnership (RYASAP) and Vice-Chairman and past Chairman of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA. Preston graduated from Brown University and the New York University School of Law. He is a Past-President of the Brown Alumni Association and a Trustee Emeritus of the Brown University Corporation.

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  Doug Morabito

  Attorney

  Doug joined Koskoff in 2021 after more than 20 years serving the public as an Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut. He is widely known throughout the state for his trial skills, and his thoughtfulness and tenacity in the courtroom, and the deep empathy he shows for all his clients. Doug has extensive trial and appellate experience in both civil and criminal matters. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Doug handled a diverse caseload including matters involving financial fraud, investor fraud, public corruption, healthcare fraud, opioid overdose cases, violent crime, employment discrimination, medical malpractice, and various constitutional cases. Additionally, Doug handled numerous criminal appeals before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. During his time with the government, Doug was the federal Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council coordinator at the U.S. Attorney's Office, and he was responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases relating to national security including international terrorism, domestic terrorism, and cyber matters. In 2007, Doug was detailed for the majority of the year working with the Department of Justice on Rule of Law issues in Iraq within the Iraqi courts. Before becoming a lawyer, Doug developed and supervised mental health, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS prevention programs throughout Fairfield County. Following law school. Doug served as law clerk to United States District Judge Alan H. Nevas. Doug lives on the CT Shoreline with his wife and children.

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  Kelly A. Fitzpatrick

  Attorney

  Kelly joined Koskoff in 2021 after more than a decade of practicing law with an overarching belief that each client deserves personalized, detailed attention to his or her case. She believes that fierce advocacy coupled with compassion is essential for successful resolution of her clients' cases. Throughout her career, Kelly has represented the interests of people across the country who have been harmed by pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices. She also litigates medical malpractice, nursing home and other personal injury cases on behalf of individuals and their families. Kelly believes that vindicating the rights of people is doubly rewarding because, in addition to obtaining financial compensation for her clients, Kelly's advocacy benefits everyone by encouraging and enforcing social responsibility. She believes that the best way to handle her cases is to work cooperatively with her clients. Her success strategy is to listen carefully to her clients, identify the personal challenges and legal issues involved, and work together to arrive at a solution. Because of her experience in the product liability space, in 2016, U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg appointed Kelly to serve on the Plaintiff's Steering Committee in the Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate) and Cialis (Taldalafil) Products Liability Litigation (MDL 2691). After practicing law in New York and New Jersey for several years, she returned to Connecticut where she grew up. She lives in Oxford with her husband and daughter. Kelly enjoys spending time with her family, running, and watching UConn basketball.

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  Jeff Wisner

  Attorney

  Jeff, a physician-attorney, leads Koskoff's medical malpractice investigation team, a team dedicated to researching and filing the firm's medical malpractice claims. Prior to this role, Jeff fought for people suffering as a result of medical malpractice. In more than a dozen of these cases, his work helped secure seven- and eight-figure recoveries against healthcare providers and institutions who mismanaged the treatment of sepsis, acute sickle cell crisis, spinal cord ischemia, cardiac arrythmia, cancers, psychiatric emergencies, kernicterus, and congenital hip dysplasia. Jeff's litigation experience also extends beyond medical malpractice claims. For example, under the leadership of attorneys Josh Koskoff and Alinor Sterling, Jeff helped secure the historic $73-million settlement between nine Sandy Hook families and the Remington Arms Company. Before joining Koskoff as an associate in 2016, Jeff earned concurrent degrees in Law (JD) and Medicine (MD) at the University of Connecticut. He is the first JD-MD in UConn history. While at UConn Law School, Jeff served as Assistant Managing Editor of the Connecticut Law Review (Volume 46) and was presented the CALI Award for top student performance in public health law, intellectual property law, and tort law and alternatives, respectively. Jeff graduated from the UConn School of Medicine after completing in-patient and out-patient rotations in surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology, psychiatry, pediatrics, emergency medicine, radiology, and others. As a medical student, Jeff taught clinical skills to first year medical students and completed cancer research at Johns Hopkins University. Jeff received his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, where he studied anthropology as part of the Medicine and Society Program. As an undergraduate student, Jeff conducted laboratory research of cystic fibrosis (Yale University) and ciliogenesis (Washington University in St. Louis), the latter of which was published in The American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.

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  Sarah Steinfeld

  Associate Attorney

  Sarah Steinfeld started working at Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder in 2015 as the firm's third Theodore I. Koskoff Trial Advocacy Fellow. She joined the firm as an associate in 2017, with a primary focus on medical malpractice cases. Sarah is a strong advocate for justice and is dedicated to preserving that justice for the clients with whom she works. During her fellowship, Sarah joined the Koskoff team bringing suit on behalf of ten families against the manufacturer, distributor, and seller of the weapon used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. She also worked on a variety of medical malpractice, personal injury, and civil rights cases. Sarah is a 2012 graduate of Columbia Law School, where she was a research assistant for several professors and an active board member of the Law Students for Reproductive Justice. While at Columbia, she was a clinic student at the school's Sexuality and Gender Law Clinic and she served as Executive Editor on the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law. Prior to joining Koskoff as a Trial Advocacy Fellow, Sarah was a law clerk to The Honorable Jeffrey Alker Meyer of the U.S. District Court in Bridgeport, CT. Following law school, she joined the U.S. Department of Justice Honors Program as a law clerk in the Boston Immigration Court. Before law school, Sarah worked at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, managing a statewide municipal and legislative advocacy program promoting school-based health education. Sarah received a BA in sociology and gender studies from Oberlin College.

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  Matt Blumenthal

  Associate Attorney

  Matt is a passionate advocate, driven by a commitment to justice, empathy, and improving the lives of others. He handles all matters of litigation and trial in his areas of practice. Matt was the legal architect of, and one of the lead attorneys on, Lafferty v. Jones, the case by a group of Sandy Hook families and a first responder against right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and the corporate entities that spread the lie that the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax. The trial team obtained a $1.4 billion verdict against Jones and his company. As part of his pro bono practice, Matt was a Fellow for the Rule of Law Clinic at Yale Law School. In that role, he supervised work on litigation in the areas of national security, anti-discrimination, climate change, and democracy promotion, which included briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court and lower federal courts. A graduate of Yale Law School, Matt was a law clerk to Hon. Diane P. Wood, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Additionally, Matt serves as State Representative for the 147th District of the Connecticut General Assembly. First elected in 2018, he is Chair of the Government Administration and Elections Committee, former Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee, and the Co-Chair of the Reproductive Rights Caucus. Before law school, Matt served as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, commanding a rifle platoon in Charlie Company, First Battalion, Twenty-Fifth Marines. He deployed to Marjah, Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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  Colin Antaya

  Associate Attorney

  Colin is a strong advocate with a drive for obtaining justice for his clients and making the world a safer and better place for all. Before joining Koskoff, Colin was a legal fellow at the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), where he focused on the development of legal and policy approaches to reduce the use of pesticides in New England. His fellowship was funded by the Arthur Liman Center for Public Interest Law at Yale Law School. Following law school, Colin clerked for the Honorable Steven D. Ecker of the Connecticut Supreme Court. Colin received his J.D. from Yale Law School in 2019. While in law school, he was co-director of the International Refugee Assistance Project and a member of the Housing Clinic. He served as a legal intern for Community Legal Services of Philadelphia and for the Boston District Court Public Defender's Office. Colin also earned a master's degree in 2019 in Public Administration from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Colin graduated summa cum laude from Rhodes College with a B.A. in Philosophy and History.

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  Lorena Gullotta

  Associate Attorney

  Lorena is the first attorney at Koskoff to work her way up through various positions within the firm, starting as a legal assistant in 2014, then paralegal in 2019, a Trial Advocacy Fellow in 2020, and now an associate attorney. As a legal assistant she cultivated a comprehensive knowledge of appellate, federal, and state civil procedure and was instrumental in helping prepare cases for trial and appeal. As a paralegal Lorena focused primarily on the lawsuit against the gun manufacturer of the weapon used in the Sandy Hook School shooting. Now a 2020 graduate from Quinnipiac University School of Law, Lorena continues her involvement in the Sandy Hook lawsuit while providing support in other high profile cases. Lorena’s passion for serving clients and dedication to excellence make her a valuable asset to these cases. Before becoming an attorney, Lorena worked at Koskoff while simultaneously attending law school. She was a member of Quinnipiac’s Mock Trial and Society for Dispute Resolution competition teams. Prior to Law School, Lorena was a member of the St. Bellarmine Pre-Law society at Fairfield University where she graduated cum laude with dual degrees in Politics and International Studies, and minors in Peace & Justice Studies, Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, and Asian Studies.

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  Katie Mesner-Hage

  Associate Attorney

  Katie Mesner-Hage began her career at Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder in 2013 as the firm’s first Theodore I. Koskoff Public Interest Fellow, and then as an associate. With her blend of empathy for her clients and passion for justice, Katie quickly became a valuable asset to the firm. After several years pursuing other legal ventures, she was a welcome addition back to the Koskoff team in 2023. During her fellowship, Katie became an integral member of the team that brought suit against the manufacturer, distributor, and seller of the weapon used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on behalf of ten families. Katie was recognized by the Connecticut Law Tribune in its 2015 Personal Injury Hall of Fame for her work with Josh Koskoff in obtaining an 8 million dollar verdict against a physician who failed to diagnose and treat a patient's depression, resulting in his suicide. Katie is a 2013 graduate of Yale Law School, where she was a finalist in the Harlan Fiske Stone Moot Court and a member of Yale's nationally-competitive Trial Advocacy Team. During her time at Yale, Katie worked with the Office of the Public Defender in New Haven and spent her summers in Louisiana and Texas representing indigent clients on death row. Katie was named a Connecticut Bar Foundation Fellow in recognition of her commitment to public interest law. In 2012, Katie served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Shira Scheindlin of the Southern District of New York. Prior to law school, Katie worked as a paralegal for a civil rights law firm in Washington D.C.

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  Erik Siegel

  Associate Attorney

  Erik is a dedicated advocate for his clients, motivated by their daily struggles and a desire to help them improve their lives. Erik is experienced in all aspects of building a successful case - from finding the best experts and asking the hard questions, to seeing the case through at trial. He has handled many significant wrongful death, birth injury, misdiagnosis, and other medical malpractice cases, and has recovered millions of dollars for his clients. Erik began his legal career at Koskoff as a summer associate over a decade ago. He went on to work at other Connecticut trial firms and rejoined the Koskoff team in 2023. In 2018, Erik was named a Connecticut Rising Star by Super Lawyers, and has continued to receive that honor every year since.

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  Skylar Albertson

  Theodore I. Koskoff Fellow

  Skylar joined Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder in 2022 as a Theodore I. Koskoff Trial Advocacy Fellow. Since graduating from Yale Law School in 2018, Skylar has gained valuable experience in many aspects of the law -- facilitating the expansion of the Bail Project as an Arthur Liman Public Interest Fellow, and clerking for the Honorable Guido Calabresi of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Honorable Janet Hall of the District of Connecticut. Most recently, he co-supervised students working on litigation and research projects related to criminal defense and prison conditions as a Curtis-Liman Clinical Fellow at Yale Law School. While in law school Skylar worked in various areas of criminal and civil law as a legal intern, and as a student director of the Criminal Justice Clinic.

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  Luke Reynolds

  Theodore I. Koskoff Fellow

  Luke began his legal career at Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder as a summer associate in 2020. He joined Koskoff again in 2023 as a Theodore I. Koskoff Public Interest Fellow. Before joining Koskoff, Luke clerked for the Honorable Raheem Mullins of the Connecticut Supreme Court. Prior to clerking, Luke served as the deputy director of Desegregate Connecticut, a legal nonprofit advancing statewide land use reforms to improve housing access and affordability. While in law school, Luke represented indigent clients through the University of Connecticut Criminal Defense Clinic, served as President of the Public Interest Law Group, and provided legal research and support to the Connecticut Hate Crimes Advisory Council. Before law school, Luke managed and developed homelessness housing and shelter in Seattle, Washington. Luke graduated cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross with dual degrees in Economics and Political Science.

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