VINCENT M. DEANGELO
"During my freshman year in college I chose to become an attorney. It was clear to me that attorneys were in one of the best positions to bring about improvements in society. Law school showed me that working as a civil trial attorney was a challenging and fulfilling means to accomplish my dream of helping others. Throughout my career my clients' best interests have always been my first priority. While serving my clients I have also tried to find ways to create general social good from each particular case.
Today, I devote my legal skills primarily to medical malpractice cases. I litigate selected cases of medical malpractice because I believe that such lawsuits can and do affect the way medicine is practiced: by exposing poor practitioners and leading to changes in doctors' practices or hospital procedures. I firmly believe that one of the best ways to be of use to people who look to the legal system is by being a leader in healthcare education and reform. That is why I devote a large portion of this website to education in select areas of medical care."
ADVANCED CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION
Although the State of Connecticut (unlike most other states) has no requirement that lawyers participate in any continuing legal education once they have graduated from law school, Mr. DeAngelo strongly believes that in order to be an effective advocate for his clients continuing legal education is irreplaceable, and he has demonstrated this to a level that few can match.
Mr. DeAngelo is a Diplomate with the National College of Advocacy of the American Association for Justice. Mr. DeAngelo is one of only 100 such Diplomates in the United States. He earned this designation by his ongoing commitment to continuing legal education which assures his clients and colleagues that he is practicing law at the highest caliber. To achieve this distinction, Mr. DeAngelo attended over 400 hours of continuing legal education courses, including a week-long, intensive trial advocacy course reserved for experienced trial attorneys.
Mr. DeAngelo is also Board Certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy ("NBTA"). NBTA is the only agency recognized by the State of Connecticut to certify specialists in the fields of Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation and Workers Compensation. He achieved his first certification as a Civil Trial Specialist in 1993 and subsequently qualified for re-certification in 1998, 2003 and 2008. Currently, there are only about 100 attorneys in the state of Connecticut who have been certified as Civil Trial Specialists by the NBTA.
Mr. DeAngelo also served for a decade as an actively participating faculty member on an annual Trial Advocacy Course sponsored jointly by the Connecticut Bar Association and The National Institute of Trial Advocacy.
Finally, Mr. DeAngelo has earned a certificate in Advanced Studies in Trial Advocacy through the National College of Advocacy. This is a customized program of continuing legal education which requires completion of courses dealing with both substantive and practical subjects. When he received his certificate in July, 2010, Mr. DeAngelo became one of only 12 attorneys in the entire country to have achieved this distinction.
BACKGROUND
Born in New York City in 1952, Mr. DeAngelo has been a Connecticut resident since his family moved to Fairfield in 1957. After graduating from Georgetown University Law School, he was admitted to the Connecticut bar in 1977, the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in 1978, and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in 1979.
Mr. DeAngelo has been in private practice in Connecticut since 1977, and has been active in the field of civil litigation for over 30 years. During his first 15 years as an attorney he worked on behalf of insurance companies defending automobile cases and claims of professional malpractice involving architects, engineers and doctors. For the last 17 years Mr. DeAngelo has represented plaintiffs - the people injured as a result of others' wrongdoing. His main focus for the last 10 years has been in the areas of complex civil litigation, including medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, and serious personal injury resulting from automobile collisions. His clients receive the benefit of an attorney who has worked on both sides of the courtroom aisle: defending cases for insurance companies and pursuing cases for people injured by the carelessness of insurance company policyholders.
EDUCATION
University of Toronto, B.A. of Philosophy (1974)
Georgetown University, Juris Doctorate (1977)
MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Connecticut Bar Association, Executive Committee of the Litigation Section
Hartford County Bar Association
Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association
American Association for Justice
Oliver Ellsworth Inns of Court 1995-Present, President 1999-2000
Certified Civil Trial Specialist with the
American Board of Trial Advocacy 1995-Present
PAST COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Treasurer and Chairman, City of Hartford Housing Authority
Board of Trustees for Catholic Charities/Catholic Family Services
