Falivene, Thomas H.

A member of the firm, Joseph Packtor has been an active trial lawyer in Connecticut for twenty years. Widely known among judges and other lawyers as a consummate courtroom lawyer, Joe has been selected by his peers for membership in "Connecticut Superlawyers." His practice focuses on helping people injured in accidents or by medical malpractice obtain full compensation for their losses.

In trials and mediations throughout Connecticut, Joe has recovered substantial verdicts and settlements for his injured clients. Joe has a success rate in jury trials of over 90%. His cases include the following: a 1.5 million dollar jury verdict for a teacher who sustained a disabling back injury in an auto collision on I-91; a multi-million dollar recovery for a child who suffered brain injuries following an assault by an improperly discharged psychiatric patient; a multi-million dollar wrongful death medical malpractice recovery following a botched cardiac catheterization; a $512,000 jury verdict for the drowning death of a mentally handicapped woman at a local campground; a $250,000.00 jury verdict for injuries in an auto accident where the insurance company refused to offer more than $10,000.00.

Joe grew up in Hamden, Connecticut. He served with distinction in the United States Army as a Reconnaissance Specialist for four years. He graduated from Duke University School of Law with honors in 1991, where he received the American Jurisprudence Awards in Contracts and Trial Practice. Joe is a member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice. He is licensed in the State of Connecticut and admitted before the United States District Courts for the Districts of Connecticut, and the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

Examples of Joe's Cases Obtained $512,000 jury verdict in wrongful death action arising from the drowning of a mentally handicapped woman at a Connecticut campground pond. Obtained $ 350,000 recovery for client who suffered cervical injury in auto accident necessitating fusion surgery. Obtained $300,000 settlement in medical malpractice claim against hospital which gave accidental overdose of epinephrine to patient suffering from an allergic reaction; the overdose of epinephrine resulted in temporary cardiac arrest. Obtained $165,000 settlement from BJ's Wholesale Warehouse where client tripped over on empty wooden pallet and fractured her ankle. Obtained substantial settlement in a probate dispute concerning changes of beneficiary on annuities using a suspect power of attorney. Obtained $240,000 settlement for client involved in low-impact automobile accident resulting in lumbar disc injury requiring surgical repair. Obtained multi-million dollar settlement as co-counsel in medical malpractice action against psychiatrist and hospital which released an unstable patient who subsequently assaulted his infant son, causing massive brain injuries. Obtained substantial recovery in medical malpractice action against a psychiatric hospital arising from the wrongful death of a patient who was improperly restrained and suffered cardiac arrest. Obtained multi-million dollar recovery as co-counsel in a medical malpractice/wrongful death action arising from a botched cardiac catheterization. Obtained $275,000 settlement arising from a slip & fall on defective steps resulting in serious ankle injury and multiple surgeries. Obtained $180,000 judgment against Macy's arising from trip & fall over security chain resulting in serious knee injury and surgery. Obtained $90,000 recovery for housebound client who was dropped by her home health care provider and suffered a broken leg. Obtained $83,000 jury verdict for 18 year-old woman who suffered a lumbar sprain in a rear-end automobile accident; the last settlement offer from insurer during trial was $10,000. Obtained substantial settlement for trucker who was injured in multi-car highway accident involving two fatalities; Connecticut Insurance Guaranty Association was forced to step in after the insurer for wrongdoer became insolvent. Obtained $171,000 jury verdict for 49 year-old male who was injured in a side-swipe motor vehicle accident; client incurred $4,700 in medical bills, $1,000 in lost wages and was diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy, disc herniations and a 10% impairment to the spine; the last settlement offer from insurer prior to trial was $21,000. Obtained substantial settlement for woman who was thrown from horse-drawn carriage after horse was "spooked" by passing car. Obtained $90,000 jury verdict where school bus jumped curb and ran over student's foot resulting in a severe sprain and $7,500 in medical bills. Recovered $60,000 for dog bite victim who suffered injury to her hand. Recovered $40,000 from City for client who was injured due to an improper police chase. Obtained significant recovery for client who broke his wrist due to the negligence of a personal trainer. Obtained settlements from two Connecticut Universities for failing to install guardrails on bunk beds resulting in serious injury to two students. Lead counsel for an international pipe and steel company in dispute concerning multi-million dollar sales which were claimed to be defective. Co-counsel for major real estate developer in action in which seller of commercial shopping centers alleged developer had made misrepresentations and had tortiously interfered with contract between seller and its employee. Beckenstein Enterprises-Prestige Park, LLC v. Lichtenstein, 37 Conn. L. Rptr. 627, 2004 WL 1966863 (Conn. Super. Aug. 11, 2004). Lead counsel in successfully resolving multiple intra-family lawsuits stemming from the transfer of a family business. Lead counsel for a national insurance adjusting company in successfully obtaining a permanent injunction against its former employee and his new employer based on violations of employee's non-compete agreement, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference with business relations, and violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA). Custard Ins. Adjusters, Inc. v. Nardi, 2000 WL 562318 (Conn. Super. Ct. 2000). Lead counsel for the Connecticut Lottery in successfully defending a class action arising from a printing error in the manufacture of an instant ticket game. Plourde v. Connecticut Lottery Corporation, 2000 WL 1918014 (Conn. Super. Ct. 2000). Co-counsel for land developer who obtained summary judgment against municipality for due process violation arising from the improper revocation of an inland wetlands and watercourses permit; multi-million dollar settlement obtained. Co-counsel for police officers accused of wrongful arrest; summary judgment obtained on basis of qualified immunity. Lukos v. Bettencourt, 23 F.Supp.2d 175 (D.Conn. 1998). Counsel for the Connecticut Lottery Corporation in an action by holders of one winning Lotto ticket claiming that they were entitled to entire prize pool, even though another winning ticket had been sold, but was never presented; the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that ticket holders' share of the winnings is determined on the date of the drawing based on the number of winning tickets sold, and not the number of tickets presented. Fullerton v. Dept. of Rev. Services, 245 Conn. 601 (1998).

 Joe lives in Cheshire with his wife and children where he enjoys coaching youth baseball. (1998). Jo