PRACTICE AREA
Construction
Litigation
ADR
Lou handles complex litigation matters in state and federal court and in arbitration, including construction contract claims, business torts, breaches of contract and breaches of fiduciary duty. He also has extensive experience briefing and arguing appeals in state and federal court. Lou is the author of numerous articles and lectures on construction claims, trial techniques and litigation methods, including the presentation of litigation seminars for the Connecticut Bar Association and the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. Lou is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Construction Lawyers and an Associate in the American Board of Trial Advocates. He serves as a member of the American Arbitration Association Large, Complex Case Panel and is a mediator on the AAA's panel. Lou is a past president of the Connecticut Bar Association, the Oliver Ellsworth Inn of Court, the Connecticut Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the Greater Hartford Legal Aid Foundation. He is also a James W. Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Lou is listed in the "Who's Who in America," "Who's Who in American Law", the International "Who's Who of Construction Lawyers", "Best Lawyers of America" (since 2000) and Super Lawyers for Connecticut, New England and the New York City area." Lou is the recipient of the Hartford County Bar Association's President's Award for Excellence, the Professional Service Award from the Lower Naugatuck Valley Bar Association, the Associated General Contractor's Service Provider of the Year Award, and the Connecticut Italian American Bar Association's Achievement Award.
EDUCATION
Cornell Law School, J.D.,
with distinction Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, B. Mgt.E. degree and an M.S., Management
ADMISSIONS
Connecticut
U.S. Claims Court
U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second, Sixth and Ninth Circuits
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS Connecticut Bar Association, Past President
American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
American College of Construction Lawyers, Fellow
American Board of Trial Advocates, President
American Arbitration Association Large, Complex Case Panel, Member
Connecticut Bar Foundation, James W. Cooper Fellow
American Bar Foundation, Fellow
Cornell Law School, Chairman, Hartford Regional Committee, Annual Fund
Oliver Ellsworth Inn of Court, Past President
Hartford County Bar Association
Swifts' Inn
TEACHINGCourses Taught:
"Construction Law," Hartford Graduate Center (1978-1990)
"Avoiding and Litigating Construction Contract Disputes," University of Hartford Construction Institute (1989-1994)
"Commercial Arbitration," University of Connecticut School of Law (2001)
Seminars:
"Enforcing The Award: Tips And Traps," American Arbitration Association Construction Conference (2009)
"AIA 2007 v. ConsensusDOCS: Which Is Better," AICPA National Construction Industry Conference (2008)
"Construction Contract Landmines," AICPA National Construction Industry Conference (2007)
"Electronic Discovery in Commercial Cases," Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association (2007)
"The Revised Commercial Arbitrator Code of Ethics: What Does It Mean For You?," American Arbitration Association Seminar (2004)
"The Beginnings of a Law Career," Co-Chair of symposium presented by the Connecticut Bar Foundation (2003)
"Construction Contract Clauses," AICPA National Construction Industry Conference (2003)
"What To Do When The Surety Is Invited To The Table / The Surety's Role From The Viewpoint Of The Contractor/Bond Principal," American Arbitration Association National Forum on Conflict Resolutions in the Construction Industry (2003)
"How Arbitrators Make Decisions -- What Matters Most," American Arbitration Association Seminar (2003)
"Getting to the Bottom of Construction Claims, Finding the Handle: Perfecting and Proving the Contractor's Claim, Part III: Preparing and Presenting the Claim," ABA Forum on the Construction Industry/TIPS Fidelity & Surety Law Committee (2003)
"The Resolution of Construction Disputes Through Mediation, Litigation or Arbitration (Which is Best?)," American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, National Construction Industry Conference (2002)
"Tortious Interference With Contractual Rights," Fluor Corporation LawCon (2002)
"The Ten Most Important Clauses in Every Construction Contract (And What They Really Mean)," American Institute of Certified Public Accountants National Construction Industry Conference (2001); Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants Construction Industry Conference (2002); and Associated General Contractors of America; and Construction Financial Management Association, Sixth Annual Construction Financial Management Conference (2002)
"Change Orders, Changed Conditions and Cardinal Change," The Global Construction Superconference, London, England (November 2001)
"Beyond the Four Corners: Implied Terms, Liabilities and Defenses in Construction Contracting -- The Changing Face of Contracting,"
ABA Forum on the Construction Industry/TIPS Fidelity & Surety Law Committee (January 2001)
"How to Succeed as an Expert Witness in Construction Claims," and "Construction Law Update," American Institute of Certified Public Accountants National Construction Industry Conference (2000)
"Negotiating And Drafting Dispute Resolution Provisions In EPC Contracts," Fluor Daniel, Inc. LawCon (1999)
"Owner (and Contractor) Considerations in the Negotiation and Drafting of Dispute Resolution Provisions in Large Construction Contracts," The Millennium Construction Superconference, San Francisco, California (1999)
"Construction Claims Workshop," 11th Annual American Institute of Certified Public Accountants National Construction Industry Conference (1999)
"Negotiating And Drafting Dispute Resolution Clauses," Construction Superconference (1999)
"The Use Of Technology In Large, Complex Litigation," Connecticut Bar Association Annual Meeting, Construction Section Program (Moderator) (1997)
"Construction Contracts -- Making Sense Of The Maze," University of Hartford Construction Institute (1996-1998)
"Risk Management In The Construction Industry," Construction Specification Institute Regional Conference (1996)
"Presenting The Evidence," American Arbitration Association 17th Annual Summer Conference (1995)
"Dissecting Construction Contracts," Construction Institute Courses/Contractor Series (1995)
"The Art And Science Of The Opening Statement," Connecticut Bar Association Trial Advocacy Institute (1994-2000)
"The Ten Most Significant Case Decisions And Statutes In Connecticut -- And Why," Co-authored, Construction Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association Seminar (1994)
"Avoiding Design Problems," Construction Superconference (1994)
"Construction Law In The Nineties: What Every Lawyer Must Know To Succeed," (1993)
"Management Of The Competitive Bidding Process," Eighth Annual Construction Superconference, San Francisco, California (1993)
"Construction Claims Under Connecticut Law," Cambridge Institute (1993)
"Conducting An Effective Deposition," Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association Seminar on Effective and Efficient Discovery in Complex Commercial Litigation (1993)
"The Construction Process From The Legal Viewpoint," Aetna SCA Advanced Construction Seminar (1992 and 1994)
"Construction Litigation In The Nineties -- And Beyond," Connecticut Bar Association Construction Law Section Seminar (1992)
"Strategies To Win In Mediation Or Arbitration," Seventh Annual Construction Superconference (1992)
"How To Get Paid When No One In The Construction Industry Is Paying," Construction Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association Seminar (Moderator) (1991)
"Pricing And Proving Contractor Claims For Changes In Scope And Unforeseen Conditions," Fifth and Sixth Annual Construction Superconference (1990 and 1991)
"Connecticut Construction Law: What Do You Do When...?" National Business Institute, Inc. Seminar (1990)
"What Happens When The Roof Collapses?" Construction Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association Seminar (Moderator) (1990)
"Architect/Engineer And Construction Manager Disputes," Georgetown University Law Center Construction Contract Litigation Seminar (1989)
"Contractors' Delay Damages," Engineering News Record Seminar on Calculation and Proof of Damages For Construction Owners and Contractors (1989)
"Construction Contract Litigation -- Strategy and Tips," Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association Seminar on Trial Techniques for Business Torts and Commercial Litigation (1989)
"The Top Ten Causes Of Construction Disputes (And How To Avoid Them)," Associated General Contractors of Connecticut, Inc. Seminar (1986)
"Calculation Of Contractor Damages," Engineering News Record Seminar on Construction Claims and Disputes for Contractors and Subcontractors (1985)
"The Surety's Relationship To The Contractor And The Claim," Engineering News Record Seminar on Contractor Claims (1985)
"Anatomy Of The Civil Action," Connecticut Bar Association Trial Advocacy Seminar (1988-1990)
"The Role Of The Owner's Representative In Claim Situations," Engineering News Record Seminar on Construction Claims and Disputes For Owners and Contractors (1983)
"Proving Delay And Disruption Damages," Associated General Contractors of Connecticut, Inc. Seminar (1981)
"The Successful Preparation And Litigation Of Construction Contract Suits," Associated General Contractors of Connecticut, Inc. Seminar (1980 and 1987)
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