We Have Been Putting Our Clients First Since 1962

Photo of Ralph J. Monaco

Ralph J. Monaco

  • Partner (1967-2021)

Practice Areas

  • Personal Injury
  • Wrongful Death
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Civil Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Product Liability
  • Workers' Compensation
  • Municipal Litigation
  • Insurance Litigation
  • Civil Rights
  • Real Estate Litigation
  • Zoning Litigation
  • Business Litigation

Biography

Attorney Ralph J. Monaco was a Board Certified Trial Lawyer, a distinction held by very few attorneys. He also was a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He had extensive experience with jury and court trials in both federal and state court and has had many significant verdicts for the firm's clients. He practiced in civil and commercial litigation, with an emphasis in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, medical malpractice, insurance litigation, municipal litigation and workers' compensation. In addition, he had extensive experience in business contract litigation and land use. Attorney Monaco regularly handled catastrophic injury cases against major corporations. He has been involved in mass tort cases including the Dalkon Shield litigation, Vioxx litigation, Stryker hip replacement litigation, and the Rhode Island nightclub fire litigation in which he participated in a successful $176 million settlement. Moreover, Attorney Monaco had tried cases against major automotive companies, insurance companies, trucking companies and product manufacturers. He is one of the leading attorneys in the country in litigation over baseball and softball "hot bats" made from advanced aluminum and composites that propel balls at speeds that exceed human reaction time. Due to his experience and understanding of the many complex facets of the "hot bat" litigation, various media outlets including WFAN in New York have interviewed him.

Attorney Monaco was named the New Leader of the Law for New London County in 2002 by the Connecticut Law Tribune. Since that time, Connecticut Magazine named him to its list of Connecticut Super Lawyers and New England Super Lawyers in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020. In 2009, he received the Publisher's Award from the Connecticut Law Tribune for challenging the State of Connecticut's attempt to remove funds from the Attorney Client Security Fund.

Attorney Monaco served as the 87th President of the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) for the 2010-11 term, being the second youngest person to hold the position. In the past, he has also served as Treasurer of the CBA and Chairman of the CBA Young Lawyers Section. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the CBA Litigation Section and served as its legislative liaison. Attorney Monaco was on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, where he was a Life Fellow. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. Attorney Monaco served Jury Committee of the Chief Justice's Public Safety and Trust Commission, which committee made recommendations on improving the jury system. He was appointed by Connecticut Secretary of State to serve on Civics Commission. As President of the CBA he formed the bar association's Civics Education Committee, where he spearheaded many civics education programs, including an event with Former US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Attorney Monaco was admitted to practice before the state and federal courts in Connecticut and New Jersey. He also was admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. Attorney Monaco was a graduate of Fordham University and Quinnipiac University School of Law, graduating with honors from both schools.

Attorney Monaco has argued numerous cases before the Connecticut Supreme Court, Connecticut Appellate Court and United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. His reported cases include:

Attorney Monaco also served on the Essex Planning Commission, New London Catholic Charities Advisory Board, and Villa St. Francis Board of Directors.

Education

  • Quinnipiac University School of Law, Connecticut
    • Honors: With High Honors
  • Fordham University
    • Honors: With High Honors

Bar Admission

  • Connecticut, 1993
  • New Jersey, 1993
  • U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 1993
  • U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1993
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1998
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2004

Representative Cases

  • Honan v. Greene, et al., 37 Conn. App. 137, 1995, Connecticut Appellate Court, 1995060157
  • Branch v. Occhionero, 239 Conn. 199, 1996, Connecticut Supreme Court, 1996185769
  • McIntosh v. McIntosh, 47 Conn. App. 907, 1997, Connecticut Supreme Court, 1997219064
  • New Milford Block v. Grondahl, 51 Conn. App. 454, 1999, Connecticut Appellate Court, 1999025928
  • Kroll v. Steere, 60 Conn. App. 376, 2000, Connecticut Appellate, 2000560311
  • Kroll v. Sebastian, 58 Conn. App. 262, 2000, Connecticut Appellate Court, 2000375847
  • Olynciw v. Stop n Shop, Inc., 67 Conn. App. 773, 2002, Connecticut Appellate Court, 2002087971
  • DaCruz v. State Farm, 69 Conn. App. 510, 2002, Connecticut Appellate Court
  • Malchik v. Div. Criminal Justice, 266 Conn 728, 2003, 2003886558
  • Cheryl Terry Enterprises v. City of Hartford, 262 Conn. 240, 2002
  • L'Homme v. Dept. of Transportation, 72 Conn. App. 64, 2002
  • Jenkins v. Kos, 78 Conn. App. 840, 2003
  • DaCruz v. State Farm, 268 Conn. 675, 2004
  • Cheryl Terry Enterprises v. City of Hartford, 270 Conn. 619, 2004
  • Hayes v. Caspers, 90 Conn. App. 781, 2005
  • Cote v. Machabee, 87 Conn. App. 627, 2005
  • Miskimen v. Biber, 272 Conn. 916, 2005
  • Terry v. Terry, 102 Conn. App. 215, 2007
  • Taylor v. Mucci, 288 Conn. 379, 2008
  • Columbia Air Services v. State of Connecticut, 293 Conn. 342, 2009
  • Tocco v. Wesleyan Univ., 112 Conn. App. 28, 2009
  • McDonough v. Forrest, 129 Conn. App. 851, cert. denied 302 Conn. 924, 2011
  • Malaguit v. Ski Sundown, 136 Conn. App. 381, cert. denied 307 Conn. 902, 2012
  • Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co v. Caridi, 144 Conn. App. 793, 2013

Honors

  • 87th President of the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) 2010-2011
  • Named the New Leader of the Law for New London County in 2002 by the Connecticut Law Tribune
  • Connecticut Magazine named him to its list of Connecticut Super Lawyers and New England Super Lawyers in Personal Injury in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018
  • Received the Publisher's Award from the Connecticut Law Tribune - 2009

Professional Associations

  • Connecticut Bar Association, Past-President
  • Connecticut Bar Association, House of Delegates
  • Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Governors
  • Connecticut Bar Association YLS, Secretary
  • Connecticut Bar Association YLS, Treasurer
  • Connecticut Bar Association YLS, Director
  • Connecticut Bar Association YLS, Past Chair
  • Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, Member
  • New London County Bar Association, Member
  • New London Young Lawyers Bar Association, Past President
  • Executive Committee of the CBA Litigation Section, Member
  • Connecticut Bar Foundation, Board of Directors & Life Fellow
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Board Certified Trial Lawyer
  • Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers