Suisman Shaprio | Attorneys At Law
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John A. Collins

Photo of John A. Collins III

Location:

New London, CT

Phone:

Fax:

860-442-0495

Email:

Vcard:  vcard

John A. Collins, III, is a Director/Shareholder who concentrates in the areas of Personal Injury Law and Civil Litigation. Attorney Collins served as the Managing Partner of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law for over 20 years. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar. Mr. Collins received his B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross (1978) and his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law (1981) where he was a member and Notes Editor of the Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law. Attorney Collins is a member of the American, Connecticut and New London County Bar Associations. He is also a member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Connecticut Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He has served as a Judge of the Mohegan Tribal Court and the Mohegan Gaming Disputes Court since 2018

Attorney Collins has successfully obtained verdicts or public settlements on behalf of clients ranging from a $10 Million settlement for a young girl badly burned in a school fire, a 2008 verdict of $379,000 (including interest and costs) for a 22 year old woman injured in an automobile collision, a recent $225,000 settlement for an individual wrongfully deprived of 401k funds and a $1 million judgment for a victim of sexual abuse. Disclaimer: Of course, past results are no indication as to the value or results likely to be obtained in any present and future claims.

John A. Collins, III has been recognized by his peers by inclusion in Connecticut and New England Super Lawyers 2006-2007, 2009-2023 in the field of Personal Injury, Best Lawyers in America 2012-2024 in the field of Personal Injury-Plaintiff and has the highest rating (AV) from Martindale Hubbell. Visit Superlawyers.com. “In selecting attorneys for Super Lawyers, Law & Politics employs a rigorous, multiphase process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The final published list represents no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the state.”

The Connecticut Bar Foundation honored Attorney John A. Collins, III in 2005 with its selection of Attorney Collins as a Life Fellow. "Selection as a Fellow requires demonstrated superior legal ability and devotion to the welfare of the community, state and nation, as well as to the advancement of the legal foundation". Source: Connecticut Bar Foundation. The Connecticut Law Tribune honored Attorney Collins with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.

Attorney Collins has authored two publications of note. In 2004, he was selected as a seminar presenter by the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association to address the topic of construction site injuries. His paper, authored with the assistance Of Robert G. Tukey, is entitled: PURSUING NEGLIGENCE ACTIONS ARISING FROM CONSTRUCTION SITE INJURIES: 2004. The article was presented at a seminar in February 2004 addressing legal issues involving contractor and subcontractor liability for construction site injuries. The white paper addresses the historical underpinnings of such liability up to 2004. Copies are available upon request: [email protected]. Attorney John A. Collins, III also authored a scholarly work as a law student entitled: Self Determination in International Law, Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, 1981, where he was a member and Notes Editor of the Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law. Attorney Collins is a member of the American, Connecticut and New London County Bar Associations. He is also a member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Connecticut Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Mr. Collins resides with his family in and is a long time resident of Old Lyme, Connecticut. Attorney John A. Collins, III coached Little League for 12 years, and has a strong belief in giving back to the community. Mr. Collins serves or has served on the:

• Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association Budget Committee (2009, 2010);

• Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library (Board of Directors 2005-present: President: 2008-2010);

• Old Lyme Ethics Formation Committee (Acting Chair, 2006-2008);

• New London Main Street (Board of Directors 1999-2005: President, 2004, 2005);

• Lymes' Youth Service Bureau (Board of Directors1994-2000: Chairman, 1999, 2000);

• Old Lyme Day Care, Inc. (Board of Directors 1987-1997)

Attorney John A. Collins, III has tried and/or settled numerous claims for personal injuries over a 35 year law practice to assist injured victims. Ethical rules prohibit disclosure of confidential settlements and Attorney Collins strongly believes that the individual client’s confidentiality is vital to a strong attorney-client relationship. Accordingly, the following public results offer a glimpse of the wide variety of personal injury matters accepted by Mr. Collins:

  • Crespo v. Wood, KNL-CV-07-5003413S Verdict, interest & Costs: $379,290, (2008) ---rear end automobile collision;
  • Martic v. Tunstall, CV 05 4001869S, Verdict: $129,070, (2005) ---civil assault;
  • Hayes v. Johnson, CV-01-0560480S, Verdict: $259,173, (2003) ---auto accident involving drunk driver defendant;
  • Shelby v. Munro Muffler, CV-97-0543736S, Verdict: $475,000, (2000) ---injury involving defective garage automobile lift;
  • Dumont v. UBC, CV-97-0542600S, Verdict of $300,000 reduced by comparative negligence to $150,000 (2000) ---injury from defective roof trusses;
  • Parsons v. Town of Salem, (2000) --- injuries from defective highway;
  • John Doe1 v. David Zaharie, CV-99-0552498S, Judgment: $1 million (1999) ---injuries from sexual abuse of a minor;
  • Mattos v. Morris, CV-970544744S, Verdict: $71,657 (1999) ---soft tissue automobile accident injuries;
  • Russ v. Allstate Insurance, CV-96-0539136, CV-95-0536638, Verdict: $203,498 (1997) ---soft tissue injuries from 2 separate minor motor vehicle accidents,

Disclaimer: Of course, past results are no indication as to the value or results likely to be obtained in any present and future claims.

Areas of Practice

  • PERSONAL INJURY
  • AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS
  • WRONGFUL DEATH

Bar Admissions

  • Connecticut, 1981
  • U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 1981

Education

  • Case Western Reserve University Law School, Cleveland, Ohio
    • J.D. - 1981
  • College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts
    • B.A. - 1978

Published Works

  • Self-Determination in International Law: The Palestinians 12 Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law 132, 1981
  • Pursuing Negligence Actions Arising From Construction Site Injuries: 2004, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, 2004

Classes/Seminars

  • Pursuing Negligence Actions From Construction Site Injuries: 2004, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, 2004

Honors and Awards

  • Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury-Plaintiffs
  • Martindale Hubbell AV rating 5.0/5.0
  • Life Fellow, The Connecticut Bar Foundation
  • Connecticut Law Tribune, Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Super Lawyers
  • Super Lawyers

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • American Bar Association, 1981 to Present
  • Connecticut Bar Association, 1981 to Present
  • New London County Bar Association, 1981 to Present
  • Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, 1981 to Present
  • American Association for Justice, 1981 to Present
  • Connecticut Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member

Pro Bono Activities

  • Board of Directors, Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, 2005 to 2011
  • President, Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, 2008 to 2010
  • Acting Chair, Old Lyme Ethics Formation Committee, 2006 to 2008
  • Board of Directors, New London Main Street, 1999 to 2005
  • President, New London Main Street, 2003 to 2005
  • Board of Directors, Lymes' Youth Service Bureau, 1994 to 2000
  • Chairman, Lymes' Youth Service Bureau, 1999 to 2000
  • Board of Directors, Old Lyme Day Care, Inc., 1987 to 1997
  • Chelsea Groton Bank--corporator, 04/2016 to Present

Languages

  • English
Photo of John A. Collins III

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