|   | | Law Firm in Stamford, Connecticut | |
|
| | Address | | 777 Summer Street | | Stamford, Connecticut 06901-1022 | | (Fairfield Co.) | | | |
| | Contact Information | | Phone: 203-327-2000 | | Telecopier: 203-353-3392 | | Visit Our Website | | http://www.lawcts.com |  | | Send Us Email |  |
| |
| | |
(Main Office)
| Cacace, Tusch & Santagata practices in the following areas of law:
General Civil and Criminal Trial Practice in State and Federal Courts, Administrative Law, Elder Law, Probate, Civil Appeals, Business Law, Creditor and Collections, Commercial Law, Telecommunications Law, Entertainment and the Arts, Contracts, Government, Construction Law, Land Use Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury, Domestic Relations, Real Estate, Corporation, Estate Planning, Commercial Leasing, Planning and Zoning, Land Use, Environmental, Eminent Domain and Real Estate Tax Appeals. | | Firm Size: 17 | | MEMBERS OF FIRM | | Michael J. Cacace (Member) born Mount Vernon, New York, April 20, 1952; admitted to bar, 1978, Connecticut; 1979, New York and U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut; 1982, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York and U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. Education: Fordham University (B.A., 1974); New York Law School (J.D., 1978). Recipient: Dr. Max Reich Award, New York Law School, 1978; Community Leader of the Year, 1986 Stamford Advocate Humanitarian Award, Southern Connecticut Association of Life Underwriters, 1987-1988; Citizen of the Year, Jewish War Veterans, 1995. Author, Chapter, "Elderly Law Desk Manual," Age Discrimination Law, 1981; "Developments in Connecticut Zoning Case Law from 1992 through 1995," Feb, 1996 Connecticut Bar Journal; "Developments in Connecticut Zoning Case Law from 1996 through 1997," Oct. 1998 Connecticut Bar Journal. Instructor, Administrative Law, Norwalk Community College, 1980-1981. Member, 1975-1981 and Chairman, 1979-1981, Stamford Commission on Aging. Co-Chairman, Stamford 13th Charter Revision Commission, 1982-1983. Member, Board of Directors, 1985-2008, Vice President, 1989-2000, President, 2000-2007 and Chairman 2007-2008, Stamford Center for the Arts. Member: Stamford Economic Assistance Corp., 1984-1985; Connecticut Committee of the Regional Plan, Inc., 1987—; Board of Directors, Senior Service, 1998-2004. Member, 1988-1995, Vice President, 1989-1992 and President, 1992-1994, United Way of Stamford. Member, 1988-1993 and President, 1990-1993, United Way of Connecticut. Member, Executive Board, Yankee Council Boy Scouts of America, 2000—. President, 1984-1986 and Member, 1980-1986, The Vol. Ctr., Stamford. Chairman, Stamford Reapportionment Commission, 1991, 2001; Member, Board of Directors, Stamford Chamber of Commerce, 1998-2004. Member: Fairfield County (Member, Executive Committee, 1981-1992; Treasurer, 1986; Secretary, 1987; 2nd Vice President, 1988; 1st Vice President, 1989; President, 1990-1991) and Connecticut (Member, Vice Chairman, 1991-1992 and Chairman, 1994-1997, Planning and Zoning Section) Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Zoning, Planning and Land Use; Administrative Law; Real Property; Litigation; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Tax Valuation; Tax Appeals. Email: Michael J. Cacace | | Mark P. Santagata (Principal) born New Haven, Connecticut, January 26, 1958; admitted to bar, 1984, Connecticut; 1985, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut. Education: University of Connecticut (B.A., 1979); Western New England College (J.D., 1984). Phi Alpha Delta, Arthur Middleton Chapter: Member 1981-1984 and Secretary 1983-1984; Catholic Family Services: Member Board of Directors 1985 - 1988 and Secretary 1987-1988; Senior Employment Services: Member Board of Directors 1988—1993, Secretary 1989-1990, Vice-President 1990-1991, President 1991-1993 and Director Emeritus 1993—; Hospice Care, Inc.: Member Board of Directors 1987-1999, 1st Vice-Chair 1993-1995, Chair 1995-1998, Chairman Personnel Committee 1989-1999, Member Finance Committee, 1991-1999, Member Executive Committee 1992-1999 and Director Emeritus 2000-; Stamford Health Foundation: Member 1996—1998; Stamford Chamber of Commerce: Member Tangible Benefits Committee 1999-2001; Kids in Crisis: Member, Board of Directors, 2002—; Board Counsel, 2002—; Chairman Human Resources Committee, 2002—; Member, Executive Committee 2002—; Member, Planning Committee, 2003—; Member, House Next Door Advisory Committee, 2005—. VNA Hospice Care of Southeastern Connecticut, Inc.: Member Board of Directors, 2004—; Board Counsel, 2004—; Chairman Human Resources Committee, 2004—; Member, Executive Committee, 2005—; Member, Nominating Committee, 2006—; Member, Real Estate Committee, 2007—. SACIA: Former Member, Research Advisory Committee, Trends and Issues Sub-Committee; Fairfield County Information Exchange. Member: Fairfield County Bar Association (Member, Board of Directors 2003-2007; Member Bench Bar Committee; Medical/Legal Committee; Employment Committee; Litigation Committee); Connecticut Bar Association (Member, Sections on Litigation, Labor and Employment; Construction Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution); Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Litigation; Personal Injury; Torts; Labor and Employment; Real Estate; Leases and Leasing; Telecommunications Law; Civil Practice; Federal Civil Practice; Construction Law; Construction Claims; Construction Contracts; Construction Defects; Construction Liability; Construction Liens; Construction Litigation; Contractors Liability; Mechanics Liens; Debtor and Creditor; Debtor and Creditor Collections; Debtor and Creditor Remedies; Secured Creditors Rights; Unsecured Creditors Rights; Confidentiality Agreements; Covenants Not To Compete; Employee Discipline; Employer Intentional Torts; Employer Liability; Employment at Will; Employment Claims; Employment Law; Employment Litigation; Employment Mediation; Employment Termination; Executive Employment Law; Executive Severance Contracts; Noncompete Litigation; Noncompetition and Non-Solicitation; Agreements; Personnel Policies; Retaliatory Discharge; Wrongful Termination Defense; Civil Litigation; Defense Litigation; Federal Civil Litigation; Federal Litigation; Trial Practice; Negligence; Negligence Defense; Accidents; Animal Attacks; Automobile Accidents and Injuries; Automobile Negligence; Bicycle Accidents; Boating Accidents; Bodily Injury; Brain Injury; Catastrophic Injury; Commercial Vehicle Liability; Dog Bites; Cumulative Trauma; Head Injury; Motor Vehicle Accidents and Injuries; Motorcycle Accidents; Personal Injury Arbitration; Personal Injury Defense; Personal Injury Mediation; Plaintiffs Personal Injury; School Bus Accidents; Severe Burns; Sexual Abuse; Slip and Fall; Spinal Injury; Third Party Wrongful Death; TMJ Dysfunction; Whiplash; Wrongful Death; Premises Liability; Inadequate Security; Negligent Security; Premises Liability Defense; Adverse Possession; Boundary Disputes; Conveyancing; Easements; Land Acquisitions; Land Sales; Land Trusts; Quiet Title; Real Estate Acquisitions; Real Estate Arbitration; Real Estate Collections; Real Estate Contracts; Real Estate Leasing; Real Estate Litigation; Real Estate Mediation; Residential Real Estate; Residential Real Estate Acquisitions; Residential Real Estate Finance; Residential Real Estate Foreclosure; Right of Way Easements; Civil Liability; Tort Liability; Contested Wills. Email: Mark P. Santagata | | Paul T. Tusch (Member) born Bridgeport, Connecticut, August 30, 1960; admitted to bar, 1985, Connecticut; 1986, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut. Education: Fairfield University (B.A., 1982); University of Bridgeport (J.D., 1985). Recipient, Moot Court Award, 1983. Staff Member, 1983-1984 and Notes and Comments Editor, 1984-1985, University of Bridgeport Law Review. Author: "Equitable Estoppel, Laches and Waiver Defenses in Alimony and Support Arrearage Proceedings," Connecticut Family Lawyer, Summer 1995. "Meaningful Relief for Taxpayers Selling Real Estate," Connecticut Law Tribune, March 2, 1998; "The Art of Appraising the Marital Residence," Connecticut Law Tribune, April 6, 1998. Corporate Secretary and Board Member, First Night Stamford, 1987-1991. Member, Board of Directors: Stamford Federal Little League, 1992-1995. Member, Board of Directors, 1993-1999, Vice Chairman, 1994-1996 and Chairman, 1996-1999, Stamford Chapter, American Red Cross. Member, Board of Directors and Secretary, Teen Life Center, 1994-2001. Special Master, Connecticut Superior Court Regional Family Trial Docket, 1995—. Member, Board of Directors, 1996— and First Vice President, 2000-2002, President, 2002-2004, The Volunteer Center of Southwestern Fairfield County. General Chairman, Connecticut Yankee Council BSA (Boys Scout of America), Greater Stamford Tribute Award Luncheon, 2001-2002. Class Chairman, Our Promise the Campaign for Fairfield University, 2001-2002. Member and Corporate Secretary, Board of Directors, Stamford Youth Foundation, 2004—. Member, Board of Directors, 2006—, and President, 2007—, North Stamford Little League. Member: Fairfield County Bar Association (Member, Executive Committee, 1990-1994; Co-Chairman, Real Estate Committee, 1994-1999; Chairman, Law Day Committee, 1990). Connecticut Bar Association (Vice Chairman, Lower Fairfield County Young Lawyers Section, 1988-1989; Family Law Section Executive Committee Member, 1993—, Treasurer, 2000-2001, Secretary, 2001-2002, Chair, Continuing Legal Education, 2002-2003; Vice Chair, 2003-2004 and Chair, 2004-2005; Member, Real Property Section and Planning and Zoning Section). Practice Areas: Family Law; Real Property. Email: Paul T. Tusch | | Richard S. Fisher (Member) born Brooklyn, New York, October 1, 1937; admitted to bar, 1965, Pennsylvania; 1970, U.S. Tax Court; 1971, Connecticut. Education: Pennsylvania State University (B.S., 1959); Cornell University (J.D., 1962); George Washington University (LL.M., Taxation, 1968). Phi Delta Phi. Listed: Connecticut SuperLawyer, Estate Planning and Probate Category, 2007; Best Lawyers in America, Elder Law Category. Tax Law Specialist, Corporation Tax Branch, Internal Revenue Service, Washington, D.C., 1965-1968. Tax Attorney, Colt Industries Inc., 1968-1970. Co-Author: "Gift Registration Regs, A Guide to Gift Taxes," Connecticut Law Tribune, June 28, 1999. Member, Board of Directors, 1991-2001 and President, Alzheimer's Association, Fairfield County Chapter, 1996-1998; Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Chapter, 2002— and Secretary, 2004-2005; Treasurer, 2005—. Member, Board of Directors, Jewish Home for the Elderly of Fairfield County, 1991-2005. Member, 1978— and President, Estate Planning Council of Lower Fairfield County, 1993-1994. Member: Fairfield County (Chair, Senior Citizens Committee, 1989-1990; Member: Tax Committee; Business Law Committee; Elder Law Committee), Connecticut (Vice Chair, 1991-1994, Chair, 1994-1996 and Member, 1974-1998, Executive Committee, Tax Section; Member: Corporation Section; Executive Committee, Elder Law Section, 1991—; Executive Committee, Estates and Probate Section, 1998—) and American (Vice Chairman, Committee on Tax Accounting Problems, Taxation Section, 1976-1979; Member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section) Bar Associations; National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. [Capt., U.S. Army, 1962-1964]. Practice Areas: Trusts and Estates; Elder Law; Taxation; Business Law. Email: Richard S. Fisher | | Ronald E. Kowalski II (Member) born Malden, Massachusetts, May 24, 1966; admitted to bar, 1991, Connecticut; 1992, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut; 1999, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: Fairfield University (B.A., 1988); Suffolk University (J.D., cum laude, 1991). Staff Member, 1989-1990 and Executive Board Member, 1990-1991, Moot Court, Suffolk University Law School. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award in Administrative Law, 1990. Law Clerk to the Hon. William J. Lavery, Connecticut Appellate Court, 1991-1992. Program Chair and Speaker, "Real Estate Tax Appeals in Connecticut - Practical Perspectives," Seminar, Connecticut Bar Association, 2004 and 2006. Lecturer, "Significant Cases in Connecticut Assessment Practice," Connecticut Appraisers' Education Expo, Connecticut Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, 2006. Attorney Trial Referee and Fact Finder/Arbitrator, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, 2003—. Special Master (Tax Appeals), Superior Court, Stamford/Norwalk Judicial District, 2003—. Member: Board of Directors, 1998— and Second Vice-Chair, 2002; Chair, Legal Committee, 1999-2003; Ad Hoc Children's Corner Committee, 1997-1998; Child Care Committee, 1997-2002 and Ad Hoc Child Care Committee, 1999, Norwalk YMCA. Member, 2004— and Vice-Chairman, 2004—, Easton Police Commission. Alternate Member, 2000-2001 and Member, 2002-2004, Easton Planning and Zoning Commission. Member, Stamford Rotary Club, 1996-2001. Member, 1998— and Chairman, 2002—, Easton Democratic Town Committee. Chairman, Democratic Town Chairs of the 4th (CT) Congressional District, 2004—. Volunteer, Easton Little League, 2001—. Manager: 10 Year Old All Star Team, 2004 and 2005; 9 Year Old All Star Team, 2007. Affiliate Member, Appraisal Institute, 1998—. Volunteer Presenter, The Climate Project, 2007—. Listed in Who's Who in American Law. Life Member, National Registry of Who's Who. Member, Madison Who's Who of Executives and Professionals. Member: Fairfield County (Co-Chair: Bench-Bar Committee, 2003-2007; Appellate Practice Committee, 2007—) and Connecticut (Member, Sections on: Litigation; Tax Law; General Practice) Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Litigation; Appellate Practice; Tax Certiorari; Tax Valuation; Tax Appeals; Property Tax; Telecommunications Law. Email: Ronald E. Kowalski II | | OF COUNSEL | | Ellery E. Plotkin (Of Counsel) born Stamford, Connecticut, August 10, 1952; admitted to bar, 1978, New York; 1979, Connecticut; 1980, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut. Education: University of Connecticut (B.S., cum laude, 1974); Hofstra University Law School (J.D., 1977). Beta Gamma Sigma. Chairman, Parks and Recreation Commission, Town of Fairfield. Member: Fairfield County, Connecticut (Member, Sections on: Commercial; Litigation; Bankruptcy) Bar Associations. (Also, Member, Plotkin & Livolsi, LLP). Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Bankruptcy; Debtor and Creditor Rights; Civil Practice; Real Estate. Email: Ellery E. Plotkin | | ASSOCIATES | | Alice Ann Fitzpatrick (Associate) born Bridgeport, Connecticut, April 2, 1955; admitted to bar, 1980, Connecticut and U.S. Tax Court; 1984, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut. Education: Smith College (A.B., 1977); University of Connecticut (J.D., cum laude, 1980). Lecturer, National Business Institute. Member, Seven Sisters Alumnae Seminar Committee, 2003—. Member, "Christmas in the Mansion" Steering Committee, Lauralton Hall, 2000—. Member, Board of Directors, 2000-2003; Co-President, 2001-2002, and Vice President, 2002-2003, St. Thomas Aquinas Home School Association. Member, 1993-2000 and Co-Chair, 1994-1995, St. Brigid Scholarship Committee, Mercy Learning Center. Member: Fairfield County (Member, Sections on: Elder Law; Estates and Probate) and Connecticut (Member, Estates and Probate Section) Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Probate; Trusts and Estates; Estate Administration; Estate Planning; Conservatorship. Email: Alice Ann Fitzpatrick | | Jane W. Freeman (Associate) born Hartford, Connecticut, December 6, 1950; admitted to bar, 1976, Connecticut; 1977, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut. Education: Goucher College (B.A., cum laude, 1972); University of Connecticut (J.D., 1976). Author, "Federal Class Actions in Environmental Litigation," 51 Connecticut Bar Journal No. 2 (June 1977). Member: Fairfield County and Connecticut (Member, Planning & Zoning Executive Committee, 2000-) Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Land Use; Litigation; Real Estate; Commercial Law. Email: Jane W. Freeman | | Judith Ellenthal (Associate) born New York, New York, April 6, 1941; admitted to bar, 1984, Connecticut, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut. Education: Brooklyn College (B.A., 1962); University of Bridgeport (M.A., Urban-Suburban Administration, 1983); Quinnipiac University (J.D., 1984). Formerly with Ellenthal and Brodie. Former Member, Rapaport and Ellenthal. Member, Board of Directors, 2003-2005 and Chairperson, 2005-2007, Ballet School of Stamford. Adjunct Professor, University of Connecticut, 2006-2007. Member: Fairfield County (Member, Family Law, Real Estate and Probate Sections; Co-Chairperson, Real Estate Section, 2006-2007), Greenwich and Connecticut Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Family Law; Real Estate; Wills; Probate; Personal Injury. Email: Judith Ellenthal | | Katherine T. Blakeslee (Associate) born New Haven, Connecticut, August 9, 1949; admitted to bar, 1988, Connecticut; 1990, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut and U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. Education: Vassar College; Wellesley College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1981); Quinnipiac University (J.D., 1988). Wellesley Scholar. Recipient: Moot Court Award; Outstanding Tax Clinic Award, 1988. Lecturer, National Business Institute. Assistant Town Counsel, Wilton, 1990-1994. Assistant Town Attorney, New Canaan and Weston, 1990-1997. Member, Seven Sisters Alumnae Seminar Committee, 2005—. Member, Board of Directors, Kids in Crisis, 2007—. Member: Fairfield County (Board Member, 1990-1996) and Connecticut (Member, Sections on: Family Law, Estate and Probate) Bar Associations; Collaborative Divorce Attorneys of Fairfield County (Member and Former Treasurer); Wellesley Lawyers' Network. Practice Areas: Family Law; Estate Planning; Real Estate. Email: Katherine T. Blakeslee | | Keenan-Marie McMahon (Associate) born Stamford, Connecticut, April 29, 1974; admitted to bar, 2004, Connecticut. Education: Loyola College (B.A., 1996); Quinnipiac University School of Law (J.D., 2004). Member, Moot Court Honor Society. Member: Fairfield County and Connecticut Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Family Law. Email: Keenan-Marie McMahon | | LEGAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL | | Eva L. Chan | | Cynthia L. Mammone |
|
