Our Attorneys

Partners

David P. Whitman
Michael T. F. Wallor
James T. Murphy
Megan J. Goguen

Associates

Sara Fontes
Nicholas R. Mancini
Mary Welsh McBurney

Thomas R. Bender

trb@hansoncurran.com p (401) 421-2154 f (401) 521-7040

Practice

A fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, recognized in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 editions of The Best Lawyers in America for appellate litigation, and selected as a New England Super Lawyer, Tom maintains an active appellate litigation practice in Rhode Island state and federal courts, having briefed and argued approximately 65 cases before the Rhode Island Supreme Court. He has been recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers for his general commercial and insurance-related appellate work, but has represented clients in post-trial and appellate matters in a wide variety of topical areas, including:

• a former lead pigment manufacturer in a state-wide public nuisance action by the state Attorney General seeking a court-ordered abatement plan at a cost in excess of $2 billion;
• a private university in a tenure and employment discrimination lawsuit;
• a restaurant in a dram-shop action appealing a $16 million judgment;
• a coalition of non-profit environmental groups as amici curiae before the Rhode Island Supreme Court concerning the constitutionality of the composition of the Coastal Resources Management Council under separation of powers;
• a municipality appealing a class-action tax appeal;
• the director of a United Methodist Church-based Parenting Project seeking to vacate on First Amendment grounds a court-ordered injunction prohibiting publication of a web blog;
• a church diocese in multiple appeals arising out of childhood sexual abuse claims.
• a non-profit government reform group challenging the constitutionality of state statutes governing ballot question advocacy on First Amendment grounds; and
• a catholic school parents group challenging an injunction violating their common law and constitutional rights to direct the education of their children in a private school setting.

Public and Professional Organizations

Tom was the recipient of a 2006 Public Service Achievement Award and a 2009 Excellence in Public Service Award from Common Cause RI recognizing his pro bono appellate work on important state constitutional issues. He has also authored four articles published in various law reviews related to issues of state constitutional law, as well as several articles published in the Rhode Island Bar Journal. He is a member of the ABA Council of Appellate Lawyers, the Defense Research Appellate Advocacy Committee, the Supreme Court Bench/Bar Committee, and the Federal Court Bench/Bar Committee of the Rhode Island Bar Association.

Education and Bar Admissions

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Rhode Island in 1979 and a 1982 graduate of Washington and Lee University, Tom is admitted to practice in Rhode Island and before the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. After graduating from law school Tom was a Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force for five years before joining Hanson Curran in 1987.

Civic Involvement

• Member of the State Governing Board for Common Cause Rhode Island
• Member of the Justice Leadership Council for Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc.
• Member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the University of Rhode Island College of Arts & Sciences.

Mr. Bender is AV peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell*.

*CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.