Hanson Curran LLP is excited to announce the inclusion of three of the firm’s partners in the 20^th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America.  The lawyers chosen for this year’s publication were selected through rigorous peer reviews of more than 4.3 million detailed evaluations. The recipients from Hanson Curran are:

• David P. Whitman, Insurance Law
• Michael T. F. Wallor, Workers’ Compensation Law (Employers)
• James T. Murphy, Commercial Litigation & Litigation (Municipal) 

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.  Because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 36,000 leading attorneys cast almost 4.4 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.  Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

Maritime law is a specialty pursued by very few attorneys.  However, in the course of a legal career in Rhode Island, an attorney may be faced with a matter falling within the admiralty jurisdiction of the federal court at some time in the course of his or her practice.

That is why we are pleased that the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island has recently approved a new set of Local Rules to provide some uniformity in the handling of maritime issues that can arise in Rhode Island.

This recent change, which became effective January 15^th, 2013, was due to the year-long efforts of the Local Admiralty Rules Subcommittee, a subcommittee of the USDC-RI Local Rules Committee.

The subcommittee was chaired by one of our partners, Jim Murphy, who has a long history of practicing in maritime law. His expertise and that of the subcommittee members – Samuel P. Blatchley, Michael J. Daly, Merlyn O’Keefe and Roger Williams School of Law Professor Jonathan Gutoff – was instrumental in evaluating, drafting and recommending these rules.

In a state where maritime business still holds a significant place in the local economy, it is not uncommon for local lawyers to encounter admiralty issues in the course of their practice.  These new rules provide a basic guideline for local attorneys and the courts to follow when faced with these unique legal issues.

One of the highlights of the rules is Section C, “Actions In Rem: Special Provisions,” which details the appropriate procedure for the arrest of a vessel.  When the arrest of a vessel is sought, the proceedings are fast paced, and the procedural requirements of the process must be followed precisely.

“When a ship about to leave for foreign shores must be arrested as security for outstanding maritime liens, time is of the essence,” explains Jim. “It is very important that the lawyers, the clients, the U.S. Marshal, the court clerks and the judges all have a very clear consensus on the steps that must be followed.  The local admiralty rules provide those extra guidelines.”

Rhode Island is only the second district in the First Circuit, after Puerto Rico, to adopt local admiralty rules. We are pleased to have played a part in orchestrating this change in our local rules and look forward to continuing to raise awareness about the new guidelines within the local legal community.

Click here to view the article from Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly

New partner Joshua E. Carlin joins Providence civil litigation firm.

Providence, Rhode Island – Hanson Curran LLP announced today that Joshua E. Carlin has joined the firm as its newest partner.

“We are very pleased that Josh is now a part of our team,” managing partner Megan J. Goguen says. “Josh’s approach to the practice of law and his exceptional talent, skill and ability are a welcome addition to our firm.”

Mr. Carlin, previously of White, Carlin & Kelly, comes to Hanson Curran with a robust background of experience in multiple areas of practice, concentrating in civil litigation.

“I am excited to join Hanson Curran,” says Mr. Carlin. “Working with this great blend of highly experienced attorneys and up and coming members of the bar is an excellent opportunity, and I look forward to contributing to the continued success of the firm in the coming years.”

Biographical information for Josh Carlin is listed below:

Mr. Carlin is an experienced civil litigator who concentrates his practice in the defense of claims of professional liability against health care providers and in the general representation of hospitals and healthcare workers. His long-term experience in defending claims related to medical care has allowed him to develop a comprehensive understanding of claims evaluation and the most effective litigation tactics for defending these cases. Mr. Carlin also has experience in the defense of general civil litigation matters, including personal injury and employment law matters.

Mr. Carlin was selected for inclusion in Rhode Island Super Lawyers® – Rising Stars Edition in 2010, 2011 and 2012. He regularly lectures to physician and nursing groups and participates in education programs for healthcare providers designed to educate his clients address and assist them in preventing claims.

About Hanson Curran LLP:

Hanson Curran LLP is a civil litigation defense firm in Providence, Rhode Island with a rich history of providing superior legal counsel to the region’s insurers, businesses and non-profit organizations. The firm has been a leader in the Southern New England legal community since the early 1900s and continues to provide expert counsel to its clients through its unique combination of experience and innovation.

In today’s rapidly changing legal landscape, it is essential for businesses and individuals to be informed legal consumers, as even a subtle change can have dramatic implications.

As legal developments unfold, we’ll use this space as a jumping-off point for discussions and conversations—hashing out the real world implications in broad strokes and simple, easy to understand language. We hope our posts will provide the insight and analysis you need to ask more informed questions and make better decisions. It’s our goal to create a dynamic environment where quality information is provided in an unvarnished and unbiased way.

Thanks for visiting; we hope to see you back soon.

Local admiralty rules approved by United States District Court

PROVIDENCE, RI • JANUARY 17, 2013
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island (USDC-RI) has recently approved amendments to the Court’s Local Rules, adopting for the first time local rules specifically addressing admiralty practice before the Court. These amendments became effective January 15, 2013.

The approval of local admiralty rules is the result of the year-long efforts of the Local Admiralty Rules Subcommittee, a subcommittee of the USDC-RI Local Rules Committee chaired by James T. Murphy, a partner at Hanson Curran LLP.

The subcommittee worked with a number of groups, including the United States Marshals office, United States District Court clerks and the Court’s Local Rules Committee, to draft and refine a set of local admiralty rules that would be useful to the Court and local practitioners faced with admiralty issues.

The subcommittee ratified the Model Local Rules published by the Maritime Law Association of the United States as the framework. It then refined those rules to meet local practitioner needs and specifically explain procedural matters related to admiralty practice.

“Maritime law is a specialty pursued by very few attorneys,” says Mr. Murphy. “However, many attorneys can find themselves faced with matters falling within the admiralty jurisdiction of the federal court in the course of their practice. These rules will assist the Court, local attorneys and maritime commerce in addressing an area of the law that can be unfamiliar and overwhelming.”

One area in which Mr. Murphy expects the new rules will have a positive affect is the shipping industry, where multiple parties may be affected by maritime proceedings and must work quickly towards a resolution.

“In the shipping industry, time is of the essence,” explains Mr. Murphy. “When a ship about to leave for foreign shores must be arrested as security for outstanding maritime liens, it is very important that the lawyers, the clients, the U.S. Marshal, the court clerks and the judges all have a very clear consensus on the steps that must be followed. The local admiralty rules provide those extra guidelines.”

While some other major maritime law jurisdictions have adopted local admiralty rules, Rhode Island is only the second district in the First Circuit, after Puerto Rico, to do so.
Local maritime practitioners Michael Daly, Samuel Blatchley and Merlyn O’Keefe worked with Mr. Murphy on the subcommittee. Professor Jonathan Gutoff of Roger Williams School of law also contributed substantially.

About Hanson Curran LLP:

Hanson Curran LLP is a civil litigation defense firm in Providence, Rhode Island with a rich history of providing superior legal counsel to the region’s insurers, businesses, and non-profit organizations. The firm has been a leader in the Southern New England legal community since the early 1900s and continues to provide expert counsel to its clients through its unique combination of experience and innovation.

James T. Murphy is a maritime law practitioner and designated a Proctor in Admiralty by the Maritime Law Association of the United States.

To learn more about the firm, visit hansoncurran.com.

Two talented firm associates elevated to partner status

Providence, Rhode Island – Hanson Curran announced today that two of its associates, Sara Fontes and Nicholas R. Mancini, have been named as partners of the firm as of January 1, 2013.

“We are very pleased to announce that two of our talented associates have joined us as partners at Hanson Curran,” Managing Partner Megan J. Goguen said. “Both have been key contributors to the ongoing success of our firm, and we look forward to continuing to grow and develop with them in the coming years.”

Ms. Fontes and Mr. Mancini will be joining Hanson Curran’s four existing partners: David P. Whitman, Michael T. F. Wallor, James T. Murphy and Ms. Goguen.

Biographical information for the new partners is listed below:

Sara Fontes is an experienced civil litigator, focusing her practice on the defense of a variety of civil litigation matters including: personal injury defense, toxic torts, professional liability and product liability. She has particular expertise in providing council for insurance coverage issues, premise liability actions and psychological injuries

Ms. Fontes assists insurers in anticipating legal issues and in successfully planning the most effective strategies for their business goals. She regularly advocates for her clients in state and federal courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and through alternative dispute resolution. Ms. Fontes was selected for inclusion in the 2010 and 2011 editions of the Rhode Island Super Lawyers^® – Rising Stars Edition and also volunteers her time as a performance judge for the Mock Trial Program of the Rhode Island Legal/Educational Partnership. She has been with the firm since 2005.

Nicholas R. Mancini concentrates his practice in civil litigation, with an emphasis on personal injury, professional liability and workers’ compensation defense. He regularly appears before the Rhode Island Superior Court, the Rhode Island Workers’ Compensation Court and the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. Mr. Mancini’s practical approach to litigation, with a combination of careful legal analysis and pragmatic case evaluation, has resulted in consistently excellent results for his clients.

Mr. Mancini was selected as a Rising Star for the 2012 Edition of Rhode Island Super Lawyers^®. Along with Sara, Nicholas joined the firm initially in 2005.

About Hanson Curran LLP:

An integral part of the Rhode Island legal community since the early 1900s, Hanson Curran LLP is nationally renowned for achieving optimum resolutions in trial and appellate proceedings across all aspects of civil litigation. Approaching each case with the utmost enthusiasm and dedication — along with a client-centered sense of collaboration — we consistently provide superior defense strategies, while often setting creative solutions to emerging legal issues. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Hanson Curran’s diverse client base includes many of Southern New England’s leading insurers, businesses and not-for-profits.

To learn more about the firm, visit hansoncurran.com.

Mary concentrates her practice in the area of civil litigation, with particular emphasis on complex litigation, professional liability, product liability, construction law, employment law, insurance coverage, maritime law, workers’ compensation, and appellate law. Mary regularly appears before the Rhode Island state and federal courts, where she has achieved excellent results for her clients through skillful advocacy and thorough legal research and analysis. She has also assisted her clients in achieving success through alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation.

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Josh is an experienced civil litigator who concentrates his practice in the defense of claims of professional liability against health care providers and in the general representation of hospitals and healthcare workers. Josh also has experience in the defense of general litigation matters, including personal injury and employment law matters. Josh’s depth of experience in the defense of claims related to medical care has allowed him to develop a comprehensive understanding of evaluating the value of claims and the most effective litigation tactics for defending these cases. Additionally, through his exposure to
a varied range of medical claims, Josh has developed an exceptional network of accomplished, credible experts to assist in the evaluation and defense of these matters. Josh has had great success in trying cases before the courts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and he has been equally effective in employing various methods of alternative dispute resolution to achieve optimal results for his clients. Josh regularly lectures to physician and nursing groups and participates in education programs for healthcare providers to assist his clients in addressing and preventing claims.

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