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Overview

Overview

Melissa M. Modzelewski is an associate with the firm’s Connecticut office. She practices primarily in the areas of complex civil and commercial litigation, with a particular focus in recreational/sports litigation and defense of recreational facilities. More generally, her civil defense litigation experience includes defense of condominium associations, property management companies, commercial establishments, non-profit and community outreach organizations, group homes, drug and alcohol treatment facilities, assisted living facilities and homeless shelters.

Melissa is an evening program graduate of Western New England University School of Law. She pursued a transactional law concentration and was awarded the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for Trusts and Estates. Prior to law school, Melissa obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Suffolk University.

Experience

Experience

Representative Experience

  • Defended clients in complex construction defect litigation matters.
  • Defended insureds in motor vehicle accident litigation involving high value personal injury claims and exposure to exemplary/punitive damages arising from recklessness allegations.
  • Obtained voluntary dismissal of Plaintiff’s claims against an insurer defendant after establishing that Plaintiff’s claims were barred by the anti-stacking provision of the UM/UIM statute.

Honors

  • Connecticut Super Lawyers® Rising Star 2024
  • Western New England University School of Law Excellence for the Future Award in Trusts and Estates

Professional Affiliations

  • Connecticut Bar Association
  • Hartford County Bar Association
  • Hampden County Bar Association
  • Association of Ski Defense Attorneys

Civic Activities

  • Hartford Habitat for Humanity – Volunteer and Team Captain, “Women Build” 

Publications

  • “College Athletes and Their Unknown Road Ahead,” New York Law Journal, September 2024. 
  • “Professional Sports Arenas and Their Microscopic Damage,” Sports Litigation Alert, March 2024 (SITE).

Credentials

Credentials

Admitted to Practice

  • Connecticut State Courts
  • Massachusetts State Courts
  • United States District Court, District of Connecticut
  • United States District Court, District of Massachusetts

Education

  • Western New England University School of Law, J.D.
  • Suffolk University, B.A.

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