This past week involved a lot of procedural maneuvering to keep contentious litigation moving forward. For a home health care client, the opposing parties have been particularly evasive. The firm prepared and filed a second motion for default against the defendants, and quickly followed up with a robust objection to their motion to open the default. When defendants consistently drag their feet, persistent motion practice is necessary to force the issue and protect the client’s interests.
In a complex commercial property matter involving a local restaurant, the firm took on a new representation that required immediately diving into the deep end. The work included amending the answer and counterclaims, strategizing over a quiet title issue spanning complaints from 2022 and 2024, and attending a trial management conference with the Judge to get the procedural posture straightened out.
Local disputes often require a mix of public and private coordination. For a shoreline hospitality client facing a municipal dispute, I reached out to a local alderman and followed up with the New Haven Police Records Division regarding an ongoing FOIA request. After reviewing the FOIA results and discussing the strategy with the client, the firm sent a gentle demand letter to opposing counsel to steer the matter toward a sensible resolution.
On the intellectual property front, the firm maintains its active practice before the USPTO. I prepared and filed a response to a non-final office action for a patent application involving twenty or fewer claims. For a new business group, the firm handled a flat-fee trademark application while simultaneously getting the entity registered for Connecticut sales tax, ensuring their business foundations are solid on both the IP and regulatory fronts.
Discovery and procedural work are the bread and butter of litigation. This week included preparing and filing a caseflow request to prompt a ruling on a pending motion to dismiss in a corporate litigation matter, securing opposing counsel’s consent along the way. The firm also served first discovery requests in a real estate dispute, prepared a request to revise an opponent’s answer, and filed a notice of admissions against corporate defendants in an IP dispute. Sometimes cases stall out, and the firm had to revise and file a motion to re-open and lift a stay for a commercial client whose federal matter had been paused.
Corporate and transactional matters rounded out the week. For a client in the entertainment and production space, I reviewed and marked up an Employee Assignment Agreement, hashing out the details via email with opposing counsel. Another client needed a flat-fee promissory note drafted to secure a financial transaction. The firm also spent significant time formulating detailed responses to comprehensive legal questions from an emerging tech client, and engaged in active settlement negotiations for a commercial operating company.
Finally, the firm stepped in to assist a municipal housing authority. After reviewing the docket and clearing conflicts, I filed an appearance and went straight to Housing Court to participate in an in-person mediation with a tenant. Being on the ground for these mediations often leads to a more efficient resolution than remote negotiations.
