Practice Areas
Since 1976, the North Haven law firm of Cella - Flanagan, P.C. has provided full-service legal representation to clients located throughout the State of Connecticut. With over 70 years of collective experience in a wide range of legal matters, our experienced trial attorneys have the knowledge and skill to help you resolve your legal dilemmas. We offer assistance in the following areas of law:
- Personal Injury & Workers' Compensation
- Divorce & Family Law
- Criminal Law
- Estate Planning & Probate
- Elder Law
- Real Estate
Personal Injury & Workers' Compensation
At Cella - Flanagan, P.C., we understand the hardships you may face after sustaining an injury in an accident, and work diligently to handle all of your legal and related insurance issues so that you can concentrate on recovering. Our track record of success includes recovering millions in settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients. Our areas of expertise include:
- Medical Malpractice: Doctors, hospitals, and other medical professionals have a duty to provide the standard of patient care generally accepted in the medical community. When care providers breach this duty and cause injuries, they may be held liable for the harm they have caused. Some common examples of medical negligence include misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, delay in diagnosis, surgical errors, and prescription errors.
- Products Liability: According to Connecticut law, manufacturers have a duty to ensure that their products are reasonably safe for use by consumers, in their manufacture, construction, design, formula, preparation, assembly, installation, testing, warnings, instructions, marketing, packaging, or labeling of any product. This includes all types of products, from children's toys and household goods, to dangerous drugs, to automobiles.
- Slip & Fall & Premises Liability: Most landowners owe a duty to reasonably maintain their property and ensure that is safe for use, or to warn others of dangerous conditions on the land to prevent injuries. If you are injured in a slip and fall or trip and fall accident due to the negligence of another, you may be entitled to recover compensation for damages.
- Auto Accidents: When a driver's negligence causes an accident, the driver (or driver's insurer) may be held liable for any harm caused. Common examples of driver negligence include texting or talking on cell phones, speeding, failing to yield, and failing to obey traffic signs. In addition, auto accidents are often caused by defective auto parts.
- Worker's Compensation: The Connecticut Workers' Compensation Act provides for wage replacement, medical treatment, and other benefits for those employees who have been injured, disabled, or killed while performing their jobs. If you have been injured on the job, contact our office for assistance with your workers' compensation claim.
Divorce & Family Law
We understand that divorce and legal separation can be some of the most emotionally-difficult issues a family may face. We offer sensitive, compassionate support in all family law and divorce-related matters, including issues of classification and division of marital property and debts, determination of child custody and visitation rights, child support, and spousal support. In Connecticut, a divorce may be granted if the marriage has broken down irretrievably, the parties have lived apart because of incompatibility for a continuous eighteen month period without reasonable prospect that they will reconcile, or by finding of fault of either spouse.
Criminal Law
Our attorneys provide criminal defense representation in misdemeanors and traffic offenses in Connecticut State courts. We have extensive experience defending clients against charges of driving under the influence (DUIs). Under Connecticut law, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or both. A person over age 21 is considered legally intoxicated if their blood alcohol content (BAC) is above .08, and a person under age 21 is considered legally intoxicated if their BAC is above .02. If you have been arrested on charges of DUI, contact an attorney quickly or face the possibility of serious penalties if you are convicted. A first violation alone may results in fines of between $500 and $1,000 and imprisonment for up to six months, as well as probation, community service, and license suspension.
Estate Planning & Probate
We carefully consider the needs and goals of our client in preparing every estate plan, and provide comprehensive, tax-sensitive estate planning documents individually tailored to each client, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney and living wills. We also represent executors and administrators in the probate administration of a decedent's estate. In the event a dispute arises during the administration of an estate, our attorneys are experienced litigators and are prepared to represent our clients in connection with any probate, trust or estate dispute, including will contests and claims of a breach of fiduciary duty.
Elder Law
At Cella - Flanagan, P.C., we assist with all the issues that arise as you continue to get older and plan for your long-term care, including obtaining benefits to which you may be entitled and addressing issues that arise in nursing and convalescent homes. For example, we can assist with Medicare and Medicaid planning, which may cover the costs of nursing home care and other long-term care. If you suffer from a disability that prevents you from remaining substantially gainfully employed, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. However, the application process can be complex and overwhelming, requiring all relevant medical evidence and opinion evidence from your doctor about your disability and its effect on your ability to work. Our experienced Social Security Disability attorneys can help guide you through the process to ensure that you have made a persuasive case for disability benefits.
Real Estate
Our firm represents clients in all types of commercial and residential real estate transactions. We assist with real estate closings for the purchase and sale of residential and commercial real estate, including advising on your rights and responsibilities under your purchase and sales agreement, drafting all the necessary legal documents, and representing you at closing. We also help with mortgage refinance closings, including performing titles searches and closing documents. In addition, we provide litigation assistance in real estate contract disputes, including disputes over the legal description of the property, which items are included in a sale, title disputes, and any other contract term disputes.
