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Attorneys
Jeffrey M. Donofrio 
North Haven, Connecticut
Managing Partner
phone (203) 239-9828
fax (203) 234-0379
email Email Me

Jeffrey M. Donofrio has been a commercial litigation attorney in Connecticut since 1990. Mr. Donofrio began his career at Tyler Cooper & Alcorn in New Haven, where he practiced commercial litigation, construction law and municipal law until leaving to form Ciulla & Donofrio, LLP on November 1, 1996 with Robert K. Ciulla. Jeffrey Donofrio is admitted to the bars of Connecticut, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. He is a graduate of Boston College and the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.

Jeffrey Donofrio represents businesses of all sizes, including financial institutions, the largest telecommunications company in the world, municipalities, insurance companies, construction contractors, service companies and utilities in a wide variety of civil litigation, including complex litigation, construction and surety law, creditors' rights litigation, insurance coverage law, municipal law, contract law and business torts. Jeffrey Donofrio has served as the Town Attorney for the Town of North Haven and provides a la carte legal services to 9 municipalities in Connecticut. Effective June 1, 2008, Jeffrey Donofrio was selected by the Representative Policy Board of the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority to serve as its Consumer Affairs Officer.

Jeffrey Donofrio has extensive multi-state and multi-district litigation experience, having represented clients in litigation in state and federal courts in Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, D.C. Oregon, Kansas, New York, West Virginia, Texas, Florida, Nevada and the state of Washington.

Jeffrey Donofrio enjoys an AV rating, Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards, and has been rated AV every year since he first received a rating in 2000. Jeffrey Donofrio has also been named a Connecticut, New England and Corporate Counsel Super Lawyer in the business litigation and construction law categories. Jeff was also selected in 2007 as a fellow by the Litigation Counsel of America.

Jeffrey Donofrio has presented seminars to groups such as the New Haven County Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association, the Bank Compliance Association of Connecticut, Lorman Educational Services and the National Business Institute in the areas of construction law, creditors' rights litigation, legal technology, mediation, contract law, and prejudgment/postjudgment remedies. Jeffrey Donofrio has also written numerous articles published in the Connecticut Law Tribune and Connecticut Lawyer, focusing on construction law and legal technology topics.

Jeffrey Donofrio is the Chairman of the Legal Technology Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association, is a Co-Chair of the CBA's Small Firm Law Practice Management Section and serves as a director or council member for several non-profit organizations, including the Sleeping Giant Park Association, the North Haven Education Foundation, the North Haven Republican Town Commitee, the Parish Council of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and the Fairfield College Preparatory School Alumni Association. Attorney Donofrio also recently became a trustee of the Saint Raphael Foundation, a member of the St. Raphael Healthcare System.

Mr. Donofrio is a member of the American Bar Association (Litigation Section, Forum on the Construction Industry, Law Practice Management Section and Construction Litigation Committee), the Connecticut Bar Association (Litigation, Construction Law and Commercial Law Sections, Chair - Legal Technology Committee and Co-Chair, Small Firm Practice Management Section) and the New Haven County Bar Association. Jeffrey Donofrio also serves as a Special Master in Connecticut Superior Court for tax appeal matters and as a mediator/arbitrator in commercial litigation and construction disputes. Jeffrey is a Member of the Municipal Law, Liability and Insurance Committee of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, a member of the Connecticut Association of Municipal Attorneys and the Connecticut Construction Industry Association.

Year Joined Organization:
1996
Areas of Practice:
Commercial/Business Litigation
Insurance Coverage Litigation
Construction Law and Litigation
Municipal Law
Property Tax Appeals
Arbitration and Mediation
State and Federal Court Appeals
Civil Litigation
Creditors' Rights Law
Internet Defamation Law
Litigation Percentage:
90% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions:
Connecticut, 1990
U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 1991
U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1994
U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1995
Education:
Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, Washington, District of Columbia, May, 1990
J.D.


Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, May, 1987
B.A.


Published Works:
Cybersmear If You Dare.....But Be Prepared to Pay, Connecticut Lawyer, November, 2007


Eat Your Vegetables, Connecticut Lawyer, August, 2007


Hiring Construction Managers Easier Said than Done, Connecticut Law Tribune, December, 2006


Tools of the Trade for the 21st Century Litigator, Connecticut Lawyer, March, 2003


How to Improve Odds of a Successful Construction Project, Business New Haven, November, 2005


Legal Technology Review, Connecticut Law Tribune, March, 2001


Highlights of the Y2K Act, Connecticut Lawyer, October, 1999


Get the Bug Spray Ready, Connecticut Lawyer, October, 1998


Representative Cases:
Peter Rock Associates v. Town of North Haven, 59 Conn. App.1 (2000)
Woodwinds v. Dimeo, 229 F.3d 1136 (2000)
SNET v. Pagano, 79 Conn. App. 458 (2003)
Citizens Communications v. Trustmark Insurance Company, 303 F 2d. 197 (2004)
Mortgage Lenders Network USA v. Coresource, 335 F. Supp. 2d 313 (D.Conn. 2004)
West Haven Housing Authority v. CB Alexander Real Estate, LLC, 2007 WL 346031 (Conn. Super. 2007)
Bergami v. Town of Hamden, 39 Conn. L. Rptr. 718 (Conn. Super. 2005)
White Way Laundry v. F&W Equipment Corp., 40 Conn, L. Rptr. 488 (Conn. Super. 2005)
SNET v. City of Milford, 2003 WL 22708896 (Conn. Super. 2003)
Corn v. Protective Life Insurance Co., 1998 WL 51783 (D. Conn. 1998)
SNET v. Coho, 2006 WL 2867884 (Conn. Super. 2006)
West Haven Housing Authority v. CB Alexander Real Estate, et al., 107 Conn. App. 167, 944 A.2d 1010 (Appellate 2008)
Representative Clients:
AT&T
Connecticut Natural Gas
Connecticut Electrical Associates
Ed-Mor Electric Company
Joseph Cohn & Son
Kimco Realty Corp.
Mark IV Construction Corp.
Town of North Haven
P&H Construction Associates
Protective Life Insurance Company
Simoniz USA
Trustmark Insurance Company
Town of Wallingford
Webster Bank, N.A.
Wells Fargo Bank
Town of Woodbridge
Town of Trumbull
Sachems Head Association
Town of Guilford
Ed-Mor Electric Company
Cheviot Corp.
Fox Steel Products
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
South Central Connecticut Council of Governments
Surgical Associates of New Haven, P.C.
Town of Hamden
Town of North Branford
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Construction Law Fundamentals: Managing Project Risk, National Business Institute, 2007


Resolving Problems and Disputes on Construction Projects, National Business Institute, 2007


Insurance, Liens and Bonds in Connecticut, Lorman Educational Services, 2006


Construction Management/Design Build in CT, Lorman Educational Services, 2003 - 2005


Comprehensive Construction Law in CT, Lorman Educational Services, 2005


Special Proceedings and More, New Haven County Bar Association, 2005


Mediation Tips and Pointers, New Haven County Bar Association, 2004


Practical and Affordable Technology in Connecticut's Courts- Today's Realities and Tomorrow's Visions, Connecticut Bar Association, 2003


Construction Claims in Connecticut, Lorman Educational Services, 2001


Legal Sources on the Internet, Connecticut Bar Association, 2000


Connecticut Construction Law: What Do You Do When, Lorman Educational Services, 2000 - 2001


Advanced Construction Law In Connecticut, National Business Institute, 1997 - 1999


Construction Payment Remedies in Connecticut, Lorman Educational Services, 1999


Y2K Preparation, Connecticut Bar Association, 1999


Commercial Litigation: Prejudgment and Post judgment Remedies, Bank Compliance Association of CT, 1995


Foreclosure, the FDIC and FIRREA, New Haven County Bar Association, 1993


Construction Defects (via National Teleconference and Webcast), National Business Institute, 2008


Resolving Problems and Disputes on Construction Projects, National Business Institute, December 9, 2008


Getting Paid for Construction Work in Connecticut, National Business Institute, June 24, 2009


Practice Management Tips for the New and Experienced Solo and Small Firm Practitioner, Connecticut Bar Association, November 12, 2009


Honors and Awards:
AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell's Highest Rating, 2000 - Present


Connecticut SuperLawyers, Law & Politics


Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, Martindale Hubbell, 2004 - Present


Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America


New England Super Lawyers


Corporate Counsel Edition, Super Lawyers


Professional Associations and Memberships:
Connecticut Bar Association, 2000 - Present
Chairman, Legal Technology Committee


Connecticut Bar Association, Commercial Law, Construction Law & Litigation Sections, 1991 - Present
Member


New Haven County Bar Association, 1990 - Present
Member


Connecticut Bar Association
Co-Chair, Small Firm Practice Management Section


American Bar Association, Litigation Section, 1997 - Present
Member


American Bar Association, Business Law, 1997 - Present
Member


American Bar Association, Law Practice Management Section, 1997 - Present
Member


American Bar Association
Member, Forum on the Construction Industry


American Bar Association
Member, Construction Litigation Committee


Town of North Haven Republican Town Committee, 2000 - Present
Member


Fairfield Prep Alumni Association, 1999 - Present
Director


Sleeping Giant Park Association, 1992 - Present
Director


North Haven Education Foundation, 2004 - Present
Director


Connecticut Association of Municipal Attorneys, 2003 - Present
Member


Connecticut Construction Industry Association, 2007 - Present
Member


Connecticut Conference of Municipalities Committee on Municipality Law Liability and Insurance
Member


Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Council, 2006 - Present
Council Member


Past Employment Positions:
Tyler Cooper & Alcorn, Associate, September 6, 1990 - November 1, 1996


NOTE: Labels in bold are required.

Contact Information
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Testimonials
Recent Case News
  • Lou Dagostine was recently selected as a "Rising Star" in 2011 New England Super Lawyers.
  • Jeff Donofrio was recently selected as a 2011 New England Super Lawyer and a 2011 Business Edition Super Lawyer.
  • On February 7, 2012, Jeff Donofrio will serve on the faculty for State and Local Government Law, a full day seminar hosted by the National Business Institute, which will be held in New Haven.
  • Jeffrey M. Donofrio is a member of the panel presenting Special Proceedings and More, a New Haven County Bar Association CLE program being presented on April 26, 2011 in the Jury Assembly room in New Haven Superior Court from 4pm-6pm. The program will feature a discussion of prejudgment and postjudgment remedies.
  • Ciulla & Donofrio, LLP has been selected as a "Go-To Law Firm for Leading Technology Companies" by American Lawyer Media. In-House Law Departments at the Leading Technology Companies, published by ALM, includes the short list of elite U.S. firms that represent the top technology companies. ALM asked General Counsel at the leading technology companies which outside law firms they turn to for assistance. ALM's research department also investigated and gathered data on technology company's Go-To Law Firms from various resources such as public records including court dockets and securities filings, key publications and well-respected commercial databases.
  • Jennifer Coppola successfully represented the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Woodbridge in Cimino v. Zoning Board of Appeals, 117CA 569 (2009).  Jennifer successfully defended the appeal of the denial of variance applications at both the trial court and the Appellate Court.
  • Jeffrey M. Donofrio has been selected as a "Super Lawyer" by New England Super Lawyers, Connecticut Super Lawyers and Corporate Counsel Edition Super Lawyers. 
  • On May 19, 2010, Jeffrey M. Donofrio was a co-presenter of "Dramatically Increase Your Productivity, Profit, and Peace of Mind: The Attorney's Guide to Seamless Time Management."  Jeff presented the program, which was sponsored by the Connecticut Bar Association, with renowned lawyer coach Bill Jawitz.
  • Ciulla & Donofrio, LLP has been selected by the Town of North Branford to assist it with several construction projects.  We are representing the Town with regard to the North Branford Intermediate School, Atwater Library and Smith Library projects.  We are providing a wide range of services, including contract and procurement law advice, claims review and negotiation and general construction law services.
  • Ciulla & Donofrio, LLP has been engaged by the Town of Hamden to assist the Town with the Adaptive Re-Use of Memorial Town Hall and the Addition of a new Police Headquarters.

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Ciulla & Donofrio, LLP
127 Washington Avenue
North Haven, Connecticut 06473
Main number: (203) 239-9828
Fax: (203) 234-0379
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