Jim Bergenn's practice is comprised of complex criminal and civil litigation, including white collar crime and government investigations, substantial personal injury and wrongful death cases, and other trials involving substantial consequences. With more than 30 years of experience as a trial attorney and instructor, he is called upon regularly to use his trial skills, and experience with investigations and experts in diverse significant cases.
Jim handles a wide range of criminal cases, representing targets of investigations, criminal defendants, grand jury and other witnesses, and corporate and individual victims of crimes. He works in cases prosecuted by the gamut of federal, state and local authorities, such as the US Attorney?s Office, The Chief State?s Attorney?s Office, State and Federal Grand Juries, the FBI, the State Police, the SEC, the DEA, the ATF, the DOD, the IRS, the FDA, the FTC, the Office of Inspector General for various Federal Agencies, the various state regulators such as the Attorney General, the DEP, the DOH, the DMR, the DCF, the Office of Consumer Protection, and the local police.
In the Personal Injury area, he represents people in all types of personal injury cases including accidents involving motor vehicles and motorcycles, products and premises liability, construction accidents, drownings, boating accidents environmental hazards and medical malpractice. He handles sexual assault cases on behalf of both adult and children victims. The injuries in the cases he has prosecuted include death, burns, RSD, paralysis, blindness and Legionnaire?s disease. He uses technology to help jurors understand in simple terms what might otherwise be complex, including video reconstruction, videotaped depositions, and clear use of illustrations, charts, maps and highlighted documentary evidence. Most of his cases use expert witnesses, including accident reconstruction experts, and economic and medical experts to establish damages.
Distinctions
- Connecticut Statewide Grievance Committee for New Haven Ethics Panel
- CBA Task Force on Confidentiality and the Courts Commission
- CBA Task Force for Legal Education
- State of Connecticut Judicial Branch: Advisory Commission on Wrongful Convictions
- Catholic University of America: President's Award
- AV Preeminent? Rated,?Martindale-Hubbell
- Listed as a Connecticut?Super Lawyer?: Criminal Defense: White Collar (2006-2017); Personal Injury Plaintiff: General, Business Litigation (2006-2015)
- Listed as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in Connecticut by?Super Lawyers? (2014, 2016)
- Listed in?The Best Lawyers in America?😕Criminal Defense😕White-Collar?(2009-2018);?Criminal Defense: General Practice?(2017-2018);?Criminal Defense😕Non-White-Collar?(2009-2016);?Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs?(2018);?Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs?(2018)
- Named 'Lawyer of the Year' (2014, 2016): Best Lawyers?Hartford Region?Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar
- Named 'Lawyer of the Year' (2018): Best Lawyers Hartford Region?Criminal Defense: General Practice
- Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star: Wrongful Death and Personal Injury (Plaintiff) (2012-2015)
- Chosen as a member of?The Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a voluntary membership organization that admits only attorneys who have won million dollar verdicts or settlements, and of which fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members
- American Bar Foundation: Fellow
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Connecticut Bar Association: Executive Committee, Criminal Justice Section; Chair, Media and Law Committee
- Hartford County Bar Association
- National?Association of?Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association: Board of Governors
- The Brain Injury Trial Lawyers Top 25
Community Involvement
- American Constitution Society: Lawyers Steering Committee
- Town of Glastonbury: Former Conservation Commissioner
- Town of Glastonbury: Former Chairman, Democratic Town?Committee
- Town of Glastonbury: Former Boys and girls soccer and basketball coach
- Lector and Religious Education Instructor
- Hartford Apartment Improvement Program, Inc.: Former Board President
- Connecticut Friends for ALS Research
- Covenant Preparatory School: Board of Directors
PRACTICE AREAS
EDUCATION
- Columbia University School of Law, J.D., 1979
- Catholic University of America, B.A., 1976,?summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
BAR ADMISSIONS
COURT ADMISSIONS
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of NY
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of NY
- U.S. District Court, District of CT
