Joseph T. Coppola II is Polito & Harrington’s newest associate, joining the firm after working at a Fortune 500 insurance company, where he handled employment matters all across the United States, including cases involving discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination.
Joe is the oldest of five children, born and raised in Madison, Connecticut. Joe is a graduate of Bryant University and Roger Williams University School of Law. At Roger Williams, Joe was awarded academic scholarships during each of his three years at the school based on academic merit. Joe also received recognition from the Feinstein Center for outstanding commitment to pro bono legal service, having performed over 100 pro-bono service hours within the community during his time in law school. In addition to his involvement within the school, Joe was fortunate enough to gain a great deal of experience through internships in his spare time. Joe served as a legal intern for the Rhode Island Department of Revenue, the Rhode Island Office of the General Treasurer, and as a law clerk for a firm focused on cases involving personal injury, products liability, and premises liability.
During his third year in law school, Joe was accepted into two competitive programs which promote experiential education; The Roger Williams Business Start-up Clinic and the Corporate Counsel Externship Program. At the Business Start-up Clinic, Joe was one of only two students who worked at the clinic as an advanced student practitioner with a temporary license from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Joe not only gained valuable experience in advising and assisting clients with entity formation issues, contracts, articles of incorporation, trademark applications, as well as applications to form 501-(c)(3) corporations, but he also maintained a role as a supervisor and advisor to other clinic members and assisted them with their respective clients.
In addition to his work with the Business Start-up Clinic, Joe simultaneously participated in Roger Williams’ Corporate Counsel Externship program, where he was offered a externship position in the legal department at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island under the company’s general counsel. Joe gained valuable exposure to the healthcare industry, medical claims, and general insurance knowledge that to this day allows him to better serve his clients who may be suffering from life changing injuries.
Today, Joe proudly represents clients who have been injured in personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, and medical malpractices cases, both in Connecticut State Court and in the Tribal Courts for Connecticut’s two casinos, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods.
In his spare time, Joe enjoys hiking, camping, archery, and restoring musical instruments.
Bar Admissions:
- Connecticut
- Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Court at Foxwoods
- Mohegan Gaming Disputes and Tribal Court
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association,
- Connecticut Bar Association
- Connecticut Bar Association
- New London County Bar Association
Areas of Practice:
- Personal Injury
Litigation Percentage:
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Personal Injury Cases (CT):
- Car accident injuries
- Slip and fall injuries
- Injuries caused by dogs and other animals, dog bites
- Truck and tractor trailer accident injuries
- Motorcycle accident injuries
- Traumatic brain injury, mild TBI
- Spinal cord injuries
- Bicycle accident injuries
Medical Malpractice Cases (CT):
- Surgical errors
- Birth injuries
- Failure to diagnose
- Infections, MRSA
- Medication errors
Nursing Homes Injuries & Neglect Cases (CT):
- Bed sores
- Falls
- Infection
- Medication errors
- Elder abuse
- Misconduct with elders
Sexual Misconduct Cases (CT):
- Priests and Ministers
- School Teachers
- School Coaches
- Extended Statute of Limitations
Product Liability Cases (CT):
- Defective design
- Defects in manufacturing
- Failure to provide adequate guards
- Failure to warn of dangers and defects
Business Litigation Cases (CT):
- CUTPA (Connecticut Unfair Trade Practice)
- Breach of Contract
- Tortious Interference with business and contracts
- Connecticut Trade Secrets