News

The American Red Cross recently announced that Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney Attorney J. David Freel has been elected to its Rhode Island Board of Directors.

“It’s great to have David join our team,” said Mario Bruno, CEO, American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region. “His experience working with both the public and private sectors will help us continue to build partnerships to efficiently deliver our services throughout the community.”

Members of the Board of Directors provide guidance and stewardship for the Red Cross and its network of volunteers as the charity provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and preparedness education. While the local Red Cross primarily serves Rhode Island, volunteer teams are respond throughout the country and internationally to serve those affected by disaster.

David earned his J.D. from the Roger Williams University School of Law, where he served as an editor of the law review, and his B.A., with highest distinction, from Pennsylvania State University. He is admitted to practice in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.

David attended the American Red Cross Heroes Luncheon, the signature Red Cross event for Rhode Island. The program recognizes community heroes who have demonstrated extraordinary acts of kindness and courage to prevent and alleviate human suffering, exemplifying the true spirit of the Red Cross. Many of David’s colleagues from Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney attended the event, which also recognized Home Depot, one of the firm’s clients.

James A. Ruggieri was recently recognized by both The American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel, two highly regarded, national legal journals, for his outstanding achievement in the field of product liability. He has devoted a substantial part of his practice to the defense of product liability claims, including automotive/trucking product liability, manufacturing machinery and equipment, electrical components, building products, pharmaceuticals and other products. In addition, he is actively involved in the defense of asbestos product liability claims on behalf of manufacturers of heating and cooling equipment, valves, pumps, compressors, building products manufacturers, and aircraft manufacturers. He is also a sustaining member of the Product Liability Advisory Council, an association of more than 100 leading product manufacturers and 350 of the foremost product liability defense counsel in the United States and abroad.

James A. Ruggieri was recently interviewed on “Executive Suite,” a popular television program featuring leading business figures from Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.

He was interviewed in-depth by the program’s anchor Ted Nesi.
The wide-ranging discussion offered an overview of the 17-lawyer firm of Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney; the firm’s 65 years of service to large corporations, major insurance companies and smaller businesses; the recent relocation of the headquarters within Providence; and the opening of a Boston office.

James Ruggieri also addressed the firm’s ability to serve the litigation needs of larger companies and major insurance carriers doing business in the region in a cost-effective manner with a heightened focus on quality. At one point, he mentioned that clients, both large and small, are demanding greater efficiencies than ever before in their legal representation and how Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney has embraced that change without effecting quality.

He mentioned how clients are not only very concerned about cost but are risk averse and more willing to seek alternatives to litigation. As a result, he cited how technology, careful case management, and comprehensive settlement and mediation strategies have all contributed toward the goals of meeting both the legal and business needs of clients.

Finally, James Ruggieri was able to review various aspects of the firm’s litigation practice that include general liability, premises liability, construction law, product liability as well as workers’ compensation.

Recent guests on “Executive Suite” have included the CEOs of Hasbro and A.T. Cross. The program is presented by the Providence affiliates of CBS and Fox.

Peter E. Garvey, a partner with the Providence law firm of Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney, LLP, was recently recognized in the 2016 edition of Super Lawyers, New England for his defense of cases involving professional liability with a particular emphasis on attorney malpractice.

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. No more than five percent of the lawyers in Rhode Island are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers, New England to receive the “Super Lawyer” designation.

Peter maintains an active litigation practice throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. He also defends businesses in other matters of alleged negligence including premises liability, liquor liability and general insurance defense. In the process, he has achieved considerable success in defending cases involving major retailers and various companies involved in the hospitality field.

After graduating from law school, Peter served as a law clerk to justices of the Superior Courts for Connecticut and Rhode Island. He is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and the New England School of Law, where he graduated with honors.

In addition to Peter’s selection, J. David Freel and Kristina I. Hultman were chosen as “Rising Stars” by Super Lawyers, New England. This marks the second consecutive year that both David and Kristina have received this elite recognition.

David is admitted to practice in the state courts of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, as well as the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Since 2009, he has been representing primarily national and regional corporate clients both before and throughout all phases of litigation including in the areas of insurance defense, premises liability, product liability, and commercial litigation. David previously served as a law clerk in the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s Law Clerk Department. He is a magna cum laude graduate of the Roger Williams University School of Law where he served as Executive Articles Editor of the Roger Williams University Law Review. Prior to law school, David graduated with highest distinction from the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in economics.

Kristina I. Hultman is admitted to practice in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. She has extensive experience arguing numerous dispositive and discovery motions and is well-versed in all aspects of pre-trial discovery. Her practice focuses on product liability, premises liability, insurance defense and professional liability. She graduated from the College of the Holy Cross and received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Roger Williams University School of Law. While in law school, Kristina served as Associate Editor of the Roger Williams University Law Review.

To be eligible for inclusion as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, New England, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less.  No more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in each state are given the designation of a “Rising Star” in any given year.

U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers recently released their “Best Law Firm” selections for 2017 for the State of Rhode Island.

Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney, LLP (HCC) achieved the highest rankings for both personal injury litigation defense and product liability litigation defense. This marks the fourth consecutive year that HCC has received “Tier 1” recognition for these two areas of practice from U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers.

“We are pleased and proud to have been recognized by our clients and colleagues in such a fashion. Achieving a top-tiered ranking by U.S. News & World Report signals a unique combination of quality law practice, breadth of legal expertise, and litigation talent across our entire law firm,” said Managing Partner Stephen B. Lang.

The rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process.

Clients were asked to provide feedback on firm practice groups, addressing expertise, responsiveness, understanding of a business and its needs, cost-effectiveness, civility, and whether they would refer another client to the firm.

Lawyers from other law firms voted on HCC’s expertise, responsiveness, integrity, and cost-effectiveness. Other considerations included whether they would refer a matter to the firm, and whether they consider the firm to be a worthy competitor.

“U.S. News is the global authority in rankings,” said Tim Smart, executive editor of U.S. News & World Report. “Evaluating law firms is a natural extension of what we do best.”