News

In 1982, the General Assembly promulgated R.I.G.L. §28-33-18.2,the so-called “Suitable Alternative Employment” provision of the Rhode Island Workers’ Compensation Act.  Suitable Alternative Employment was created by the Legislature to give employers a means to compel employees to return to the workforce even when they are incapable of returning to their full-duty work activities.  For full details please click here.

Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney, LLP and partner James A. Ruggieri have been invited to join the prestigious Claims and Litigation Management Alliance.  The CLM is a nonpartisan alliance comprised of thousands of insurance companies, corporations, corporate counsel, litigation and risk managers, claims professionals and attorneys.  Through education and collaboration the organization’s goals are to create a common interest in the representation by firms of companies, and to promote and further the highest standards of litigation management in pursuit of client defense.  Selected attorneys and law firms are extended membership by invitation only based on nominations from CLM Fellows.

Jim has devoted a substantial part of his practice to the defense of product liability claims, insurance coverage matters in the areas of extra.-contractual liability, claims handling, coverage and bad faith, and on issues of employment law. He is also involved in the defense of the transportation industry in connection with trucking accident claims as well as labor and employment issues.

Higgins Cavanagh & Cooney maintains strong alliances with a number of leading national associations devoted to advancing industry best practices, including but not limited to,  ALFA International – the global legal network, the National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association (NRRDA), the Defense Research Institute (DRI) and the Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC).

The Defense Counsel of Rhode Island (DCRI) sponsored a continuing legal education program on May 7^th, 2014 titled, “Is Your Boilerplate Ready.”  The seminar examined the ongoing need for attorneys to revise and update the standard language used in a variety of forms and legal documents. HCC attorney Stephen P. Cooney, Esq. was one of the featured speakers.

The program addressed how rulings from recent case law and language from newly revised statutes need to be reflected into specific contracts, litigation hold letters, and correspondence with clients as well as in the drafting of interrogatories. The seminar also reviewed the appropriate language for discovery requests when seeking information posted on social media websites.

DCRI is a forum for exchanging ideas on current issues of importance to defense lawyers, corporations and insurance companies.

On April 16^th, Steve addressed similar issues at a Rhode Island Bar Association program, titled “Civil Law Practice in Rhode Island – The Basics.” He offered practical tips, checklists, sample client letters and court forms necessary when opening a new client file. He also addressed the ethical and professionalism issues involved during the initial stages of the attorney-client relationship.

The Rhode Island Bar Association seminar was especially designed for skilled practitioners to share their insight and experience into Rhode Island practice for the benefit of new attorneys and other lawyers unaccustomed to trial practice.

Steve’s practice focuses primarily on civil litigation, including defense of products liability, toxic tort, premises liability, transportation litigation and insurance claims.

On May 2, 2014, members of the state judiciary and the bar joined together to visit various schools across Rhode Island in order to promote awareness of our judicial system, to discuss a relevant and timely legal topic, and to educate the students on their rights and responsibilities as citizens under our legal system.

HCC attorney J. David Freel, Esq. was one of the participating instructors as part of Rhode Island Law Day.  He was paired with Judge Stephen Isherwood of the Rhode Island District Court.  They addressed students from two, 7th grade classes at the Father John V. Doyle School in Coventry, R.I., on the topic of Fourth Amendment rights and other current issues related to privacy law.

The event was organized by the Rhode Island Bar Association.  Each year, Law Day programs are conducted across the United States during the entire month of May by bar groups, courts, schools and community to explain the crucial role that the rule of law and the legal process play in protecting freedom. In 1961, Congress issued a joint resolution designating May 1 as the official Law Day.

Higgins, Cavanagh and Cooney LLP is pleased to announce that Melissa M. Horne, Esq. has become Of Counsel to the firm. Ms. Horne will utilize more than 20 years’ experience in business law as she continues her practice of advising businesses and individuals on a wide variety of issues, including business restructurings, creditors’ rights and government contracts. She has also had considerable success litigating, arbitrating and mediating business disputes.

She is admitted to practice in the state courts of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Michigan, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the District of Rhode Island and the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, and the First and Sixth Circuit Courts of Appeals. She is active in the Rhode Island Bar Association, and has taught business law at Providence College.

Prior to serving as a law clerk in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Melissa earned her J.D. from the University of Detroit School of Law. She has practiced at leading law firms in Michigan and Rhode Island.

Ms. Horne lives with her family in Barrington, where she serves on the Board of Directors of the Barrington Land Conservation Trust.