Tom Cella has been a partner of Howard, Kohn, Sprague and FitzGerald since 1991. He is a 1983 graduate of Western New England School of Law and spent one year as a law clerk for the Connecticut Superior Court before joining Howard, Kohn in 1984. Attorney Cella maintains a diverse litigation caseload which includes the representation of individuals, corporations and municipalities in all phases of trial practice. He primarily represents both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury litigation.

For almost 20 years, Attorney Cella served as an Assistant Town Attorney for the Town of Manchester where he represented the Town in all civil litigation matters including civil rights claims against municipal employees and officials, contract disputes, construction matters, automobile and slip and fall accidents. He has also represented other municipalities and municipal officials throughout the State of Connecticut. Mr. Cella is certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a civil trial lawyer and has tried over 50 cases to verdict or judgment. He serves as a Special Master for the United States District Court, District of Connecticut and the Connecticut Superior Court where he assists in the resolution and settlement of pending civil matters. Mr. Cella has been frequently called upon to mediate or arbitrate civil actions. He has received the highest rating (AV) from Martindale-Hubbell.

Areas of Practice

• Litigation
• Medical Malpractice
• Products Liability
• Wrongful Death

Bar Admissions

• Connecticut, 1983
• U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 2003
• U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut, 1984

Education

• Western New England School of Law, J.D., 1983
• University of Connecticut, B.A., 1979

Professional Associations and Memberships

• National Board of Trial Advocacy, Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer
• American Trial Lawyers Association
• Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association
• American Bar Association
• Connecticut Bar Association
• Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association
• Hartford County Bar Association
• Manchester Bar Association

Community Involvement and Public Service

• Assistant Town Attorney, Town of Manchester, 1986-89, 1991- 2008
• Fact Finder and Arbitrator, Superior Court, State of Connecticut, 1999 - present
• Special Master, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut, 1988 - present

Seminars

• "Deposition Practice & Procedures, Hartford County Bar Association, 2005, 2006"
• “Cross -Examination of an Accident Reconstruction Expert”, Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association, 2004
• “Superior Deposition Strategies in Connecticut Civil Trial Practice”, National Business Institute, 2002
• “Cross-Examination of the Plaintiff in Minor Injury/Soft Tissue Cases”, Connecticut Defense Lawyer’s Association, 2000