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ATTORNEY’S BIOGRAPHY

Dominick J. Thomas, Jr., the principal of the firm, is a graduate of College of the Holy Cross and the University of Virginia School of Law and was admitted to the bar of the State of Connecticut in 1971. Attorney Thomas was commissioned a Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and served in the Office of Special Investigations before transferring to the U.S. Army where he was an honor graduate of the Judge Advocate General’s school and served as a defense and trial counsel at Fort Hood, Texas, and as an Instructor/Assistant Professor of Law at the United States Military Academy where he also represented cadets in the 1976 West Point cheating scandal.

Upon his honorable discharge he joined the firm in 1977 and has practiced in the areas of criminal, family, civil and personal injury litigation, real estate, municipal and land use law. Attorney Thomas has tried civil and criminal cases before the Superior Court and United States District Court and has argued numerous cases before the Connecticut Appellate and Supreme Courts. While continuing his litigation practice, his current emphasis is in the area of land use where he has represented numerous individual and corporate clients in major residential and commercial projects. His land use practice involves all types of applications and appeals, with an emphasis on Planned Development Districts. Attorney Thomas served on the Connecticut Judicial Department Ad Hoc Committee on Electronic Filing of Administrative Appeals Records which suggested Practice Book rule changes that were adopted. [link to land use resume??]

Attorney Thomas served as Town Attorney for the Town of Oxford during the periods 1986-1987, 1995-1997, and 2001-2003, and served as special Town Counsel on other occasions. He negotiated the labor contracts in addition to representing the town and issuing legal opinions on various municipal matters.

In his litigation practice he and the firm are often retained by other counsel to assist or assume complex litigation matters. Attorney Thomas and the firm are strong advocates for alternate dispute resolution in and effort to resolve matter in the most economical manner for the client.

Attorney Thomas has always placed an emphasis on community involvement and also represents many non-profits and first responder entities. In the spirit of the firm’s founder, David Cohen and Attorney Thomas’ recently retired partner, James Cohen, he and the firm have stressed the importance of giving back to the community. Attorney Thomas’ community and volunteer activity include:

• Member and legal advisor – Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley Board of Directors (33 years) (Past President) (Service to Youth Raymond P. Lavietes Award Recipient – 2006)
• Member and General Counsel – BHCare (formerly Birmingham Group Health Services) Board of Directors (30 years)
• Member – Valley Association of Retarded Children and Adults (VARCA) Board of Directors (20 years)
• Charter Member – Valley Advisory Committee of the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven

• Member – Valley United Way Board of Directors / 2010 Charles H. Flynn Humanitarian Award Recipient –http://www.valleyunitedway.org/flynn/Thomas.htm
• Member – Board of Trustees Archdiocese of Hartford Catholic Charities/ Catholic Family Services 1993-1999, 2001-2005
• Katharine Matthies Foundation Advisory / Allocation Committee 2001-2005
• Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce Gold Seal Recipient – 1991
• 2009 Recipient of the Sharon Bryce Holly Community Hero Award from the Volunteer Action Center of the Valley United Way
• 2005 recipient – Connecticut Bar Association Distinguished Volunteer Service Award
• Member – Oxford Charter Commission 1979-1980 and 1988-990
• Member, Town of Woodbridge Board of Ethics – 2007-present

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:

• Valley Bar Association -(Past President)
• Connecticut Bar Association:
• Planning and Zoning Section – Executive Committee
• Family Law Section
• Criminal Law Section
• American Bar Association:
• State and Local Government Section
• Family Law Section
• Criminal Law Section
• Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association
• American Association for Justice