Attorneys and Staff
Jim Nugent
Jim received his Bachelor Degree, Cum Laude, in History from The Catholic University of America in 1986 and his Juris Doctor degree from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in 1989. Since his graduation from Trial Lawyers College ("TLC") in 1998, Jim has remained involved in the college. He became a staff member in 1999 and in 2005 was nominated for and now sits on the TLC Board of Directors. He has implemented the TLC method into all aspects of his practice, including trial preparation. He invests tremendous time, energy and resources in every one of his cases. Taking the time to get to know each and every one of his clients extremely well allows Jim to tell the jury the powerful truth of each of his client's lives. He fights for the justice his clients deserve. Jim is Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and has been continuously Board Certified since 1998. Jim served in the Connecticut Army National Guard as an infantryman for 11 years, obtaining the rank of Sergeant and is Air Assault qualified. He received the maximum score on the Army Physical Fitness Test, the M-16 Rifle Qualification and the Hand Grenade Qualification tests. He also served in the Connecticut Governors Horse Guard, a mounted Calvary Unit. Jim enjoys the great outdoors! James Nugent
James A. Nugent is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University where he played baseball and was a member of Southerns only undefeated football team. He obtained his law degree from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. He is married with six children and 13 grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys golf and yard work. Julia Maloney Nugent
Before joining The Law Firm of Nugent & Bryant, Julie worked for the Staff Attorneys Office of the Connecticut Supreme and Appellate Courts and as a law clerk to the Honorable George Herbert Goodrich, III, a trial judge on the District of Columbia Superior Court. Julie attended Eastern Michigan University and was co-captain of her Division I swim team. She graduated from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in 1990. In 2003, Julie attended the Trial Lawyers College at Gerry Spences ranch in Dubois, Wyoming. Since 2004, Julie has been an Instructor for the Trial Lawyers College. Stearns J. Bryant, Jr.
Jane Blackstone
Kelly Orzel
Tracey Finer
Tracey is a graduate of Connecticut College with a bachelor degree in Economics. Tracey was a guard and co-captain on the women's basketball team that won two NIAC Division III Championships. She was inducted into the Connecticut College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Connecticut Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001. In her spare time, Tracey continues to play basketball, softball and is a member of Kelly's Duckpin Bowling team. Scout
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Jim Nugent represents people who have suffered serious personal injuries as well as families who have lost loved ones. Jim is the lead trial lawyer for the firm. He has
tried over 75 cases involving, among other things, wrongful death, personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, defamation, infliction of emotional distress, adverse possession, 1983 civil rights, murder, shooting of police officers, burglary, assault, theft of firearms, etc.
James A. Nugent ("the father") has been representing individuals and business owners in commercial and residential real estate, probate, estate planning, business matters, personal injury and civil litigation since 1967. He has taught real estate courses at the University of New Haven, The New Haven Real Estate School and Central Connecticut State University. For 28 years he served as General Counsel to the Greater New Haven Association of Realtors, and he has been called upon to serve as an expert witness in trials regarding the standard of conduct of attorneys and real estate agents in real estate transactions and title search/marketability of title issues. He presently serves on the New Haven County Bar Associations Real Estate Committee as well as the Executive Committee of the Real Property Section and Standards of Title Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association.
Julia ("Julie") Nugent has dedicated her practice to representing people who have been injured due to someone elses fault. Julie recognizes the physical and emotional toll injuries take on her clients. Getting to know her clients and truly feeling their pain allows Julie to obtain justice for them. She attributes her ability to empathize with others to her humble upbringing. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio, one of seven children. My parents didnt have much money, but they were rich in empathy for the weak and down-trodden. Without a doubt, my parents taught me to honor and respect others and to dedicate my life to serve those less fortunate than me. Obtaining justice for the injured has allowed me to do that.
Stearns J. Bryant, Jr. has been practicing estate planning, probate and real estate law since 1968. He obtained his undergraduate degree, BA, from the University of Hartford and his LLM from the University of Maine. In wrongful death cases, the probate court is involved. Stearns handles the probate related claims for the wrongful death cases for the firm. He is a member of the New Haven County Bar Association and the Connecticut Bar Association. In his free time, he enjoys sailing and refereeing soccer.
Hi - I am Jane Blackstone, a paralegal at Nugent and Bryant. I work for the Senior Mr. Nugent (James A. Nugent) who specializes in residential and commercial real estate transactions and I have been working for him for approximately 32 years. I live with my best friend, Boobala, (a cockapoo puppy). I was born in The Bronx a long time ago across the street from Yankee Stadium (naturally I am a Yankees fan). I went to Hunter College in Manhattan and obtained a degree in Economics with a minor in Sociology. When I married I moved from the Bronx to Great Neck, New York then to Wantaugh, New York then to Paterson, New Jersey and then to Hamden, Connecticut where I have been since 1971. Around 1973 I started to work part-time in a law firm which later combined forces with Mr. Nugent after he left Clark, Hall and Peck-White Brothers. Somewhere along the way I managed to misplace a husband, had two daughters (one is a childrens author with 4 books published and the other is a Director of Events at Golf Digest Magazine), and added a wonderful son-in-law (football coach at Michigan State University) and two grandchildren (Jake and Maddie). We have some very loyal clients who have been with us for twenty and thirty years. They are like old friends and we keep in touch regularly. I love the staff in our office (especially Scout our Pet Attorney) and look forward to working every day with them.
Coming to Nugent & Bryant was a result of a good lunch at Jim's favorite place (Gabriele's- in case you didn't know). Following graduation in May 2001 from Central Connecticut State University, I was uncertain exactly what I wanted to do when I grew up! I joined Jim and Julie for lunch on what was the hottest August day ever. From there, it was history. My first day was September 4, 2001. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Soon after starting, I realized I found my calling (actually I should give Jim and Julie the credit for that!). I started from the bottom up, learning about the legal field and how exactly I fit in at Nugent & Bryant. Much of my time is spent "building" our clients' personal injury files. Aside from gathering medical records/bills and making tons of phone calls, I take the opportunity to develop relationships with each of our clients, which happens to be one of my favorite aspects of the job! Since Jim and Julie keep me busy Monday-Friday, the free time I do have I enjoy spending with my husband Eric, our friends and family. This includes belonging to the Monday Night Ladies League at Woodlawn Duckpin Bowling Center (where I maintain a respectable 99 average!). My husband and I live in Orange- gotta be close to the office!
I started working at The Law Firm of Nugent & Bryant on October 1, 2003. I am still in awe of the incredible work we do here on a daily basis. I am Jim's legal assistant. I focus on car accident cases in which serious personal injury or death occurred. I carefully review all of the medical records and bills that Kelly gathers. I prepare trial exhibits, power point presentations and order sophisticated Medical Legal Color Exhibits for trial. My work is both fascinating and challenging. The special projects and research I do provide me with the opportunity to learn something new everyday. Watching Law and Order takes on a whole new dimension with my legal knowledge. I especially enjoy working with Scout, our furry, wet-nosed, tail wagging, associate.
Scout has been with Nugent & Bryant since January 2004. He hails from Hopewell, Ohio where he was one of seven puppies born to Poodle Ben and Labrador Suzie. Scout strongly believes that all pets should be treated equally with the exception of a cat or two. He has dedicated his practice to representing pets who have suffered personal injuries and who have been wrongfully accused of a wide variety of crimes including trespass, treat snatching and car chasing. In Scout's spare time, he likes to play soccer, chase squirrels and bury bones in his yard.
Board Certified as
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