Richard J. Buturla is a senior partner and chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. He focuses his practice in the areas of municipal law, litigation, civil rights defense, transactions involving state and federal agencies, and defending government officials in a variety of contexts.
Mr. Buturla’s wide-ranging municipal and governmental law practice encompasses the full range of issues presented to a public institution. He has particular experience dealing with the freedom of information laws, conflict of interest, public records, public bidding, procurement, general municipal corporate law matters and a wide array of matters involving transactions with various state and federal agencies.
Mr. Buturla is a past chairman of the Stratford Town Council and has served in a variety of positions throughout his career. Of particular note, he represented the Town of Stratford in dealing with the U.S. Army and the closure of the Stratford Army Engine Plant. This complex and sophisticated matter dealt with a former army base situated on approximately 80 acres located in the Town of Stratford.
In addition, Mr. Buturla represented the Town of Stratford in a variety of complex Superfund matters emanating from the Raymark Superfund site. Mr. Buturla represented the town in the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and structured a transaction that ultimately resulted in the infusion of approximately $183 million in federal Superfund money to the town and the conversion of a former Superfund site into a productive, revenue-generating shopping center.
An experienced trial lawyer and appellate advocate, Mr. Buturla has represented clients in countless jury and bench trials in state and federal courts. He has also appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals, the Connecticut Supreme Court and the Connecticut Appellate Court.
Mr. Buturla serves as Town Counsel for the Town of Seymour and has served as Town Attorney for the Connecticut municipalities of Stratford, Derby and Cheshire.
Published Works
-"In re Bollinger Corp., A Financing Statement, Promissory Note and Letters Constituting The Course of Dealing are Sufficient to Serve as A Valid Security Agreement", 26 Villanova Law Review 931, 1981
-Comment, "The Handicapped Child's Right to A Free Appropriate Education: Defining The Limits of Responsibility", 27 Villanova Law Review 567, 1982
-"Limitations on Discovery, Civil Discovery Practice Law Connecticut", 1995
Representative Cases
-Armac Industries, Ltd. v. Citytrust, 203 Conn. 394, 525 A.2d 77 (1987)
-B.A. Ballou and Company, Inc. v. Citytrust, 218 Conn. 749, 591 A.2d 126 (1991)
-Bombero, Jr., Etal v. Planning and Zoning Commission of the Town of Monroe, Etal, 17 Conn. App. 150, 550 A.2d 1098 (1988)
-Citytrust v. Page, Etal, 28 Conn. App. 907, 610 A.2d 197 (1992)
-D.J. Quarry Products, Inc. v. Planning and Zoning Commission of the Town of Beacon Falls, 217 Conn. 447, 585 A.2d 1227 (1991)
-Dean v. Filipowich, Etal, 20 Conn. App. 825, 570 A.2d 243 (1990)
-Dennin, Etal v. The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, Inc.,, 94 F.3d 96 (1996)
-Dennin, Etal v. The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, Inc., 913 F.Supp. 663 (1996)
-Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation v. Sextant Development Corporation, Etal, 142 F.R.D. 55 (1992)
-Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation v. SUNA Associates, Inc., 80 F.3d 681 (1996)
-J.F. Barrett and Sons, Inc. v. Rosenshein, 23 Conn. App. 817, 582 A.2d 919 (1990)
-Hedberg v. Pantepec International, Inc., 35 Conn. App. 19, 645 A.2d 543 (1994)
-Huff v. West Haven Board of Education, Etal, 1998 WL 386167 (D.Conn. 1998)
-Kornatowski v. Wallingford Police Department, Etal, 1993 WL 299032 (D.Conn. 1993)
-Meyers v. Arcudi, Etal, 947 F.Supp. 581 (1996)
-Meyers v. Arcudi, Etal, 915 F.Supp. 522 (1996)
Mrs. B. on Her Behalf and as a Mother and Guardian of M.M. v. Milford Board of -Education, Etal, 103 F.3d 1114 (1997)
-Smart SMR of New York Inc. d/b/a v. The Zoning Commission of the Town of Stratford, 9 F.Supp. 2d 143 (1998)
-Smart SMR of New York, Inc. d/b/a v. The Zoning Commission of the Town of Stratford, 995 F.Supp. 52 (1998)
-Smith v. Planning and Zoning Board of the City of Milford, Etal, 3 Conn.App. 550, 490 A.2d 539 (1985)
-Smith v. Planning and Zoning Board of the City of Milford, Etal, 203 Conn. 317, 524 A.2d 1128 (1987)
-Town of Monroe, Etal v. Renz, Etal, 46 Conn. App. 5, 698 A.2d 328 (1997)
-Town of Stratford v. International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO, Local 998, 48 Conn. App. 849, 713 A.2d 269 (1998)
-Howley v. Stratford, 87 F.Supp.2d 97 (1999)
-Omnipoint Communications, Inc. v. Planning & Zoning Commission of the Town of Wallingford, 91 F.Supp.2d. 497 (2000)
-Howley v. Stratford, 217 F.3d. 141 (2000)
-Lillibasle v. Sergi, 117 F.Supp.2d 182 (2000)
Professional Associations and Memberships
-Connecticut Bar Association, Member
-American Bar Association, Member
-Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, Member
-Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member
Past Employment Positions
-Town Council, Stratford, Connecticut, Chairman, 1987 - 1989
-Town Attorney, Stratford, Connecticut, 2005 - 2009
-Town Attorney, Cheshire, Connecticut, 2002 - 2004
-Corporation Counsel, Derby, Connecticut, 1997 - 2005
-Town Attorney, Stratford, Connecticut, 1995 - 1999
-Assistant Town Attorney, Stratford, Connecticut, 2000 — 2003.
