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Ernie Teitell's career is defined not just by verdicts and settlements, but by the lasting change his work has brought about. When he represented the family of a 6-year-old boy who drowned after becoming entrapped in a swimming pool drain, the family dedicated the proceeds to pool safety, leading to significant changes in state regulations for pools and equipment. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Ernie volunteered his legal services to Connecticut families of victims. And his advocacy before the Connecticut Appellate Court resulted in the creation of the Baxter Rule, a legal doctrine called upon by Connecticut lawyers in nearly every multi-defendant medical-malpractice action that goes to court.
Ernie takes a humanistic approach to every case. No one understands the devastating impact of life-altering events better than an attorney who has spent 49 years standing alongside clients. Extended experience with medical malpractice, defective products, catastrophic vehicle collisions, and sexual and spousal abuse has made him a fierce advocate for those whose lives have been irretrievably altered. That passion fuels his drive for excellence and his commitment to truly listening to the victims of traumatic events.
In a case that drew national attention, Ernie represented a former attorney who was disabled by an attack by her husband, J. Michael Farren, a White House deputy counsel in both Bush administrations. A Connecticut jury awarded her $28.6 million in civil damages in 2013.
Among Ernie’s many awards, the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA) honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025, recognition of a career defined by fierce advocacy, compassion, and a commitment to the broader good. In 2004, the Connecticut Law Tribune presented him with a Pro Bono Award for his work for September 11 families. Best Lawyers has named Ernie Lawyer of the Year in Stamford, Connecticut, for Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Ernie has been an Adjunct Professor at Quinnipiac University School of Law for more than 30 years, currently teaching the course in medical malpractice, and donates his entire salary from the law school to a scholarship for first-year law students. The school awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2003.
Ernie consistently obtains fair compensation for his clients’ losses in catastrophic cases of personal injury and medical malpractice.
- A jury award allowed a family to fully provide for a child whose heart condition was undetected.
- The wife and child of a man will be provided for, following his death due to gross negligent care after hernia surgery.
- Striving to prevent future sexual abuse cases, Ernie has not only obtained just compensation for victims, but he has also focused media attention on the problem. His advocacy resulted in responsible organizations publicly acknowledging the issue.
- Sometimes it is the principle, not the money, that retains primacy. A defective piece of camping equipment suffocated a 21-year-old boy. His family used the proceeds to establish a fund to help troubled kids.
- A Subway employee, who had been provided alcohol on the job, killed an 18–year-old Eagle Scout. Ernie negotiated a fair settlement before the family had to face the ordeal of going to court.
- A young mother died when her doctor failed to recognize complications after she gave birth to a baby daughter. Nothing can make up for the child’s loss, but the jury verdict will provide for her welfare during her lifetime.
- A fall down a flight of stairs resulted in a child who was brain damaged for life. The defendant had previously refused to make any settlement offer. However, when confronted with the case in court they changed their minds. The family was able to buy a home and to provide the necessary care and therapy for their child throughout his lifetime.