Correction to Recent Articles about Lanza Estate Lawsuits

By Angelo A. Ziotas

Several news outlets across Connecticut reported this week that there are 14 estate plaintiffs and two personal injury plaintiffs (survivors) in the consolidated actions against the Estate of Nancy Lanza. This is incorrect. There had been two personal injury plaintiffs, but those two actions were withdrawn in April. Presently, there are 16 estate plaintiffs.

The perpetrator of the horrible crimes in Newtown, CT, on December 14, 2012, is dead and did not have any assets. His mother, who carelessly gave her son access to lethal weapons despite his psychological problems, is also dead. Up until shortly before the statute of limitations ran, many of the families who suffered losses at Sandy Hook Elementary School were faced with being unable to bring Adam Lanza to justice or otherwise hold him or his mother accountable for what her son was able to do because of her actions.

When several Sandy Hook families learned that the Estate of Nancy Lanza had insurance coverage that might be available to them shortly before the statute of limitations was about to run on these claims, the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association organized local law firms to represent seven of the estates listed below. The lawyers representing those seven estates are handling these claims completely pro bono, with no fees or expenses charged to the clients. They are:

1. The Estate of Charlotte Helen Bacon (represented by John J. Kennedy, Jr. of Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, LLC);
2. The Estate of Grace Audrey McDonnell (represented by Rosemarie Paine of Jacobs & Dow, LLC);
3. The Estate of Emilie Alice Parker (represented by Michael A. D’Amico of D’Amico, Griffin & Pettinicchi, LLC);
4. The Estate of Jack Armistead Pinto (represented by Douglas P. Mahoney of Tremont Sheldon Robinson Mahoney P.C.);
5. The Estate of Jessica Rekos (represented by D. Lincoln Woodard of Walsh Woodard LLC);
6. The Estate of James Radley Mattioli (represented by Angelo A. Ziotas of Silver Golub & Teitell LLP); and
7. The Estate of Mary Joy Sherlach (represented by David W. Cooney of RisCassi & Davis, P.C.).