Practice areas: Civil Litigation
Licensed in Connecticut since: 1982
Education: Villanova University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2020 - 2026 Berchem Moses PC
75 Broad StreetMilford, CT 06460 Phone: 203-783-1200 Email: Richard J. Buturla Visit website
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. He has tried to verdict many complex matters ranging from excessive force cases against police officers to a complex case representing a national fraternity against a major university. Mr. Buturla presently serves as Town Counsel for the Town of Seymour and has served as Town Attorney for the Connecticut municipalities of Stratford, Derby and Cheshire.
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.
Mr. Buturla has been selected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and a Sustaining Life Fellow of the James W. Cooper Fellow Program of the Connecticut Bar Foundation. He holds an AV Peer Review Rating by Lexis Nexis Martindale Hubble, which is the highest possible rating, signifying very high to preeminent legal ability and integrity and is awarded based on confidential survey responses from practicing attorneys. Since 2019, Richard J. Buturla has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Litigation- Labor & Employment. 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
First Admitted: 1982, Connecticut
Professional Webpage: https://www.berchemmoses.com/attorneys/buturla-richard-j-esq...
Bar / Professional Activity
- Connecticut Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
- Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- American Association for Justice, Member
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Attorney Richard J. Buturla Wins Appellate Court Decision For KBE Building Corporation -in a complicated breach of contract action in which the plaintiff, Michael Konover, was seeking the recovery of legal fees allegedly incurred in previous litigation involving KBE Building Corporation, the Connecticut Appellate Court affirmed the judgment of the lower court in favor of KBE Building Corporation and the other defendants. The Appellate Court ruled that KBE Building Corporation and the other defendants were not responsible for the substantial legal fees allegedly incurred by Konover., 2018
- Richard J. Buturla Wins Major Trial in Superior Court- Receiver Appointed Over 924-Unit Complex, Success Village Superior Court Judge Dale Radcliffe recently ruled that the Success Village, a 924-unit residential co-op with 96 separate buildings located in Bridgeport and Stratford, will be placed under the oversight of an independent receiver to manage its assets and finances. The order of the Court noted that the appointment of a receiver was an “extraordinary remedy”, but that the facts and evidence supported the need for such. The City of Bridgeport and Town of Stratford engaged Attorneys Richard J. Buturla and Bryan L. LeClerc of Berchem Moses PC to represent their joint interests in protecting the several thousand residents of Success Village. The co-op has been plagued with a chronic lack of hot water to the individual units, and has no heating system in place despite the impending cold weather season. There was also proven to be multiple health and fire code violations at the premises, as well as cash resources of the co-op that were “depleted and decimated.” The application for emergency relief was filed by Buturla and LeClerc on August 15, 2024, and the trial began promptly thereafter. Twenty-one witnesses testified over the next several weeks, in both the Superior Court as well as the United States Bankruptcy Court. Despite the efforts of the then-current Success president to derail the proceeding by seeking bankruptcy protection, quick relief from stay was obtained from the Bankruptcy Court after an emergency hearing. Facing the potential displacement and relocation of thousands of unit owners due to a total lack of heat, and over the strenuous objection of the Success management, the Court found that an emergency situation existed and that “clear and convincing evidence” supported the “extraordinary relief” requested by the municipalities. “An emergency situation exists, and prompt remedial action is necessary,” Judge Radcliffe stated. Buturla argued to the Court that seldom do you get a case that deals with the basic necessities of life- heat and hot water for thousands of people. “This is an extraordinary circumstance, and the 2,000 to 3,000 residents of Success Village deserve heat and hot water, as well as a safe living environment” said Attorney Buturla. Bridgeport Chief Administrative Officer Tom Guadett added, “Rich Buturla and Bryan LeClerc of Berchem Moses really did such a great job. They’re not only great legal professionals and really handled this case well, but they care about the residents and they kept them informed all along the way.”, 2024
- Richard J. Buturla obtained a temporary restraining order, on behalf of Project Service LLC, operator of the twenty three food and fuel service plazas located throughout the State of Connecticut. The order pertained to a rally organized by Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ SEIU scheduled to be held at the I-95 Darien service plaza during the lunch time hours just a few days before the busy Labor Day holiday. In an extremely short period of time, Berchem Moses PC’s litigation department was able to identify and retain a traffic and safety expert as well as prepare and file applications for both a temporary injunction and ex parte temporary restraining order and supporting documents in order to obtain an emergency hearing before the Superior Court literally hours before the rally was to occur., 2019
Educational Background
- Southern Connecticut State UniversityB.S. Honors: magna cum laude, 1979
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Villanova Law Review, "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
- Civil Discovery Practice Law, "Limitations on Discovery, Civil Discovery Practice Law Connecticut", 1995
Honors
- Highest possible rating, signifying very high to preeminent legal ability and integrity and is awarded based on confidential survey responses from responses from practicing attorneys., AV Peer Review Rating by Lexis Nexis Martindale Hubble
- Best Lawyers in America - Litigation, U.S. News & World Report
- ABF, Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- CBF, Sustaining Life Fellow, James W. Cooper Fellows Program, Connecticut Bar Foundation
Office location for Richard J. Buturla
75 Broad Street
Milford, CT 06460
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2020 - 2026