Theodore W. Heiser
Top rated Employment & Labor attorney in New London, Connecticut
Suisman Shapiro Attorneys at Law
Practice areas: Employment & Labor, Personal Injury, Professional Liability
Licensed in Connecticut since: 1995
Education: The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2026 Suisman Shapiro Attorneys at Law
75 State StreetNew London, CT 06320 Phone: 860-442-4416 Email: Theodore W. Heiser Visit website
Attorney Theodore (Ted) Heiser is a Director in the firm’s civil litigation department, practicing in the areas of personal injury and employment law. Prior to joining Suisman Shapiro, Ted was a founding member of Sullivan Heiser in Clinton, CT. He has tried numerous matters to verdict in the state and federal courts of Connecticut, Maryland, and New Jersey. Ted’s extensive trial experience includes cases of wrongful death, personal injury, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, trade secrets and non-competes, partnership disputes, and many other matters.
Ted handles all aspects of personal injury law including motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, liquor liability, and premises liability. His employment litigation background includes lawsuits involving discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender and gender status, age, disability, and religious affiliation. Ted represents employees and employers concerning wrongful termination, wage and hour claims, free speech, and other civil rights claims arising out of the employment relationship, as well as civil rights violations by municipal and state agencies, including the police. He also handles litigation involving restrictive covenants including non-compete, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements.
Ted has been named as a top-rated Employment & Labor attorney by Connecticut and New England Super Lawyers since 2013. He has also been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury Litigation. Ted is rated AV Rated Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review ratings, its highest designation. He is an active member of the Connecticut Bar Association and currently serves as a member of the CBA’s Connecticut Lawyer Advisory Committee.
Ted is a 1991 graduate of Gettysburg College and a 1995 graduate of the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America where he was a member of the Law Review. Ted is admitted to the bars of Connecticut, Maryland and the District of Columbia. He is also admitted to practice in the federal courts in Connecticut and Maryland.
First Admitted: 1995, Connecticut
Professional Webpage: https://www.suismanshapiro.com/attorney/theodore-w-heiser/
Bar / Professional Activity
- American Bar Association, Member
- Connecticut Bar Association, Member
- Standing Committee on Professional Ethics
- Standing Committee on Professionalism and Continuing Legal Education
- Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- Connecticut Lawyer Advisory Committee
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Attorney Ted Heiser Secures Appellate Victory Clarifying Franchise LawThe firm’s client, Aldin Associates, leases buildings to tenants for the operation of convenience stores. In addition, the tenants also signed commissioned agent agreements, whereby they agreed to act separately as Aldin’s agent in the sale of gasoline at the locations. Aldin terminated the leases and the tenants filed suit alleging that the termination could not occur because the commissioned agent agreements created a franchise. If a franchisee, the tenants were allegedly entitled to significant protections under the Connecticut Petroleum Franchise Act. One of the hallmarks of a franchise is that the franchisee maintains significant entrepreneurial risk. In this case, Aldin owned all of the property in question, paid for the fuel and transportation, was responsible for all material repairs, and bore essentially all of the risk of loss of fuel and money. At trial, Ted Heiser represented Aldin and the trial court agreed with his arguments finding that no franchise existed. The plaintiffs appealed to the Connecticut Appellate Court, where Ted also represented Aldin. The Appellate Court recently issued its decision, which again found for Aldin and determined that no franchise relationship existed. This decision is important not only for our client, but also for other companies with similar business models, because it clarifies when these types of relationships do — and do not — qualify as franchises under Connecticut law, 2026
- Appellate Win for Attorney Theodore Heiser in Gentile -Riaz v. Midway Pizza CaseAttorney Heiser’s client was fired after raising public health concerns about food safety. The trial court dismissed the case, but the Appellate Court reversed that decision, agreeing that her complaint was about public health—not workplace safety—and could proceed without first going through OSHA. This is an important victory for our client, who has endured a very challenging work environment, including severe sexual harassment. Her sexual harassment case went to trial last month and is awaiting the Court’s decision. Attorney Ted Heiser tried this case and secured this critical appellate win., 2018
Pro bono / Community Service
- Board of Directors of the Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley (President 2010 - 2012), 2003
Educational Background
- Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
- Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Virginia
Honors
- Peer review ratings - highest designation., Rated AV Rated Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell’s
- Best Lawyers in America, https://www.bestlawyers.com/lawyers/theodore-heiser/338982
- Catholic University of America Law Review , Member
Office location for Theodore W. Heiser
75 State Street
New London, CT 06320
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2026