Bill Bloss
"Bill is one of the outstanding trial lawyers in Connecticut. He is a litigation powerhouse for plaintiffs and, at the same time, has a unique ability to enhance our commitment to lawsuits that promote consumer rights and social justice," said Atty. Michael Koskoff.
At Koskoff, Koskoff and Bieder, Bill Bloss concentrates on significant personal injury cases as well as complex civil and criminal litigation in both state and federal courts. He is a frequent guest on Court TV, providing insight and analysis on high-profile cases in the news.
Bill represented Common Cause and Connecticut Citizen Action Group in federal litigation that led to the overhaul of the state primary election system.
He is listed in Best Lawyers in America for both personal injury and criminal defense and has lectured extensively on federal, civil and criminal practice. He served as both Special Master and arbitrator in state and federal courts and has argued cases before the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the Connecticut Supreme Court, and the Connecticut Appellate Court.
Bill is a member of the Criminal Justice Section of the American Bar Association, was appointed to the federal court’s Criminal Justice Act Committee, served on the Defender Services Advisory Group of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, and is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice, and Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association.
He served as a law clerk to Senior Judge Robert C. Zampano of the U. S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, and then to Judge Carolyn Dineen King of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Houston.
Among numerous community activities, Bill is a Chairman of the Guilford Board of Education, vice chairman of the Guilford Elderly Tax Stabilization Committee, and a member of the Guilford Land Conservation Trust. He was recently appointed to the state's Property Tax Cap Commission by Senate President Donald Williams.
Areas of Practice
- Automobile Negligence
- Civil Rights
- Personal Injury
- Product Liability
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Connecticut, 1984
- New York, 1984
- U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 1985
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 1995
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 1995
- U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 1996
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1986
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1986
- U.S. Tax Court, 1995
Education
- American University, Washington College of Law, Washington, District of Columbia
Representative Cases
- State v. Jacobs, 2003 WL 23112746 (New Haven Superior Court 2003)
- State v. Lopez, 80 Conn. App. 386 (2003)
- Campbell v. Bysiewicz, 242 F. Supp. 2d 164 (D. Conn. 2003)
- Blumenthal v. Barnes, 261 Conn. 434 (2002)
- Lucas Aerospace, Ltd. v. Advanced Executive Aircraft, Ltd., 292 A.D.2d 201, 738 N.Y.S.2d 211 (2002)
- Rutchick v. Town of Franklin (United States District Court 2002)
- Mahler v. United States, 195 F. Supp. 2d 379 (D. Conn. 2002)
- Dale v. Frankel, 206 F. Supp. 2d 315 (D. Conn. 2001)
- State v. Bazier (New Haven Superior Court 2001)
- Doe v. Vibert, 1999 WL 545746 (New Britain Superior Court 1999)
- Donegan v. Gardner, 2001 WL 1266223 (Litchfield Superior Court 2001)
- United States v. Lonnie Jones (U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut 2001)
- G.A. Davis Food Service, Inc. v. Ragozzino Foods, Inc. (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York 2000)
- United States v. Autuori, 212 F.3d 105 (2d Cir. 2000)
- Retrofit Partners I, L.P. v. Lucas Industries, Inc., 201 F.3d 155 (2d Cir. 2000)
- Schaeffer v. Vera Wang Bridal House, Ltd., 64 F. Supp. 2d 286 (S.D.N.Y. 1999)
- Inkel v. Town of Colchester (United States District Court for the District of Connecticut 2000)
- Cowras v. Hard Copy, 56 F. Supp. 2d 207 (D. Conn. 1999)
- United States v. Lloyd Streater (United States District Court for the District of Connecticut 2000)
- State v. Camille Frosolone (New Haven Superior Court 2000)
- Burrier v. Burrier, 59 Conn. App. 593, 758 A.2d 373 (2000)
- Bernet v. Bernet, 661, 749 A.2d 1202, cert. denied, 252 Conn. 954 (2000)
- State v. Fisher, 52 Conn. App. 825 (1999)
- State v. Vashon Lewis (New Haven Superior Court 1999)
- Shadow Lake, Inc. v. Macmillan, Inc. (United States District Court for the District of Connecticut 1999)
- Desimone v. Wal-Mart Co. (United States District Court for the District of Connecticut 1999)
- Automated Salvage Transport, Inc. v. Wheelabrator Environmental Systems, Inc., 155 F.3d 59 (2d Cir. 1998)
- United States v. Impala, United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (1999)
- United States v. Fields, 113 F.3d 313 (2d Cir. 1997)
- United States v. Richardson, 107 F.3d 5 (2d Cir. 1997)
- United States v. Sicignano, 78 F.3d 69 (2d Cir. 1996)
- Rubin v. Rubin, 40 Conn. App. 929 (1996)
- Gainor v. Russo, United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (1995)
- State v. Richard Reynolds (Connecticut Supreme Court 2001)
- Schneider v. National Railroad Passenger Corp., 72 F.3d 17 (2d Cir. 1995)
- State v. Stephen M., 1995 WL 904100 (Superior Court 1995)
- State v. Michael Ross, 230 Conn. 183 (1994)
- Rubin v. Smith, 919 F. Supp. 534 (D.N.H. 1996)
- Ranciato v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 52 F.3d 23 (2d Cir. 1995)
- Davis v. Warden, 32 Conn. App. 296 (1993)
- Roesch v. Otarola, 980 F.2d 850 (2d Cir. 1992)
- Kamasinski v. Rubin, 764 F. Supp. 741 (D. Conn. 1991)
- Tsokolas v. Purtill, 756 F. Supp. 89 (D. Conn. 1991)
- United States v. Palacio, 735 F. Supp. 484 (D. Conn. 1990)
- In re Baby Girl B., 224 Conn. 263 (1992)
- State v. Russell, 22 Conn. App. 440 (1990)
- State v. Sierra, 213 Conn. 422 (1990)
- United States v. Dennis, 843 F.2d 652 (2d Cir. 1988)
- State of Connecticut v. Stephen World of Wheels, Inc., 3 C.S.C.R. 374 (Conn. Super. 1988)
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section, Committee Member
- American Bar Association, Committee on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, 1991 - 1995
- American Bar Association, Committee on Corrections and Sentencing, 1995 - 1999
- Connecticut Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, Chairman, Committee on Criminal Justice, 1987 - 1991
- Connecticut Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, Chairman, Committee on Public Service, 1991 - 1992
- Connecticut Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section, Member, Executive Committee, 1991 - 2001
- Connecticut Bar Association, Federal Practice Section, Member, Executive Committee, 1995 - 2000
- Connecticut Bar Association, Member, Committee on the Courts, 2000 - Present
- Connecticut Bar Association, Member, Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, 2002 - Present
- Connecticut Bar Association, Appellate Advocacy Institute, Faculty Member, 2004
- Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Chairman, Amicus Curiae Committee, 1994 - 1996
- Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Member, Task Force on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines
- Citizens for Humanizing Criminal Justice, President, 1987 - 1992
- Citizens for Humanizing Criminal Justice, President, 1994 - 1997
- U.S. District Court, Review the Criminal Justice Act, Ad Hoc Committee, 1991 - Present
- Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, Member, 1986 - Present
- Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, Member, Public Relations Committee, 1996 - 1998
- American Association for Justice, Member, 1995 - Present
- American Association for Justice, Member, Defender Services Advisory Group
- Administrative Office of the United States Courts, 1995 - 1996
- Connecticut Citizen Action Group, Member, Board of Directors, 1997 - Present
Past Employment Positions
- Jacobs, Grudberg, Belt & Dow, P.C., New Haven, Connecticut, Associate, 1986 - 1993
- Jacobs, Grudberg, Belt & Dow, P.C., New Haven, Connecticut, Member, 1993 - 2004
- Hon. Carolyn Dineen King, Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Houston, Texas, Law Clerk, 1985 - 1986
- Hon. Robert C. Zampano Senior Judge, United States District Court for the District of Connecticut New Haven, Connecticut, Law Clerk, 1984 - 1985
- Hon. Patricia P. Bailey Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission Washington, D.C, Law Clerk, 1983 - 1984
Pro Bono Activities
- Chairman, Board of Trustees, First Baptist Church of Branford
- Member (elected), Board of Education, Town of Guilford, 1999 - Present
- Member, Advisory Board, Youth and Family Services Bureau, Town of Guilford, 1999 - Present
- Vice Chairman, Tax Relief Study Group, Town of Guilford, 2000 - 2002
- Vice Chairman, Tax Relief Study Group, Town of Guilford, 2004 - Present
