John A. Collins, III, is a Director/Shareholder who concentrates in the areas of Personal Injury Law and Civil Litigation. Attorney Collins currently serves as the Managing Partner of Suisman Shapiro. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar. Mr. Collins received his B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross (1978) and his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law (1981) where he was a member and Notes Editor of the Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law. Attorney Collins is a member of the American, Connecticut and New London County Bar Associations. He is also a member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Connecticut Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Attorney Collins has successfully obtained verdicts or public settlements on behalf of clients ranging from a $10 Million settlement for a young girl badly burned in a school fire, a 2008 verdict of $379, 000 (including interest and costs) for a 22 year old woman injured in an automobile collision, a recent $225, 000 settlement for an individual wrongfully deprived of 401k funds and a $1 million judgment for a victim of sexual abuse. Disclaimer: Of course, past results are no indication as to the value or results likely to be obtained in any present and future claims.
John A. Collins, III has been recognized by his peers by inclusion in Connecticut and New England Super Lawyers 2006-2007, 2009-2025 in the field of Personal Injury, Best Lawyers in America 2012-2026 and has the highest rating (AV) from Martindale Hubbell.
Visit Superlawyers.com. “In selecting attorneys for Super Lawyers, Law & Politics employs a rigorous, multiphase process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The final published list represents no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the state.”
The Connecticut Bar Foundation honored Attorney John A. Collins, III in 2005 with its selection of Attorney Collins as a Life Fellow. Selection as a fellow requires demonstrated superior legal ability and devotion to the welfare of the community, state and nation, as well as to the advancement of the legal foundation. Source: Connecticut Bar Foundation.
Attorney Collins has authored two publications of note. In 2004, he was selected as a seminar presenter by the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association to address the topic of construction site injuries. His paper, authored with the assistance Of Robert G. Tukey, is entitled: PURSUING NEGLIGENCE ACTIONS ARISING FROM CONSTRUCTION SITE INJURIES: 2004. The article was presented at a seminar in February 2004 addressing legal issues involving contractor and subcontractor liability for construction site injuries. The white paper addresses the historical underpinnings of such liability up to 2004. Copies are available upon request: jcollins@sswbgg.com. Attorney John A. Collins, III also authored a scholarly work as a law student entitled: Self Determination in International Law, Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, 1981, where he was a member and Notes Editor of the Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law.
Attorney Collins is a member of the American, Connecticut and New London County Bar Associations. He is also a member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Connecticut Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Mr. Collins resides with his family in and is a long time resident of Old Lyme, Connecticut. Attorney John A. Collins, III coached Little League for 12 years, and has a strong belief in giving back to the community. Mr. Collins serves or has served on the:• Chelsea Groton Bank, Corporator, 2016-present• Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association Budget Committee (2009, 2010);• Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library (Board of Directors 2005-2010: President: 2008-2010);• Old Lyme Ethics Formation Committee (Acting Chair, 2006-2008);• New London Main Street (Board of Directors 1999-2005: President, 2004, 2005);• Lymes' Youth Service Bureau (Board of Directors,1994-2000: Chairman, 1999, 2000);• Old Lyme Day Care, Inc. (Board of Directors 1987-1997).Attorney John A. Collins, III has tried and/or settled numerous claims for personal injuries over a 34 year law practice to assist injured victims.
Ethical rules prohibit disclosure of confidential settlements and Attorney Collins strongly believes that the individual client’s confidentiality is vital to a strong attorney-client relationship. Accordingly, the following public results offer a glimpse of the wide variety of personal injury matters accepted by Mr. Collins:
•Crespo v. Wood, KNL-CV-07-5003413S Verdict, interest & Costs: $379, 290, (2008) ---rear end automobile collision; •Martic v. Tunstall, CV 05 4001869S, Verdict: $129, 070, (2005) ---civil assault; •Hayes v. Johnson, CV-01-0560480S, Verdict: $259, 173, (2003) ---auto accident involving drunk driver defendant; •Shelby v. Munro Muffler, CV-97-0543736S, Verdict: $475, 000, (2000) ---injury involving defective garage automobile lift; •Dumont v. UBC, CV-97-0542600S, Verdict of $300, 000 reduced by comparative negligence to $150, 000 (2000) ---injury from defective roof trusses; •Parsons v. Town of Salem, (2000) --- injuries from defective highway; •John Doe1 v. David Zaharie, CV-99-0552498S, Judgment: $1 million (1999) ---injuries from sexual abuse of a minor; •Mattos v. Morris, CV-970544744S, Verdict: $71, 657 (1999) ---soft tissue automobile accident injuries; •Russ v. Allstate Insurance, CV-96-0539136, CV-95-0536638, Verdict: $203, 498 (1997) ---soft tissue injuries from 2 separate minor motor vehicle accidents,
Disclaimer: Of course, past results are no indication as to the value or results likely to be obtained in any present and future claims.
Honors and Awards
•Connecticut Super Lawyer, 2006-2007, 2009 - 2025
•New England Super Lawyer, 2006-2007, 2009 - 2025
•Best Lawyers In America, 2012 - 2026
•Connecticut Bar Foundation: Life Fellow
•Martindale Hubbell AV rating
•AVVO 10/10+ Connecticut Law Tribune,
Lifetime Achievement Award, 2020
Pro Bono Activities•Chelsea Groton Bank, Corporator, 2016•Board of Directors, Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, 2005 - 2011•President, Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, 2008 - 2010•Acting Chair, Old Lyme Ethics Formation Committee, 2006 - 2008•Board of Directors, New London Main Street, 1999 - 2005•President, New London Main Street, 2003 - 2005•Board of Directors, Lymes' Youth Service Bureau, 1994 - 2000•Chairman, Lymes' Youth Service Bureau, 1999 - 2000•Board of Directors, Old Lyme Day Care, Inc., 1987 - 1997
Litigation Percentage
•100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Year Joined Firm•1981
Published Works•Self-Determination in International Law: The Palestinians 12 Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law 132, 1981
•Pursuing Negligence Actions Arising From Construction Site Injuries: 2004, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, 2004
