Attorney Profiles

J. Kenneth Griffin 
Stoneham, Massachusetts
Principal Attorney
Law Firm Manager
phone (781) 279-9858
fax (781) 279-9870
email Email Me

J. Kenneth Griffin (Email - kgriffin@griffinandgoulka.com ) - Ken is a 1968 graduate of Northeastern University and a 1971 graduate of Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts.  He was admitted to practice in Massachusetts in 1971.  From 1971 until 1978 Ken maintained a private practice in Milton, Massachusetts and was also General Counsel to the City of Cambridge Rent Control Board.

Prior to joining GRIFFIN & GOULKA, Ken was Assistant Vice President and Managing Claims Counsel in the Home Office of Commercial Union Insurance Company and Managing Attorney for the Commercial Union Staff Counsel Office in Boston.  As Managing Attorney, Ken was personally responsible for the most serious cases in the office and was the office's chief trial attorney.  Ken has substantial jury trial experience involving a variety of bodily injury cases, death cases, disaster cases, multi-district litigation, personal injury cases, insurance coverage cases and other matters.  Ken is also experienced in appellate work and in ADR.

Ken is admitted to practice in Massachusetts.  He is also admitted to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and to the United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit.  He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association, the American Judicature Society, the Defense Research Institute, the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, the International Association of Defense Counsel and the Association of European Lawyers.  Ken is also a member of the Board of Directors and Past President of the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association.  Ken is a Notary Public.

Ken is a frequent faculty member for MCLE continuing legal education programs related to civil trial practice.  Ken was a contributing author of "Winning Through Settlement" (MCLE, Inc. 2000 - Library of Congress Card # 00-107458), "The Defense of Civil Lawsuits" (MCLE, Inc. 2002-25005-25 - Library of Congress Card # 2001095668) and "The Defense of Civil Lawsuits" (MCLE, Inc. 2003-25005-25 - Library of Congress Card # 2002111366).  Ken is currently a member of the Joint Bar Committee on Judicial Appointments as a representative of the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association.  Ken has experience as an arbitrator and as a mediator.  Ken is a principal attorney of the firm.

Ken is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell.  The AV rating indicates very high to preeminent legal ability and very high ethical standards as established by confidential opinions from members of the Bar.

Year Joined Organization:
1979
Areas of Practice:
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Appeals
Arbitration
Business & Commercial Law
Construction Law
Consumer Protection
Contracts
Employment Law
Insurance Law
Legal Malpractice
Litigation & Appeals
Mediation
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Personal Injury
Products Liability Law
Professional Malpractice Law
Real Estate Law
Sexual Harassment
Toxic Torts
Wrongful Death
Bar Admissions:
Massachusetts, 1971
U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 1980
U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts, 1977
Education:
Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence


Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 1968
B.A., Bachelor of Arts
Major:  Political Science


Published Works:
Insurers, Insureds and Their Lawyers, MCLE, Inc., Library of Congress Card No. 97-85249, 1998


Winning Through Settlement, MCLE, Inc., 2000


The Defense of Civil Lawsuits, MCLE, Inc. 2002-25005-25, Library of Congress Card No. 2001095668, 2001


The Defense of Civil Lawsuits, MCLE, Inc. 2003-25005-25, Library of Congress Card No. 2002111366, 2002


Representative Cases:
Rideout v. Crum & Forster Commercial Ins., 417 Mass. 757, 633 N.E.2d 376 (Mass. 1994)
116 Commonwealth Condominium Trust v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 433 Mass. 373, 742 N.E.2d 76 (Mass. 2001)
Deere & Co. v. Ford, 434 Mass. 223, 747 N.E.2d 1208 (Mass. 2001)
Classes/Seminars Taught:
How to Try the Construction Site Personal Injury Case, MATA, March 26, 1994


Insurers, Insureds and Their Lawyers, MCLE, May 27, 1998


Practicing Law in the 21st Century, MCLE/MDLA, May 3, 2000


The Defense of Civil Lawsuits, MCLE/MDLA, 2001


The Defense of Civil Lawsuits, MCLE/MDLA, September 18, 2002


Pre-Trial Defense of Civil Cases, MDLA (Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association), November 12, 2004


Insurers, Insureds and Their Lawyers, MCLE, January 18, 2006


Honors and Awards:
"AV" Rating by Martindale-Hubbell


Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers


Professional Associations and Memberships:
American Bar Association, 1971 - Present
Member


Massachusetts Bar Association, 1971 - Present
Member


American Judicature Society, 1978 - Present
Member


National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 1978 - Present
Member


International Association of Defense Counsel, 2002 - Present
Member


Defense Research Institute, 1978 - Present
Member


Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association, 1997 - Present
Board of Directors


Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association, June 1, 2004 - June 1, 2005
President


Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association, 2002 - 2003
Vice President


Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association, 1978 - Present
Member


Joint Bar Committee on Judicial Appointments, September 1, 2001 - September 1, 2006
Member


Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, 1971 - Present
Member


Association of European Lawyers, March 1, 2006 - Present
Member


Past Employment Positions:
City of Cambridge Rent Control Board, General Counsel


Home Office of Commercial Union Insurance Company, Assistant Vice President and Managing Claims Counsel


Commercial Union Staff Counsel Office, Boston, Managing Attorney


Ancillary Businesses:
Mediation
Arbitration
Fraternities/Sororities:
Phi Alpha Delta