Attorney Profiles
J. Kenneth Griffin
Stoneham, Massachusetts
Principal Attorney
Law Firm Manager
| phone | (781) 279-9858 |
| fax | (781) 279-9870 |
| 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 Executive Director of and 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 a former 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. In May 2008, Ken was honored by the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association as the 2008 Massachusetts Defense Lawyer of the Year.
Year Joined Organization:
1979
Areas of Practice:
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Appeals
Arbitration
Construction Law
Consumer Protection
Contracts
Insurance Law
Legal Malpractice
Litigation & Appeals
Mediation
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Personal Injury
Products Liability Law
Professional Malpractice Law
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)
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
2008 Massachusetts Defense Lawyer of the Year, May 9, 2008 - Present
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 - 2009
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, Executive Director and 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