Frank J. Szilagyi

Frank J. Szilagyi is a trial lawyer with more than 20 years of experience. Mr. Szilagyi has been a partner of the firm since 2000. Mr. Szilagyi currently serves as the Managing Partner of Szilagyi & Daly. Prior to joining Silvester & Daly in 2000, the predecessor to Szilagyi & Daly, Mr. Szilagyi formed and practiced with the firm of Chadwick, Libbey & Szilagyi, in Hartford, Connecticut.

Mr. Szilagyi is a graduate of The Avon Old Farms School, Avon, Connecticut (1977). Mr. Szilagyi received his B.S. from the University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (1981) and his Juris Doctorate from the Western New England College School of Law, Springfield, Massachusetts (1990). He is admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Szilagyi is also admitted to the Mohegan Tribe Gaming Disputes Court.

Since 2001, Mr. Szilagyi has earned an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating. A Martindale-Hubbell rating serves as an objective indicator of a lawyer’s ethical standards and legal ability and is based upon peer review. It signifies preeminent legal skills and adherence to professional standards of conduct and ethics, reliability, diligence and other criteria relevant to the discharge of a lawyer’s professional responsibilities.

In 2009 Mr. Szilagyi was accepted as a member of The International Society of Primerus Law Firms and the Primerus Defense Institute. The International Society of Primerus Law Firms was created to uphold the highest ideals of the legal profession by seeking out and inviting only the very best attorneys and law firms for membership. Mr. Szilagyi submitted to, and passed, a rigorous evaluation which includes candid assessments from judges, fellow lawyers, current and former clients, bar associations, and insurance carriers. As a member of The International Society of Primerus Law Firms and the Primerus Defense Institute, Mr. Szilagyi has demonstrated a commitment to Integrity, Excellent Work Product, Reasonable Fees, Continuing Legal Education, Civility, and Community Service.  In April, 2011, Mr. Szilagyi addressed the Primerus Defense Institute’s Annual Convocation in Naples, Florida speaking on the subject of current issues related to the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007.

Mr. Szilagyi is a member of the American Bar Association, Connecticut Bar Association, Hartford County Bar Association, Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association, Defense Research Institute and a former member of the Oliver Ellsworth Inn of Court. Mr. Szilagyi is a member of DRI’s Trial Tactics Committee and serves as its State of Connecticut Liaison.  Mr. Szilagyi moderated a panel discussion at the DRI Damages Seminar in March 2010. Mr. Szilagyi is a member of DRI’s Governmental Liability Committee and serves as its Second Circuit liaison. Mr. Szilagyi is also a member of DRI’s Products Liability Committee.

Mr. Szilagyi’s practice is concentrated in defending civil matters up to and through the trial to a jury or to the court. Mr. Szilagyi has extensive experience defending claims in the area of professional liability, premises liability, liquor liability, contractor liability, product liability, and general tort liability claims, as well as the defense of automobile, trucking and under insured motorist claims.  Mr. Szilagyi has defended many claims brought against public entities, including civil rights and constitutional claims brought against police officers and teachers.  Mr. Szilagyi also has experience in insurance coverage and bad faith claims.

Mr. Szilagyi has extensive experience in both bench and jury trials in the state and federal courts in Connecticut, successfully trying numerous cases to verdict. He also has extensive experience representing parties before various administrative agencies. Mr. Szilagyi has represented major corporations, municipalities, small and large businesses, unions, and individuals in numerous civil hearings, trials and arbitration hearings. Mr. Szilagyi has also successfully appeared and argued before the Connecticut Supreme Court, the Appellate Court of the State of Connecticut and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Mr. Szilagyi currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Institute for the Blind, Connecticut’s largest not-for-profit agency. He is proficient in Hungarian and served as the President of the Hungarian Club of Hartford from 1992 to 1996. Mr. Szilagyi is married, has three children and lives in West Hartford.