Jody N. Cappello is a Partner in Freeman Mathis & Gary’s Hartford office and is Vice-Chair of the firm's Northeast Employment practice team. Mr. Cappello’s practice focuses on the defense of claims in the areas of Professional Liability/Errors and Omissions, Labor and Employment and Tort and Catastrophic Loss.
Mr. Cappello’s professional liability practice includes defense of lawyers, accountants, real estate professionals, insurance brokers, residential property managers and various other professionals. Mr. Cappello defends these individuals and entities in the state and federal courts of Connecticut and administrative agencies. Mr. Cappello routinely defends attorneys in response to complaints filed with the Connecticut Statewide Grievance Committee.
As part of his practice, Mr. Cappello regularly represents architects, engineers and other construction professionals in pre-litigation alternate dispute resolution as well as in State and Federal Courts on construction defect, professional negligence, and breach of contract claims.
In Mr. Cappello’s employment practice, he regularly handles matters before federal and state courts in Connecticut, and before administrative agencies including the EEOC and the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO). His employment practice encompasses the issues that employers may face in managing and interacting with employees, including employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, FMLA, and disputes concerning enforcement and defense of non-compete, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements. He also advises clients on various employment decisions and development of best practices, policies and procedures, employment handbooks, internal investigations, employment contracts and disciplinary measures.