LABOR LAW

Workers' Compensation:

Workers' Compensation claims are not tort actions, but rather a statutory substitute for such actions by an injured worker or their dependents against employers, and are founded on the theory of a contract between the injured worker and the employer. The Workers' Compensation Act was to compromise an injured worker's right to common law tort action for work-related injuries in return for relatively quick and certain Workers' Compensation benefits. Theoretically, the Act was intended to establish a speedy, effective, and inexpensive method for administrating claims for work-related injuries. In practice, Workers' Compensation claims involve many statutory issues, which often require the assistance of an attorney. In 1993, the Legislature enacted Workers' Compensation Reform, which drastically reduced benefits paid to injured workers.
The Pellegrino Law Firm primarily represents injured employees during the course of their employment. We help clients obtain temporary total benefits while they are totally disabled, as well as specific award benefits for their injuries, and temporary partial benefits while looking for new work. Our office has an excellent reputation among the Workers' Compensation Claims Commissioners throughout the State.

Administrative Proceedings:

We represent both employers and employees before various administrative hearing boards. Such matters include represenation at unemployment compensation hearings, and at the various appellate levels of the Connecticut Department of Labor. Similarly, we litigate discrimination claims based on age, race, religion and physical disability before the State Commission on Human Rights and Responsibilities (CHRO), as well as the Federal Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (FEOC).