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'A Once-In-A-Career Case’

Chimp mauling lawsuits put Matthew Newman in media spotlight

By DOUGLAS S. MALAN

On Feb. 16, Matthew D. Newman was taking a well-deserved break from his personal injury practice at Willinger, Willinger & Bucci in Bridgeport. It was President’s Day, and with the courts closed and his children out of school, he remembers spending some quality time with his family.

That same day, in one of the most horrifying stories of the year, a 200-pound chimpanzee attacked Charla Nash in Stamford. The chimp was a domesticated pet owned by Sandra Herold, a friend of Nash’s, but the animal turned vicious that day and ripped off Nash’s hands and face, leaving her blind.

Nash’s brothers immediately sought legal help. They called a lawyer and family friend, William Monaco of Feldman, Kramer & Monaco in New York City. Monaco told the brothers they needed Connecticut counsel and referred them to his trusted friends at Willinger, Willinger & Bucci.

Within a couple of days of the attack, the 13-member firm was thrust in the center of a case that has captivated people – and news organizations — around the world.

“It happened very quickly,” Newman said of his firm’s involvement. “I don’t think there’s another case like this out there. This is a once-in-a-career case.”

And Newman, a New Haven native and Quinnipiac law school alum, is leading the charge with a $50 million lawsuit against Herold and a planned $150 million lawsuit against the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Horrific injuries are nothing new to Newman after 25 years of automobile accidents, workplace injuries and wrongful death cases. Still, he said, “we have not handled a case where the injuries and long-term effects of injuries have been so catastrophic.”

The media response has been equally staggering, said Charles J. Willinger Jr., name partner of the firm. The lawyers receive multiple e-mails per day requesting interviews and copies of court filings. The firm now has a separate section of its web site dedicated to the Nash case.

“We thought there would be attention on this, but we had no idea it would be as universal as it has been,” Willinger said. “Everything we do becomes magnified. Any motion we file will be scrutinized by the media around the world. That’s a little nerve-wracking.”

Media reaction prompted Nash to make her recent appearances on national television talk shows, Newman said, after photographers tried to bribe hospital workers in Stamford and Cleveland, Ohio, where Nash was transferred for intensive care, so they could come into Nash’s room and photograph her.

“The media attention was not our primary concern,” said Newman, though it was something the low-profile firm had to address before taking the case. Attorney Monaco has been helping with some of the media requests. “At this point, we’ve gotten used to it,” Newman said.

Team Meetings

The real challenge was managing the case as it unfolded. At the beginning, there was work to do in appointing a conservator for Nash and launching investigations into Herold’s assets and the events that led to the attack. The medical aspect of the case is complicated as doctors continue to work on appropriate treatment plans.

“We’re educating ourselves on the various medical decisions so we know what experts to bring into trial,” Newman said. “It’s very time-consuming.”

Newman has put together a nine-person “Nash Team” consisting of attorneys, paralegals and investigators who meet weekly to update and coordinate various aspects of the Nash lawsuit. There’s an extra layer of work added because in order to sue the DEP, Newman must gain the permission from the Office of the Claims Commissioner to file the lawsuit. That hearing likely won’t occur until next year after months of investigations into the attack.

While the firm typically puts together teams for its other litigation, those teams are never as large as the one working for Charla Nash. Newman said it’s difficult to quantify how much time he spends on the Nash case compared to the rest of his caseload, but “it consumes a portion of my day six days a week.”

Newman first met Nash in August when he traveled to Cleveland. Newman said he was “shocked” at the commitment Nash’s brothers showed in making sure she received the best medical care and legal counsel. The visit also left another lasting impression.

“The strength of [Nash’s] character and her resilience really were much more significant than her appearance,” Newman said. “I have found this case to be exhilarating and very interesting, and I’m inspired by Charla Nash’s courage.”

Newman also has adjusted his perspective as he litigates the biggest case of his career. The experience has reminded him how a lawyer can improve a client’s life.

“After any lawyer has practiced for a certain period of time, it can become a little routine,” Newman said. “This case has brought me back to the place I was in as a new lawyer when every issue was the most important issue at that point and time. It has freshened my perspective.” •