James F. Aspell Selected to The Best Lawyers in America® 2027 for Workers' Compensation Law – Claimants

Firm also recognized among Best Law Firms in America in Workers' Compensation Law – Claimants

James F. Aspell, P.C. is pleased to announce that Attorney James F. Aspell has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® in the practice area of Workers' Compensation Law – Claimants. The firm has additionally been recognized among the Best Law Firms in America in the same practice area.

What This Recognition Means

Best Lawyers has been publishing its lists since 1981, and the 2027 edition marks the 33rd year of the U.S. guide. What distinguishes it from the many awards and badges in the legal industry is simple: an attorney cannot pay to be included, cannot nominate himself, and cannot lobby his way onto the list. Selection is based entirely on confidential evaluations submitted by other lawyers who practice in the same field and the same geographic market.

The scale of that review process is substantial. The 2027 U.S. edition was informed by approximately 3.8 million evaluations submitted by more than 32,000 voting attorneys, contributing to a historical total exceeding 30 million evaluations. Attorneys are asked a straightforward question about their colleagues — whether they would refer a matter to that lawyer if they could not take the case themselves.

In workers' compensation, that question carries particular weight. This is a small, specialized bar. The attorneys casting votes in the claimants' category include the lawyers on the other side of the table — insurance defense counsel who have litigated against this firm at informal hearings, formal hearings, and before the Compensation Review Board. Recognition from that group is not a popularity contest. It is a professional assessment from the people best positioned to make one.

Why the "Claimants" Designation Matters

Best Lawyers separates workers' compensation into two distinct categories: Employers and Claimants. That division is not a formality. Workers' compensation is an adversarial system, and the lawyers who represent insurance carriers and self-insured employers do fundamentally different work than the lawyers who represent injured workers.

James F. Aspell, P.C. handles claimants' cases exclusively. The firm represents Connecticut workers who have been injured on the job — in construction and the trades, in health care, in manufacturing, in transportation, in municipal and state employment — and who are trying to secure the medical treatment and wage replacement benefits the law entitles them to receive.

That work involves contested causation, disputed permanency ratings, denied treatment authorizations, respondents' medical examinations, discontinuance and reduction of benefits, light-duty and return-to-work disputes, §31-308a discretionary benefits, and the negotiation and structuring of full and final stipulations. It is a practice built on knowing how the other side evaluates a file — and this recognition reflects three decades of doing exactly that.

A Note of Thanks

Recognition of this kind belongs, in large part, to the clients who make the work possible. Every injured worker who walked through the door after a denial, an IME that went badly, or a benefit check that simply stopped arriving placed a significant amount of trust in this firm at a difficult moment in their life. We are grateful for it.

Our thanks as well to the colleagues throughout the Connecticut workers' compensation bar who took the time to participate in the peer review process, and to the commissioners and staff of the Connecticut Workers' Compensation Commission, whose work keeps the system moving for the people who depend on it.

If You've Been Injured at Work

If you have been hurt on the job in Connecticut and are facing a denied claim, a disputed medical opinion, a reduction or termination of benefits, or a settlement offer you are not sure how to evaluate, James F. Aspell, P.C. offers a free consultation. There is no fee unless we recover benefits on your behalf.

Contact us at 860-523-8783

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About the recognition. Selection to The Best Lawyers in America® is based on a confidential peer-review survey conducted annually by Best Lawyers®. Attorneys cannot nominate themselves, purchase inclusion, or pay any fee to be considered or listed. Selection to Best Law Firms® is based on a combination of peer review, client feedback, and information submitted by the firm. A full description of each selection methodology is available at bestlawyers.com/methodology. Neither Best Lawyers® nor the Connecticut Judicial Branch, the Statewide Grievance Committee, or any other governmental or bar authority certifies attorneys as specialists in any field, and no such certification is claimed here. These recognitions reflect the opinions of participating attorneys and do not constitute an endorsement, an official rating, or a guarantee of quality.

No guarantee of results. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future matter. Every workers' compensation claim turns on its own facts, medical evidence, and procedural history. Recognition by any ranking publication is not a promise or prediction that the firm can obtain a particular result in your case.

Not legal advice; no attorney-client relationship. This post is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this post, or contacting the firm through this website, by email, or by telephone, does not create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship with James F. Aspell, P.C. is formed only upon execution of a written fee agreement. Do not send confidential information to the firm until such a relationship has been established. Connecticut workers' compensation claims are subject to strict notice and limitation periods; if you believe you have a claim, consult an attorney promptly.

Fees and costs. Attorney's fees in Connecticut workers' compensation matters are contingent and subject to approval by a Workers' Compensation Commissioner in accordance with Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-327 and the Commission's fee guidelines. [Costs and expenses may be the responsibility of the client regardless of outcome — conform this sentence to your retainer agreement.]