Michael P. Carey

Mr. Carey graduated, cum laude, from the University of Rochester in 1977, and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1980. He is admitted to the bar of the State of Connecticut (1980) and the U.S. District Court for the State of Connecticut (1981), as well as to the bars of the Mashantucket and Mohegan tribes. Mr. Carey currently serves on the Board of Directors of Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region (seCTer).

Attorney Carey joined Suisman Shapiro in July of 2000, after spending almost twelve years at the law firm of Brown, Jacobson in Norwich, Connecticut (the last seven as a partner). Since joining Suisman Shapiro, Attorney Carey’s practice has focused on municipal law, especially land use law and litigation. Attorney Carey has extensive experience in the interpretation and application of the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act.

Attorney Carey represents many municipalities and currently handles municipal and land use matters for the Town. Mr. Carey was for three years the in-house, assistant corporation counsel of the Town of West Hartford, where he advised the Town's elected and appointed officers and officials, boards, commissions and agencies, and handled all of the Town's land use litigation.

Mr. Carey has successfully argued before the Connecticut Supreme and Appellate Courts. Notable appellate cases he has argued and/or briefed include:

Groton v. Mardie Lane Homes (Connecticut Supreme Court 2008) (Briefing and argument of a matter where the court held that C.G.S. 8-26c(c) did not require the Town to call a bond to build infrastructure in a failed subdivision.)

Groton Police Department v. Freedom of Information Commission (Connecticut Appellate Court 10/9/07) (Resolved the question whether the statute exempting records of child abuse from public disclosure is applicable to records compiled by a municipal police department.)

Vitale v. Montville ZBA (Connecticut Supreme Court 8/29/06) (Decision helped clarify questions about how to serve process in municipal zoning appeals.)