Tom Blatchley, Co-Chair of the firm’s national Consumer Financial Services practice group, is a Partner in the Hartford and Boston offices. He represents a variety of clients in nationwide complex litigation in federal and state courts. His practice focuses on litigation matters concerning insurance defense and coverage, business/commercial disputes, bankruptcy and mortgage foreclosure, intellectual property matters, employment practices liability, professional liability, products liability, consumer defense, and environmental and land use. Tom frequently defends nationwide and state class claims arising under consumer protection statutes and unfair competition statutes, including, just as some examples, the TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act), FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act), FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act),and similar state statutes (e.g., Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act).
Published Opinions
- Worsham v. Discount Power, Inc., 2022 WL 3100762 (D. Md. Aug. 4, 2022)
- Sprague v. Salisbury Bank & Trust Co., 2019 WL 4246601 (D. Conn. Sept. 5, 2019), aff’d 969 F.2d 94 (2d Cir. 2020)
- Caltabiano v. L & L Real Estate Holdings II, LLC, 122 Conn. App. 751 (2010)
- Filion v. Hannon, 106 Conn. App. 745 (2008)
- Collins v. Olin Corp., 418 F. Supp. 2d 34 (D. Conn. 2006)
- Loper Bright Spells the End of Chevron Defense, GRSM Legal Alert, July 2024, LinkedIn, July 2024
- Medical Debt Collectors Beware: New Connecticut Law, Effective July 1, 2024, Prohibits Medical Debt Reporting to Credit Rating Agencies, GRSM Blog – Trends in Consumer Law, July 2024, LinkedIn, July 2024
- Sixth Circuit Holds that Receipt of One Ringless Voicemail Satisfies Article III Standing Under the TCPA, GRSM Blog – Trends in Consumer Law, May 2024, LinkedIn, May 2024
- BREAKING: Supreme Court Narrows Autodialer Definition in Major Victory for TCPA Defendants in Facebook v. Duguid, GRSM Blog – Trends in Consumer Law, May 2024, LinkedIn, May 2024
- Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of TCPA and MDTCPA Action Obtained by Multi-State Team on Behalf of Energy Company, GRSM Blog – Trends in Consumer Law, March 2023; LinkedIn, March 2023
- FCC Declares That “Ringless Voicemails” are “Calls” that Require Consumer Consent to Avoid TCPA Liability, GRSM Blog – Trends in Consumer Law, November 2022 LinkedIn, November 2022
- Defendant Obtains Summary Judgment Against Serial Plaintiff in Heavily Litigated TCPA and MDTCPA Action, GRSM Blog – Trends in Consumer Law, September 30, 2022; LinkedIn, September 30, 2022
- Second Circuit Says No Standing for Alleged ADA Website Violations Where Plaintiff Had No Intention of Visiting Defendant’s Hotel, GRSM Blog – Trends in Consumer Law, March 30, 2022; LinkedIn, March 30, 2022
- TCPA Family Feud – Survey Says: Second Circuit Rejects Third Circuit and Holds that a Faxed Invitation to Participate in a Market Research Survey in Exchange for Money Does Not Constitute an “Advertisement” Under the TCPA, GRSM Blog – Trends in Consumer Law, February 28, 2022; LinkedIn, February 28, 2022
- Ninth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Favor of TCPA Defendant on Duguid Footnote 7 Argument, GRSM Consumer Law Blog – Trends in Consumer Law, January 27, 2022; LinkedIn, January 27, 2022
- Turned Out to Be a White Christmas After All, GRSM Consumer Law Blog – Trends in Consumer Law, January 19, 2022; LinkedIn, January 19, 2022
- Amendment to Connecticut Law Requires Employers to Disclose Salary Range, GRSM Employment Law Update, June 18, 2021; LEXOLOGY, June 21, 2021
- BREAKING: Supreme Court Narrows Autodialer Definition in Major Victory for TCPA Defendant in Facebook v Duguid, GRSM Case Alert, April 1, 2021; LinkedIn, April 1, 2021; LEXOLOGY, April 5, 2021
- New Rules Govern Connecticut Businesses Planning for May 20 Reopening, GRSM Employment Law Update, May 13, 2020; LEXOLOGY, May 14, 2020
- Environmental Protection Agency Issues Temporary Enforcement Discretion Policy in Response to COVID-19, GRSM Environmental & Toxic Tort Law Update, April 13, 2020; LEXOLOGY, April 14, 2020
- District Court Finds Insurer Had No Duty to Defend Insured in Underlying TCPA Class Action Alleging Intentional Transmission of Unsolicited Faxes, GRSM Case Alert, April 10, 2020; LEXOLOGY, April 12, 2020
- Executive Order No. 7V and COVID-19: Connecticut Governor Lamont Issues Safe Workplace Rules for Essential Businesses and Essential Employees, GRSM Employment Law Update, April 9, 2020; LEXOLOGY, April 9, 2020
- District Court Finds Receipt of Single Unsolicited Telemarketing Call Insufficient for Article III Standing, GRSM Case Alert, April 1, 2020; LEXOLOGY, April 1, 2020
- Massachusetts Executive Order – COVID-19 Order No. 13: Governor Baker’s Directive Regarding Essential Businesses, GRSM Employment Law Update, March 25, 2020; LEXOLOGY, March 25, 2020
- Connecticut Executive Orders 7H and 7J: Connecticut Governor Lamont Implements “Stay Safe, Stay Home” Policy and Orders Workers at Non-Essential Businesses to Stay Home, GRSM Employment Law Update, March 23, 2020; LEXOLOGY, March 25, 2020
- Connecticut Governor Orders Workers at Non-Essential Businesses to Stay Home, LinkedIn, March 22, 2020
- 11th Cir.: Receipt of Single Unsolicited Text Insufficient for Standing Purposes, Law.com & Daily Business Review, September 3, 2019
- Social Network Answerable for Automated Texts Under Ninth Circuit ATDS Definition Following Constitutional Challenge of TCPA, GRSM Case Alert, August 29, 2019; LEXOLOGY, August 31, 2019
- BREAKING: Major Telecoms and Attorneys General Partner to Fight Illegal Robocalls, GRSM Case Alert, August 22, 2019; LEXOLOGY, August 23, 2019
- BREAKING: House Overwhelmingly Passes Stopping Bad Robocalls Act, GRSM Case Alert, July 26, 2019; LEXOLOGY, July 31, 2019
- Eighth Circuit Finds “Shockingly Large” and “Oppressive” TCPA Statutory Damages Unconstitutional and Affirms Judgment Reducing Damages Award from $1.6 Billion to $32 Million, GRSM Case Alert, July 25, 2019; LEXOLOGY, July 26, 2019
- New Laws Every Connecticut Employer Needs to Know, GRSM Case Alert, June 28, 2019; LEXOLOGY, July 2, 2019
- Deference to Agency Jurisdiction Still Unanswered: SCOTUS Fails to Resolve Whether an FCC Order Interpreting the TCPA is Binding on Federal District Courts, GRSM Case Alert, June 21, 2019; LEXOLOGY, June 25, 2019
- BREAKING: FCC Rules to Permit Default Robocall Blocking by Telephone Companies, GRSM Case Alert, June 14, 2019; LEXOLOGY, June 17, 2019
- Case of First Impression: Federal District Court Finds Ringless Voicemail is a “Call” Under the TCPA, GRSM Case Alert, July 25, 2018; LEXOLOGY, July 27, 2018
- Calling all TCPA Critics: Hurry Up – Time is Running Out to Submit Comments to the FCC Regarding Interpretation of the TCPA Following the D.C. Circuit’s ACA Int’l v. FCC Decision, LEXOLOGY, May 2018
- D.C. Circuit Issues Awaited Decision Striking Down Key Provisions of FCC’s 2015 TCPA Declaratory Ruling and Order; LEXOLOGY, March 20, 2018
- Second Circuit Holds that TCPA Contractual Consent Cannot be Revoked, GRSM Insurance Law Blog, July 17, 2017; LEXOLOGY, July 18, 2017
- Big Victory For Debt Buying Industry: Supreme Court Holds That Debt Buyers Are Not “Debt Collectors” Under The FDCPA, GRSM Insurance Law Blog, June 18, 2017; LEXOLOGY, June 19, 2017
- Legislation Requiring Coverage for Collapse Crumbles; All Is Not Lost For Homeowners, LEXOLOGY, July 21, 2016
- Bill Requiring Coverage for Collapse Crumbles; All Is Not Lost For Homeowners, Connecticut Law Tribune, July 18, 2016
- BREAKING: Connecticut Legislation requiring Homeowners Policies to Provide Coverage for Collapse and Mitigation Crumbles, GRSM Insurance Law Blog, May 6, 2016
- No Insurance Coverage Stinks: South Carolina Court of Appeals Denies Coverage for Sewage Odor Lawsuit, GRSM Insurance Law Blog, April 21, 2016
- Georgia Supreme Court Denies Coverage for Lead-Based Paint Injuries Based on the Pollution Exclusion, GRSM Insurance Law Blog, April 12, 2016 and Environmental & Toxic Tort Defense Insight Blog, April 15, 2016
- Policies Include Pesty Pollution Exclusions, Connecticut Law Tribune, March 14, 2016
- Exterminating Coverage Under a Pes[t]y Pollution Exclusion: Vermont Supreme Court Denies Coverage for Pesticide Contamination, GRSM Insurance Law Blog, March 9, 2016
- Bed Bug Bill Bounces: Pesticides Called Pollution!, GRSM Environmental & Toxic Tort Defense Insight Blog, March 3, 2016
- Texting Case Sends Message About Class Actions, Connecticut Law Tribune, February 1, 2016
- SCOTUS Holds That Unaccepted Rule 68 Settlement Offer Doesn’t Moot Consumer Class Action Lawsuit, GRSM Insurance Law Blog, January 20, 2016
- Medical Marijuana & Employment Implications: The Evolving Legal Landscape, Regional Presentation and Webinar Sponsored by People’s United Bank and People’s United Financial, Inc., December 18, 2019
- 2019 Trends and Developments in the TCPA, Nationally Broadcast Webinar Sponsored by The Knowledge Group (August 16, 2019)
- Recent Developments in the TCPA: Litigation and Compliance Issues, Nationally Broadcast Webinar Sponsored by The Knowledge Group, August 29, 2018
Admissions
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, First and Second Circuits
- U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
- U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Connecticut
- Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Connecticut Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association
- Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS)
- The Connecticut Power & Energy Society
- The Federalist Society
- National Creditors Bar Association
Community Involvement
- Canton Board of Finance
- Canton Planning & Zoning Commission
- Canton Aquifer Protection Agency
- Canton Republican Town Committee (Vice Chair)
- Canton Justice of the Peace
- Hartford County Bar Association Talk to Lawyers Program
- Connecticut Bar Association Veterans Assistance
- Connecticut Bar Association Truancy Intervention Project
- West Hartford Justice of the Peace
- West Hartford Conservation & Environment Commission
- West Hartford Republican Women’s Club
- West Hartford Republican Town Committee
- The Federalist Society (CT Lawyers Chapter Executive Committee)
Education
- J.D., Vermont Law School, 2003
- Dean’s Fellow
- Dean’s List
- The Vermont Journal of Environmental Law (Managing Editor & Staff Editor)
- Barrister’s Book Shop Board of Trustees
- M.P.S., summa cum laude, Environmental Science – Water & Wetland Resources, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 2000
- B.S., Environmental Science, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, 1998
- Minors: Chemistry & Biology
Honors
- Lexology Client Choice Award recipient in the Litigation category for Connecticut, 2019, 2020, and 2021
- Best Lawyers in America© distinction in Insurance Law, 2021-2026
- Best Lawyers in America©, Lawyer of the Year, Insurance Law, 2023
- Connecticut Super Lawyers® distinction in the fields of Employment Litigation: Defense, Environmental, Insurance Coverage, Class Action/Mass Torts: Defense, and Business Litigation, 2016-2018
- Connecticut Rising Stars® distinction in the field of Business Litigation, Civil Litigation: Defense, Insurance Coverage, Class Action/Mass Torts, and/or Environmental, 2008-2015
- Connecticut Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, Executive Committee
- Connecticut Law Tribune “Leaders of the Law Award”