Paul T. Tusch

Paul T. Tusch is chairman of the Family Law practice group at Cacace, Tusch & Santagata.  The Group consists of four attorneys and two legal assistants, each of whom devotes up to 100% of his or her time to the practice of family law.  The Group prides itself as a team of high caliber professionals who are hardworking, dedicated and sensitive to the needs of their clients.  

Tusch is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.  The AAML was founded in 1962 with the stated goal of providing “leadership that promotes the highest degree of professionalism and excellence in the practice of family law.”  The requirements for acceptance as a Fellow are rigorous, and include the submission of a lengthy application, obtaining references from attorneys and judges, passing national and state specific tests, and going through an interview process.  There are approximately 1,650 Fellows in the 50 states, and less than 35 in Connecticut.

Tusch serves as Treasurer and member of the Board of Governors of the Connecticut Chapter of the AAML.  On the national level, he serves on the Collaborative Law Committee and the Professionalism Committee.  He has been trained by the AAML as a family law Arbitrator. 

Tusch has achieved an AV rating from his peers as reported in Martindale-Hubbell.  The AV rating is awarded to those attorneys whose peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.  He has also been recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyer, as reported in Connecticut Magazine, since 2006.  The Super Lawyer designation is the result of a survey conducted of approximately 13,000 active Connecticut lawyers, culminating in the selection of the top 5% in the state.

Tusch has served on the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association Family Law Section, including serving one term as that Section’s Chair.  He has lectured extensively for the CBA and other organizations on topics related to family law.  He has served as a Special Master in family courts throughout the state, including those in Stamford and Bridgeport, as well as at the Regional Family Trial Court in Middletown.  He has completed the mandatory training required by the State of Connecticut to serve as a Guardian ad Litem and as an attorney for minor children in Connecticut courts.

Area of Practice:
Family Law

Bar Admissions:
Connecticut, 1985
U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 1986

Professional Associations and Memberships:

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow, 2016 – Present; Member of the Collaborative Law Committee and the Professionalism Committee of the national organization.  Member of the Board of Governors and Treasurer of the Connecticut Chapter of the AAML.

Connecticut Bar Association, Family Law Section, Executive Committee Member, 1993 - 2012; Treasurer, 2000 - 2001; Secretary, 2001 - 2002; Continuing Legal Education Chair; 2002 - 2003; Vice Chair, 2003 - 2004; Chair, 2004 - 2005

Connecticut Bar Association, Lower Fairfield County Young Lawyers Section, Vice Chairman, 1988 -1989 

Stamford/Norwalk Regional Bar Association, Executive Committee Member, 1990 - 1994 

Stamford/Norwalk Regional Bar Association, Co-Chairman, Real Estate Committee 1994 - 1999 

Stamford/Norwalk Regional Bar Association, Chairman, Law Day Committee 1990 

Stamford/Norwalk Regional Bar Association, Member, Family Law Committee, 1985 – Present.

Connecticut Bar Association, Member

Fairfield County Bar Association, Member

Collaborative Divorce Attorneys of Fairfield County, Member

Community Service:

St. Leo Parish Advisory Council, Chair, 2017, Vice Chair 2014-2016, Member 2011 – 2017.

St. Leo Parish Finance Committee, Member, 2017.

Stamford Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), 2013 - 2018

Trinity Catholic High School Envision Campaign, Committee Member, 2012 - 2017

Fairfield University, The Fairfield Awards Dinner, Committee Member, 2014 and 2016

Stamford Youth Foundation, 2004 - 2009, Corporate Secretary and Member, Board of Directors

North Stamford Little League, 2006 - 2009, Member, Board of Directors; 2007- 2009, President

The Volunteer Center of Southwestern Fairfield County, 1996 - 2004, Member, Board of Directors; 2000-2002, First Vice President; 2002-2004, President

Our Promise, The Campaign for Fairfield University, 2001-2002, Class Chair

Connecticut Yankee Council Boy Scouts of America, Greater Stamford Tribute Award Luncheon, 2001-2002, General Chairman

American Red Cross, Stamford Chapter, 1993 - 1999 Member, Board of Directors; 1994 - 1996 Vice-Chair; 1996 - 1999 Chair

Teen Life Center, 1994 - 2001, Member, Board of Directors and Corporate Secretary

First Night Stamford, 1987 - 1991, Member, Board of Directors and Corporate Secretary

Stamford Federal Little League, 1992 - 1995, Member, Board of Directors

Education:

Quinnipiac School of Law (formerly University of Bridgeport School of Law), 
1985 J.D.
Honors: Recipient, Moot Court Award, 1983
Law Review: Staff Member, University of Bridgeport Law Review, 1983 – 1984; Law Review: Notes and Comments Editor, University of Bridgeport Law Review, 1984 - 1985

Fairfield University, 1982 B.A.

Reported Cases:

Ill v. Manzo-Ill, 166 Conn. App. 809, 142 A.3d 1176 (2016)

Maze v. City of Stamford, 228 Conn. 915, 636 A.2d 847 (1993)

Newbury Commons Ltd. Partnership v. City of Stamford, 226 Conn. 92, 626 A.2d 1292 (1993)

Connecticut Health Facilities, Inc. v. Zoning Board of Appeals of the City of Stamford, 29 Conn. App. 1, 613 A.2d 1358 (1992)

Omnipoint Communications, Inc. v. Planning & Zoning Commission, 83 F. Supp. 2d 306 (D. Conn. 2000)

CLE Presentations:

Anatomy of a Trial, Ethical Considerations, AAML Connecticut Chapter, April 27, 2018

GAL Reform: What You Need to Know, Fairfield County Bar Association, October 15, 2014

Raising the Bar: A Bench-Bar Symposium on Professionalism in the Judicial District of Stamford-Norwalk, CBA and State of Connecticut Judicial Department, November 5, 2010

Post-Judgment Pitfalls to Avoid, Fairfield County Collaborative Lawyers, February 3, 2010

Annual Survey of Recent Developments in Connecticut Family Law, CBA Annual Meeting, Lectured Annually from 2000 – 2008

Circling the Relocation Dilemma, Connecticut Council for Divorce Mediation and Family Dispute Resolution (CCDM), January 25, 2005

The Bulletproof Financial Affidavit, Chair and Lecturer, CBA – CT Bar Institute, May 30, 2003

Locating Cellular Towers in Connecticut, Recent Developments and Municipal Interests, The Regional Bar Association, March 26, 2002

Telecommunications Act of 1996 Siting Issues and District of Connecticut Cases,

Lorman Seminar, October 30, 2001

The Municipal Role in the Approval Process for Locating Telecommunications Towers, Connecticut Association of Municipal Attorneys, January 8, 2001

Transfer of Assets: Real Estate Implications, Stamford/Norwalk Regional Bar Association, May 24, 1995

Published Works:

The Art of Appraising the Marital Residence, Connecticut Law Tribune, April 6, 1998

Meaningful Relief for Taxpayers Selling Real Estate, Connecticut Law Tribune, March 2, 1998

Equitable Estoppel, Laches and Waiver Defenses in Alimony and Support Arrearage Proceedings, Connecticut Family Lawyer, Summer, 1995