Day Pitney LLP is proud to announce that former litigation partner Thomas O. Farrish has been appointed a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Connecticut. He was sworn in by United States District Judge and former Day Pitney partner Michael P. Shea on January 8, 2020.

Farrish served in the United States Marine Corps and worked in the insurance industry before receiving his J.D. with highest honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 2005. He then joined Day Pitney as an associate. Farrish was elected a partner in 2013.

Farrish's practice focused on complex insurance and reinsurance disputes in state and federal courts. He handled matters involving claims under general liability, property, automobile, life, health and marine insurance policies. During his tenure, Farrish also handled more than thirty domestic and international reinsurance arbitrations in insurance fields as diverse as property/casualty, life, long term care, ocean marine and mortgage guaranty.

In addition, Farrish maintained an active pro bono practice, representing indigent plaintiffs in federal civil rights litigation. In 2014, the United States District Court awarded Farrish the District of Connecticut's pro bono award. In 2016, he was honored with Day Pitney's Coleman Award for his commitment to pro bono service through his work on a prisoner rights litigation, representing a death row inmate at Connecticut's Northern Correctional Institution. He also served as a volunteer parajudicial officer and settlement master in federal civil rights cases.

Farrish served on the Board of Trustees of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center and the University of Connecticut Law School Foundations. He also served as an adjunct law professor at the University of Connecticut Law School. His professional affiliations included the CPCU Society, Connecticut Chapter and Reinsurance Section, and the AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society (ARIAS-U.S.).

"Tom is an outstanding lawyer who is dedicated to public service," said Tom Goldberg, Day Pitney's managing partner. "We are very grateful to Tom for his many contributions to the firm and wish him all the best on his appointment."

In addition to Judge Michael Shea, Farrish joins a long line of former Day Pitney lawyers who have been elevated to the bench, including former U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, Judge Stefan Underhill of the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut; Judge Edgardo Ramos of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York; and Judge James Tancredi, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut.