Timothy J. Groves

Timothy J. Groves is an experienced civil litigator focusing his practice on professional liability defense, business litigation and education law. Prior to law school, Mr. Groves taught high school English for four years, and then co-founded Schoolyard, Inc., which developed and maintained comprehensive websites for independent schools.

Representative Accomplishments

In the courtroom, Mr. Groves persuaded a Connecticut Superior Court judge after a full trial to reject the personal injury claim of a woman involved in a motor vehicle accident. He has obtained summary judgment on behalf of an orthodontist on a malpractice claim. He also successfully negotiated the dismissal of all claims against a skydiving center and its proprietor in a potentially high-exposure personal injury case. Mr. Groves secured a favorable resolution in arbitration for a landlord in a premises liability suit brought by a tenant.

As general counsel for an independent school, Mr. Groves has redrafted key sections of the school’s employment contracts and personnel policies manual. He has advised the school’s administration on contract disputes and student disciplinary issues, helping to avert potentially costly litigation. In the public school arena, Mr. Groves has advocated for the rights of school administrators in court and on appeal before the Rhode Island Department of Education.

Clerkships

Mr. Groves served as a law clerk in 2006-07 to Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Paul Suttell.

Professional and Civic Affiliations

Mr. Groves serves on the Executive Director’s Council of the San Miguel School. He is a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association and Massachusetts Bar Association. He has also been a member since 1998 of the Save the Bay organization, and has been an advisory board member of the Big Brothers of Rhode Island since 2002. Mr. Groves is a volunteer soccer coach in the East Side Sports Youth Soccer League.