Charles F. Gfeller
Partner
Charles F. Gfeller practices primarily in the areas of complex civil and commercial litigation, products liability, and risk management. While you won't find him signing autographs, Charlie can be called a sports professional. He is an avid skier and former hockey player who represents several ski areas, ice arenas, National Hockey League teams and facilities, zip line operators, fitness centers, other recreational facilities, and manufacturers of recreational products, providing both risk management and litigation services. In the products liability arena, his experience includes matters involving the ski / snowboard industry, recreational products industry, the automotive industry, manufacturing processes, as well as other areas.
Charlie manages and personally handles the litigation for several national insurance programs, which insure sports and recreational facilities, such as ice arenas, auto race tracks, soccer fields, and fitness centers. In fact, Charlie has played an integral role in launching some of their programs, by working with insurance brokers and both domestic and London-based insurers.
Charlie has tried numerous cases (jury and courtside) in both state and federal courts across the United States, and he has argued before the Connecticut Appellate Court. He regularly participates in arbitrations, mediations, and other alternative dispute resolution proceedings on a national basis. He advises companies regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Consumer Products Safety Commission regarding product compliance, safety issues, advertising and collateral material reviews, and he has defended audits and agency investigations. Charlie has a broad range of experience in creating standard operating procedures for these types of companies.
Charlie is regularly invited to publish and speak, both nationally and internationally, on various subjects involving risk management and products liability.
Practice Areas
- Recreational/Sports Risk Management and Litigation
- Recreational Product Liability - Risk Management and Litigation
- Product Liability Litigation
- Complex Civil Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Insurance Coverage Litigation
Education
- Franklin & Marshall College, B.A.
- Widener University, School of Law, J.D.
Admitted to Practice
- Connecticut
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- United States District Court, Northern District of New York
- United States District Court, Southern District of New York
- United States District Court, Connecticut
- United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Professional Affiliations
- Association of Ski Defense Attorneys
- National Ski Areas Association
- Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association
- International Society for Skiing Safety
- ASTM International, Member of F27 (Snow Skiing) and F08 Committees (Sports Equipment & Facilities)
- Sports Lawyers Association
- Risk and Insurance Management Society
- Defense Research Institute
- Self Insured Institute of America
- Connecticut Bar Association
- New York State Bar Association
- Texas Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Professional Liability Underwriters Society
Honors
- Named to Connecticut Rising Stars, New England Super Lawyers Magazine, 2009.
- Named to Connecticut Super Lawyers, 2006.
Publications/Speaking
- Co-Author, “ Traumatic Brain Injuries and Youth Athletics – What Do You Need to Know?,” Sports Litigation Alert and Concussion Policy and the Law, November 4, 2011.
- Ski Area Management Magazine’s Summer Ops Camp, 2011: Speaker on risk management issues related to ski area summer operations, Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Hancock, MA, October 5, 2011.
- Co-Author, "Traumatic Brain Injuries and Young Athletics -- What Do Ski Area Operators Need to Know?" National Ski Areas Association Risk Management Bulletin, August/September 2011. (PDF)
- Co-Author, "Traumatic Brain Injuries and Youth Athletics: A Risk Management Guide," white paper, July 2011. (available upon request)
- Speaker, “Understanding the United States Legal System and Managing Risk – A Guide for Manufacturers and Product Distributors,” Self-Insurance Institute of America International Conference, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, June 8, 2011.
- Ski Area Management Magazine's Cutter's Camp West - 2011: Speaker on ski area risk management issues, Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood, Oregon, May 10, 2011.
- Co-Author, "Effective Enterprise Risk Management Enhances Corporate Responsibility & Profitability," The Self-Insurer, April 2011. (PDF)
- Ski Area Management Magazine’s Cutter’s Camp-2011: Speaker on ski area risk management issues, Mount Snow, Vermont, April 5, 2011.
- Author, "Slips at Public Skating – Use Caution with Walkers on Ice," Rink Magazine, January/February, 2011. (PDF)
- Co-Author, "In Defense of Terrain Parks," Ski Area Management Magazine, January, 2011. (PDF)
- Speaker, "Terrain Park Safety," National Ski Areas Association Winter Meeting, Snowbird, Utah, January 18-20, 2011.
- Author, “Drop the Hammer: Transfer the Risk,” Rink Magazine, July/August, 2010. (PDF)
- Ski Area Management Magazine’s Cutter’s Camp-2010: Speaker on ski area risk management issues, Mount Snow, Vermont, April 7, 2010.
- World Waterpark Association’s 29th Annual Symposium & Trade Show, presenter on risk management and liability issues, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida, October 23, 2009.
- Ski Area Management Magazine’s Cutter’s Camp-2009: Speaker on ski area risk management issues, Mount Snow, Vermont, April 6- 7, 2009.
- Snowsports Industries of America, 2009 Annual Meeting and Tradeshow, presenter on risk management and product liability issues, Las Vegas, Nevada, January 27-29, 2009.
- Author, “Policing the Rink – Using ‘Off-Duty’ Police Officers as Security Guards,” Rink Magazine, September/October, 2008. (PDF)
- Author, “Kill ‘Em with Kindness - Well-Trained, Friendly Employees are the Foot Soldiers of Risk Management,” Rink Magazine, January/February, 2008. (PDF)
- Author, “Personal Responsibility and Proper Signage - A First Line of Defense,” Rink Magazine, September/October, 2007. (PDF)
- Resort Hotels Association Annual Meeting, speaker on risk management and liability issues in the recreational and resort industries, Skytop, Pennsylvania, July 14-17, 2007.
- Author, “Adult Hockey Leagues - Fertile Ground for Litigation,” author, Rink Magazine, May/June, 2007. (PDF)
- New Hampshire CPCU Winter Meeting, speaker on risk management in the ski industry, Loon Mountain, New Hampshire, February 5, 2007.
- “Product Liability Desk Reference: A Fifty-State Compendium, 2006, 2007 Editions,” Contributing Editor, Connecticut.
- “National Hockey League Facilities Conference,” speaker on risk management and liability issues, Scottsdale, Arizona, March 2, 2006.
- Speaker, “Litigation and Legal Risk Management, Doing Business in the US Seminar,” sponsored by Association of British Healthcare Industries, London, United Kingdom, October 18, 2005.
- Speaker, “Ethics Crisis in the Insurance Industry Seminar,” sponsored by the Professional Liability Underwriters Society, Hartford, Connecticut, October 12, 2005.
- Panelist, “Current Trends/Activities in Ski Area Liability Legislation,” National Ski Areas Association, Winter Meeting, February 2005.
- Co-Author, “The Ten (Common Sense) Commandments To Risk Management of Terrain Parks & Features,” Fall 2004.
- Co-Author, “Labeling and New Dietary Ingredients - Use Caution!” Fall 2004.
- Co-Author, “E&O Policies and Professional Services,” Professional Liability Underwriting Society Journal, April 2004.
- Speaker, “Fundamentals of Insurance Law in Connecticut,” Hartford, Connecticut, December 9, 2003.
- “To Remediate or Not to Remediate: Toxic Mold Issue Still Up in the Air,” co-author, Banker & Tradesman, July 28, 2003.
- Co-Author, “To Remediate or Not to Remediate?” National Underwriter, July 7, 2003.
- Co-Author, “Federal Bank Regulators Seek Greater Power Over ‘Broken’ Accounting Profession,” Bank Accounting & Finance, June 2003.
- Author, “Does a Weak Economy Mean More Insurance Fraud?” Insurance Day, Novembe 2002.
- Author, “Mold Update: A Musty Year for Insurers,” Journal of Reinsurance, Fall 2002; also published on The Insurance Portal.com, October 2002.
- Author, “Insurance Fraud Costs Americans $20 Billion a Year,” Connecticut Law Tribune, June 2002.
Civic Activities
- Corporator, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, CT
- Board of Directors, St. Francis Foundation
- Coach, West Hartford Youth Hockey League
