I was born in the small town of Ware, Massachusetts and went to Amherst College. There, I developed a promising passion for law and graduated magna cum laude. During my senior year, I received recognition from Ralph Nader who later assisted with the publication and distribution of my senior honors thesis. Ralph displayed such confidence in me, and his assurance played a key role in my drive to pursue law that much more. My goal as an attorney has always been to provide effective solutions for my clients after they experience an accident, and it’s one that I’ve been blessed to be able to live out.

In 1972, I acted as the consumer advocate for the City of North Hampton and was active in forming MASSPIRG, an organization that serves as an independent voice for consumers of the western Massachusetts area.

After I graduated from college, I started my career as a researcher and writer for Consumers Union’s Consumer Reports Magazine in New York. I then returned to Massachusetts to attend the Western New England College of School of Law and exhibited exceptional law skills. While in law school, I organized a commission that helped consumers who had experienced fraud. I achieved honors and graduated cum laude in the top of the class. Upon completing law school, I taught night classes at the school on a part-time basis before establishing my firm in 1977.