Our Team

Our Team

Bert McDowell Hurt Bring on Bert!

Bert McDowell

Chief Executive Officer

Bertram “Bert” McDowell Jr. is a trial attorney who handles a wide array of personal injury cases. He is a highly effective litigator who has attained successful results for victims of motor vehicle accidents, fire accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, wrongful death cases, and other injury matters.

Bert is no stranger to hard work and dedication, as he was raised by his mother, who is a retired New York City Police Officer. Bert uses those core values to effectively represent his clients. Over his career, Bert has continued to attain settlements far exceeding the insurance company’s initial offer. Bert credits a great deal of his success to his previous experience as an insurance defense attorney.

Bring On Bert!

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Dannielle Geffrard

Senior Attorney

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Tom Houlihan

Senior Trial Attorney

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Eve Mercado

Litigation Paralegal

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Tamika Lewinson

Litigation Paralegal

Leslie Quintero

Pre-Litigation Case Manager

Dee McDowell

Client Relations Assistant

Jozlin Spivey

Intake and Compliance Specialist

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Jenny Villanueva

Operations Coordinator

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Nia Bekoe

Case Manager

Priscilla Chamorro

Records Retrieval Assistant

Luanda Oliveira

Records Retrieval Assistant

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Dannielle Geffrard

Senior Attorney

Dannielle F. Geffrard is a Senior Attorney at Bert McDowell Injury Law, currently managing the Pre-litigation Department. Prior to joining Bert McDowell Injury Law, Dannielle worked as a Director at Sedgwick Insurance Company. Dannielle has worked in the Insurance field for over a decade, and also worked as In-House Counsel. Dannielle has handled high exposure multi-million-dollar cases. Due to Dannielle’s extensive insurance background, and her understanding of the inner workings of claim departments, she is able to use that knowledge to routinely secure high-level results for our clients.

Dannielle has two daughters, Logan and Ryleigh that keep her very busy. She enjoys spending time with her family and traveling the world.

Favorite place to visit: Greece
Favorite movie: Love and Basketball
Favorite music artist: Beyonce
Favorite quote: ” Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” – Oprah Winfrey
What are you watching on Hulu: Black Cake

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Tom Houlihan

Senior Trial Attorney

Attorney Tom Houlihan focuses his practice in the area of personal injury, representing individuals in a wide range of liability claims and handling cases from inception through resolution. Tom carefully reviews each client’s matter to develop a personalized strategy that best meets the needs of his clients. He focuses on implementing a goal-oriented approach to pre-trial and trial proceedings that often results in effective litigation results.

Tom has successfully litigated complex motor vehicle, commercial transportation, premises liability, product liability, construction accident, property damage, hospitality, vexatious litigation, and defamation actions involving high exposure claims.

Prior to entering private practice, Tom served as a Special Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney for the judicial district of New Haven, where, among his other duties, he prepared cases for arraignment, selected charges, engaged in plea negotiations with defense attorneys, and tried cases before a jury. Tom graduated magna cum laude from Quinnipiac University School of Law with a concentration in oral advocacy.

Tom represents clients in every judicial district and federal court throughout the state of Connecticut, as well as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Outside of the office, Tom loves spending time with his wife, Erin, his son, Cooper, and his dog, Jax.

Education:

  • Bryant University, B.A., magna cum laude
  • Quinnipiac University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude

 

Bar Admissions:

  • State of Connecticut
  • United States District Court of Connecticut
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

 

Accolades:

  • Listed in New England Super Lawyer Rising Stars, General Litigation: 2022, 2023, 2024

 

Favorite movie: The Departed

Favorite sports team: UCONN

Favorite music artist: Sam Hunt

Favorite quote: Before you act, listen, before you react, think, before you spend, earn, before you criticize, wait, before you pray, forgive, before you quit, try.  – Ernest Hemingway

Watching on Netflix: Peaky Blinders

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Evana “Eve” Mercado

Litigation Paralegal

Evana “Eve” Mercado is one of our litigation paralegals here at Bert McDowell Injury Law. She possesses an elite work ethic, and a passion to help those in need. She is a graduate of Roger Williams University, with a double major in Legal Studies and Sociology/Anthropology. She is of Peruvian and Puerto Rican descent and takes great pride in her Hispanic background. Eve is a first-generation college graduate.

Aside from her exceptional work within the firm, Eve enjoys outdoor activities, hiking, exercising, and spending time with family and friends. Eve aspires to become an attorney and join the ranks of the other exceptional attorneys at Bert McDowell Injury Law.

Currently watching: Suits on Netflix

Favorite artist: J. Cole, Bad Bunny and Karol G.

Favorite quote: “Beauty in the struggle, ugliness in the success” by J. Cole.

Favorite show: Grey’s Anatomy (because in my past life I was a surgeon)

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Jozlin Spivey

Intake and Compliance Specialist

Jozlin is our superstar receptionist/intake specialist. She is likely the first person you will speak to when calling into the firm. Her “get it done” attitude has proven to be extremely valuable to the culture of our firm.  She is a Latina, first-generation graduate of the University of Bridgeport. Along with being a mother, she also enjoys hiking, going to coffee shops, and learning new hobbies. She is extremely passionate in helping those in need.

Favorite movie: Burlesque

Favorite sports team: Dallas Cowboys & LA Lakers

Watching on Netflix: Cold Case Files

Favorite artists: Bad Bunny, Feid, Sabrina Claudio

Favorite auote: “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” – Viktor E. Frankl

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Jenny Villanueva

Operations Coordinator

Jenny is the firm’s Operations Coordinator. She is our Swiss army knife! Whatever or whenever something needs to get done, Jenny is always on the job. She is one of the hardest working people that you will ever meet. Bert McDowell Injury Law prides itself on its community involvement, and Jenny is instrumental in executing that vision. She is known for tackling challenges head-on and consistently delivering results.

When she is not working, Jenny is likely spending quality time with her grandson, who is the apple of her eye!

Favorite Quote: Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. “Maya Angelou”

Favorite movie:  Enough starring Jennifer Lopez

Favorite music artist:  Keyshia Cole, Mariah Carey, Marc Anthony

Watching on Netflix: S.W.A.T

Favorite sports team: Giants