A Conversation with Joe Fournier
Attorney
Where did you grow up, and how has it taken you to where you are today?
I was born in Warwick, Rhode Island, and lived there until I went to college at the University of Rhode Island. After graduating URI with a degree in accounting, I worked for several years as an accountant in Boston before deciding to attend law school at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill is a beautiful campus and will always hold a special place in my heart, especially since that is where I met my wife. However, after graduation, we moved back to the Northeast to be closer to our family and our professional network. Since then, I have had the good fortune to work in several different professional environments, including a Big Four accounting firm, a large law firm, a small software company, and a large electronic medical records company.
Did you ever practice any other type of law besides personal injury, and if so, what made you decide to work in an injury law firm?
Yes. Corporate law, tax law, lobbying and legislative affairs, and running a legal department for a large company in the health care industry (HIPAA). After spending several years watching large companies, and sometimes their large law firms, take advantage of "the little guy" by extending cases, billing by the hour, and, candidly, hoping their clients would get sued so the lawyers could pay their own bills, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to help run a personal injury law firm. Here, we have an opportunity to help "the little guy" who may otherwise have no shot against a large company with deep resources.
As one of the newest members and COO of Carter Mario Injury Lawyers, what is the main thing that you have learned from your experiences that will benefit the firm?
The only constant among all of these experiences is that I have always enjoyed the concept of helping someone solve problems and run their business. At Carter Mario, among the core values of customer service, fairness, and excellence, resides an aura of self-empowerment. It is this combination of self-empowerment, along with my applicable professional experiences, that led me to join the CMIL team. It is refreshing to come into a business where staff members are encouraged to think on their own and not be afraid to make decisions for fear of retribution.
Give me an example of what you are talking about.
For instance, it can be as simple as a case manager knowing that she can arrange a taxi ride for an important office-related appointment without asking permission. Staff members are encouraged to use their better judgment and figure out how to solve a problem the best way. Afterward, if it is decided there was a better way, they are not reprimanded, but the situation is discussed and feedback is offered for the next time. In most firms, getting permission would need to go through a few levels until it got to the top, which not only is time-consuming, but does not give staff confidence in their own self-worth and abilities. Obviously, this does not apply to non-lawyers making legal decisions, but staff members know they are empowered within the range of their abilities.
What is the first thing you noticed when you arrived at Carter Mario Injury Lawyers that was different from other law firms?
The focus on customer service is unparalleled. It is ingrained in how we approach every day, how we maintain our offices, and of course, how we approach client representation. Clients are treated differently—better—at CMIL. We even have someone available to answer calls 24/7. We understand that due to the reality of life, our clients’ needs do not necessarily coincide with the typical business work day. By having someone available 24/7, we can better serve the needs of our customers by answering questions as they arise and by providing support when necessary. At CMIL, our actions speak louder than our words. We value clients as individuals, and we want them to be a part of the CMIL family. A large portion of our new client base is returning clients or referrals from past clients, which is the best recommendation we could ask for.
Explain the No Fee Guarantee that is becoming synonymous with Get Carter! What does this guarantee mean to a client?
Our clients need to understand that we are here to serve their needs, not just to make money for ourselves. Our reputation, our growth, and our "sense of self" depend on it. Our firm guarantees that we will not take one penny more than our clients—this helps assuage any fears clients may have about self-serving, greedy law firms. I believe all firms should practice this way, but they do not. This is unfortunate because in an ideal world, it would be good to know that all law firms value their clients’ needs in the same manner that we do here at CMIL. It is one more example that separates us from the pack and is evidence that we follow and live our core values.
As a kid, did you always want to be a lawyer?
I wanted to be a professional baseball player or a rock star. I still do. However, my skill set is apparently better suited to advising clients and leading business operations than athletic achievements or singing. Thinking back, it all makes sense now. I can remember many, many early morning breakfasts at my household from my early childhood through high school where my parents, sister, and I would get into some heated debates about the political, social, or sports topic of the day. After all of that debating and negotiating, it is not altogether surprising that both my sister and I ended up as legal professionals.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of trying to be a good dad and a good husband. With four children, a challenging professional life, and demanding personal goals, it is a daily struggle. It is important to me to find the time to play sports with my kids, have quality time with my wife and still find time for myself, whether it is working out at the gym or reading a good book.
Free Case Evaluation
At Carter Mario, we are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We guarantee your phone calls will be returned that day, or lunch is on us! Clients come first for all of our Connecticut personal injury lawyers, and we strive to provide excellent representation to injury victims throughout the state, including Bridgeport, Hartford, Milford, New Britain, and Waterbury. Call us at (800) 900-6700 or fill out a free online consultation form.
The Connecticut injury lawyers at Carter Mario represent clients with injuries stemming from auto accidents, dog bites, drug injuries, fire and burn injuries, medical malpractice, Social Security Disability denials, slip and fall accidents, truck accidents, workers’ compensation denials, as well as the families of wrongful death victims.
