OUR STAFF

 JAMES D. GRIFFIN was born in Atlanta, Texas on May 22, 1939. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Arkansas in 1962. Following that he served in the United States Marine Corps from 1962 until 1965. He attended the University of New Mexico School of Law in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 1966 to 1969 where he received a Juris Doctor Degree in June of 1969. He served as research editor for the law review known as the Natural Resources Journal from 1968 to 1969. Following graduation from law school Mr. Griffin was admitted to the Delaware Bar in December of 1969 and is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, District of Delaware, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a past President of the Sussex County Bar Association, Vice President of the Delaware Bar Association and a member of the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association and the Delaware Council of School Board Attorneys.

Mr. Griffin's primary areas of practice are general civil and trial practice, business law, real estate law, Wills, Trusts and Estates, personal injury, banking, zoning and land use, education law, and labor and employment law. His clients include Milford School District, Woodbridge School District, Laurel School District, Indian River School District, Sussex Academy of Arts and Sciences Charter School, Sussex Shores Water Company, Delaware Farm Credit and numerous private clients. He is County Attorney for Sussex County.

Mr. Griffin is a trustee of the Delaware Bar Association Client Security Trust Fund, a member of the Labor and Employment Law section of the Delaware Bar Association, the National School Board Attorney's Council and serves as an arbitrator for civil cases pending in the Superior Court and the Court of Common Pleas.  E-mail: griffin@griffinhackettlaw.com 

 DAVID R. HACKETT was born in Dover, Delaware on December 11, 1944. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Emory and Henry College in 1966; a Juris Doctor Degree from Washington & Lee University in 1969; and a Masters of Business Administration from Wilmington College in 1988. Mr. Hackett was admitted to the Virginia Bar in November of 1969 and to the Delaware Bar in December of 1971. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Hackett has served on the Governor's Magistrate Screening Committee. He is a member of the Delaware State Bar Association, the Sussex County Bar Association and the Virginia State Bar Association. Mr. Hackett is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association and the Health Law sections of both the Delaware and Virginia State Bar Associations. He is a qualified Superior Court Mediator.

Mr. Hackett's primary areas of practice are health care law, business and business organizations law, real estate law, financing transactions, banking law, construction law and Wills, Trusts and Estates. Mr. Hackett is the only attorney in Sussex County, Delaware practicing health care law. His clients include: Nanticoke Health Services, Inc.; Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Inc.; LifeCare at Lofland Park; Mid-Sussex Medical Center; PrimeCare Ambulance Transport; Sussex County Senior Services, Inc.; numerous physicians and physician groups; Citizens Bank; commercial and real estate loan departments; Key Bank & Trust; Delaware Farm Credit; North Shores, Inc.; Marine Associates; and Bunting Construction Corp.   E-mail: hackett@griffinhackettlaw.com

 VINCENT G. ROBERTSON graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware.  He next attended the University of Louisville School of Law, receiving his J.D. Degree in May of 1994.  While attending the University of Louisville, he was a member of the Law Review.

Mr. Robertson has been practicing with Griffin & Hackett since 1994 and is a partner with the firm.   His primary areas of practice include representing Sussex County as Assistant County Attorney where his responsibilities include the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Engineering Department.  In addition, Mr. Robertson represents clients in matters concerning residential and commercial real estate transactions, commercial law, estate planning and other civil matters.  E-mail: robertson@griffinhackettlaw.com

 REBECCA L. TRIFILLIS was born in Lewes, Delaware on November 6, 1972. She graduated from the University of Delaware in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She attended the Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law from 1997 through 2000, graduating with a Juris Doctor Degree in May of 2000.  While attending law school, she clerked for the Dauphin County District Attorney’s office in Harrisburg, PA.

Following graduation from law school, Ms. Trifillis was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 2000. She worked as a law clerk in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware for the Honorable Judges Graves, Stokes and Bradley.  She is a member and vice-president of the Delaware State Bar Association, a member and past president of the Sussex County Bar Association, and a member and past treasurer of the Terry – Carey American Inn of Court.  Ms. Trifillis is currently an Associate Member of the Delaware Board of Bar Examiners.  She also held a position as an adjunct faculty member at Wilmington University teaching the Education Law course to doctoral candidates, and she taught Contract Law at Delaware Technical and Community College. 

 MICHAEL R. SMITH was born in Laurel, Delaware on January 17, 1981.  He graduated from the University of Delaware in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.  He attended Villanova University School of Law, Juris Doctor degree in 2006.

Following graduation from law school, Mr. Smith clerked for the Honorable Richard F. Stokes in the Superior Court of Delaware.  Mr. Smith was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 2006. He is a member of Sussex County and Delaware State Bar Association, along with the Terry - CareyAmerican Inn of Court.  He has held a position as an adjunct faculty member at Wilmington University teaching Business Law to undergraduate students.

Mr. Smith joined the firm in 2007.  Mr. Smith's primary areas of practice are real estate law, general civil litigation, landlord and tenant law, zoning law, planning and land use law, estate planning, business law, and personal injury.  E-mail: smith@griffinhackettlaw.com

SMOKEY ROBINSON was born in Georgetown, Delaware on April 1, 1998. He graduated from Catts University with a B.S. in Animal Science. He subsequently received his B.S. Juris Doctor degree from Persian University.  While attending that institution, he was a member of the Journal of Animal Rights and authored several articles, including: "Cats are People, Too"; "Cat Got Your Tongue? - A Primer of First Amendment Rights"; and "Dogs: The Pound Can't Hold Enough of Them."

Smokey has been affiliated with Griffin & Hackett, P.A. since September of 1999. Although his primary area of practice is animal rights, he has mainly focused upon managing the firm since his arrival. In addition, he is responsible for greeting all new clients to introduce them to the firm. Aside from his animal rights expertise, Smokey has experience in real estate and commercial transactions, depositions, Wills and Trusts, arbitrations, settlement negotiations and he has participated in a variety of consultations with clients on numerous other legal matters.

Currently, Smokey's formal title with Griffin & Hackett, P.A. is "Smokey Robinson, O.C." The "O.C." stands for...Office Cat.  
E-mail: info@griffinhackettlaw.com