Groton — Attorney Matthew Shafner, a legal giant and humanitarian who broke new ground with asbestos, maritime injury and workers compensation cases, died Thursday morning.

Shafner, 80, had been ill for several weeks, according to John A. "Jack" Collins, managing partner of the Suisman Shapiro law firm in New London, where Shafner spent the last seven years of his 56-year legal career.

"He remained concerned about his clients and making sure their matters would be appropriately attended to right up until the very end," Collins said.

Collins said Shafner's family was not ready to speak publicly about their loss. 

Shafner loved his community and served as the attorney for the City of Groton until his death.

"We're going to miss him very much," said city Mayor Marian K. Galbraith. She said she could turn to Shafner with any issue and he always had an answer.

"He understood the law and made sure we were in compliance, but also had a calming way of looking at things," Galbraith said.

He remained humble when he received the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association's lifetime achievement award in 2013 and the Connecticut Law Tribune's Personal Injury Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement award in 2014.

He said during an interview in 2013 that the law was designed to make society better and that he always tried to "fix the situation" when he represented clients in cases of consequence.

Shafner was pleased he helped to expose the "hush-hush policy" that the asbestos industry used to conceal the mineral's devastating effect on workers' lungs.

Emmet L. Cosgrove, administrative judge for the New London Judicial District, said he had known Shafner for nearly 40 years.

"He was kind to young lawyers, a vigorous advocate for his client," said Cosgrove. "He loved the law and was a great human being. If you had a problem with a case, he would always take time to talk with you about it. He was never afraid to take a case if he believed in it. He had the first asbestos cases in the state, and at the time it was all new ground he was plowing."

A native of New London, Shafner was the son of the late Sara Shafner and Perry Shafner. His father served as a state representative and worked the family's furniture business.

Shafner attended the University of Connecticut and graduated from the law school in 1959.

He opened up a practice at the top of State Street in New London and over the next several years developed a workers compensation practice and represented the region's longshore workers and shipbuilders in various matters.

In 1973, when the wife of an Electric Boat pipe coverer who had died of lung cancer came to see him, Shafner embarked on years of medical research and eventually sued 22 asbestos manufacturers.

In the late 1970s, the first group of 50 asbestosis cases settled for more than $6 million, enabling Shafner and his longtime partner, John O'Brien, to establish their firm and set up a pension for employees.

The firm broke up in 2008, and Shafner went to work at Suisman Shapiro, the region's largest law firm.

At Suisman Shapiro, Shafner took on a variety of cases. In 2013, he won a $3,673,100 settlement for the estate of Lu-Ann Dugas of East Lyme, who was killed in a 2007 crash in East Lyme.

He said he was working with 80 or 90 Pratt & Whitney workers, or their survivors, who had suffered brain tumors.

Senior Superior Court Judge Robert A. Martin said he and Shafner "go way back."

They were neighbors and were involved in New London politics together, and Martin's mother "never bought a stick of furniture that didn't come from Shafners," Martin said.

Later, Shafner tried many cases in front of Martin, who presided over civil matters in New London Superior Court.

"Matthew Shafner would have been a unanimous first ballot hall-of-fame lawyer," Martin said. "He had no peer in the personal injury field. We have a lot of good lawyers in New London County, but Matt really set the bar and I think everybody played off him. I don't know any lawyer who cared about justice more than Matt Shafner."

Attorney Lonnie Braxton, a juvenile prosecutor and community activist, said he has known Shafner ever since he came to New London from Mississippi as a young man.

"I mentioned I wanted to be a lawyer, and he said, 'Do it,' " Braxton said. "If there was ever a time I needed a kind ear or warm smile, he was a place to find it. He will be more than missed, but he's not really gone because he left behind a horde of people who are considered his children that he made sure would do a good job as a lawyer."

Senior Superior Court Judge Susan B. Handy said Shafner "exemplified everything you would ever want a lawyer to be."

"I will always remember Matthew as an extremely intelligent advocate who never let his ego overshadow his purpose as he championed the causes of those he represented," Handy said. "He was a true gentleman."

"Any time he was in your presence, you felt like you were in the presence of a giant, but he never acted that way," Handy said.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN