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Victor F. Battaglia, Sr., papers

Notifications

Held at: University of Delaware Library Special Collections [Contact Us]181 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19717-5267

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Delaware Library Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Victor F. Battaglia, Sr., is a Wilmington attorney specializing in general litigation, civil and criminal law, hospital litigation, legal and medical malpractice and discipline, and estate planning and probate law.

Victor F. Battaglia, the son of Italian immigrant parents, was born in Wilmington in 1932. A graduate of the Salesianum School in Wilmington, he attended the University of Delaware, earning a B.S. in Chemistry in 1955. He attended Georgetown University, and received his J.D. in 1958 and an L.L.M in 1959. Following his education, he returned to Delaware, being admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1960.

Battaglia has had a distinguished legal career, serving as attorney for the State Senate, City Solicitor for the City of Wilmington (1969-1973), as a member of numerous state committees and task forces, including counsel for the Governor’s Committee to Revise the Penal Code (1967-1972), Long Range Court Planning Committee (1971, 1997-1995), Delaware Supreme Court Advisory Committee on ABA Standards for Criminal Justice (1973), Advisory Committee on the Rules of the Delaware Supreme Court (1974), Delaware Criminal Code Revision Committee, and Judicial Nominating Commission of the State of Delaware (1977-1983). He founded a private practice, Biggs and Battaglia, with attorney John Biggs in 1968.

Other professional activities include membership to the Delaware State Bar Association (Vice President, 1977-1978; President, 1979-1980), American Bar Association (State Bar Representative, 1987-1991, State Representative to the ABA House of Delegates, 1991-1995), American Judicature Society, Board of Bar Examiners of the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware (1975-1981; Chair, 1982-1984), American College of Trial Lawyers, the Supreme Court Historical Society, Co-Chair for the Delaware Combined Campaign for Justice (1999) and a member of Stand Up For What’s Right and Just (Secretary/Treasurer, 2001-2009; Board of Directors, 2003-2009).

In addition to his legal practice, Battaglia has served as a “lawyer for lawyers,” representing other attorneys and judges in need of legal or professional assistance, being active with the Board of Professional Responsibility and the Professional Guidance Committee, two groups which support the professional and personal conduct of members of the legal profession. Battaglia was also active in civil rights in Delaware. During the 1968 Wilmington riots, Battaglia was one of a number of lawyers to provide legal assistance to Wilmington citizens in need of immediate representation. Because of these contributions, he was honored in 1994 by the Delaware Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Battaglia has been outspoken on numerous legal and social issues, including education, malpractice, professional ethics and prison reform.

Battaglia has been involved in a number of public and charitable organizations, most notably the American Heart Association, the Delaware Art Museum and the United Way.

Delaware Bar Foundation. “Delaware Lawyer- The Delaware Bar Salutes A Great Generation.” Delaware Lawyer, Winter 2001. Accessed December 5, 2017. http://delawarebarfoundation.org/delawyer/Volume19_Number4_Winter2001.pdf (accessed December 5, 2017). “John Biggs III.” Chandler Funeral Homes and Crematory. http://hosting-1611.tributes.com/obituary/show/John-Biggs-85600922 (accessed December 7, 2017). Ryan, Joseph. “Compassion a goal for trial lawyer honored by St. Thomas More Society.” The Dialog. http://thedialog.org/compassion-a-goal-for-trial-lawyer-honored-by-more-society/ (accessed December 5, 2017). “Victor F. Battaglia.” Lawyers.com. https://www.lawyers.com/wilmington/delaware/victor-f-battaglia-342346-a/ (accessed December 5, 2017). Information derived from the collection.

The Victor F. Battaglia, Sr., papers, spanning from 1981-2012, contains correspondence, reports, notes, legal documents, board and committee meeting minutes, articles, speeches, prepared remarks and lecture notes documenting his professional activity, public activity and charitable work. The collection is divided into two series.

Series I, Professional Activity, documents Battaglia's public appearances and lectures, legal issues of great importance to Battaglia, including proposed legislative initiatives to the Delaware General Assembly, and working files for numerous professional organizations and committees to which Battaglia was a member.

Series II, The second series, Public Activity, documents Battaglia's charitable works unrelated to his legal career.

  1. Boxes 1-2: Shelved in SPEC MSS record center cartons
  2. Box 3: Shelved in SPEC MSS record center cartons (6 inches)
  3. Box 4: Shelved in SPEC MSS manuscript boxes (1 inch). Box is stored in the Vault.

Gift of Victor F. Battaglia, Sr., April 2012

Processed by Lora Davis, 2012. Additional processing and encoding by John Caldwell, November 2017.

Publisher
University of Delaware Library Special Collections
Finding Aid Author
University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
Finding Aid Date
2017 November 29
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research. Folder 29 in subseries I.B., Legal Issues, is restricted. Please contact Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, http://library.udel.edu/spec/askspec/ for assistance.

Use Restrictions

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

This series documents Battaglia's public appearances and lectures, legal issues of great importance to Battaglia, including proposed legislative initiatives to the Delaware General Assembly, and working files for numerous professional organizations and committees to which Battaglia was a member.

Scope and Contents

Biographical information, lecture notes, speeches, articles and related resources.

Biographical information, 1992-2010.
Box 1 Folder 1
Tort Law, Legal Issues in Retirement, 1993-2000.
Box 1 Folder 2
14th National Forum on Client Protection, 1998 May 29-1998 May 30.
Box 1 Folder 3
Widener University Law Student Orientation , 1998-2002.
Box 1 Folder 4
The Practice of Law and Other Stuff, 1999-2001.
Box 1 Folder 5
Miscellaneous speeches and editorials, 1999-2008.
Box 1 Folder 6
Practical Legal Ethics Seminar, 2001, 1999-2001.
Box 1 Folder 7
Practical Legal Ethics Manual, 1999.
Box 1 Folder 8
Practical Legal Ethics Manual, 2001, 2001-2002.
Box 1 Folder 9
Practical Legal Ethics Seminar, 2002.
Box 1 Folder 10
Practical Legal Ethics Manual, 2002.
Box 1 Folder 11
Practical Legal Ethics Seminar, 2003.
Box 1 Folder 12
Practical Legal Ethics Seminar, Continued, 2003, 2002-2003.
Box 1 Folder 13
Practical Legal Ethics Manual Update, 2001-2003.
Box 1 Folder 14
Practical Legal Ethics Manual, 2003.
Box 1 Folder 15
Winding Down Your Law Practice, 2001.
Box 1 Folder 16
A Call to Arms for Lawyers , 2001 November.
Box 1 Folder 17
Confidentiality and Documentation Issues- Correspondence, 2003.
Box 1 Folder 18
Confidentiality and Documentation Issues- Speech text , 2003.
Box 1 Folder 19
Confidentiality and Documentation Issues- Research and supporting materials, 2003.
Box 1 Folder 20
Defensive Charting Seminar, Part 1, 2004.
Box 1 Folder 21
Defensive Charting Seminar, Part 2, 2004.
Box 1 Folder 22
It Only Gets Worse if You Don't Fix it , 2004 May.
Box 1 Folder 23
Kentmere Board Meeting Speech, 2005 February 22.
Box 1 Folder 24
Hospital Residents Contract Negotiation Seminar.
Box 1 Folder 25
Scope and Contents

Correspondence, memoranda, publications, court documents and working files related to Battaglia's work as a lawyer, including proposed legislative initiaives presented to the Delaware General Assembly.

Civil Action 98-404-JJF, Blomquist v. Sills, 2000-2001.
Box 1 Folder 26
Clean Slate Program, 2001.
Box 1 Folder 27
Dementia and Computers, 2003.
Box 1 Folder 28
Medical Society of Delaware, 1994-2008.
Box 4 Folder 29
Medical Malpractice Arbitration, 2002-2003.
Box 1 Folder 30
Alternate Dispute Resolution Articles, 2002-2003.
Box 1 Folder 31
A Better Way, 2003-2004.
Box 2 Folder 32
Scope and Contents

Correspondence, meeting minutes and working files for national and state professional organization. This subseries also includes information on Battaglia's relationship with the University of Delaware, particularly in the establishment of the Corporate Governance Center.

American Bar Association, 1996-2010.
Box 2 Folder 33
John Marshall Award, 2003.
Box 2 Folder 34
American Bar Endowment, 2000-2002.
Box 2 Folder 35
American College of Trial Lawyers, 1995-2002.
Box 2 Folder 36
American Judicature Society, 2003.
Box 2 Folder 37
Herbert Harley Award, 2003.
Box 2 Folder 38
Board of Bar Examiners of the Delaware Supreme Court, 2003-2010.
Box 2 Folder 39
Combined Campaign for Justice, 2001-2006.
Box 2 Folder 40
American Bar Foundation-- Rosters, Bylaws and Report, 2002-2003.
Box 2 Folder 41
Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, 1997.
Box 2 Folder 42
Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, 1998.
Box 2 Folder 43
Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, 1999.
Box 2 Folder 44
Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, 2000.
Box 2 Folder 45
Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, 2001.
Box 2 Folder 46
Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, 2002.
Box 2 Folder 47
Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, 2003.
Box 2 Folder 48
Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, 2004.
Box 2 Folder 49
Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, 2005.
Box 2 Folder 50
American Bar Foundation-- Research Award, 2002.
Box 2 Folder 51
American Bar Foundation Outstanding Service Award, 2003-2004.
Box 2 Folder 52
Delaware State Bar Association-- Delaware Bar Foundation, 1981-2011.
Box 2 Folder 53
Delaware State Bar Association-- Miscellaneous Files, 1989-2011.
Box 2 Folder 54
Delaware State Bar Association-- Medical-Dental Legal Relations Committee, 1994.
Box 2 Folder 55
Delaware State Bar Association-- New Lawyers' Committee, 1994-1998.
Box 2 Folder 56
Delaware State Bar Association-- Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution, 1994-2001.
Box 2 Folder 57
Delaware State Bar Association-- Awards, 1994-2002.
Box 2 Folder 58
Delaware State Bar Association-- Bench and Bar Conference, 1995.
Box 2 Folder 59
Delaware State Bar Association-- Health Care Committee, 1995-2008.
Box 2 Folder 60
Delaware State Bar Association-- Committee on Response to Public Comment, 1997-2002.
Box 2 Folder 61
Delaware State Bar Association-- Professional Guidance Committee, 1988-2006.
Box 2 Folder 62
National Caucus of State Bar Associations, 1992-1994.
Box 2 Folder 63
Terry-Carey Inns of Court, 2008.
Box 2 Folder 64
Stand Up for What is Right and Just (SURJ)-- Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, 2002.
Box 2 Folder 65
Stand Up for What is Right and Just (SURJ)-- Research, 1992-2007.
Box 2 Folder 66
Stand Up for What is Right and Just (SURJ)-- Minimum/Maximum Sentencing, 2001-2003.
Box 2 Folder 67
Stand Up for What is Right and Just (SURJ), 2003.
Box 2 Folder 68
Stand Up for What is Right and Just (SURJ)-- Board Meeting, 2003.
Box 2 Folder 69
Stand Up for What is Right and Just (SURJ)-- Policy Committee Meeting, 2003.
Box 2 Folder 70
Stand Up for What is Right and Just (SURJ)-- Correspondence, 2003.
Box 2 Folder 71
Stand Up for What is Right and Just (SURJ), 2004.
Box 2 Folder 72
Stand Up for What is Right and Just (SURJ)-- Correspondence, 2004.
Box 2 Folder 73
Stand Up for What is Right and Just (SURJ), 2006-2007.
Box 2 Folder 74
Stand Up for What is Right and Just (SURJ)-- Annual Meeting, 2007.
Box 2 Folder 75
Stand Up for What is Right and Just (SURJ), 2005-2010.
Box 2 Folder 76
Supreme Court Historical Society, 2003-2008.
Box 2 Folder 77
Supreme Court Historical Society Publications, 2000-2004.
Box 3 Folder 78
University of Delaware, 1999-2002.
Box 3 Folder 79

Scope and Contents

This series documents Battaglia's charitable works unrelated to his legal career, most notably the United Way of Delaware and the Delaware Art Museum.

American Heart Association, 2005-2012.
Box 3 Folder 80
Delaware Art Museum, 2001-2010.
Box 3 Folder 81
Delaware Art Museum, 2004-2005.
Box 3 Folder 82
Delaware Art Museum, Continued, 2004-2005.
Box 3 Folder 83
Delaware Community Foundation, 2006.
Box 3 Folder 84
Delaware Foundation Reaching Citizens with Cognitive Disabilities, 2005.
Box 3 Folder 85
Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, 2002-2003.
Box 3 Folder 86
Miscellaneous Public Activity, 2002.
Box 3 Folder 87
Muscular Dystrophy Association, 2002-2006.
Box 3 Folder 88
Rotary Club of Wilmington, 2002-2006.
Box 3 Folder 89
United Way-- General Files, 2000-2011.
Box 3 Folder 90
United Way-- Orientation Package, 2005.
Box 3 Folder 91
United Way-- Cabinet Meeting, 2005 June 09.
Box 3 Folder 92
United Way-- Cabinet Meeting, Continued, 2005 June 09.
Box 3 Folder 93
United Way-- Cabinet Meeting, 2005 September 15.
Box 3 Folder 94
United Way-- Cabinet Meeting, 2005 September 15.
Box 3 Folder 95
United Way-- Campaign Cabinet, 2005 October 19.
Box 3 Folder 96
United Way-- Cabinet Meeting, 2005 October 27.
Box 3 Folder 97
United Way-- Cabinet Meeting, 2005 November 16.
Box 3 Folder 98
United Way-- Cabinet Meeting, 2005 December 5.
Box 3 Folder 99
United Way-- Philanthropy Mentor Program, 2006.
Box 3 Folder 100

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