Case Summaries

$7,000,000 Million Dollar Settlement: was obtained on behalf of a young married woman. During delivery of her first child, she was improperly given anesthesia which resulted in significant and life altering brain injuries.

$3.5 Million Dollar Award: was obtained for our client who suffered bilateral decentrated ablation during lasik surgery. Essentially, the laser removed tissue in the wrong portion of both eyes leaving him with significantly reduced visual capacity.

$3.5 Million Dollar Verdict: Plaintiff, female, age 54, was exiting the rear of Transit Authority Bus that stopped directly in front of a defective section of sidewalk. Upon exiting the bus the Plaintiff fell onto the defect and twisted her ankle, breaking her pinky toe. The driver, not realizing that she fell, sped away. Shortly after the Plaintiff developed Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, which is a progressive/degenerative disease. The suit was against the Transit Authority as well as the City of New York for having known about the defect prior to the accident. The jury returned a verdict of $3.5 million dollars which included compensation for pain and suffering, and future lost wages. Subsequent to the verdict, the matter settled for an undisclosed amount.

$1,550,000 Million Dollar Settlement: was obtained on behalf of a 42 year old immigrant who underwent laser eye surgery at a well known laser eye center in New York City. After the surgery, the surgeon prescribed the topical use of Mitomycin-C, a drug that was contrainidicated for use. As a result, our client sustained permanent damage to his cornea and was left with decreased visual accuity. The settlement was reached with all parties including the surgeon, the facility and the optometrists.

$1.5 Million Dollar Verdict: Plaintiff a 51 year old female was boarding a New York City train at a station in the Bronx when she slipped in between the train and the platform resulting in her leg being crushed between. The train car was air-lifted off her leg and she was ultimately diagnosed and treated for a crush injury to the nerves of her leg. She also was diagnosed with Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (RSD). After a trial on Liability where the jury found the Transit Authority 100% responsible, a second jury awarded her $1.5 million dollars for pain and suffering.

$1,450,000 Settlement on Eve of Trial: Plaintiff, a 48 year old laborer was performing work at a construction site when his ladder slipped from beneath him, causing him to fall and cut his non-dominant hand on exposed sheetrock and metal studs.  He sustained a complete laceration of his median and ulnar nerve requiring two surgeries.  He has not returned to work.  Plaintiff moved for summary judgment alleging that the ladder was not adequate as the worksite required him to bend between two walls. The Supreme Court granted our motion and the matter was to proceed to trial on damages only. 

$1,225,000 Million Dollar Settlement Before Trial: Plaintiff, female, age 45, was crossing at an intersection in Manhattan when an off duty traffic cop turned left and struck the plaintiff. She was treated for knee and shoulder injuries with arthroscopic surgeries. In addition, she underwent treatment for a back injury that the defendant would have argued was not caused by this accident. The defendant's doctor had stated that the Plaintiff made a full and complete recovery from her injuries and was not disabled. The Plaintiff had not returned to work and claimed that it was difficult for her to continue working and commuting.

$1,025,000 Settlement Prior to Jury Selection: Plaintiff, male, age 25, was driving east on Seaview Avenue in Brooklyn with his family when the Defendant exited a driveway onto Seaview, cutting him off and causing him to strike the Defendant’s vehicle. Both parties agreed that a double-parked van owned by a third party Defendant obstructed their respective views of the roadway. The Plaintiff was unable to return to work after the accident, which would have presented future lost earnings claims.

$1,000,000 Million Dollar Settlement prior to trial for a 58 year-old retired bus driver who, while on vacation in the Hamptons, was rear-ended by a truck causing lower back injuries which ultimately resulted in spinal surgery and residual pain and suffering. The defendant was arguing that all of the client's pain came from a pre-existing and degenerative lower back condition and that his complaints were unrelated to the accident.

$925,000 Million Dollar Settlement just prior to opening statements was obtained for a 47 year old female who while stepping onto the sidewalk in Brooklyn was caused to trip and fall due to a defective and broken sidewalk adjacent to McDonalds. The client sustained a fracture to her leg as well as torn ligaments in her knee resulting in what is knows as "foot drop" which requires her to wear a brace to lift the lower part of her foot up. The client returned to work and after initial offers of much less, they made an offer that was acceptable to her and her family.

$900,000 Million Dollar Award: was obtained on behalf of a woman who suffered from severe visual defects after lasik surgery. The client had a condition known as Kerataconus which excluded her from being a good candidate for surgery. However, she was not advised of this risk and the doctor performed the surgery anyway.

$850,000 Million Dollar Settlement was obtained for a Plaintiff, 28 years old who was assaulted by staff at an Applebees in the Bronx. The bar staff and the manager had gotten into a verbal dispute with the the client's friends and when asked to leave the manager, plaintiff alleged, called upon the kitchen staff to come and bring kitchen knives to help the situation. Our client left the restaurant but was followed and was assaulted by the kitchen staff outside of the restaurant. He sustained one stab wound to his arm that resulted in the loss of use of several fingers and limitations in grip strength of his non-dominant hand.

$800,000 Settlement at Trial: Plaintiff, male, age 50, was on the back of the Defendant’s delivery truck supervising a package that was being taken from the loading dock. He claimed that he was leaving the back of the truck, which was still open, when the Defendant’s driver pulled out from the dock without warning causing him to fall 5 to 7 feet. The Plaintiff sustained injuries to his right knee and fractured the right fibula, which required surgery.

$700,000 Negotiation During Trial: Plaintiff, female, age 59, was walking home when she saw 2 cars going very fast. One car ran a stop sign and crashed into the other car that was also speeding. Both cars then lost control and hit the Plaintiff causing her to be pinned against a fence. An ambulance took the Plaintiff to the hospital where she remained for 9 days. She suffered a fractured left femur with surgery, a fractured nose, multiple bilateral laceration to her fingers, bruising to the base of the skull, a fractured back, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

$685,000 Award by Jury: Plaintiff, male, age 20, was hit by the Defendant's truck while at work in front of his employer's store. The truck had been pulling away from a parking space when, the Plaintiff claimed, it hit him in the back, dragging him beneath the right front tire. The Defense also contended that the Plaintiff had alcohol in his system at the time. However, the driver admitted that he did not see the Plaintiff when pulling out. The Plaintiff suffered traumatic ear amputation with surgical reattachment and a herniated lumbar disc.

$675,000 Settlement at Mediation: Plaintiff, a 32 year-old laborer was working at a local private college performing sheetrock and taping.  While working, he realized the scaffold was too low for the work he needed to perform. He then asked for a ladder which he placed on top of the scaffold. The scaffold slipped while he was working and he fell from the ladder to the ground, sustaining a fracture to his ankle. After one year of physical therapy he undwent arthroscopic surgery to clean scar tissue from the fracture site. He has returned to work.  The lower court initially denied plaintiff's motion for summary judgment, but we appealed and the matter was reversed by the Apppellate Division. The trial would have addressed damages only.

$650,000 Settlement at Mediation: Plaintiff, female, age 81, claimed that she was struck by the Defendant’s vehicle as she was crossing the street. She claimed that the traffic light was in her favor. The Plaintiff sustained a traumatic brain injury and facial fractures requiring home aide care for an extended period of time. The Defense, however, argued that the Plaintiff made a good recovery, and that she suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, which was diagnosed prior to the accident.

$600,000 Settled at Mediation: Plaintiff, male, age 31, was an electrician. He was sent to a site with his partner, who had seniority/supervisory control of the Plaintiff, by their employer. The apartment they were working in was being renovated. The Plaintiff’s partner was in the attic running cable through a small hole in the ceiling of the living room of the building. The Plaintiff, using one of the A-frame wooden ladders already on site, was grabbing the wire, ascended the ladder and was standing on the fifth step (second from top). He was reaching and pulling the BX cable through when the ladder fell over and he felt immediate pain in his ankle. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he was admitted for 10 days, and had 4 surgeries. He has not returned to work and testified he has weakness and pain in his ankle.

$500,000 Settlement for Injuries: Plaintiff, male, age 27, is the building superintendent of a building owned by Defendant A. He was instructed to repair a leaky valve on a hot water boiler, and he called Defendant's Plumbing Company to the site to replace it. While helping the plumber to remove the valve, it exploded, shooting steam into the Plaintiff’s right arm and torso causing severe burns, which required skin grafting.

$465,000 Award for Injuries: Plaintiff, female, age 18, claimed that she was injured while a passenger in Defendant A’s car, which was racing Defendant B’s car. Plaintiff claimed that defendant C made a left turn in front of Defendants A and B and struck Defendant A, causing the Plaintiff to be thrown out of the car. She sustained skull and facial fractures and subdural hematoma, which required surgery. The Defense would have argued negligence.

$450,000 Settlement Six Days Before Trial: Plaintiff, female, age 53, was driving on Queens Boulevard and allegedly was stopped at a red light when her vehicle was struck from behind by a tow truck driven by the Defendant. Plaintiff claimed that she suffered brain trauma and cognitive dysfunction, and thus was unable to continue her consulting business. The defense argued otherwise.

$415,000 Award By Jury: Plaintiff, female, age 33, entered a cab that was double parked, and as she was reaching to close the passenger side door the cab was struck in the rear by the Defendant. Plaintiff sustained herniated lumber discs with anterior compression, and underwent seven months of physical therapy.

$400,000 Settlement at Arbitration: Plaintiff, male, age 40, works as a soda distributor, and while crossing the street during work he was struck by the Defendant’s vehicle. The Defense contended that the Plaintiff was comparatively negligent because he was on the double yellow line at the time of the accident. The Plaintiff suffered herniated discs. However, the Plaintiff also had a history of injuries in that area. The Plaintiff argued that his prior injuries were healed at the time of this accident, which now prevents him from re-entering the workforce. The Defense argued otherwise.

$390,000 Settlement After 2 Days of Trial: Plaintiffs’ decedent, a 58 year old wheelchair-bound multiple stroke victim, was placed in the rear of an ambulette by the Defendant, an employee of the company. The Defendant failed to properly secure the Plaintiff, and as he was exiting the Battery Tunnel, he stopped short, causing the Plaintiff to fall out of the wheelchair. The Plaintiff suffered a fractured tibia and fibula and developed necrotizing fascitis.

$390,000 Settlement: Plaintiff, male, age 55, was in his automobile at a complete stop at stop sign when he was rear ended by the Defendant. The impact caused the Plaintiff’s body to twist and hit his right knee. The Defendant apologized for causing the accident at the scene, and the authorities weren’t notified.

$385,000 Settled at Mediation: Plaintiff, female, was working as a housekeeper in a penthouse apartment where she worked for 16 years. The Plaintiff was walking out to the terrace and as she stepped down she felt/realized that the step that had been there for 16+ years was missing. As a result her left leg buckled underneath her, and she instinctively hung onto the door frame to stop from falling. Unfortunately, the Plaintiff still sustained knee injuries. The Defendant, a waterproofing company, had been working on the building and had removed the step during construction. The Defense claims that the superintendent was told to notify all tenants not to go onto their terraces, but is unaware of whether they were actually informed.

$325,000 Settlement During Trial: Plaintiff, female, age 56, was crossing the street when she had the right of way. When the Plaintiff reached the middle of the street the Defendant, coming from the left, hit her with his vehicle. The Plaintiff required a bone graft, and used a wheelchair for over three months. She also sustained other minor injuries.