Upon graduation from law school, Jim became a Westchester County Assistant District Attorney. Due to a prosecutor’s exemption, he won his first jury trial before he was informed that he passed the Bar exam. That victory began a distinguished thirty-eight year career as a trial attorney, as notable for the diversity of cases tried, as it has been for Jim’s success before a jury.
Among Jim’s many professional accomplishments, are a $5.6 million verdict in a propane explosion case; representing the trustees of the estate of renowned diet doctor Dr. Robert Atkins; prosecuting the wrongful death action of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler, and serving as lead defense counsel in the consolidated tort actions concerning the capsizing of the Ethan Allen tour boat on Lake George, an action involving twenty fatalities.
Jim’s abilities as a trial lawyer have enabled him to litigate both plaintiffs’ and defense actions with equal dexterity. As a plaintiff’s attorney (involving non-medical malpractice cases), Jim has secured a $7 million recovery for a corporation after a fire loss; a $3.5 million award for a roofer who fell from a slate roof; and multiple recoveries in excess of one million dollars for victims of sexual abuse, burn cases, and motor vehicle accidents.
As a defense lawyer, Jim is regularly requested to personally represent physicians throughout the state. The scope of this representation includes defending physicians in malpractice actions, as well as representing their interests before the Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) and in investigations conducted by the Department of Health and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He is regularly asked by physician groups to handle transactional matters; mergers and acquisitions of medical practices; and employment litigation.
In the field of intellectual property, Jim has obtained a million dollar settlement in a patent action. He represented the interests of an international manufacturer of engineering components in Lanham Act claims involving numerous infringements upon the company’s trademarks. He also assists physicians in protecting their intellectual property involving new medical devices and the expanded utilization of existing technology. Jim was also responsible for the development of proprietary software that enabled a national insurance company to dramatically reduce losses due to fraudulent claims.
In the field of Estate & Trusts litigation, Jim in frequently sought by tax and estate planners to provide litigation and transactional advice. He has an enviable record of resolving estate disputes without resort to trial, saving litigants time, money and emotional upset.
Most recently, Jim successfully argued an appeal before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, which overturned a District Court ruling involving issues of standing and interstate commerce.
Jim is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and Litigation Counsel of America, a perennial Super Lawyer, as well as a lifetime member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates and Elite Lawyers. While such recognition from his peers is appreciated, Jim has always found the connection with a client, for whom he has obtained a life-altering result, to be far more rewarding.
