Verdicts & Settlements

As New York City Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Lawyers, we have successfully recovered millions of dollars for our clients and have handled thousands of complex personal injury, products liability and medical malpractice cases.

Have you been in an accident and need a New York City personal injury attorney? We at the office of Michael Gunzburg, P.C. can help you. Contact us first. Email or call us today.

When you need a lawyer, get the Big Gunz^®

The following is a brief list of some of our cases:

• • $20 million Structured Settlement – Medical Malpractice
    On behalf of a family and their infant child who was born brain damaged with Cerebral Palsy when their New York City doctor botched the delivery. Have you been in the victim of medical malpractice and need a New York City medical malpractice Lawyer? New York City medical malpractice Lawyer Michael Gunzburg, P.C. can help you. Contact us first. Email or call use today!
  • $10.1 million Settlement for 55-year-old Man Hit by Falling Ice from Building
    Noel was in great health, only 55-years-old and working as a painter and tapper on construction jobs in New York City. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Noel took the subway to his job that day, and got off at the 59th Street and Lexington Avenue subway stop in Manhattan. He exited the subway station and began to walk east bound, when suddenly, and without any warning, he was struck in the back of his neck by a huge chuck of ice that fell off the building. Noel went down hard to the ground, and he just couldn’t get up. The falling ice injured his neck, tore at his shoulder, and herniated discs in his upper and lower back. EMS rushed him to the Hospital for treatment. He eventually underwent multiple surgeries to his shoulder and back. The building owners claimed throughout the litigation that they didn’t have any notice of the falling ice. They denied any knowledge of falling ice, and refused to produce any documents showing any remedial measures taken to correct the ice that fell off their building. Then, as the case was ready for jury selection, we uncovered a critical document that showed that the building owner not only knew about the falling ice, but agreed in writing to remedy the condition and position an employee out on the street to prevent anyone from being struck by the ice – many years before Noel’s accident even took place. Instead of facing the wrath of the jury, and the judiciary, the building owner decided to settle the case just as jury selection was underway. The settlement helped pay for Noel’s medical treatment, rehabilitation costs and his past and future lost wages. Our legal team at Michael Gunzburg, P.C. worked hard to uncover the truth here, and to ensure that Noel got the compensation and justice he deserved.
  • $5.6 million Confidential Medical Malpractice Settlement.
  • $4.5 million Personal Injury Settlement During Trial
    For a construction worker who fell 20 feet off a cross beam when his employer failed to provide him with any safety devices and resulted in crush injuries to his hands, back and feet.
  • $3.3 million Settlement 39-year-old Healthy Liposuction Patient Dies Due to Negligence of Plastic Surgeon and Anesthesiologist During Surgery
    On July 18, 2012, Sait went to his Fifth Avenue Plastic Surgeon’s office for a voluntary non- emergency elective liposuction procedure for his waist, chest, and neck. Sait came into the operating room as a healthy 39-year-old male and was declared dead upon arrival at the emergency room at the hospital by EMS. The Plastic Surgeon and the Anesthesiologist each blamed the other. The Plastic Surgeon claimed that when he turned Sait’s neck during the procedure, the LMA (anesthesia mask) became dislodged, and the Anesthesiologist was unable to reinsert it. The Anesthesiologist claimed that the Plastic Surgeon overinflated Sait’s neck with too much tumescent fluid and distorted the neck anatomy and airway. The Anesthesiologist tried to intubate Sait multiple times but was unsuccessful. The multiple attempts traumatized Sait’s airway, caused blood to pool, and obscured the Anesthesiologist’s visibility of his airway. A laryngospasm caused Sait’s airway to close. The Anesthesiologist failed to deliver Sucs, a medication used to break a laryngospasm and which she had with her in the OR. Instead, the Anesthesiologist claims that she told the Plastic Surgeon to perform a Tracheotomy. But then told him to stop once she was able to pass a tube into Sait’s lungs. The Anesthesiologist never followed the standard of care which is the Difficult Airway Algorithm which required her to use sucs (Succinylcholine is a medication used by doctors during surgery to break a laryngospasm and open the vocal cords so the patient can be properly intubated). The Anesthesiologist also never attempted to ventilate Sait with an oxygen mask or revive him. The Plastic Surgeon never intervened or attempted a Tracheotomy (which is an opening in the front of the neck that’s made as an emergency procedure to deliver air to the patient’s lungs) (a scar on patient’s neck is a mere inconvenience when compared with the alternative- death of the patient). None of the claims made by either doctor during the case was documented in the medical notes or communicated to the New York City Medical Examiner’s office at any time. The doctors produced two anesthesiology charts, when normally only one exists. The records were changed to cover up the doctors’ negligence. The one in the Plastic Surgeon’s chart contained an additional 15 minutes at the end of the procedure to show everything was completely normal. The chart was also changed to show that Sait’s airway appeared more difficult when it was originally recorded as completely normal. EMS tried multiple attempts to revive Sait, and he was declared dead upon arrival at the Hospital’s Emergency Room. Based on the records, Sait received no oxygen for approximately 15 minutes while on the operating room table. Sait was a successful Turkish computer executive, loved life and enjoyed travelling, had no prior medial problems or complications, was single, and is survived by his family members.
  • $3 million Settlement at Trial – Pedestrian Struck by Car in Manhattan
    39 year old Union building porter was walking across the street at 59th Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan in the crosswalk with the pedestrian walk signal, when a trust fund kid driving his father’s Lexus turned left off of East 59th Street and violently struck the porter from the rear of his right side. The impact caused the porter to fly up in the air and land on his left knee striking a protruding metal bolt from a steel construction plate. The porter was given a cervical collar and placed on a back board and taken by ambulance to NY Presbyterian Hospital with complaints of severe left knee pain. He was treated at the emergency room, given Percocet for pain, and released with crutches for walking. Two weeks later he went to an orthopedic surgeon who sent him out for MRIs which showed that he had left lateral meniscus tears to the left knee. He underwent two arthroscopic surgeries with the surgeon who discovered during surgery a traumatic fracture to the femoral sulcus. The lateral meniscus tears were repaired in the first surgery, and the fracture to the femoral sulcus was repaired in the second surgery with micro fracturing to promote rejuvenation and bone growth in the damaged area. He was issued knee braces, crutches and pain killers after each surgery, and also underwent extensive physical therapy. He then sought a second opinion with another orthopedic surgeon who after additional MRIs gave him two additional arthroscopic surgeries in an effort to correct the spreading fractured femoral sulcus area. During the first procedure , the 2nd surgeon drilled a large hole at the fracture site, and implanted an allograft plug, and then microfractured around the site to promote bone growth. During the second procedure, the 2nd surgeon identified new bone loss and this area was drilled out and an allograft was placed next to the previous allograft, and additional micro fracturing was done around the second allograft to promote bone growth. The porter underwent additional physical therapy. The porter then met with a 3rd orthopedic surgeon who performed an MRI of his left knee and revealed degeneration of patella-femoral arthrosis and bone loss to his left knee. The 3rd surgeon performed an open partial left knee replacement surgery with a mako surgery robot (robotic assisted surgery). The porter lost approximately 2 years of time from work, and was unable to continue performing his union job as a porter. He was earning about $23 per hour, and receiving full medical, and retirement benefits, which he was not able to easily replace in the market place with his permanent left knee disability. His current job prospects would only pay him $14 per hour and he was not able to secure any health or retirement benefits with his limited education and work experience. He also had a claim for future medical treatment and care as his knee hardware required multiple replacements over his life time including surgery, hospitalizations, physical therapy and medications. The case settled after the jury was selected and sworn in, and the trial judge was prepared to start the trial with opening statements.
  • $2.85 million Settlement by pedestrian struck in the crosswalk by a motor vehicle
    A 55-year-old Hispanic female, Sandra Hernandez (her name was changed to protect the client’s identity) was walking home after work to her car and across the street as a pedestrian within the crosswalk at Gerard Avenue and 153rd Street in the Bronx. The defendant’s motor vehicle, a company owned car driven by Milton Smith (his name was changed to protect his identity) who was going home after working at the company’s offices, suddenly and without any warning violently struck Ms. Hernandez who fell to the ground. The vehicle was making a left hand turn and failed to yield the right of way to Ms. Hernandez and which caused her serious and permanent injuries. She injured her head, neck, shoulder, lower back and both of her knees. She was taken by ambulance to Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx. Following her discharge, Ms. Hernandez underwent extensive physical therapy, chiropractic treatments and also received acupuncture from various physicians. She also received a series of epidural steroid injections to her injured areas, which provided minimal relief. Thereafter she had arthroscopic surgeries to her shoulder, knee, and hip, and also underwent an anterior discectomy and fusion to her cervical spine. Ms. Hernandez returned to work soon after the accident as an Administrator at the Bronx Community College where she worked a sedentary desk job. She did not make a lost wage claim in the case. Ms. Hernandez’ motion for partial summary judgment on liability was granted by the Court, and the case was placed on the trial calendar. The case was settled between the parties, and the Defendants’ primary and excess carriers agreed to fund the entire settlement.
  • $2.5 million Settlement at Trial in Manhattan – Personal Injury
    For a 51 year old woman who was struck by a van while crossing the street in the crosswalk with a green light in her favor. The incident took place at the intersection of 7 ^thAvenue and West 13 ^th street . The court granted plaintiff’s application for partial summary judgment on liability, and the case proceeded to trial on damages. The women sustained injuries to both knees. Following her accident, she was taken to the emergency room at the hospital where she had an X-ray, was fitted with a soft cast, given painkillers and a right knee immobilizer and crutches. In follow up medical appointments, her Doctor aspirated her right knee of fluid, and then injected it with painkillers. An MRI revealed broken bones to her left knee. She attended 39 physical therapy appointments in eight months. Her Doctor found that one year following the accident there was a decrease in joint space and that she had cartilage loss in both knees. Her Doctor recommended a right knee joint replacement. She also received Synvise-one injections to both knees. After getting second opinions, she underwent a partial right knee replacement surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery. She had extensive physical therapy and nurse home visits following surgery and was unable to work for two months. After the surgery, she continued to have difficulty walking and climbing stairs, and she requires future knee surgeries. Defense counsel claimed that the women had pre-existing injuries to both knees (severe chondromalacia). The women had seen her orthopedic doctor before the accident and complained of swelling and tenderness in her knees and received about 6 weeks of physical therapy. Defendants intended to produce her MRI reports from before her accident, but were unable to locate the films. Three years before her accident, the women’s complaints fully resolved and she returned to her active athletic lifestyle. The case settled before reaching a jury and the settlement was paid entirely by the self-insured defendant.
  • $2.5 million During Trial – Personal Injury
    For a 31-year old ironworker who fell 6-8 feet from the 7th floor at 5 Times Square and was saved by his safety harness but sustained traumatic injuries to his head, ears, neck, and lower back when the developer and general contractor failed to provide him with the proper safety equipment. As a result, the ironworker suffered a brain injury, multiple herniated discs, perilymphatic fistulas in both ears, reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, and was ultimately unable to return to work.
  • $2.3 million Jury Verdict – Failure to Diagnose Breast Cancer
    For a 45-year-old Queens County woman after two physicians employed at Elmhurst Medical Center failed to diagnose a large and obvious mass on her left breast as breast cancer. The primary care physician failed to indicate in his radiological referral form that the women had a large palpable mass on her left breast. The initial reading radiologist interpreted the mammogram films as a general screening examination, and never bothered to look at the mass. The second reading radiologist failed to document his physical examination of the women, and also never looked at the mass on the films despite its obvious physical presence and appearance on the films. The defense trial attorney refused to put the second radiologist on the witness stand, because they claimed he was too ill, even though he was working at the hospital three days a week. This New York City medical malpractice case was eventually settled post verdict for an undisclosed sum.
  • $2.3 million Jury Verdict in New York County – Slip and Fall
    When 33 year old man slipped and fell on a wet soapy swirl that was created by maintenance cleaner at the JFK International Airport’s Air Train walkway. The cleaner created the wet soapy swirl with his auto scrubbing cleaning machine and then failed to put out the required caution signs. A Port Authority police officer responded to the incident and prepared a written report which confirmed plaintiff’s version of events. Plaintiff was an owner/operator of UPS stores and made no lost wage claim. Defense counsel told the jury that his clients were not liable as they did no cleaning and everything was subcontracted to another subcontractor. The jury found defendants 100% liable with no liability against the plaintiff. The plaintiff suffered multiple broken bones of the knee cap which required three complex open surgeries at New York Presbyterian Hospital with screws and wires and many physical therapy treatments. Plaintiff’s surgeon also told the jury that the plaintiff required multiple future knee replacement surgeries which involved knee amputations, had a broken and significantly diminished in size knee cap which was located on the right lateral side of his knee (out of his natural joint location), that he lost all cartilage, and that he had permanent arthritis in the knee joint. The jury decided all questions of liability and damages in favor of the plaintiff. On the issue of damages the jury was unanimous except for juror #1 who wanted to award the plaintiff more than $2.3 million. All post trial motions by defense were denied by the Court. This New York City Slip and Fall Accident case was settled after the verdict for an undisclosed sum.
  • $1.9 million Post-Verdict Settlement. Bronx County In this motor vehicle negligence case, the plaintiff pedestrian, Nanette, a 57-year-old woman, asserted that the defendant bus driver struck her in the crosswalk with the bus with such force that it caused significant, permanent injury.  On January 24, 2013 the plaintiff, Nanette, a pedestrian was lawfully crossing a public street, within the crosswalk at Jerome Avenue and East Knightsbridge Avenue in the Bronx. The plaintiff was struck, without warning, but the defendants’ Liberty Lines Transit, Inc.’s bus and thrown to the ground. The plaintiff contended that the bus kept going but was stopped by multiple witnesses to the accident. The plaintiff contended that the defendants negligently failed to yield to the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the street in a crosswalk with a green walk signal; failed to permit the plaintiff to cross in the crosswalk; failed to stop at the crosswalk and let the plaintiff pedestrian pass unimpeded; and failed to exercise reasonable care to avoid hitting plaintiff thus causing her permanent injuries. The plaintiff pointed to the defendant’s internal report of the accident wherein the defendant bus driver stated that the sun obscured his view and he did not see the plaintiff until just before he struck her. The plaintiff also presented a statement from an eyewitness who testified that he saw the bus driver holding a cellphone in his hand at the time of the incident while operating the bus. The witness also stated that the plaintiff was in the crosswalk when she was struck hard by the bus and was in obvious pain after the accident.  To read the full story, click here.
  • $1.9 million Settlement – After Jury Selection – Misdiagnosis of Breast Cancer
    For 32 year old newlywed women who became pregnant with breast cancer when her family doctor gave her false assurances. The women presented to her doctor with a lump she could feel in her breast, and the doctor confirmed the presence of the palpable lump. The family physician never told the radiologists about the palpable lump and the radiologists performed the wrong tests and never examined the lump. The radiologists’ final report told the doctor and the women that she had “benign findings” and “no evidence of cancer.” Soon thereafter, the women had a planned pregnancy with her first child and at 5 months pregnant the lump was found to contain breast cancer. As a result, she underwent a mastectomy and removal of her entire breast while 7th months pregnant, her hormones during pregnancy caused her tumor to grow, the cancer to spread to her lymph nodes, and she lost her best chance for survival. The doctor was negligent for not communicating her findings to the radiologists, failing to follow up even in the face of negative reports, and for failing to get a biopsy of the women’s palpable breast lump or refer her to a breast specialist. According to the experts “the lump is breast cancer until proven otherwise.”
  • $1.75 million Settlement for Kelly in Failure to Diagnose Vulvar Cancer
    This a tragic story about Kelly, a successful insurance broker, who was a diligent and health-conscious 46-year-old women. Kelly trusted her Gynecologist. But her Gynecologist was grossly negligent and failed to follow the standards of care for timely diagnosing vulva cancer. This case illustrates the importance of ensuring that your condition gets timely and properly diagnosed, to either rule out cancer as a possibility, or if you have cancer to immediately treat it. The saying “early detection of cancer saves lives” is not just a mantra, it is a reality. Here the failure of Kelly’s Gynecologist to timely diagnose her vulva cancer turned out to be a devastating nightmare which resulted in her unfortunate and early death.
    Kelly regularly saw her Gynecologist, and even considered her to be her primary care physician (“PCP”). Kelly even said that she really liked her Gynecologist. Every time Kelly visited her Gynecologist, she pointed out a small lesion on the right side of her vulva. The Gynecologist at first dismissed it as nothing more than a simple yeast infection, prescribed anti-yeast medication, and told Kelly to return in 6 months to a year for a follow up visit. At the next appointment, Kelly pointed out how the anti-yeast medication did not work. The Gynecologist prescribed a steroid cream instead to treat the yeast infection and told Kelly to return in a year. Kelly repeatedly returned, as scheduled over a period of four and ½ years. Every time that Kelly returned, she pointed out the lesion on her vulva to her Gynecologist, and the Gynecologist noted it in her chart. As time progressed, the Gynecologist started to use different names to describe Kelly’s vulva condition in her notes including a rash, vulvitis, vulva dystrophy, lichen sclerosis, an infection or ulcer, erythematous, and even a vulvar lesion. Even when the Gynecologist thought it was a yeast infection, she never took a yeast culture and sent it to pathology to rule a yeast infection. The Gynecologist ignored Kelly’s complaints and never further investigated Kelly’s vulva condition. In over four ½ years, the Gynecologist never performed any diagnostic testing on her vulva condition. This was clearly a palpable lesion, and the standards of care required that the Gynecologist take physical tissue samples and send them to pathology to rule out vulva cancer. Finally, after 4 ½ years of treatment, the Gynecologist decided that she should do a punch biopsy on Kelly’s vulva lesion and noted it in the chart. Instead of performing the biopsy that very day, she further delayed and decided to bring Kelly back three months later to perform the punch biopsy. The pathology results came back almost immediately and found that Kelly had “infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma, well-differentiated” another words, vulvar cancer.
    Everything could have been different if the Gynecologist timely diagnosed Kelly’s vulva cancer. All the Gynecologist needed to do was a simple in-office punch biopsy of the vulva lesion. Instead, the Gynecologist by doing nothing let Kelly’s cancer spread all over the place. Kelly’s vulva cancer spread to her labia on both sides, the mons, and into her vaginal canal. It also spread to her lymph nodes. Kelly’s chances of survival plummeted due to her Gynecologist’s delays from 80-95% when she first saw her doctor, to 20-40% by the time her vulvar cancer was finally detected. She also had to undergo numerous chemotherapy sessions and extreme radiation treatments to combat her vulvar cancer. Kelly also underwent three major surgeries including a total radical vulvectomy, a distal ureterostomy and plastic surgery reconstruction. Kelly also resorted to an experimental drug treatment program. Unfortunately, Kelly lost her battle with vulvar cancer and passed away too soon. Kelly’s settlement went to her family members. All calls and discussions are private, privileged and highly confidential.
    This case presented many unique challenges including the need to expeditiously protect and preserve Kelly’s video testimony for trial, the use of graphic illustrators to tastefully explain Kelly’s injuries, surgeries and permanent condition, and the consultation with and retention of a team of several highly credentialled experts in the fields of Gynecology, Oncology, and Reconstructive Gynecological Surgery. Kelly’s identity, dignity and honor was fully protected throughout the litigation, and even to this day. While at the same time we publish Kelly’s important story to educate and advise other women about the importance of diagnosing their vulvar condition early to rule out cancer, and if their condition is diagnosed as cancer, to get the recommended treatments immediately. If you have a delayed vulvar cancer case, call us so we can help you.
  • $1.7 million Mediated Settlement in Manhattan – Trip and Fall
    For Jeffrey, a 63 year old emergency evacuation executive who was caused to trip and fall on a protruding step. The step was 38 inches long and 6 inches high and was located on the front entrance to a 200 year old landmarked building in the West Village in Manhattan. Jeffrey was unable to see the step because it was visually obscured by the shadows cast from the property and because the step was the same color as the surrounding sidewalk. Jeffrey had come to New York to walk his daughter down the aisle at her wedding which was the same day of his accident. Jeffrey never attended his daughter’s wedding, but instead was admitted to the hospital where he underwent right shoulder replacement surgery. Jeffrey suffered multiple broken bones, crushed nerves, and was found by defendant’s doctors to have multiple permanent injuries. As a result of the accident, Jeffrey was unable to return to work, required future medical care, and was found to be permanently disabled. The building owner claimed that nothing was wrong with the step, no one ever sued them for it, and that the step was an open and obvious condition which countless people walk over, and around everyday. The case was initially mediated with an independent mediator which helped initiate settlement discussions. However, it wasn’t until after we successfully obtained a favorable ruling from the court, which found that the step violated the New York City Building Code, that this New York City Trip and Fall Accident Case was settled by a court appointed mediator for a seven figure sum.
  • $1.5 million Jury Verdict in the Bronx – Bus Accident
    For 44 year old Board Certified Pediatrician who was caused to fall on a New York CityTA Bus when the driver suddenly, violently, and without warning accelerated the bus. The plaintiff was holding onto a vertical pole with her right dominant hand as the bus took off from a fully stopped position. The incident was witnessed by another passenger who corroborated plaintiff’s version of events. The incident was unreported as the bus operator did not respond to the plaintiff even though she remained laying on the floor in the middle of the bus just 6-7 feet behind the operator’s seat for 5 minutes. The Transit Authority produced a bus operator from the same bus route who testified that there is no way a Hybrid bus could suddenly and violently accelerate. The operator claimed that the Hybrid bus has a special device which prevents it from suddenly accelerating. But on cross examination, the bus operator admitted that the device did not exist at the time of plaintiff’s incident, but that it was added on afterward due to sudden acceleration complaints. The plaintiff sustained a torn meniscus and underwent arthroscopic surgery. Plaintiff’s treating doctor, who was also the chief surgeon for the NY Yankees, told the jury that the plaintiff will need future knee replacement surgery. The jury found the New York CityTA 100% liable, that all of plaintiff’s injuries were caused from the accident, and that the plaintiff would need future medical care.
  • $1.5 million pre-trial settlement – Misdiagnosis of Breast Cancer
    For a 33 year breastfeeding mother of two young children and her husband, a diplomat to the United Nations, when an experienced breast surgeon failed to biopsy a palpable right breast mass because he mistakenly thought it was attributed to normal lactational changes. Has your cancer been misdiagnosed? Do you need a New York City Cancer Lawyer? New York City cancer lawyer Michael Gu nzburg, P.C. can help you. Contact us first. Email or call use today!
  • $1.35 million Orthopedic Botched Surgery Settlement
    For a 50-year-old women when her orthopedic surgeon mis-diagnosed her back injuries and performed open-back surgery resulting in the traumatization of her nerve root and a permanent Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Condition (RSD).
  • $1.3 million Motorcycle Accident Settlement
    For an 18-year-old motorcycle rider when he was struck by a car making a left-hand turn, resulting in a below-the-knee amputation of his left leg.
    $1.3 million Jury Verdict in Nassau County for Rear End Collision
    Where a 54 year old women rear ended in a Van Collision sustained upper back, lower back and knee injuries. The jury returned a verdict during the summer on a Friday afternoon and found in favor of the women on the issue of causation and a serious injury under the No Fault law in 20 minutes. The jury then went back out and awarded the women $1,324,500.00. The insurance company offered the women $5,000 before the jury went out to deliberate. This New York car accident case was settled for an undisclosed sum.
  • $1.2 million Failure to Diagnose Vulva Cancer
    For a 51 years old women who presented to her ob/gyn with complaints of pain and a vulva lesion. The doctor failed to perform a biopsy of the lesion and misdiagnosed her condition as a yeast infection. During the litigation we discovered that the doctor was only working part-time, was semi-retired from the medical practice, and on disability due his own lower back injuries at the time of his treatment of the women. The women’s vulva lesion was diagnosed as cancer seven months later, and it grew, and spread to other parts of her genitalia and her lymph nodes. She required a radical vulvectomy (removal of her vulva), an unnecessary radiation treatment to her genitalia, and future reconstructive surgery. She also lost her best chances of survival as her cancer staging and prognosis worsened due to the delay. This New York City medical malpractice case was settled before jury selection.
  • $1.025 million Jury Verdict for Bicyclist when Injured by New York City Transit Bus
    In favor of a 29 year old bicyclist who was almost crushed by a New York City Transit Authority Bus. The court found the Transit Authority 100% liable for all of plaintiff’s injuries when the Bus operator failed to slow his vehicle down or sound his horn. The bus made no physical contact with the bicycle. The incident took place in front of the main branch of the N.Y. Public Library on 5th Avenue and 40th Street. The New York CityTA appealed the liability decision to the Appellate Division, First Department and lost. At a damages only trial, the jury heard of plaintiff’s broken bone injuries to his right dominant forearm which required open surgery with the insertion of permanent plates and screws, and his need for an additional surgery to remove the hardware. The bicyclist also made a future lost wage claim as he was unable to work as a web designer due to his injuries. The jury rejected defendant’s ergonomics consultant who told the jury that the plaintiff could continue to work full time as a web designer with the use of readily available over the counter voice recognition software. The jury’s decision was unanimous on all issues in favor of the plaintiff. The New York City Transit Authority expressed their desire to appeal.
  • $1.0 million Trial Settlement when Tractor Trailer slams Car
    This case involved a 20 year old cadet at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York and who played as an offensive linesman on the Varsity Football Team. The cadet was a front seat passenger in a Chevy Blazer and seat belted. The driver of his vehicle lost control over the Chevy as he was speeding down a sharp curve in the rain and slid out onto the first lane of moving traffic on I-84. A Roehl Transport tractor trailer which weighted 80,000 pounds and was carrying heavy steel coils moving at 55 mph in 10th gear crushed the Chevy. The impact forces decimated the vehicle and ripped and tore at the cadet’s body such that he sustained multiple injuries. His seat belt forced his internal organs through his diaphragm and crushed his left lung, tore tendons and ligaments in his left knee and his left shoulder, and caused a recurrent left hip hematoma (later named Tommy). The cadet underwent four surgeries, and while he made a good overall recovery, he never played Football again and lost his commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
  • $850,000 Personal Injury Settlement – During Jury Selection
    For a 76-year-old woman when a bus traveling to Atlantic City flipped over, causing her to sustain multiple disc herniations and spinal fractures.
  • $750,000 Trial Settlement from Trip and Fall in hole
    For a woman who tripped and fell in a dangerous hole located in a public sidewalk; she sustained an L4-L5 herniated disc that required open-back surgery including a laminectomy and discectomy
  • $700,000 Mediated Settlement for Taxi Driver struck by another vehicle
    For a 33 year old professional driver with a New York City car service company when his vehicle was struck from the right side. The driver sustained head, neck, and lower back injuries with multiple herniated discs confirmed by MRIs which rendered him partially disabled under workers compensation. An Orthopedic surgeon recommended open back surgery with stabilization but the driver did not undergo the surgery at the time of the recovery.
  • $550,000 Settlement at Mediation – Slip and Fall in Manhattan
    For 42 year old accounts payable supervisor who slipped and fell down wet and soapy stairs in her Upper West Side apartment building injuring her lower back. The injuries required decompression and fusion surgery with the insertion of permanent hardware in her lower spine at L4-L5.
  • $475,000 Settlement – Slip and Fall in Brooklyn
    A 23 year old cashier, baby sitter, and hairstylist was walking down the stairs at her sister’s apartment building in Brooklyn when one of the risers on a step collapsed. As a result, her right knee buckled and she fell into an Indian position on the stairs. Her lower back struck the stairs hard and she slid down the staircase onto the ground. An ambulance transported her to the emergency room at Brookdale University Hospital Center. She complained of right knee and lower back pain. X-rays were taken and she was discharged with a knee brace, crutches, and pain killers. She had MRI to her right knee which revealed ACL and meniscus tears. An orthopedic surgeon recommended surgery, and she underwent a total right knee replacement surgery which involved complete removal of her right ACL, a bone grafting, and implantation of hardware to secure the graft. She also underwent an arthroscopy of the right lateral meniscus and platelet injection therapy. She used crutches to walk for five months, and a Bledsoe brace for one and ½ years. She also underwent extensive physical therapy for two years and was prescribed Oxycodone for pain. Lumbar MRIs revealed herniated discs with impingement on her nerve root. The young women also received 3 spinal epidural lumbar injections which gave her only temporary relief from pain, and she was told she would need future lumbar spine surgery. This case was settled during jury selection by the presiding trial assignment judge.
  • $450,000 Jury Verdict for mechanic crushed by vehicle
    For a mechanic whose face was crushed when a car he was working on was caused to fall off a jack.
  • $450,000 Truck and Car Accident Settlement
    For a 38-year-old women who was a passenger in a car that was slammed and pinned into a cement divider by a 18-wheel tractor trailer, causing her to lose several teeth and develop a permanent temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) condition.
  • $320,000 Jury Verdict in Ceiling Collapse
    For a 37 year old Bronx County bartender when a bathroom ceiling collapsed on his head while he was showering; He sustained a herniated disc in his neck and a bulging disc in his lower back and he had no surgery at the time of trial (although it was recommended).
  • $275,000 Settlement for Math Teacher Struck in Car
    For 32 year old 7th grade math teacher struck on the left front side of her vehicle.When she reached to honk her horn her air bag deployed causing severe comminuted fractures to her right dominant wrist requiring surgery at North Shore University Hospital in Plainview and The Hospital for Joint Disease in Manhattan.
  • $250,000 Settlement – Police Brutality
    For an 18 year old African American Male when two police officers forced him to the ground and repeatedly struck him in the face and nose while he was lying on his stomach with his hands handcuffed behind his back. As a result of the incident, he was unlawfully arrested and incarcerated, sustained multiple comminuted broken bones to his nose which required surgical repair and future plastic surgery to correct the permanent deformities. This case involved police brutality, excessive force and false arrest claims and was settled before trial.
  • $250,000 Settlement at Trial – Personal Injury
    A 27 year old courier was a rear seat passenger in a Honda Civic that was making a left hand turn at an intersection with a green light. The Honda Civic was given the right of way by an SUV vehicle located directly opposite it. As the Honda Civic proceeded through the intersection the defendant in his GMC Jimmy improperly passed the SUV and struck the Honda Civic pushing it into a utility pole. The courier injured his shoulder and knee and underwent two arthroscopic surgeries to repair both areas.
  • $105,000 Personal Injury Settlement
    A 29 year old picture framer who while closing a window with a known unrepaired crack shattered and sliced his tendons and muscles on his left hand. He underwent a tendon repair and reattachment under general anesthesia at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx.

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