Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf is a New York Plaintiff's personal injury law firm specializing in automobile accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, products liability, police misconduct and all types of New York personal injury litigation.

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ben.jpgOur managing partner, Ben Rubinowitz and the Hon. Nancy Vaidik (Indianapolis, IN) will be the directors of the NITA’s National Session at the NITA Education Center in Boulder, CO from July 24th to August 1st, 2013.

The National Institute for Trial Advocacy is a world leader in advocacy skills training and publication. The National Session is its most prestigious and longest running program. NITA’s National Session is a life-changing experience for the attorneys who have attended for the last 41 years and this year’s program is no exception. Ben Rubinowitz and the Hon. Nancy Vaidik (Indianapolis, IN) have developed this year’s program schedule to include dedicated drill rooms, motion training, focus groups, and jury selection.

To learn more or register click here.

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Our managing partner, Ben Rubinowitz will be one of the faculty member leading the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) Teacher Training Seminar in New York from June 6th to June 8th at the New York Law School.

In this program, participants are expected to improve their litigation teaching skills by using the NITA learning-by-doing method. You should attend this program if you are interested in becoming a faculty member at NITA or if you simply want to broaden and hone your teaching skills in your firm or in your classroom.

Click here for more information or to register.

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BR.jpg Our partner Ben Rubinowitz, assisted by Peter Saghir, obtained a verdict of $7,125,000 against the City of New York and its construction company, Burtis Construction Co., Inc. following a 17 day trial.

The plaintiff, a 41-year-old man and father of three young children, was returning home from work in the early morning hours of May 20, 2006. Six weeks earlier his wife had given birth to a baby girl via C section. His other two children included a four-year-old boy and a two-year-old boy. He worked as a film editor and was self employed. On the night of the accident the plaintiff left his midtown Manhattan workplace at around 3 o’clock in the morning. Unbeknownst to the plaintiff, the City of New York and its construction company (Burtis Construction Co., Inc.) were performing road repair work on the West Side Highway. They were involved in a short term construction project to repair expansion joints along the West Side Highway in the vicinity of 72nd to 79th Streets. As part of its contract with the City, the construction company was required to properly notify drivers that the roadway was being shut down from three lanes to one lane of travel. This closure of the roadway was supposed to be performed in conformance with the dictates of the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices and with the Maintenance and Protection of Traffic Plan spelled out by the City of New York in the contract. Specifically, appropriate signs should have been placed along the highway south of the roadwork along with tapers and transitions of barrels fitted with lights to notify and warn drivers that the left two lanes were being shut down. When the plaintiff left his office to drive home he drove northbound on the Westside Highway. As he reached the area of 79th St. he was involved in a fender bender with another car. He got out to check to make sure that everyone was alright. He then returned to his car to put on his hazard lights on and to obtain his insurance information to exchange with the other driver. Shortly after getting his insurance information and while he was out of his car he was struck from behind by another driver, Abelardo Da-Silva.
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BR.jpgOur Partner, Ben Rubinowitz will chair the New York State Trial Lawyers Association Seminar Successful Examination of Expert Witnesses 2013 to be held on April 23, 2013, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. The Seminar will be held at NYSTLA, 132 Nassau Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10038. Attendees will receive 3 CLE Credits in Skills. The Seminar will cover:

– Direct and Cross of an Orthopedist, Direct of a Radiologist, Cross Examination of the “Independent Medical Examiner”, Direct and Cross of an expert in a Medical Malpractice case,the effective use of Exhibits, How to deal with problem areas including the pre-existing injury, the professional testifier, the non-responsive expert witness, use of authoritative texts and the hypothetical question.

For more information and to register click here.

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Our Partner Richard Steigman was the chair for the annual New York State Trial Lawyers Association Seminar CPLR 2013 Update. Hon. Ariel E. Belen, Justice, Appellate Division, Second Department (retired) Mediator,JAMS was also on the faculty. This seminar provided an in depth review of new developments, including practice tips and pitfall warnings that are invaluable for the civil litigator.

In the video below you will find an extract from the seminar. The complete course can be found for CLE credit at the online store of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association

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In this New York motorcycle accident case, our partner, Christopher L. Sallay, won summary judgment on behalf of the plaintiff. Justice Arlene P. Bluth held that plaintiff demonstrated their prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by establishing that the defendant violated New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1141 when she made a left turn directly into the plaintiff’s path.

To read the full decision click here.

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Jeff-Bloom-thumbTomorrow, March 27th, our partner Jeff Bloom will speak at the Emergency Risk Conference at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. The conference will take place at the Mount Sinai Hatch Auditorium, 1450 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. Mr. Bloom will present “Analysis of a court case”.

Below is the program for the Conference:

8:30 – 9:00 Breakfast

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Stephen-Mackauf-thumbOur partner Stephen Mackauf and John E. Hall Jr. from Hall Booth Smith, P.C. will co chair the 12th Annual Advanced Forum of the American Conference Institute on Obstetric Malpractice Claims on June 26th-27 2013 in Philadelphia.

This two day forum is the nation’s foremost gathering of medical experts, insurance professionals, risk managers, leading plaintiff’s and defense lawyers in the field of Obstetric Malpractice. Participants will be able to attend highly specialized workshops and presentations covering the following subjects:

  • The state of obstetric malpractice
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The Partners of Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf are pleased to announce that Ben B. Rubinowitz has been named Managing Partner of the firm following the death of Robert L. Conason.

Throughout his 30-year legal career, Ben has made his mark as a leading trial lawyer combining hard work and dedication with his remarkable courtroom skills and presence. Mr. Rubinowitz began his career as a prosecutor, where he honed the trial skills that would become his hallmark. He joined GGCSMB&R in 1989. Ben is a member of the exclusive Inner Circle of Advocates, The International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a Director of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and a Past President of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He was also named by Best Lawyers as The 2013 Lawyer of the Year, Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs-New York City Area.

Our firm which was named by U.S. News and Best Lawyers as 2013 Law Firm Of The Year, Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs, with 9 of our Partners listed in Best Lawyers in America, will continue, as it has for over 90 years to specialize in the most serious and significant personal injury and general negligence cases, which range from construction and automobile accidents to medical malpractice and complex products liability claims.

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Our Partner Richard Steigman will chair the annual NYSTLA Seminar CPLR 2013 update. Hon. Ariel E. Belen, Justice, Appellate Division, Second Department (retired) Mediator,JAMS is also on the faculty. The seminar will be held on February 25, 2013 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at NYSTLA, 132 Nassau Street, 2nd floor, New York, N.Y. This seminar will provide an in depth review of new developments, including practice tips and pitfall warnings that are invaluable for the civil litigator. For more information on this seminar and to register click here.