Firm News

Published on: February 18, 2011

Bus Accident Results In Record Damage Award

Gloria Aguilar was awarded $27 million

The Appeals Court in New York, known as the Appellate Division, First Department, allowed a total damage award of 18.5 Million Dollars for a woman who lost her leg as a result of the negligence of a bus driver employed by the NYC Transit Authority. The injured woman, Gloria Aguilar, was injured when she was crossing the street in Manhattan. Her left leg was traumatically amputated. This award is the largest ever allowed in the country for this type of injury. Our Partner, Ben Rubinowitz , tried the case in New York Supreme Court and argued the appeal for the injured plaintiff. 2011 Slip Opinion 01117. The case has been widely reported throughout the country.

According to Ben Rubinowitz, ” Our firm is particularly well equipped and staffed to handle cases of this magnitude. We specialize in catastrophic personal injury cases. We are always willing to work harder than anyone else and take the case to verdict to make sure our client’s receive the best possible award. Richard Steigman wrote a powerful and compelling brief. I am delighted that the Appellate Court saw fit to allow this type of damage award. Ms. Aguilar suffered life changing injuries. She was a pedestrian crossing the street when she was struck by the bus. We prepared the case with extreme attention to detail and fully protected our client’s rights and interests. ” In describing his job as a Trial Lawyer, Ben Rubinowitz said, ” A Trial Lawyer must at all times fight for his client’s plight. If the offer to settle is insufficient, this firm is prepared to go the distance. We will not sleep until we achieve the best result we can. The Transit Authority’s offer was insufficient and we insisted on taking the case to verdict. ” GGCSMB&R has some of the finest lawyers in the field of Personal Injury. It is the only Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Firm with 10 Lawyers Listed in the Best Lawyers in America.

$27.5 million payout for mom who lost leg to bus, New York Daily News, April 17th 2009

Published on: January 31, 2011

Ben Rubinowitz and Bob Conason to Speak at NYSTLA Masters Series 2011

By GGCRBHS&M

We are pleased to announce that GGCSMB&R attorneys Ben Rubinowitz and Bob Conason will speak at the New York State Trial Lawyers Association’s 2011 Masters Series. The subject will be openings & summations.

See the program summary below for details and register for the series here.

Published on: January 28, 2011

Ben Rubinowitz to chair prestigious “Masters Seminar” at NY Trial Lawyers Institute

By GGCRBHS&M

Ben Rubinowitz

Our partner, Ben Rubinowitz, has, once again, been asked to chair the prestigious “Masters Seminar” presented by the New York State Trial Lawyers Institute. Recognized as a leading trial lawyer, Ben has obtained numerous verdicts in excess of one million dollars and a significant number of verdicts in excess of ten million dollars in cases stemming from car accidents, construction accidents, civil rights violations and medical malpractice cases. Among the many lawyers joining Ben at this seminar is his partner, Robert Conason. “I am delighted to chair this program and am especially pleased to have Bob Conason join me along with many other superb lawyers.” In describing the program Ben said: “This is one of the only programs where top lawyers actually demonstrate what they did to achieve such superb results at trial and how they dealt with the problem areas. It is designed to help lawyers of all skill levels obtain the best results for their injured client’s.”

Published on: January 10, 2011

Ben Rubinowitz to deliver Grand Rounds lecture at Mount Sinai Medical Center

By GGCRBHS&M

Mt. Sinai Medical Center

On January 12, 2011 Ben Rubinowitz will deliver a Grand Rounds lecture for the Department of Radiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Mr. Rubinowitz, an expert in his field in representing severely injured patients, has been asked to lecture to Attending Physicians and Residents on the subject of Medical Malpractice. Interestingly, Mr. Rubinowitz does not represent doctors. He represents the victims of Medical Negligence and has achieved very substantial verdicts on their behalf. Known for sharing his knowledge in the field, Ben feels it is important to partake in such lectures. “In every Medical Malpractice case that we have handled, we are always talking about events that have occurred after the fact. It is too late to undo the harm that has taken place — the patient has been seriously injured. If lectures like this provide guidance that prevent medical negligence from occurring at the outset, we’re all better off.” Later this month Ben will be delivering a similar lecture at the National Urologic Forum.

Published on: January 6, 2011

Ben Rubinowitz to deliver lecture on Medical Malpractice at Winter Urologic Forum

By GGCRBHS&M

Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf is pleased to announce that our Partner Ben Rubinowitz has been asked to deliver a lecture on Medical Malpractice at the 35th Annual Winter Urologic Forum in Colorado this January. Known for its expertise in the field, GGCSMB&R has successfully resolved thousands of medical malpractice cases for those who have been injured as a result of medical negligence. Ben Rubinowitz explained that ” it is truly an honor to have the privilege of speaking to such a distinguished group of doctors.”

Published on: December 28, 2010

GGCSMB&R Attorney Ben Rubinowitz Featured in New York Law Journal

By GGCRBHS&M

On December 28, 2010 the New York Law Journal featured GGCSMB&R attorney Ben Rubinowitz and his colleague Evan Torgan, of Torgan & Cooper. For the past ten years Ben Rubinowitz and Evan Torgan have provided expert commentary in their Trial Advocacy column to attorneys throughout the State. To date, the two have written more than 50 articles on Trial Advocacy. Known for practicing what they preach, both Evan and Ben have achieved multiple million dollar verdicts. In this months article they discuss Common Mistakes on Direct Examination. “Too often lawyers rush through direct and fail to listen appropriately to the answers that are given by the witness” said Rubinowitz. “This has the potential to result in disaster. That’s why in this article we focus on ways to cure this problem, simplify the examination and make the testimony more meaningful for the jury.

Published on: December 16, 2010

Ben Rubinowitz Named To Faculty For 35th Winter Urologic Forum

By GGCRBHS&M

Ben Rubinowitz has been named to the faculty of The 35th Winter Urologic Forum to be held January 28 – February 1, 2011, Sheraton Steamboat Resort, Steamboat Springs, CO. Ben is the only attorney on the faculty which includes physicians from States including New York, California, Michigan and Illinois.

This meeting will identify for urologists new management strategies for prostate and bladder cancer, stone disease, incontinence, impotency and the impact of healthcare legislation on their practice. Urologists attending this meeting will learn new ways to improve overall patient care. For more information click here.

Published on: November 5, 2010

Ben Rubinowitz and Robert Conason Speak at Cardozo Law School

By GGCRBHS&M

On Tuesday, November 2, 2010, Cardozo Law School held a seminar on Opening Statements for more than 100 students as a prerequisite to its Intensive Trial Advocacy Program. Featured Speakers at the lecture included Ben Rubinowitz, Robert Conason and Richard Godosky. Prof. Ellen Yaroshefsky introduced each of the three speakers as “some of the very best trial attorneys in the Country.” She went on to say that “each of the speakers is viewed as a ‘Lawyer’s Lawyer’ by practicing members of the Trial Bar. Yaroshefsky said “when a lawyer is in need of help these are the lawyers they turn to.”

Ben Rubinowitz gave a lecture and demonstration on opening statements in a civil trial focusing on appropriate representation of individuals who have been severely injured through the fault of others in car accidents, products liability and medical malpractice cases. His talk was followed by Robert Conason and Richard Godosky who demonstrated comparative methods of conducting Opening Statements.

Published on: November 1, 2010

Comic Book Recounts Artist’s Journey from Brain Injury to Recovery

By GGCRBHS&M

On the evening of July 24, 2001 Michael Taratuta, was walking on the sidewalk abutting a building when, suddenly, and without warning, a section of a security fence which was erected on the parapet wall surrounding the roof of the five-story brick, non-elevator building rising to a main roof elevation of approximately 59 feet fell to the sidewalk below, striking and seriously injuring Michael. As a result of the occurrence, Michael sustained grave injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, open comminuted fractures of the skull and multiple intracerebral hemorrhages and contusions. Initially it was not thought he would survive. We represented Michael for years of litigation during which he underwent numerous brain surgeries.

Miraculously, following years of therapy Michael recovered to the extent that he was able with the help of his wife, Ira, to write an amazing book, in comic book format detailing his recovery. Prior to the accident he was a talented graphic artist. The case was successfully resolved allowing Michael to live a financially secure life.

Michael’s book is up at amazon.com for Kindle.

Published on: October 28, 2010

Anthony H. Gair is Named “New York Product Liability Litigator of the Year” for 2011

By GGCRBHS&M

We are pleased to announce that our own Tony Gair has also been named to this years Best Lawyers as the “New York Best Lawyers Product Liability Litigator of the Year” for 2011.

This is in recognition of Mr. Gair’s long history of helping people injured by the negligence and carelessness of others. He also advises younger attorneys on how to effectively represent people who have suffered catastrophic injuries and has taught at Fordham University School of Law in the Continuing Legal Education program.

One of his most notable roles was heading up the team that represented the Diallo family for the wrongful death of their son Amadou, who was shot 19 times by members of the New York City Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit-a case that was extensively covered by the national media.
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