Tonight, January 22, 2026, partner Richard M. Steigman of Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf is serving as featured faculty for a live New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) webinar examining recent and consequential developments in New York Civil Practice.
The program begins at 5:00 p.m. ET and offers 3.0 Areas of Professional Practice CLE credits, approved for both transitional and non-transitional attorneys.
A newly published article in the New York Law Journal sheds further light on the more than $182 million settlement reached in litigation arising from the deadliest crash in Metro-North Railroad history — a case tried on behalf of approximately 30 plaintiffs by Ben Rubinowitz and Richard Steigman of the New York Personal Injury Law Firm of Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf.
The settlement, benefiting families of five passengers killed and dozens of others injured, stems from the February 3, 2015 Metro-North collision at the Commerce Street crossing in Valhalla, Westchester County. Rubinowitz said that the individual settlements are confidential.
According to the New York Law Journal, Rubinowitz led the liability trial to ensure consistent verdicts across plaintiffs represented by multiple firms. The trial strategy centered on two critical failures: the train engineer’s decision not to slow despite uncertainty at the crossing, and a uniquely dangerous third rail design that turned the crash into an inferno-like event.
If a loved one was killed in a Brooklyn hit-and-run, speak with a Brooklyn car accident attorney who is prepared to take the case all the way to trial. Early legal involvement can be critical to protecting evidence, identifying responsible parties, and pursuing full accountability under New York law.
A woman was killed early Friday morning after being struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Pitkin Avenue and Osborn Street in Brownsville, according to the New York City Police Department. The driver fled the scene, leaving investigators searching for a gray vehicle involved in the collision.
The fatal crash occurred just before 6:50 a.m. as the woman was crossing Pitkin Avenue. She was pronounced dead at the scene. As of Friday afternoon, police had not released additional identifying details or announced any arrests.
Allegations of sexual misconduct by a public school employee are among the most serious violations of trust in the New York City education system. A recent criminal case involving a Brooklyn public high school gym teacher underscores why students and families must understand their legal rights when abuse occurs in a school setting.
Prosecutors allege that a 40-year-old athletic director employed by the New York City Department of Education sent explicit sexual content to a 16-year-old student using Snapchat after propositioning her during an offer to drive her home. According to court filings, the teacher sent the minor a photograph of his genitals along with sexually inappropriate messages asking whether she would kiss him.
Trying a personal injury case in New York City is unlike litigating anywhere else in the state. The volume of cases, the sophistication of judges, and the expectations of juries demand a level of preparation that goes far beyond routine claims handling. In NYC, outcomes are driven by evidence, credibility, and a lawyer’s demonstrated willingness to take a case all the way to verdict.
Personal injury cases in New York City are litigated in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment. Judges expect tight pleadings, focused discovery, and efficient motion practice. Weak liability theories and unsupported damages claims are exposed quickly. As a result, meaningful progress often depends on whether the case is being prepared for trial from day one.
After a car accident, injured drivers often assume the process will be straightforward — especially when the collision was clearly not their fault. In New York, however, even a simple rear-end crash can trigger serious medical, financial, and legal consequences. A recent report by Spectrum News shows why speaking with a New York car accident lawyer as early as possible can be critical to protecting your rights.
According to Spectrum News, a Rochester woman was rear-ended at a red light and suffered a herniated disc that required surgery and ongoing physical therapy. Despite having no responsibility for the crash, her no-fault insurance benefits were exhausted, her insurance premiums more than doubled, and medical bills began coming back to her personally. The report highlights how New York’s insurance structure can leave injured drivers exposed even when liability is clear.
A partial building collapse in the Bronx on Monday, January 12, 2026, prompted an emergency response from city officials and renewed scrutiny of demolition safety practices. According to authorities, the incident occurred at 57 East Burnside Avenue, near Walton Avenue, when part of a building wall gave way and collapsed onto scaffolding and the street below. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Emergency crews from the Fire Department of the City of New York responded just before 3:00 p.m. after receiving reports of the collapse. Photographs shared by local officials showed debris scattered across the sidewalk and roadway, underscoring how close this incident came to causing serious harm.
New York City transportation officials have announced a major expansion of the city’s red-light camera program, with plans to increase coverage from 150 to 600 intersections by the end of the year. The rollout will add cameras at roughly 50 intersections per week, targeting locations with elevated crash rates.
From the perspective of New York City car accident attorneys, this policy shift reflects a growing reliance on automated enforcement to curb one of the most dangerous behaviors on city streets: running red lights.
A dangerous, drug-resistant fungus is spreading through hospitals and nursing homes in New York, New Jersey, and across the country, placing vulnerable patients at heightened risk. According to recent reporting by CBS New York, cases of Candida auris—often described as a “superbug”—have surged dramatically, with more than 7,000 infections reported nationwide in 2025 alone.
From the perspective of our nursing home negligence lawyers and hospital negligence attorneys, this trend raises urgent legal and patient-safety questions about infection control, early detection, and accountability within healthcare facilities.
As New York medical malpractice lawyers, we regularly review hospital safety data, litigation patterns, and publicly reported outcomes to understand where patients are most at risk for preventable harm. This article is part of a broader series examining every New York City hospital rated by the Hospital Safety Grade program of The Leapfrog Group—not just top-rated institutions, but also those receiving failing grades.
Interfaith Medical Center received a “D” Hospital Safety Grade in Leapfrog’s most recent reporting period (Fall 2025). From a malpractice perspective, that designation matters and should prompt patients to ask careful, informed questions before undergoing treatment.
A “D” grade does not mean that every doctor at the hospital is negligent or that every patient will be harmed. It does mean that, based on Leapfrog’s methodology, the hospital presents a higher overall risk profile, particularly in categories most closely tied to serious medical malpractice cases.
New York Personal Injury Attorneys Blog