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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Our partner, Jeffrey Bloom, settled the personal injury case of a 16 year old boy, who suffered burns in an explosion. Jeffrey obtained Summary Judgment on liability which was affirmed by The Appellate Division, Second Department. The case settled following opening statements in Nassau County Supreme Court. The explosion occurred at his school when a fellow student was performing a science experiment with ethyl alcohol. It was alleged he was performing his experiment unsupervised and improperly used ethyl alcohol to clean up and then used a flint sparker. His actions caused an explosion as a result of which the plaintiff was burned. The chemistry teacher had left the classroom to get food at a bagel store despite knowing the experiment was on going. The defendants argued that the fellow student’s actions were a superseding intervening cause relieving the school district of liability.

As a result of the explosion it was claimed the plaintiff suffered second and third degree burns and scarring to his face, chest, left ear and right arm as well as his bilateral thighs from a subsequent skin graft. It was claimed that only the scars to his chest were permanent. The defendants claimed he made an excellent recovery and that the majority of the burns healed without complication and did not result in significant disfigurement.

The New York Personal Injury Lawyers at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf have years of experience representing people who have suffered injury in all types of accidents in New York.

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Christopher Sallay

Christopher Sallay
Gair Gair Conason
Steigman Mackauf
Bloom & Rubinowitz

Our Partner, Chris Sallay is the Co-Chair of this New York State Bar Association seminar together with Robert A. Glick, Esq; Brand, Glick & Brand, PC. Our Partner Anthony Gair will be speaking at the New York City and Long Island seminars.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
This full-day practical skills program is designed for the newly admitted attorney or the attorney seeking a fundamental but practical overview of handling an auto accident case. A representative case will be reviewed from inception to conclusion from both the plaintiff and defense attorney perspective. The step-by-step practical aspects of the case will be presented by experienced attorneys to demonstrate both the practical aspects of each phase of the litigation as well as the overall thought process behind each phase leading to the ultimate resolution.

AGENDA:

8:30-9:00 REGISTRATION
9:00-9:50 1. INTAKE OF THE PLAINTIFF’S CASE – THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE CASE FOR THE DEFENDANT FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY
The Plaintiff’s Perspective:

Preliminary Investigation Highlights of the “Typical Case”
The Mechanics of Auto Collisions and Issues Relating to Accident Reconstruction Obtaining Information from the Roadway – Visibility and Traffic Control Devices Soft Tissue Injury Auto Accident Cases – The Serious Injury Threshold Early Settlement The Defendant’s Perspective:

Analyzing Liability, Damages, Threshold, Potential Exposure Knowing Whether to go Down the Road of Settlement or Trial 9:50-10:40 2. NO-FAULT ISSUES AND COVERAGE CONCERNS
No-Fault Coverage – Who is Eligible and Filing Requirements Statutory Requirements for Auto Insurance Coverage in New York The Basics of the Automobile Liability Insurance Policy – Primary and Excess/Umbrella Coverage Uninsured/Under Insured Motorist Coverage Considerations 10:40-10:50 BREAK
10:50-11:40 3. DISCOVERY
Notices for Discovery and Inspection Bills of Particulars The Preliminary Conference The IME 11:40-12:30 4. TAKING A MEANINGFUL DEPOSITION
Preparation is the Key Avoid the Boilerplate, Look up from your Outline and Listen to the Answers All Police and Accident Reports Scene and Vehicle Photos All Medical Records Other Documents – Repair Estimates, Diagrams, etc.
12:30-1:30 LUNCH (on your own)

1:30-2:20 5. MOTION PRACTICE RELATED TO AUTOMOBILE CASES
The Plaintiff’s Summary Judgment Motion – Not just in Rear-end Collision Cases The Serious Injury Threshold Motion – Making and Defeating It 2:20-3:10 6. MEDIATION, ARBITRATION AND SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS
The Mediation/Arbitration Statement Witnesses and Exhibits Remembering the Audience during Discussions 3:10-3:20 BREAK
3:20-4:10 7. ETHICS
Ethics Issues Related to Automobile Litigation Contingent Fee Agreements Advertising and Solicitation The Difficult Client 4:10 ADJOURNMENT

PROGRAM FACULTY:

Overall Planning Chairs
Robert A. Glick, Esq., Brand, Glick & Brand, PC, Garden City, NY Christopher L. Sallay, Esq., Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, New York, NY Local Panels (listed in order of appearance)

THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
New York City

Chair: Christopher L. Sallay, Esq., Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, New York, NY
Panel: Christopher L. Sallay, Esq., Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, New York, NY * Robert A. Glick, Esq., Brand, Glick & Brand, PC, Garden City, NY * Nicholas Papain, Esq., Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo P.C., New York, NY * Anthony H. Gair, Esq., Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, New York, NY * Brian T. Stapleton, Esq., Goldberg Segalla LLP, White Plains, NY
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
Albany

Chair: John W. Bailey, Esq., Bailey Kelleher & Johnson PC, Albany, NY
Panel: John B. Casey, Esq., Dreyer Boyajian LLP, Albany, NY * Jeanne M. Gonsalves Lloyd, Esq., Friedman, Hirschen & Miller LLP, Albany, NY * Vincent J. DeLeonardis, Esq., Bailey, Kelleher & Johnson, P.C., Albany, NY * P. Baird Joslin, Jr., Esq., O’Connor O’Connor Bresee & First PC, Albany, NY * Mackenzie C. Monaco, Esq., Carter, Conboy, Case, Blackmore, Maloney & Laird, P.C., Albany, NY * Jeffrey K. Anderson, Esq., Anderson, Moschetti & Taffany, PLLC, Latham, NY * John W. Bailey, Esq., Bailey Kelleher & Johnson PC, Albany, NY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2012
Long Island (Melville)

Chair: Robert A. Glick, Esq., Brand, Glick & Brand, PC, Garden City, NY
Panel: Robert A. Glick, Esq., Brand, Glick & Brand, PC, Garden City, NY *Christopher L. Sallay, Esq., Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, New York, NY * Robert S. Santander, Esq., American European Insurance Group, Inc., New York, NY * Nicholas Papain, Esq., Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo P.C., New York, NY * Anthony H. Gair, Esq., Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, New York, NY * Brian T. Stapleton, Esq., Goldberg Segalla LLP, White Plains, NY
Syracuse

Chair: Michael P. Kenny, Esq., Kenny & Kenny PLLC, Syracuse, NY
Panel: S. Robert Williams, Esq., Williams and Rudderow, Syracuse, NY * Benjamin C. Rabin, Esq., The Rabin Law Firm, Syracuse, NY * Erin K. Skuce, Esq., Law Offices of Destin C. Santacrose (Employees of Liberty Mutual Group, Inc.), Buffalo, NY * Sandra J. Sabourin, Esq., Goldberg Segalla LLP, Syracuse, NY * Michael P. Kenny, Esq., Kenny & Kenny PLLC, Syracuse, NY * James E. Reid, Esq., Greene & Reid, PLLC, Syracuse, NY * Paul G. Ferrara, Esq., Costello, Cooney & Fearon, PLLC, Syracuse, NY
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012
Buffalo

Chair: Paul J. Callahan, Esq., Law Offices of Sliwa & Lane, Buffalo, NY
Panel: David F. Kluepfel, Esq., Cascone & Kluepfel, LLP, Garden City, NY * Leonard D. Zaccagnino, Esq., Shaw & Shaw P.C., Hamburg, NY * Joseph M. Schnitter, Esq., Brown & Kelly, LLP, Buffalo, NY * Jennifer Stashko Adams, Esq., Adams Hanson Finder Hughes Rego Kaplan & Fsibein, Williamsville, NY * Leonard M. Cascone, Esq., Cascone & Kluepfel, LLP, Garden City, NY * Michael T. Coutu, Esq., Law Offices of Sliwa & Lane, Buffalo, NY * Jeffrey F. Baase, Esq., Rupp, Baase, Pfalzgraf, Cunningham & Coppola, LLC, Buffalo, NY * Peter M. Kooshoian, Esq., Rosenthal, Siegel & Muenkel, LLP, Buffalo, NY
DATES AND LOCATIONS:

THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
New York City Affinia Manhattan 371 Seventh Avenue at 31st Street New York, NY 10001-3984 (212) 563-1800
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
Albany New York State Nurses Association 11 Cornell Road Latham, NY 12110 (518) 782-9400
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2012
Long Island (Melville)
Melville Marriott Long Island 1350 Old Walt Whitman Road Melville, NY 11747 (631) 423-1600
Syracuse Genesee Grande Hotel 1060 East Genesee Street Syracuse, NY 13210 (315) 476-4212
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012
Buffalo Holiday Inn Amherst 1881 Niagara Falls Blvd.
Amherst, NY 14228 (716) 691-8181
The last day to pre-register online is May 30, 2012. Register online now

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  • A judge has dismissed a personal injury lawsuit that 14 West Virginia families brought against DuPont over a former zinc smelting operation, saying they failed to produce evidence that toxins from the plant made them sick.
  • In The Courts

    • A Johnson & Johnson subsidiary downplayed and hid risks associated with the antipsychotic drug Risperdal, a jury determined Tuesday in Arkansas’ billion-dollar product liability lawsuit against Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc.
    • In San Francisco, Judge Richard Kramer has dismissed the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s lawsuit on behalf of parent Monet Parham seeking to declare unlawful McDonald’s practice of including a toy in its Happy Meal.
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    The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), the Bronx Defenders and the LatinoJustice PRLDEF filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the NYPD last week over a stop-and-frisk-type of program that allows officers to patrol private apartment buildings. The lawsuit claims that the officers are violating residents’ rights and the rights of their guests.

    This is reminiscent of the rampant stop and frisks conducted by the NYPD Street Crimes Unit which lead to the shooting of Amadou Diallo. The following is from an interview with Anthony Gair, Fernando Ferrer and Murray Richman in 2001 regarding the stop and frisk policy and the inherit violation of Civil Rights.

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    In The Courts

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    The Commission on Judicial Conduct has cleared the presiding justice of the First Department Appellate Division, Judge Luis Gonzalez, of all charges of misconduct in connection with allegations that he improperly made attestations on certain mortgage documents, improperly permitted the private practice of law by his executive assistant, permitted a “no-show” job and engaged in nepotism and favoritism in hiring certain individuals. The Commission of Judicial Conduct felt it appropriate to dismiss the charges after conducting a detailed and thorough investigation which included review of hundreds of pages of documents, interviews of more than 50 witnesses and two days of questioning of Judge Gonzalez himself. In dismissing the charges, the Commission’s report made clear that the Judge’s testimony was forthright and credible. The Commission did make recommendations to the Administrative Board of the Courts that they collectively examine the hiring practices of the Appellate Divisions and devise, among other things, a uniform and comprehensive guideline for hiring practices which would avoid nepotism and favoritism and promote merit.

    Ben Rubinowitz, the lawyer representing Judge Gonzalez, said,

    “I am pleased to see that after the Commission on Judicial Conduct conducted an extensive investigation prompted, in large part by baseless rumors, it has cleared Judge Gonzalez of any wrongdoing.

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    This medical malpractice trial commenced on April 4, 2012 in Penobscot County Superior Court, Maine. The details are set forth in an article in The Bangor News. Although essential facts are not included in the article it appears that the defendant physician prescribed methadone for pain resulting from prolotherapy for the first time on August 26, 2006. Approximately 48 hours later the plaintiff stopped breathing and was revived by her fiance but allegedly suffered brain damage resulting in permanent injury. The dosage of Methadone given is not stated.

    It is well known that Methadone may cause slowed breathing and irregular heartbeat, which may be life-threatening. Further, the risk that one will experience serious or life-threatening side effects of methadone is greatest when methadone is first prescribed. When first prescribing Methadone the lowest possible dosage sufficient to alleviate pain should be given. The usual dosage of oral Methadone for pain is 2.5 to 10 mg every 3 to 12 hours.

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    From New York Daily News;

    “One worker was killed and four others injured when a crane collapsed Tuesday night at the construction site for the MTA No. 7 train extension project,officials said.

    The man who died, a 29-year-old, was pulled from the pit that sits 60 feet below street level at W. 34th St. and 11th Ave., the FDNY said. He went into cardiac arrest on the way to Bellevue Hospital where he died.”

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    Stephen Mackauf will serve as the Co-Chair for the American Conference Institute‘s 11th Annual Advanced Forum on Preventing, Managing and Defending Against Claims of Obstetric Malpractice held from June 27 to June 28 at the The Union League of Philadelphia. The event is the nation’s premier obstetric malpractice conference and covers the evolving standards of care, emerging theories of liability, and new defense strategies in the obstetric malpractice field. Luke M. Pittoni of Heidell, Pittoni, Murphy & Bach, LLP will be co-charing the conference.

    The conference will bring together many experts in the field who will provide the most up-to-date information on complex medical issues and litigation hurdles, including:

    • Emerging standards of care, including the use of hypothermia
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    In The Courts