Richard M. Steigman Named 2027 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs in New York City

Recognition follows Steigman’s role as lead trial counsel in the landmark Metro-North Valhalla train crash litigation, which resulted in settlements exceeding $182 million

Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf is proud to announce that partner Richard M. Steigman has been named the 2027 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs in New York City.

This is the second time Steigman has received a Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” distinction in New York City. He was previously named the 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs.

Receiving “Lawyer of the Year” recognition in both personal injury litigation and medical malpractice law reflects the breadth of Steigman’s practice and his decades of work representing individuals and families in some of New York’s most complex catastrophic injury cases.

Lead Trial Counsel in the $182+ Million Metro-North Valhalla Litigation

Steigman’s 2027 recognition follows his pivotal role in the litigation arising from the 2015 Metro-North Valhalla train crash, the deadliest accident in Metro-North Railroad history.

Steigman and the firm’s Managing Partner, Ben B. Rubinowitz, served as lead trial counsel for the plaintiffs during the liability phase of the litigation. The case involved extraordinarily complex questions concerning the circumstances of the collision, railroad safety and Metro-North’s responsibility for the deaths and injuries that resulted.

Following a six-week trial in Westchester County, the jury found Metro-North 71% responsible for the crash, with 29% of the responsibility assigned to the driver whose vehicle was on the railroad crossing.

The landmark liability victory ultimately paved the way for settlements exceeding $182 million for the families of five passengers who were killed and dozens of passengers who were injured.

The Valhalla litigation exemplifies the type of complex, high-stakes personal injury litigation that has defined Steigman’s career.

A $120 Million Medical Malpractice Verdict

Steigman has also played a central role in some of the firm’s most significant medical malpractice cases.

He was part of the trial team with Rubinowitz and partner Jeffrey B. Bloom that obtained a $120 million verdict in Westchester County for a 41-year-old husband and father who suffered catastrophic brain damage after a basilar artery stroke was not timely diagnosed and treated.

The $120 million result was ranked the #1 verdict in New York State across all practice areas in 2023.

That result, together with Steigman’s previous recognition as the 2022 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs in New York City, highlights his experience across both major areas for which he is recognized by Best Lawyers.

Decades of Complex Trial and Appellate Work

Steigman’s work extends beyond the courtroom. His practice encompasses the full course of complex litigation, from developing and preparing cases for trial to handling sophisticated legal issues and appellate proceedings in New York state and federal courts.

His relationship with Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf began before he became a lawyer, when he worked at the firm as a paralegal. After graduating with distinction from Hofstra University School of Law, where he served as a member of the Hofstra Law Review, he returned to the firm as an attorney in 1997 and later became a partner.

Steigman has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2010 for his work in Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs.

His selection as the 2027 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs in New York City adds another significant distinction to a career dedicated to representing seriously injured New Yorkers and their families.