Chris is a member of the Casualty Department where he handles cases involving New York State Labor Law, construction accidents, premises liability, products liability, auto liability and general liability.
Prior to joining the firm, Chris worked for a medium-size defense firm, handling auto claims throughout the New York Metropolitan area, successfully arguing summary judgment motions and obtaining a defendant's verdict in the Bronx.
Chris spent more than a decade working for a national insurance carrier after college and during law school in various positions including claims adjuster, claims supervisor as well as nationwide claims oversight with experience participating in both claim and law firm audits. After law school, Chris spent seven years as a trial attorney with the insurance carrier and later became their Litigation Director for 13 years. His first-hand knowledge of the insurance industry and familiarity with their policies allows him to effectively and efficiently counsel clients on their litigation issues.
Chris graduated cum laude from The State University of New York at Utica Rome in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He received his juris doctor from Touro School of Law in Huntington, New York in 1996.
Results
Defense Verdict Obtained in a Theft Case in New York Civil Court
We obtained a defendants’ verdict in New York Civil Court where we represented an appliance company and their employee, who was accused of stealing a Rolex watch. The client’s employee installed a light fixture in the plaintiff’s residence. After the installer left the residence, the 85-year-old plaintiff could not locate his $31,000 Rolex watch. He filed a claim with his homeowner’s carrier and received $500 because the watch was not scheduled. He also filed a police report. He then retained counsel and commenced suit against the defendants for conversion, breach of contract and negligent hiring. During dispositions of both the plaintiff and his wife, we elicited testimony that neither had any proof that the defendants stole his Rolex watch. He further elicited that no criminal charges were ever brought against the employee. We filed for summary judgment, denying the allegations, and included affidavits from the employee and the owner of the appliance company in which it was indicated that there were no prior complaints regarding the company and/or the installer. The motion was denied. At the trial conducted in June 2025, Chris again elicited testimony from the plaintiff that he had no proof that the installer stole his Rolex watch, nor did the plaintiff provide any proof that the installer’s employer engaged in negligent hiring, as there were no prior complaints regarding this employee. At the close of the plaintiff’s case, we again moved for a directed verdict, arguing that the plaintiff had not established his claim for damages or proven the allegations in the complaint. The motion was denied. Rather than hearing oral summations, the court directed the parties to submit written summations. In our written summation, we outlined dismissal of the case, arguing that any finding against the defendants for theft would be tantamount to accusing them of stealing when neither the police nor the district attorney found any probable cause to criminally charge them. The court dismissed the case in its entirety.
Defense Verdict Obtained in a Slip and Fall Case
We obtained a defense verdict in a slip and fall case in Suffolk County Supreme Court. The plaintiff was a physician’s assistant who alleged he slipped and fell on a wet area inside his medical facility. He testified at his deposition that he saw mop swirls in the wet spot. He brought suit against the facility’s cleaning company over one year later. Unrelated to this incident, the plaintiff had a pancreatic cancer relapse after his 2019 slip and fall and was out on workers’ compensation for over one year. At trial, plaintiff’s counsel produced a note from the plaintiff’s wife stating that he would not be testifying due to his medical condition; therefore, his deposition testimony would be read to the jury, which the court allowed. We argued that plaintiff’s counsel had the opportunity to secure statements from numerous witnesses and former employees whom counsel never subpoenaed for non-party depositions or trial. The cleaning company’s owner, our client, testified that the plaintiff’s employer had access to his janitorial equipment, including mops, which were always at their disposal. We argued that it would be speculation that a wet spot on a floor would have been caused by our client. The jury deliberated for 55 minutes and rendered a defendant’s verdict.
